Canada-Kyrgyzstan relations

On this page

• Bilateral relations
• Trade relations
• Development
• Partnerships and organizations

Bilateral relations

Canada established diplomatic relations with the Kyrgyz Republic (also known as Kyrgyzstan) in 1992. On February 17, 2022, Canada and the Kyrgyz Republic celebrated their 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Canada is represented in the republic by its embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan, and maintains an honorary consulate in Bishkek. The Kyrgyz Republic is represented in Canada by its embassy in Washington, D.C., and has an honorary consulate in Montréal, Quebec.

Trade relations

The Kyrgyz Republic is Canada’s second-largest commercial partner in Central Asia, and Canada’s technical expertise in the extractive sector greatly contributes to the country’s economic development. In 2020, trade between Canada and the republic was valued at $9.9 million.

Canada’s merchandise exports to the Kyrgyz Republic in 2020 totaled a value of $9.2 million and comprised principally machinery, chemical products, food products and vehicles. Canada imports from the republic totalled a value of roughly $626,000, with the bulk made up of base metal products, telecom equipment, machinery, textiles and dried fruits.

Related links

• Trade and investment agreements
• Import / Export controls
• Doing business in Kyrgyzstan

Development

Canada makes regular contributions to multilateral and regional programs in the Kyrgyz Republic, and a part of Canada’s contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria currently fund programming there. The Canadian government also funds a major health and education program run by the Aga Khan Foundation and aimed at improving basic health outcomes in the country. Canada is a contributor to the UNESCO education monitoring program in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as to the University of Central Asia, which is based in the republic and has campuses there and in other Central Asian states.

The Embassy of Canada to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, in Astana, manages the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, through which funding assistance is provided to local NGOs active in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Related links

• The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Kyrgyzstan work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Open Government Partnership (OGP)
• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)