India & Five Central Asian Countries to Focus on Developing Air Corridors, Promote Collaboration in Healthcare sector: 2nd India-Central Asia Business Council meeting
New Delhi: The 2nd meeting of the India Central Asia Business Council organised virtually by FICCI today witnessed the representation of the Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Central Asia and India, Indian Ambassadors in Central Asia and Central Asian Ambassadors in India.
Dr Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI said, “We are meeting today to collectively assess and work towards a new and more robust framework for articulating future collaborations based on mutual trust and to meet fast evolving global challenges. At FICCI, it is our endeavour to explore the unexplored, be it technology, new areas of cooperation, possibilities for promoting investments and finding new modes of connectivity so that we are able to think in advance to build on the economic complementarity both Indian and Central Asian economies boast of.”
The Joint Declaration of the India Central Asia Business Council has been mutually agreed upon by the six Chambers including (FICCI from India and five Central Asian countries). The Council has agreed to constitute four ‘Joint Working Groups’ (JWGs) in sectors like Energy (Oil and Gas & Renewable Energy), Agro, Food-Processing and Textiles, Tourism, Air Corridors, Pharmaceutical, Life-sciences and Healthcare.
The Terms of Reference specifically underlines the need to deepen cooperation for establishing ties between the large, medium and small enterprises of council member countries of India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for encouraging and promoting trade, economic and business relations. Given the importance of connectivity for deepening trade relations, the council will also promote the development of air-corridors between India and Central Asian countries.
HE Mr Ikramov Adkham Ilkhamovich, Chairman, Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan said, “We must envision the 3rd meeting of the India Central Asia Business Council in Tashkent, Uzbekistan next year and hopefully we all will meet offline in Tashkent to continue trade and economic cooperation.”
While reporting back to the six Foreign Minister of India and Central Asian countries post the 2nd ICABC meeting, Dr Sangita Reddy said, “With the endorsement of Joint Declaration and formation of four JWGs, a concrete beginning has been made and we all are of the firm view that this initiative shall go a long way for India and the five Central Asian countries to redraw and weave ‘New Silk Route’ that shall bind India and rediscover its long-standing cultural, economic and civilizational bond with Central Asian countries.”