NGO FAIR HELD IN OSH AS GERMAN DELEGATION VISITS KYRGYZSTAN

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The first two-day National
Information Fair of NGOs on the "Role of NGOs in socio-economic development of
Kyrgyzstan and implementation of Complex Development Program as well as National Strategy
on Poverty Reduction" finished its work in Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan, on July 19th. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  The Association of NGOs and NCOs, the executive
administration of the Osh region, and the Coalition of NGOs "For Democracy and Civil
Society" were the organizers of this fair. 

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The fair was originally going to be
held in June, but it was postponed until July 18-19 because of the riots and its
consequences in the south of Kyrgyzstan.  The
organizational committee selected participants from a pool of applications received.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Participants were the following: style="mso-spacerun: yes">  320 representatives of the leading and most
successful public unions from all over Kyrgyzstan, 170 representatives from regional and
district state administrations and local self-governance institutes, Advisor of the Kyrgyz
President on public relations Dzhanuzakov, delegates from the Government, the head of the
OSCE center in Bishkek Aidyn Idil, director of the National Democratic Institute office in
Kyrgyzstan Terry Horton, other representatives of 12 international organizations and
leading mass media of Kyrgyzstan.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">During the fair NGOs had a chance to
share their experiences, to discuss formation of nongovernmental sector of the country,
development problems and further cooperation with state structures, and building
partnerships.  Along with that, there were 2
plenary sessions held, and 4 sections worked.  On
the second day of the fair roundtables were conducted on a variety of topics such as
"Participation of NGOs in implementation of the Complex Development Program and
National Strategy for Poverty Reduction," "Social partnership within the
framework of 'New Generation' state program," "Problems of tribalism and
regionalism in civil society development," and "Human rights organizations of
Kyrgyzstan."

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">A lot of attention was paid to
discourse on intersectional interaction, involvement of business structures in social
projects, and openness and transparency in work of government institutes and NGOs. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  As a result of the fair, agreements on social
partnership were signed at the fair by leaders of NGOs.
 

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The Information Fair of NGOs does
indicate that NGO sector and government structures have moved from dialogue to social
partnership in a common effort to work on certain issues and implement state development
programs.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Meanwhile, in the beginning of July,
a German delegation headed by the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Economy Aksel
Gerlah visited Kyrgyzstan.  For the first time
such a representative visit was made - among delegates, there were about 60 heads of large
businesses, including Daimler-Chrysler, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, and Lufthansa among
others.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The Germans met with the Kyrgyz
President and with the Prime Minister. The purpose of the visit was to initiate new
projects in Kyrgyzstan and discuss the current state of cooperation between the two
countries. yes">  For the period from 1992 to 2002,
the German government rendered total aid worth E130 millions to Kyrgyzstan. Investments
stemming from Germany comprise 25% of overall incoming capital to the country.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The forum was conducted on two
levels, and that made it quite unique.  Guests
were not offered broad general reports. The Kyrgyz First Deputy Prime Minister opened the
official part of the forum.  Meanwhile, other
participants split up into interest groups and held informal discussions on topics that
were of importance to them.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The president of the Kyrgyz Trade
Industrial Chamber Boris Perfiliev said, "Today there are more and more areas that
German business circles are interested in.  Before,
they were more focused on light and food industries - now German businessmen already look
into the mining industry in Kyrgyzstan, information technologies and energy resources
areas."

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Anton Fogt, his college from
Germany, agreed, "We have worked on reconstruction of the international airport
'Manas.'  Now we want to participate in
international construction of highways to Osh and Almaty. There are projects on the
processing of agricultural products.  Almost
95% of German businesses are small and medium enterprises.
  They look for partners themselves.  And
I'm in power to hold talks on governmental level."
 

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The forum yielded several new ideas
for joint projects, and a general atmosphere of active collaboration was achieved. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Among them, the building of a new hydroelectric
power station is planned to begin in the close future.
  The closing of the forum was done with participation of the German
Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Klaus Achenbauch.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Konstantin Sudakov