VZCZCXRO1745
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #1133 2890933
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160933Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2744
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1561
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3613
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3006
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ECON PGOV KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR OPENS TRANSIT CENTER'S BUSINESS SEMINAR 
FOR KYRGYZ BUSINESSES 
 
REF: BISHKEK 1057 
 
¶1. Summary: On October 15, the Ambassador opened the Manas 
Transit Center business seminar that provided local companies 
with detailed information on Department of Defense 
procurement procedures and insight into how to bid on U.S. 
government contracts.  Kyrgyz government officials have 
repeatedly requested that the Transit Center buy more 
products and services from Kyrgyz companies (reftel).  The 
seminar, which attracted approximately 200 participants, 
successfully  provided the in-depth information local 
companies need in order to bid on U.S. government contracts. 
Vice Speaker of Parliament Isabekov and First Deputy Minister 
of Economic Development and Trade Aziz Aliyev spoke at the 
conference and warmly welcomed the Transit Center's outreach 
to the local business community. End summary. 
 
¶2. On October 15, the Ambassador opened the Transit Center's 
business conference held at the Hyatt Hotel to provide local 
companies with detailed information on how to compete for USG 
contracts and bids.  Over the past months, many Kyrgyz 
government officials, including Foreign Minister Sarbayev, 
Vice Speaker Isabekov and other Parliamentarians, have 
repeatedly called on the Transit Center to purchase more 
Kyrgyz products and services.  The October 15 seminar was the 
first public event in Kyrgyzstan devoted solely to 
nuts-and-bolts information on U.S. government contracts. 
Similar, but less extensive, information has been provided at 
past Embassy sponsored commercial out-reach events. 
 
¶3. The Transit Center advertised the event in both Kyrgyz and 
Russian language newspapers, and also partnered with the 
local American Chamber of Commerce to spread the word in the 
business community.  The response from the business community 
was significant, with approximately 200 participants from a 
wide range of industries attending.  The media response was 
also strong, and a number of newspaper and TV reporters 
covered the event and interviewed participants. 
 
¶4. Along with Ambassador Gfoeller, Vice Speaker Isabekov and 
Deputy Minister Aliyev spoke at the event, emphasizing the 
benefits of the Transit Center, including support in the 
fight against terrorism and narcotrafficking, the $60 million 
paid in annual rent, humanitarian assistance provided to 
Kyrgyz citizens, and cultural exchanges.  Aliyev, who 
recently participated in regional Trade and Investment 
Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks in Washington, discussed the 
opportunity for Kyrgyz companies to participate in supplying 
coalition troops in Afghanistan and in reconstruction 
projects in Afghanistan.  He underscored that in order for 
Kyrgyz companies to participate in these opportunities they 
will have to meet U.S. government quality and quantity 
requirements. 
GFOELLER