January 30 this year in Riyadh, Ambassador Ulukbek Maripov held a trilateral meeting at the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Energy for Technical and Regulatory Affairs of Oil and Gas Eng. Majid Al-Otaibi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi company “AcwaPower” Raad Al-Saadi, General Director of Planning and Project Follow-up in the General Administration of Renewable Energy Eng. Faisal Al-Duaij, Director General of the General Department of Bilateral Relations of the Ministry of Energy of the KSA Dr. Akram Jadawy.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of cooperation in the oil, gas, and electric power industries, including renewable energy and hydroelectric power plants projects, the construction of treatment facilities and the production of bottled water. The parties also discussed the prospects for the participation of the “Acwa Power” company in the construction of new solar and wind power plants in Kyrgyzstan.

In particular, Ambassador U.Maripov noted with satisfaction the dynamics of development of relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and Saudi Arabia. He spoke in detail about the work done last year and the results achieved and shared his thoughts on further enhancing interaction.

U.Maripov noted that strengthening ties with the Kingdom in the energy sector is one of the key tasks for further intensifying bilateral cooperation.

Taking into account the vast experience of Saudi Arabia in the oil and electricity industries, as well as in the construction of wastewater treatment plants, he noted Kyrgyzstan’s interest in further cooperation in these important areas. At the same time, he proposed to consider the issue of cooperation on a system of exchanging green projects for carbon credits.

In turn, the Deputy Minister of Energy of the KSA M. Al-Otaibi, thanking the Ambassador for the meeting and the proposals voiced to further enhance cooperation in the energy sector between the Kyrgyz Republic and the KSA, noted that Saudi Arabia is interested in expanding and deepening relations with Kyrgyzstan and is ready to share existing experience, and is also ready to consider proposals to exchange green projects for carbon credits.

He agreed with the opinion of his colleagues and the Ambassador on the need, first of all, to prepare an appropriate draft document on cooperation between the two governments in the energy sector and sign it during the next visits.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue comprehensive work in this direction and intensify interaction between the ministry and the embassy to coordinate the mentioned initiatives.