BISHKEK, December 1 (Kabar). His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has arrived in Kyrgyzstan to attend the inauguration of the President-elect of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambaev scheduled for 1 December 2011 at the official invitation of President Roza Otunbaeva.
During the visit the Aga Khan will meet President Atambaev, former President Otunbaeva, and Speaker Keldibekov to discuss AKDN’s current and future partnerships with the Kyrgyz Republic supporting institution building, creating economic opportunities and enhancing regional stability. The meetings will also focus on AKDN’s expanding presence in Kyrgyzstan including in the areas of high-quality education and critical infrastructure development.
The visit of the Aga Khan reinforces AKDN’s commitment to helping Kyrgyzstan’s mountain communities overcome challenges of poverty, isolation and vulnerability. The Network’s decade-long engagement has ranged from early childhood development to university and adult education, from micro-credit to banking and financial services, from supporting tradition-bearers in music and oral recitation to building capacity of civil society institutions, from tourism to infrastructure development. Anna Vorobeva, Communications Officer of the Aga Khan Development Network Representation in Bishkek reports.
Ismailimail 