DUSHANBE, May 24, 2013, Asia-Plus – Kyrgyzstan reportedly intends to increase a student quota for ethnic Kyrgyz from Tajikistan.

Kyrgyz news agency, 24kg, reports Kyrgyzstan currently provides 20 study permits to ethnic Kyrgyz living in Tajikistan.  These study permits are provided mainly for studying at teachers’ training institutes.

“Beginning from the next academic year, Kyrgyzstan will provide 25 more study permits to ethnic Kyrgyz from Tajikistan for studying to become lawyers, economists and engineers,” Kyrgyz Ambassador to Tajikistan Urmat Saralayev was quoted as saying by Kg24.

According Ambassador Saralayev, some 56,000 Kyrgyz now live in Tajikistan, primarily in Jirgatol (Rasht Valley) and Murgab (Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region) districts.  In Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz are mainly engaged in agriculture.