A two-day Kyrgyz-Russian Investment Forum in Bishkek on 22-23 October resulted in the signing of agreements worth $14 million. The forum was attended on its second day by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who told participants that Russia was particularly interested in investing in Kyrgyzstan\'s transport and energy sectors. Russian investors indicated that they wanted to bid on the electricity supplier Severoelektro, take part in the privatization of the state firm Kyrgyzgaz, and in the construction of the Kambar-Ata 2 power plant. Agreement was also reached on the Russian acquisition of shares in a number of Soviet-era military plants as a means of reducing Kyrgyzstan\'s external debt. (akipress.org)