Prospects for Comprehensive Strengthening of Kazakhstan-Austrian Relations Discussed in Vienna

Vienna, 5-6 October 2022 - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko held meetings with official representatives of Austria during his working visit.

At the meeting with International Affairs Advisor to the Federal President of Austria Gerda Vogl, the parties discussed the outcomes of the meeting between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly in New York, as well as issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Political and socio-economic reforms in Kazakhstan were also discussed during the meeting. Deputy Minister Vassilenko informed about the upcoming early presidential election in Kazakhstan and the transformation of the country’s political system.

Bilateral and multilateral cooperation and current regional and international issues were discussed at the Austrian Foreign Ministry with Secretary General Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal.

Representatives of Kazakhstan and Austria agreed to maintain close contact and active interaction on issues of bilateral and multilateral agenda.

Vassilenko also met with representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to discuss its role in international politics and prospects for further cooperation of Kazakhstan with the Organization’s institutions.

Vassilenko gave an interview with a correspondent of one of the leading Austrian newspapers, “Die Presse”. The discussion also touched upon pertinent issues of Kazakhstan's cooperation with foreign partners, global and regional security, and further political modernization of the country.

For reference: there are over 40 Austrian companies represented in Kazakhstan, including such brands as Kapsch, Liebherr, Gebrüder Weiss, Andritz Hydro, Herz Armaturen, Red Bull, Swarovski, Frey Wille, Trodat, Colop, Julius Blum and others.

Bilateral trade during January-July, 2022 reached 95 million US dollars. Kazakhstan’s export was 3.4 million and import reached 91.6 million. During the same period in 2021, bilateral trade reached 95.7 million. Kazakhstan’s export was 1 million and import reached 94.7 million.

Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Austria in 2021 reached 163.1 million US dollars (export 3.3 million, import 159.8 million) which was 2.7% more than in the previous year (158.8 million US dollars in 2020). Export in 2021 remained the same and the increase in imports was 2.8%.

Kazakhstan chaired the OSCE in 2010 and organized the first and thus far the only summit of this organization in Astana that concluded with the adoption of the Astana Declaration «Towards a Security Community».