Kazakh and German Foreign Ministers Discuss Prospects for Strengthening Close Political and Economic Partnership

Astana, 31 October 2022 – Today Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived on her first visit to Kazakhstan accompanied by a delegation of Bundestag deputies, business representatives and German media. During her working program she was received by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov and held talks with the Deputy Prime-Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi on prospects for strengthening the close political and economic partnership between Astana and Berlin.

During talks held at Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry the parties exchanged views on the entire spectrum of Kazakh-German relations: from the state of economic cooperation and outlook for trade growth, which over the first eight months of this year has reached 1,7 billion euro, to new avenues of collaboration in the energy sphere in light of the realization of joint projects in Kazakhstan’s regions with German renewables leaders Goldbeck Solar and Svevind.

The Foreign Ministers jointly stated the existence of close and trusting dialogue, as well as shared positions on a range of international issues. They also highlighted Kazakhstan’s role in fostering international, interethnic, and interreligious dialogue in the name of peace and harmony.

Particular attention was paid to the interest of Astana and Berlin in constructive collaboration on transport and logistics issues, agriculture, energy, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Having underscored Kazakhstan’s status as a reliable supply partner for minerals, food products, crude oil, and other types of energy resources for Germany and Europe, Minister Tileuberdi indicated our country’s readiness to offer German partners special preferences in return for large-scale investments and technological transfers.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Minister Baerbock announced plans to open a German Hydrogen Diplomacy Office in Astana. The new bilateral energy cooperation structure, which will be established under the auspices of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the support of the German Federal Foreign Office, will seek to institutionalize interaction between both countries’ government and expert circles on creating a stable fuel energy cycle.

During the visit representatives of Germany’s political and business circles, including top managers from economic structures and large companies such as Lufthansa, Aurubis, and Knauf, held separate meetings with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar, the Deputy Chair of the Senate Olga Perepechina, members of the “Kazakhstan-Germany” parliamentary friendship group in the Mazhilis of Parliament and top officials from the Ministries for Energy, Infrastructural and Industrial Development, and other government bodies.

The German side was informed about the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s policies to build a “Just and Fair Kazakhstan”, large-scale democratic reforms, as well as the commitment to hold open and free presidential elections on 20 November. The German delegation was also briefed on measures to improve the country’s investment climate and opportunities for mutually-beneficial bilateral cooperation in the green energy field, the agricultural sector, as well of formation of competitive transport and logistics chains. In total the German delegation included around 50 officials and business figures, which is a testament to the growing interest that Europe’s largest economy has in unlocking the full potential of cooperation with our republic and the Central-Asian region as a whole.

The program of the visit includes plans for additional meetings and events with Federal Minister Baerbock’s participation, in particular, her meeting with the National Human Rights Commissioner of Kazakhstan Elvira Azimova and Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana Volker Frobarth, tours of the ALZHIR memorial complex and museum, as well as the Nur-Alem future energy museum located on the territory of EXPO-2017.

This year Kazakhstan and Germany are marking 30 years of diplomatic relations, which to this day have been characterized by steadfast development in all spheres of their bilateral strategic partnership. Over the past decade our country has received close to 80% of all German direct investments destined for the Central Asia, the majority of which have been directed towards raising the quality of healthcare, agriculture, and transport logistics. Since 2005, German companies have invested $5.2 billion in the Kazakh economy, and 600 enterprises have been operating in the country with the participation of German businesses. By the end of 2021 bilateral trade turnover had reached $2,2 billion, which represents a 20% increase over pre-pandemic figures.