Kazakhstan Seeks to Enhance Cooperation with Nordic and Baltic Countries

Astana, February 22-23, 2024 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko met with Ambassador of Finland Soili Mäkeläinen-Buhanist, Ambassador of Sweden Ewa Polano and Ambassador of Latvia Irina Mangule.

The discussions focused on further strengthening the political dialogue and intensifying economic ties between Kazakhstan and Northern Europe and Baltic countries.

During the meeting with the Finnish Ambassador, the Deputy Minister expressed the commitment to maintaining dynamic bilateral contacts with Suomi at the government, business and expert levels. The parties commended effectiveness work of the Kazakh-Finnish Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (the IGC is co-chaired by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev and Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio). The next meeting will take place in Astana on April 11, 2024. They also discussed the prospects for developing interaction between the judicial and customs authorities.

At the meeting with the Swedish Ambassador, the diplomats welcomed the positive dynamics of trade and investment cooperation. They exchanged views on ways of expanding Sweden business presence in Kazakhstan, attracting high-tech industry and exchanging best practices.

The parties welcomed mutual visits and exchange of best practices in healthcare, science and innovation. They also discussed the prospects of expanding bilateral legal framework.

During the meeting with the Ambassador of Latvia, the parties reviewed the main outcomes of the development of bilateral cooperation in 2023, expressing satisfaction with the high level of interaction.

The parties substantively discussed current topics of Kazakh-Latvian relations, giving particular attention to enhancing sustainable transport and logistics, alongside efforts to bolster trade and investment partnerships between the two countries.

Roman Vassilenko, in his capacity as co-chair of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation with Latvia, reaffirmed his commitment to contributing to the further advancement of positive bilateral trade dynamics.

Overall, the Deputy Minister has called for the active participation of European countries in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and expressed the interest in fruitful interaction to promote the simplification of the European Union visa regime for Kazakh citizens.

Concluding the meetings, the parties agreed to continue their collaborative efforts aimed at expanding the mutually beneficial partnership.

For reference: Finland is an important partner of Kazakhstan in the EU. Bilateral trade turnover in 2023 amounted to 208 million US dollars (exports – 3.06 million, imports – 205.1 million). Since 2005, the gross inflow of investments from Finland to Kazakhstan reached 409 million US dollars.

Sweden is one of Kazakhstan’s major trade and investment partners in Europe. In 2023, trade turnover amounted to 467 million US dollars (exports – 60 million, imports – 407 million). Since 2005, the gross inflow of direct investment from Sweden to Kazakhstan has exceeded 622 million US dollars.

Latvia is a solid partner of Kazakhstan in the Baltic region. Bilateral trade turnover in 2023 amounted to 336 million US dollars (exports – 279 million, imports – 77 million), showing an increase of 76%. For three quarters of 2023, the gross inflow of direct investment from Latvia to Kazakhstan has exceeded 12.4 million US dollars.