Trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation between Kazakhstan and Slovakia was discussed in Bratislava

On April 10-11, 2018 in Bratislava (Slovakia) the 7th meeting of the Kazakh-Slovak Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic and Scientific and Technical cooperation was held under the co-chairmanship of the Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhytzhan Dzhaksaliev and State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic Voitech Ferenc.
During the meeting, the parties discussed in detail the status and prospects of cooperation in energy, investment and banking, agriculture, water resources, environmental protection, mutual legal assistance, education, science, health, tourism and culture.
It was stressed that Slovakia's participation in the international exhibition EXPO-2017 in Astana on the theme of "Energy of the Future" brought a powerful impact to strengthening trade and economic relations between  two countries within the framework of which three major visits of Slovak official and business delegations to Astana took place.
The parties also noted new investment opportunities for Slovak companies regarding the launch of several new large-scale projects based on EXPO. First of all, it is the International Financial Center "Astana", the international center for the development of "green" technologies and investments and the international technology park of IT start-ups.
The mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Slovakia amounted to 53.1 million US dollars in 2017, which is 39.8% higher than in 2016 (37,962.2 million US dollars). Thus, the volume of mutual trade turnover after two years of decline (in 2015-2016) demonstrates a positive trend.
The sides reached concrete agreements and outlined ways to intensify trade and economic relations and realize the existing potential for cooperation in the interests of the two countries.
Following the meeting the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission Bakhytzhan Dzhaksaliev and Voitech Ferenc signed the final protocol.
The next meeting of the Kazakh-Slovak Intergovernmental Commission will be held in Astana.