Co-Chairs of Kazakhstan-German Business Council for Strategic Cooperation, Timur Kulibayev and Niko Warbanoff, hold First Online Meeting

Berlin, May 26 2020 - The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Germany Dauren Karipov took part in an online meeting between the Co-Chairs of the Kazakhstan-German Business Council for Strategic Cooperation -- Timur Kulibayev, the Chairman of the Presidium of the "Atameken" National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, and Niko Warbanoff, the Director for International Projects of the largest German railways operator Deutsche Bahn AG and Сhairman of DB Engineering & Consulting. The meeting was held for the first time as a web conference and was also the first to be attended by N.Warbanoff in his newly appointed position as Co-Chairman from the German side. The meeting was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Germany, the "Atameken" National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan with the support of the German Eastern Business Association. Also in attendance were Mr. Ablay Myrzakhmetov, Chair of the Board of the "Atameken" National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, Ayan Yerenov, the Chair of the Board of the Chamber of Foreign Trade of Kazakhstan, Tilo Klinner, the Ambassador of Germany to Kazakhstan, and executives from the German Eastern Business Association and Deutsche Bahn AG.

During the meeting the participants discussed the current state and prospects of trade, economic and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany, which received a powerful impetus vis-a-vis Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visits to Germany in 2019 and 2020.

In his speech, Timur Kulibayev congratulated Niko Warbanoff on his appointment as Co-Chair and stressed the need to pursue cooperation, including on projects within the framework of the Kazakh-German Intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation in raw materials, industrial and technological sectors. In addition, Timur Kulibayev emphasized the unprecedented support measures that have been offered for German businesses by the Government of Kazakhstan and the quasi-state sector, which had been announced by the Head of State during his meetings with German CEOs.

In his remarks Niko Warbanoff highlighted the importance of deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation through mutually beneficial business contacts and exchanging experience and know-how in different spheres. During the meeting the sides also discussed measures that had been taken by the Kazakh and German governments to minimize the negative economic impact caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, and also reached a preliminary agreement regarding a Joint Action Schedule for 2020.