Meeting with Permanent Representative of Spain to EU

September 5, 2023, Brussels - By the initiative of the Kazakh side, Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Belgium Margulan Baimukhan met with Marcos Alonso, Permanent Representative of Spain to the European Union. Ambassador Baimukhan congratulated M. Alonso on the Spanish presidency in the European Council and wished successful promotion of the priorities announced by Spain.

The parties discussed the agenda in Kazakhstan-EU format, the ways of cooperation in the field of agriculture, consultations on visa issues, as well as the advancement of interregional cooperation. The issues of compliance with the sanctions regime by Kazakhstani companies and the continuation of the relevant dialogue were also discussed.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan shared with the diplomat the details of the new economic course of Kazakhstan announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the framework of the state-of-the-nation address on September 1, 2023. Realization of initiatives in the fields of industries, geology, finance, etc. would open new prospects for cooperation with European partners.

 In 2022, the trade turnover of agricultural products between Kazakhstan and the EU amounted to $995.5 million, 35.6% more than in the same period of 2021 ($733.7 million). At the same time, exports increased by 50% and amounted to USD 473.3 million. The main agricultural exports to the EU are flax seeds - 185.3 million USD (with a share of 41.7%), and wheat - 103.6 million USD (23.7%).

According to the FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) and IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement), Kazakhstan ranks 9th out of 123 countries in organic exports, 4th among the countries exporting organic wheat, and 6th in exports of organic oilseed flax seeds to the EU.