Kazakh-Qatari Strategic Cooperation Week Held in Doha

Kazakh-Qatari Strategic Cooperation Week Held in Doha

Doha, October 4, 2023 – In order to strengthen the political, trade, economic and investment partnership between Kazakhstan and Qatar, a week of Kazakh-Qatari strategic cooperation was held in Doha with the participation of representatives of the government officials and business communities of both countries.

The main event of the week was the participation of the delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin in the 6th meeting of the high-level joint intergovernmental commission.

The delegation included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek Bakayev, Deputy Minister of Defense Sultan Kamaletdinov, Vice Minister of National Economy Abzal Abdikarimov, Vice Minister of Energy Alibek Zhamauov, First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Akmadi Sarbasov and Vice Minister of Agriculture Erbol Taszhurekov.

During negotiations between the Kazakh side and their colleagues, led by the Minister of Trade and Industry of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al Thani, specific agreements were reached to increase mutual trade and implement investment projects in a number of important sectors of the economy.

Following the commission meeting, the heads of the delegations of the two countries signed an intergovernmental protocol that approved areas of cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, renewable energy, air flights, agriculture, food technology, tourism, higher education and medicine.

As part of giving impetus to the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, a bilateral meeting was held between Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin and Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The interlocutors discussed the progress in implementing the agreements reached during the visits of the heads of the two states. At the same time, the parties paid special attention to the issue of increasing the volume of mutual trade, including the creation of specific mechanisms for introducing Kazakh products and services in the field of industry, agriculture and information technology to the Qatari market.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to further develop interaction between both governments on investment, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, and also confirmed their mutual intention to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

As part of the economic agenda of the week, a large-scale business forum was organized with the participation of more than 150 Kazakh and Qatari entrepreneurs.

During the meeting, representatives of business groups of the two countries discussed the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation and established direct contacts in the format of b2b meetings. According to the agreements reached, the chambers of commerce of Kazakhstan and Qatar will coordinate issues of strengthening the partnership between the business circles of the two countries.

The heads of the companies “Hassad Food”, “QatarEnergy” and “PIH”, during separate meetings with the Chairman of the Board of JSC “NC “QazaqGaz” Sanzhar Zharkeshov and the Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC “NMH “Baiterek” Adil Mukhamedzhanov, substantively discussed the issues of launching joint investment projects in the food industry and energy sectors.

In addition, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin led the Kazakh delegation at the 9th Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agriculture of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as at the 6th General Assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, held in Doha.

One of the important events during the event was the election of Askar Mussinov as Director General of the IOFS Secretariat, as well as the decision to hold the next IOFS General Assembly in Astana in 2024 as a result of the unanimous support of the IOFS member countries for Kazakhstan.

Also the Kazakh delegation took part in the opening ceremony of the international specialized exhibition EXPO 2023 Doha. The event, which will run until March 28, 2024, is the first international horticulture exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa region under the theme “Green Desert and Better Environment” to promote sustainable development goals.

The week of Kazakh-Qatari strategic cooperation was organized as part of the planned launch of specific investment projects in Kazakhstan and the execution of instructions from the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev following a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who paid a state visit to Kazakhstan on October 12-13, 2022.