Kazakhstan delegation took part in the anniversary session of the Davos forum

The delegation of Kazakhstan consisting of Bakyt Sultanov, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) and Zhanar Aitzhanova, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, took part in the 50th session of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (Davos Forum) which was held from January 21 to 24, 2020 in Davos.

On January 22, Kazakhstan delegation held a meeting with Borge Brende,  WEF President. During the meeting parties signed an Agreement on establishing the WEF Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution based at AIFC. Launched in 2017, the WEF Global Network of Centers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution includes Centers in Israel, India, China, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Japan to assist in ensuring systemic government support for the development of the latest technologies and innovative projects.

Within the Forum, Kazakhstan delegation took part in a panel session on the theme “Strategic outlook on Eurasia”, during which the development priorities of the region were discussed. The session was also attended by Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the UN Office in Geneva and Andrey Kostin, Chairman of the Board of VTB Bank.

In his speech, AIFC Governor K. Kelimbetov shared Kazakhstan’s vision of trade relations between Europe and Asia, the country's transit potential, as well as noted the importance of cooperation between countries within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and with key global partners in all areas of cooperation, including cooperation in the field of technological development.

On the margins of the Davos Forum, B. Sultanov, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a meeting with Yoo Myung-hee, Minister of Trade of South Korea, for discussing the issues of strengthening bilateral cooperation. At a meeting with Roberto Azevedo, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), preparatory activities for the 12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, which will be held on June 8-11, 2020 in Nur-Sultan, as well as its most promising results were viewed. Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative Aitzhanova also suggested R. Azevedo to start discussions on the broad concept of institutional reforms of the WTO, including the issues of the WTO Appellate Body, the negotiation function and transparency of the organization.