Portuguese investors are ready for an active cooperation with Kazakhstan
During the period from September 29 to October 1, 2020 Ambassador Daulet Batrashev made a working visit to the northern regions of Portugal - Porto and Braga.
Meetings were held with the municipal administration of Porto, Guimarães and Braga, as well as with the local business community.
During the discussion with the Mayor of Porto Rui Moreira, the issues of cooperation in the trade and economic area, promotion of the export of national goods, as well as the development of cooperation in the tourism sphere were discussed.
The Ambassador's talks with the Mayor of Guimarães Domingos Bragança and the Mayor of Braga Ricardo Riu were dedicated to promising areas of cooperation between the regions of the two countries. The interlocutors agreed that there are prerequisites for establishing close and fruitful cooperation at the regional level, and highly noted the existing potential for Kazakh-Portuguese cooperation.
The Portuguese politicians expressed their interest and readiness to establish twinning relations with Kazakhstan’s cities and exchange visits of delegations. In addition, an agreement to open the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in one of the cities of northern Portugal was reached.
In order to establish contacts with companies in the region and establish investment cooperation, negotiations were held with the General Director of the Footwear and Leather Industry Association of Portugal João Maya, President of the Furniture Industry Association Joaquim Carneiro and President of the Textile Industry Association Mário Machado.
Following the meetings, the issue of cooperation with Portuguese business entities in these priority sectors for our country was agreed upon, including the attraction of investments into the economy of Kazakhstan for the implementation of specific projects and the organization of business missions to find potential partners.
Daulet Batrashev also met with the management of 40 largest companies of northern Portugal, representing such sectors as information technology, agro-industrial complex, infrastructure and construction, as well as light industry. As part of the presentation of investment opportunities, Kazakhstani diplomat informed about measures to protect foreign investors and practical aspects of doing business in Kazakhstan. Given the favorable geographical location and significant transit and transport potential of both countries, special attention was paid to the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of advanced technologies and industry, agriculture and tourism, as well as the establishment of partnerships in the field of logistics and transportation of goods.
As a result of a constructive discussion, the interest of companies from northern Portugal in organizing economic missions to Kazakhstan to establish contacts with Kazakhstan’s business structures and to conduct specific work in this area in the near future was confirmed.
As a part of the work on strengthening ties with scientific and academic communities, Daulet Batrashev held meetings with the management of the Scientific and Technological Park "Avepark" (Guimarães city) and with the Rector of one of the largest universities in Portugal - University of Minho - Rui Vieira de Castru.
The Ambassador presented books of Abai Kunanbaev "The Book of Words" and the First President Nursultan Nazarbayev "The Age of Independence", translated into Portuguese language and also discussed in detail the possibilities of development of bilateral cooperation in the sphere of science, technologies and education, including prospects of establishing relations with leading scientific and technological centers and educational institutions of Kazakhstan.
Embassy of Kazakhstan in Portugal