Меню
Bulgaria considers Kazakhstan as a key partner in Central Asia. Kazakhstan's interest in Bulgaria is determined by the role of a transit and energy center in the Balkans and a link in EU transport projects. The importance of Bulgaria as a trade and economic partner has increased in the context of the country's accession to the EU (January, 2007), becoming a state located on the external border of the European Union.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics of the ASPR of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the bilateral trade turnover for 2020 amounted to $244.5 mln: Kazakhstan`s export – $207.5 mln, import - $37 mln. In 2021 – $390.8 mln (+9.7%): Kazakhstan`s export – $355 mln, import - $35.8 mln. for 2022 – $181.3 mln (-53.6%): Kazakhstan`s export – $142.4 million, import - $38.9 million.
From 2005 to the 3rd quarter of 2022, the gross inflow of direct investments from Bulgaria to Kazakhstan reached $61.7 mln ($5.9 mln for 2021; $6.0 mln for the 3 quarters of 2022).
From 2005 to 3nd quarter of 2022, the gross outflow of direct investments from Kazakhstan to Bulgaria amounted to $12.6 mln ($0.1 mln for 2021; in 2022 - not fixed).
As of February 1, 2022, 121 enterprises with the participation of Bulgarian capital were registered in Kazakhstan, 74 of them are operating. They work in such areas as wholesale trade and automobile repair (25), manufacturing (5), construction (5), MMC (4), as well
Regional cooperation.
June 17, 2016 – A Memorandum of Cooperation (twin cities) was signed between the Akimat of Uralsk and the Mayor's Office of Blagoevgrad.
September 22, 2022 – A Memorandum of Cooperation (twin cities) was signed between the Akimat of Pavlodar and the Mayor's Office of Burgas.
A Memorandum on twinning between Shymkent of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Plovdiv of the Republic of Bulgaria is being worked out (it has been under consideration by the Bulgarian side since August 25, 2022).
Intergovernmental Commission.
An important mechanism of interaction in the economic sphere is the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation (ICEC). 4 meetings of the IPC have been held (first and second - until 2004, third - in 2014 and fourth - in 2016). The co-chairs are from the Kazakh side - Minister of National Economy A.Kuantyrov, from the Bulgarian side - a decision of the counter-partner is being expected.
The 1st meeting of the IPC was held on March 12-13, 1998 in Sofia,
2nd – December 10, 2004 in Astana. In connection with Bulgaria's accession to the EU in 2007, the Economic Cooperation Agreement was denounced by the Bulgarian side, and the activities of the IPC were suspended. A new Agreement on Economic Cooperation was signed in 2011 and entered into force on September 13, 2012.
On March 24-25, 2014, the third meeting of the Kazakh-Bulgarian IPC was held in Sofia. The Kazakh delegation was headed by the Vice-Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Absattarov, Bulgarian – Minister of Regional Development of the Republic of Belarus D.Terzieva. The meeting was attended by representatives of the governments and business circles of the two countries.
On June 9-10, 2016, the 4th meeting of the IPC was held in Astana. The Kazakh delegation was headed by the Minister of Health and Social Development T.Duissenova, the Bulgarian delegation was headed by the Minister of Regional Development L.Pavlova. At the meeting of the Commission, issues of development of trade and economic relations, cooperation in the fields of entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized businesses, agriculture, sports and further development of the contractual and legal framework were considered. A Memorandum of Cooperation and interaction was signed between the JSC "BJ-Freight Transportation" and JSC "KTZ Express" in order to develop railway and transport bilateral cooperation.
The 5th meeting of the Commission is expected to be held in Sofia.