Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Finland increased 3.4 times

Today, on May 13, 2021, the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov held talks with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland Ville Skinnari to discuss topical issues of trade and economic cooperation between the countries.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the Republic of Kazakhstan Soili Myakelainen-Bukhanist, as well as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Finland Sartbaeva Zhanna Sabitovna also took part.

Kazakhstan and Finland have established an effective mechanism for the further development of partnership relations. The Kazakh-Finnish Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation is successfully functioning.

The trade turnover between the two countries in January-March 2021 amounted to $111.2 million, which is 3.4 times higher than in the same period of the previous year, - said the Kazakh Minister. - Exports from Kazakhstan to Finland in the first quarter of 2021 increased by 80.8 rubles and amounted to $86.4 million.

"At the same time, the Kazakh-Finnish relations have the prospect of strengthening," Sultanov said. - To change the existing structure of mutual trade, the Ministry of Trade of Kazakhstan has formed a list of potential goods from 40 products of the petrochemical, food, metallurgical, machine-building, chemical industries, and construction goods.

Speaking about the advantages of Kazakhstani producers, Bakhyt Sultanov told about the producers of organic products, of which there are more than 60 in the country. Some of them are currently being accredited by the authorized bodies of the European Union.

During the conversation, Bakhyt Sultanov noted that Finland is known for its success in the field of high technologies and Kazakhstan is interested in exchanging experience and establishing cooperation in this area.

"Kazakhstan has a favorable geographical location, has access to the markets of border countries, which makes it an attractive regional food hub with the prospect of becoming an international one. There are 10 special economic zones on the territory of Kazakhstan. There are benefits for investors, and the government guarantees support and protection of investors ' rights. I would like to suggest using the potential of the ICBC "Khorgos" to attract Finnish investments, as well as using it as a platform for wholesale and retail exports to the Chinese market," the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan addressed the Finnish side.

In turn, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, V. Skinnari, noted that he had come to discuss business and trade development issues in the light of relations with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, as well as in the framework of cooperation with the European Association.

"We arrived with representatives of leading Finnish companies to discuss real options for cooperation. Given Finland's high technology, I think we could build our cooperation and make a breakthrough. We are also interested in developing cooperation in logistics, digitalization, education and healthcare. We are ready to support Kazakhstan in becoming a trading partner and taking a place in the EU market, " V. Skinnari said.

In this regard, in order to enhance cooperation between business circles, the Kazakh side offered the opportunity to consider conducting trade missions in an online format to familiarize consumers with products of Kazakh and Finnish production.