Kazakhstan and the UK discussed the agenda of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference

Nur-Sultan is the House of Ministries. Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Janelle Kushukova met with Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan Mrs. Catherine Leach.

Zh.Kushukova thanked the British Ambassador for his support in choosing the Republic of Kazakhstan as the Chairman of the MK-12, despite the recent membership in the WTO. Kazakhstan also hopes for a positive outcome of the results of the Conference.

In turn, British Ambassador Catherine Leach raised issues on the agenda of the upcoming 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, such as the ministerial decision on trade measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the completion of negotiations on fishing subsidies, environmental pollution, and constructive discussions on WTO reform.

The parties noted that the Ministerial Conference should serve as a positive signal to restore the authority of the Organization and help its members collectively overcome the crisis caused by coronavirus infection, revive trade and restore the global economy.

It should be noted that the UK remains among the largest trading partners of Kazakhstan in terms of trade turnover (15th place).

Thus, by the end of 2020, the volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the UK decreased by 6.7% and amounted to $ 1 billion. (2019 - $1.1 billion), the current trend has a positive trend to increase. In January-September 2021, the trade turnover amounted to $890.1 million, which is 23.9% higher than in the same period of 2020 ($718.6 million)."

It is also noted that the UK is among the 10 largest investors in Kazakhstan. During the period from 2005 to the 1st quarter of 2021, the gross inflow of direct investments to Kazakhstan exceeded $15 billion.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed that the successful holding of the Ministerial Conference will allow achieving the most important results for the restoration of world trade, as well as strengthening the foundations of the functioning of the multilateral trading system in the face of growing protectionism among WTO members.