Astana Finance Days: Bakhyt Sultanov took part in the panel session "Cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan"

Today, within the framework of the Astana Finance Days International Financial Conference, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov took part in the panel session "Cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan".

The conference was also attended by EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kestutis Jankauskas, Managing Director of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers Jochen Biedermann, Managing Director of Frankfurt main finance Hubertus Wat, Executive Director of the International Science and Technology Center David Cleve and AIFC Investment Director James Martin.

During the conference, Bakhyt Sultanov noted that since the beginning of the year for 4 months there has been a trend to increase trade turnover with EU countries by more than 50%. There were 216 new export products, including flat rolled products, zinc, soybeans, iron bars. There is also an increase in imported pharmaceutical products, radar equipment, and telephone sets.

"The EU's investments in Kazakhstan in the last 10 years alone amounted to about 270 billion. euro. As of today, 27 projects in the amount of

$4.6 billion. with the participation of investors from EU countries. Of these, 2 have already been commissioned this year for more than $ 100 million," B. Sultanov said.

Also, during the speech, the Deputy Prime Minister invited the participants to intensify work on increasing the export of Kazakh food products and strengthen investment cooperation.

"Given the successful experience of implementing joint investment projects with EU countries in the region and new economic trends, we need to work together to launch high-tech enterprises for the production of products with high added value," B. Sultanov said.

It should be noted that the European Union and Kazakhstan have been partners since the country's declaration of independence in 1991. In December 2015, the European Union and Kazakhstan signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (ERSA). This agreement, which became the first document of its kind concluded with a partner from Central Asia, allowed to bring the relations between the EU and Kazakhstan to a new level and represents an important milestone in the relations between the EU and Kazakhstan dating back over 25 years.