Near and new markets – Kazakhstan activates trade cooperation in the eastern direction

The algorithm of interaction with business captains of the People's Republic of China and the roadmap of promising joint investment projects will be developed in the government.

Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev took part in a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin on Friday, where issues of cooperation with countries opening new markets for Kazakh products and the possibility of creating modern production facilities in Kazakhstan - China, Iran and Afghanistan were discussed.

The main focus is on cooperation with China. The recent trip of the Deputy Prime Minister to China, during which the heads of companies, the world's largest leaders in the fields of metalworking, e-commerce, construction, production of new materials and technologies and the agro-industrial complex, showed an open interest in strengthening cooperation, opens up broad prospects for the creation of high-tech industries in Kazakhstan.

The task set by the Head of State in the new address – accelerated development of the manufacturing sector and the creation of high–grade clusters - can be successfully achieved through effective partnership and the introduction of best practices.

«China is our closest eastern neighbor and one of the most attractive and affordable markets for our products. During the trip, we held meetings with seven large companies, at a round table in Shenzhen we met representatives of associations for the production of seeds, phosphorous fertilizers, pesticides, transport, logistics, certification companies, and they all expressed their willingness to cooperate and exchange experience, technologies, scientific developments. Now, on our part, we need to work out the algorithm of interaction for each company: from the direction of cooperation to the localization of the project in Kazakhstan. I instruct to create a working group from among representatives of Qaztrade, Kazakh Invest and NCE «Atameken» to work out the algorithm and create a roadmap of projects with all interested ministries and departments», — Serik Zhumangarin said.

The meeting also discussed the process of creating an action plan to bring the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran to 3 billion US dollars. The draft document contains 30 events focused on the development of infrastructure projects in the field of agriculture, transport and logistics, oil and gas. It is under consideration by the Iranian side. This document is especially relevant in light of the expected signing of the Agreement on a Free Trade Zone between the EAEU and Iran before the end of this year.

In addition, the mechanisms of mutual settlements with Afghanistan for the implementation of agreements signed during the Kazakh-Afghan business forum were discussed.