ASTANA (TCA) — The Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan’s national company for investment support and promotion Kazakh Invest, Saparbek Tuyakbaev, and Ambassador of Japan to Kazakhstan Kawabata Ichiro on February 12 discussed issues of boosting investment cooperation between the two countries, Kazakh Invest reported.
Japan is among 11 priority countries for Kazakhstan to attract investment and is one of the country’s key partners in East Asia.
The parties discussed the forthcoming meeting of the Joint Commission of the Governments and Private Sectors of Kazakhstan and Japan on Economic Cooperation, which is scheduled for April. The Embassy of Japan will provide the necessary assistance in inviting Japanese companies interested in investing in Kazakhstan.
An agreement was reached to hold a meeting with representatives of Japanese business in Almaty, where topical issues of improving business conditions in Kazakhstan will be discussed. In addition, participation of Japanese companies Marubeni and Tokyo Rope in the implementation of investment projects was considered.
Tokyo Rope has already implemented in Almaty a project for the production of high-strength metal mesh and panels used in the installation of protective structures against mudflows, avalanches, landslides, and rock falls. The company plans to expand its production and implement several more projects. Marubeni is participating in the turn-key construction project of the deep oil refining complex at the Atyrau Refinery, which is the final stage of the Atyrau Refinery reconstruction.
Saparbek Tuyakbaev and Kawabata Ichiro discussed the possibility of opening an office of the Japanese external trade organization (JETRO) in Kazakhstan. JETRO is a governmental organization that provides assistance to Japanese investments abroad and has 77 offices in 57 countries.
The total volume of Japanese investments in Kazakhstan over the past 10 years has exceeded $5.7 billion. In Kazakhstan, there are more than 70 enterprises with the participation of Japanese capital. These enterprises are engaged in oil and gas sector, metallurgy, finance, mining, wholesale trade of cars, telecommunications, and logistics.
