ASTANA (TCA) — Qatar is interested in importing food products from Kazakhstan, such as chilled lamb, vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, and honey, but there are no short ways to deliver these perishable products there, the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan reported citing Kazakh Ambassador to Qatar Askar Shokybaev.
The economic and trade cooperation between Kazakhstan and Qatar remains at a low level, said Ambassador Shokybaev, adding that bilateral trade in 2015 amounted to as little as $463 thousand compared to $364 thousand in 2014.
“First of all, for the development of such cooperation it is necessary to establish a direct air service. We are talking about foods that are perishable. Land transport or railway transport is inapplicable. We hope that soon we will establish trade and economic cooperation,” the diplomat said.
The ambassador said that Qatar is one of the few countries in the world that despite the global economic crisis has the potential to invest. A major role in this is played by the Qatari investment fund, and state policies aimed at investment in promising large-scale projects. One such project will be Qatar’s participation in Kazakhstan’s infrastructure fund with a share of $100 million.
Another large-scale joint project is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national atomic company Kazatomprom and Qatar Solar Energy — there is a road map for the establishment of a joint venture in the second half of 2016.
It is expected that Kazatomprom will own 49 percent of the joint venture while the Qatari side will hold 51 percent. The JV will construct a plant to produce photovoltaic modules in Doha.
