Economic Cooperation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Agriculture

Kazakhstan and Germany to Cooperate in Water and Agriculture

During a visit to Germany last week, Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev met with the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture to discuss the possibility of Kazakh agricultural and organic products entering the German market. The parties agreed to draft a concept for the Regional Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Central Asia, an initiative announced by the President of Kazakhstan during his official visit to Germany back in September 2023. Following Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister's meeting with Boris Greifeneder, Managing Director of the German Water Partnership (GWP), a decision was made to draft an Agreement on a Water Partnership between Kazakhstan and Germany. Cooperation with GWP, a network of more than 300 companies in the water sector with a strong international focus, marks an essential step towards sustainable and efficient water management in Kazakhstan and will allow the use of proven new technologies. Speaking at the roundtable "Water for Sustainable Development," Bozumbayev noted that the consequences of the unprecedented floods experienced by Kazakhstan in spring, illustrate the need for innovative approaches to combat and prevent similar disasters in the future. To this end, he added that Kazakhstan is currently testing Talsim, a German digital flood forecasting solution, and is ready to study German cases in solving flood problems. The Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister discussed training specialists for Kazakhstan’s water management industry and in turn, the German side expressed its readiness to identify a university to collaborate with the newly- established Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation in Taraz.

Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan to Construct Seven New Offshore Vessels

Kazakhstan plans to expand its maritime fleet by building seven new vessels on the Caspian Sea. These vessels will be three tankers, two ferries, and two container ships. The construction of the vessels is part of a broader strategy to develop Kazakhstan's transportation and logistics infrastructure, which will strengthen its position on the Caspian Sea. Today, Kazakhstan's merchant fleet consists of 17 vessels: 10 tankers, four dry bulk carriers, and three container ships. In December 2023, KazMunayGas and Abu Dhabi Ports Group signed an agreement to establish a ship repair and shipbuilding yard in Kazakhstan. This project will provide the necessary base for the repair and construction of new vessels, which will increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan's fleet on a global level. In addition, Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its ties with Azerbaijan. Tankers have already been purchased to transport oil from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan for subsequent shipment via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. This cooperation will diversify export routes and ensure the stability of supplies. Turkey has become another significant partner of Kazakhstan in shipbuilding. Under an agreement with Turkish companies, new vessels will be built, providing the country with additional opportunities to develop trade relations in the region. This project will also reduce Kazakhstan's dependence on Russia in shipbuilding, and strengthen its position in the Caspian Sea.

Investment

Thai Company to Build Fish-Processing Plant in Kazakhstan

The Thai company Sea Value Plc. plans to build a plant in Kazakhstan to produce canned, processed fish, and frozen semi-finished products. The project was discussed during a meeting on August 14 in Astana between the Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Gabidulla Ospankulov, and the President of Sea Value, Dr. Poj Aramwattananont. As reported by the company Kazakh Invest, Sea Value is currently searching for a plot of land to start the project. Local fisheries are planned to supply fish for the new production, and the finished products will be exported to Thailand and other countries. The Thai company plans to invest $6 million in the construction of the plant, which will produce 3-5 tons of fish products per day. Sea Value is Thailand's second-largest producer of canned tuna, exporting products to 150 countries. In 2023, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Thailand increased by almost 36%, reaching $367 million.

Finance

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Aim for $10 Billion Trade Volume

Following on from our previous report on the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan's current visit to Kazakhstan, on August 8, a meeting was held between Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the residence in Аkorda. Meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission, the business forum, and several cultural events were also held on the eve of the visit. A strategic partnership and alliance program until 2034 has been prepared, and a council chaired by the heads of foreign policy agencies is being established. In recent years, the volume of trade has doubled, the number of joint ventures has increased five-fold, the volume of cargo transportation is increasing, and large cooperation projects are being implemented. At the meeting, the presidents supported a further comprehensive cooperation program and the establishment of an inter-parliamentary forum with the participation of the chambers of the two countries' parliaments. Before the current summit, a portfolio of new deals and contracts with a total value of $7 billion was initiated to develop industrial cooperation which includes projects in energy, transport and logistics, metallurgy, textiles, agriculture, and construction, as well as inter-regional projects. The highest priority was given to implementing strategic regional projects as soon as possible, such as the Kambarata HPP-1. It was also agreed that the first meeting of the two countries' regional leaders in Samarkand will be held this fall. In unison, the first session of the Supreme Interstate Council was held under the president's chairmanship. The two countries' leaders noted the adoption of the strategic partnership and alliance program for 2024-2034, stating that the volume of trade should increase to $10 billion in the coming years, and for this purpose, a separate program will be adopted by the end of the month. Special attention was paid to the mutual formation of markets and eliminating existing restrictions. At the end of the Supreme Interstate Council's first meeting, a ceremony was held, wherein the presidents signed the decisions of the Supreme Interstate Council on approving the strategic partnership and alliance program for 2024-2034 and establishing the Council of Foreign Ministers. In addition, agreements were reached on mutual cooperation in agriculture, health, and the economy. A memorandum on establishing the Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Council of Experts, protocols on cooperation in the regulation of natural monopolies and competition policy, and a plan for several other activities were also signed. At the end of the bilateral negotiations, branches of the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and the South Kazakhstan State University named after Mukhtar Avezov in Chirchik (Uzbekistan) were ceremonially opened. The leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also took part in a ceremony dedicated to the arrival of the first freight train on the route Xi’an–Khorgos–Almaty–Saryogoch–Tashkent. Presidents Mirziyoyev and Tokayev unveiled a statue in Astana of the founder of the Uzbek literary language, poet and great thinker, Alisher Navoi. In 2020, the late Kazakh poet Nesipbek Aytuli translated and published Navoi's most important work, Khamsa, into Kazakh, and President Tokayev...

Pharmaceuticals Economy Economic Cooperation Export/Import Oil & Gas Investments Education Finance

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Sign $5 Billion in Agreements at Business Forum

On August 7, a joint business forum was held in Astana with more than 300 representatives from business circles of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in attendance. At the forum, joint projects involving automotive engineering, electrical engineering, pharmaceuticals, the chemical and logistics industries were discussed, and a set of agreements with a total value of $5 billion were adopted, according to the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Network. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Kazakhstan’s JV KAZ AMT and Uzbekistan’s Estess Atraumatic Sterile Surgical Threads LLC, Kazakhstan’s Dolche LLC and Uzbekistan’s Medproject Technology LLC. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, arrived in Astana on August 7 at the invitation of the President of Kazakhstan. Within the framework of the visit, Mirziyoyev will participate in the consultative meeting of the leaders of the Central Asian countries and the dialogue in the format Central Asia + Japan. President Mirziyoyev signed the decision to establish a free economic zone of the Central Asia International Industrial Cooperation Center on August 6. The zone will be organized in the Syr Darya region. Industrial cooperation will be expanded by involving enterprises in the production process in the center's territory and establishing the production of import-substituting products. Only products manufactured in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are sold in the center's territory under the control of a production certificate. According to the decision, Kazakhstani and foreign citizens can enter the center's territory without a visa through a special checkpoint with an identity document, and stay in the territory for 15 days.

Economic Cooperation Switzerland Banking European Union

Tajikistan and Switzerland Strengthen Cooperation in Banking

A meeting between representatives of the economic bloc of Tajikistan and Switzerland was held at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank's Constituency Group conference. As reported by Avesta.tj. , the Tajik delegation was headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Hokim Holikzoda, and the Swiss side, by Federal Minister of Finance Karin Keller-Zutter and Chairman of the Swiss National Bank Thomas Jordaan. Both sides expressed satisfaction with their now long-term cooperation. Over the past 25 years, the Swiss National Bank has significantly contributed to Tajikistan's development of essential aspects of its banking system, including managing international resources, monetary policy, and operational risk management. Focused on further cooperation, the agenda included attracting Swiss finance and modern technologies to develop other vital sectors of Tajikistan's economy.