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Kazakh-German Business Council Meets to Expand Economic Cooperation

The 15th meeting of the Kazakh-German Business Council for Strategic Cooperation, co-chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar and Director of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy Michael Harms, was held in Berlin on August 28. The meeting gathered Kazakh government and business representatives and heads of leading German companies such as Siemens, Svevind Energy, CT Agro, CLAAS KGaA, Flight Design General Aviation, Deutsche Bahn, KfW Banken Gruppe, and Deutsche Bank. The co-chairs emphasized that the event was taking place ahead of Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz's visit to Kazakhstan in September. The meeting focused on expanding Kazakh-German trade and economic cooperation, attracting investments, and implementing joint projects in the agro-industrial sector and processing industry. It was noted that Germany is Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in the European Union, and that Kazakhstan is among Germany's top 50 foreign trade partners. The lion's share of German investments in Kazakhstan go to the country’s non-raw materials sector — the processing industry, chemical industry, production of building materials, transport, and agro-industrial sector. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Kazakhstan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek Kuantyrov urged further to intensify cooperation between the Kazakh and German business communities. Noting the critical role of German companies in Kazakhstan’s industrialization, Kuantyrov stated that German companies are implementing 66 projects in Kazakhstan for a total of $54 billion, creating about 15,000 jobs. Kuantyrov added that since 2005, German companies have invested about $7.8 billion in Kazakhstan’s economy, with a significant increase in the past year, reaching $770 million. He expressed confidence that the upcoming visit of Scholz to Kazakhstan will bring bilateral relations to a new level and give an additional impetus to strengthening existing and creating new economic ties. Kuantyrov emphasized the significance of cooperation in the context of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. He noted that cargo traffic through the Middle Corridor to Germany and the EU has increased almost threefold since the beginning of 2022 — to 1.5 million tons and 2.6 million tons, respectively, during the first seven months of this year, adding that the potential of TITR is estimated at 10 million tons of cargo a year. In this regard, Kuantyrov invited German partners to participate in developing Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea ports of Aktau and Kuryk.

Oil and Gas European Union Russia Export/Import International transport oil export oil pipline Pipeline

Kazakhstan Delivers Oil to Europe via Russia

Kazakhstan has begun supplying oil to Europe via the Druzhba oil pipeline system through Russia. The first oil shipments have already arrived in Germany, where amid current geopolitical challenges, it has become an important part of the country's energy security . Acting through its Kazakh subsidiary Agip Caspian Sea, the Italian company Eni, has shipped the first 20,000 tons of oil as part of a test delivery via the Atyrau-Samara route, with further transportation via the Druzhba pipeline. Kazakhstan now plans to deliver up to 1.2 million tons of oil to Germany via this system this year, following an agreement with the Russian side, to ensure uninterrupted supplies to Europe despite the sanctions restrictions on Russian oil. Historically, the pipeline has been one of the largest routes for Russian oil supplies to Europe, but its use has undergone significant changes in recent years due to sanctions. Faced with these changes, Kazakhstan's proposals to increase oil supplies through this route, could not only play a key role in ensuring energy stability in the region but also demonstrate the country's strategic importance as a major player in the global oil market and its ability to adapt to changes in global energy policy.

European Union Investments Energy Economy Environment Export/Import

Uzbekistan Plans to Export Electricity to Europe by 2030

The first meeting of energy ministers was held as part of the sixth consultative meeting of the leaders of the Central Asian nations. At the meeting in Astana, Uzbekistan announced that it could begin exporting excess electricity to Europe by 2030. According to the Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, Jorabek Mirzamahmudov, if the tripartite project of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan on the transmission of the cable along the bottom of the Caspian Sea is successfully implemented, Uzbekistan will be able to transfer excess electricity. “By the end of this year, we will increase the total energy capacity obtained from renewable energy sources to the level of more than 4 GW. By 2030, this indicator will exceed 20 GW, of which 2–5 GW of energy will be exported to Europe,” the minister said. According to Mirzamahmudov, the exact volume of exports will depend on the electricity transmission system's capacity and European buyers' needs. Mirzamahmudov also stated that Uzbekistan’s electricity would pass through Kazakhstan through the unified energy system of Central Asia, through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, from there to Georgia, and then through the Black Sea to Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Following Uzbekistan's development strategy, the total generation capacity will be increased by 2.4 times (44.9 GW) by 2030. At the same time, the share of renewable energy sources will be increased to 40%. For this purpose, solar and wind energy production projects with a total capacity of 18.8 GW (8.6 GW solar, 10.2 GW wind) will be implemented.

European Union Poland

Poland Asks Turkmenistan to Open a Consulate in Warsaw

Poland has asked Turkmenistan to consider opening a consulate in Warsaw. The country's minister of external affairs, Rashid Meredov, announced this at a government meeting on July 5. Turkmenistan will send an official delegation to Poland in the fourth quarter of 2024 to study the possibility of opening a consulate. Turkmenistan and Poland have also formed a working group on economic cooperation and plan to organize an exhibition of the Museum of Turkmenistan's exhibits in Poland in 2025. The number of Turkmen immigrants in Poland has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2022, Turkey, the most popular destination for Turkmen labor migration, introduced a visa regime at the request of the Turkmen side. The report stated: “The decline of the Turkish economy and the devaluation of the lira also played an important role. Migrants began to look for other options, including Poland. The request to open a consulate is probably related to this, but Rashid Meredov did not mention it in his report. The government of Turkmenistan wants to curb labor migration with bureaucratic obstacles.” Meredov also announced the expansion of cooperation with other Eastern European countries that are members of the European Union: Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia.

European Union Banking Economic Cooperation Switzerland

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.

EU Cooperation European Union Economy Investments Export/Import

Kyrgyzstan and EU Strengthen Economic Cooperation

During his working visit to Brussels, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov held talks with Valdis Dombrovskis, the Executive Vice President of the European Commission. The main topics of discussion were deepening trade and economic cooperation, attracting investment, realizing joint projects in mining and the green economy, introducing digital technologies, and developing human resources. Dombrovskis emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between Kyrgyzstan and the European Union. He noted that signing the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement opens new opportunities for realizing mutually beneficial trade and economic projects. He also expressed the EU's readiness to deepen economic cooperation and interest in participating in significant energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Kambarata HPP-1 and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad, emphasizing their financial potential. Sadyr Japarov thanked the EU for its support and for signing the new Agreement on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation, expressing his confidence that it would strengthen the agreements reached and create a modern legal basis for future bilateral interaction. The President noted that Kyrgyzstan provides significant opportunities for trade and investment due to its geographical location and transit potential. Japarov also emphasized the country's commitment to the green agenda, stating its intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of the initiative to develop a green economy, Japarov proposed exchanging foreign debt for green projects, thus improving the global environmental situation. Projects on water management and the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies in Kyrgyzstan's mining industry were also discussed.