ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 25. Kazakhstan
and Germany reaffirmed strong economic cooperation and signed key
agreements to boost trade, industry modernization, and strategic
partnerships during the fifteenth meeting of their
Intergovernmental Working Group in Astana, Trend reports via the
country’s Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development.
The meeting was chaired by co-chairs from Kazakhstan – Minister
of Industry and Infrastructure Development Yersayin Nagaspayev, and
from Germany – Director of the Department of Foreign Policy of the
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany Ralf
Böhme. The delegations presented a comprehensive view of the
current agenda and future projects.
Following this meeting, the following agreements were signed
between the two countries:
A Memorandum of Cooperation between Deutsche Bahn and JSC
“QazIndustry”;
A Joint Statement of Intent regarding the trade promotion
program for small and medium-sized enterprises “Partnering in
Business with Germany” and the “Business Links” instrument between
the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan and the Federal
Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany;
A Cooperation Agreement on financing through the Export Credit
Agency (ECA) between the Development Bank of Kazakhstan and AKA
Bank.
The parties confirmed mutual interest in expanding
trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian ties, launching new joint
productions, strengthening energy, food, and raw material security,
as well as technology transfer and digitalization – as the
foundation for modernization of industries. The next step will be
to detail project roadmaps and mechanisms for their
implementation.
“The IGWG serves as a key platform for substantive discussions:
from strengthening strategic partnership and increasing trade – to
cooperation in production, supply chain resilience, and
technological exchange. Participants highlighted areas capable of
delivering a rapid multiplicative effect for both economies,” the
statement said.
The Intergovernmental Working Group was established in 2003 as a
mechanism to coordinate economic cooperation. The agenda of the
meetings traditionally covers industrial cooperation and raw
material projects, transport and logistics, attracting investments
and financing, as well as workforce training and “green”
technologies in water and energy supply.
