Croatian business invited to join logistics and infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan
Zagreb hosted the 1st meeting of the Kazakh-Croatian Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia Damir Habijan, Kazinform News Agency reports.
The meeting discussed further development of cooperation in trade, energy, transport, infrastructure, machine building, agriculture, healthcare, e-commerce, tourism and sport.
To date, Kazakhstan and Croatia enjoy stable bilateral interaction in many areas. Thus, commodity turnover between the two countries in January-November 2023 and reached $335.4 million.
Addressing the meeting, the Kazakh Minister noted the importance of the Kazakh-Croatian Business Council and Business Forum to held with the participation of the two countries’ business communities. The events are slated for the nearest time in Zagreb. In his words, these events will significantly contribute to the strengthening of the bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Besides, Alibek Kuantyrov stressed Kazakhstan’s key role in development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route amid the current geopolitical situation.
We invite Croatian business to join logistics and infrastructure projects along the Middle Corridor including the Aktau and Kuryk sea ports, he said.
The sides noted expansion of cooperation in energy sources transportation.
The parties also spoke for increasing the volumes of Kazakh oil export to the Eastern Europe through the Janaf pipeline.
One of the options of boosting the export of oil, could the energy supply to Krk island (northern part of Croatia) and further transportation via the Adria oil pipeline system to the remaining part of Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia.
The sides also agreed on stepping up cooperation and establishment of business ties in the fields of machine building, agriculture, pharmaceutics, healthcare, tourism and sport.
The Kazakh side expressed interest in implementation of joint investment and technological projects in agrarian sector.
Upon completion of the event, the sides confirmed their readiness to develop interaction in entire range of issues.
The meeting ended with signing a protocol.
The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission will be held in Astana.