Sales turnover between Kazakhstan and Austria reached $4 bln

During the meeting the sides signed the Charter of the Business Council, discussed the problems of cooperation in transport and logistic sphere, innovations and technologies sector, agriculture and food industry, construction and infrastructure, tourism and sport. In addition, opening of the representative offices of the largest Austrian companies in Kazakhstan, running of the technological equipment exhibition and financing export and import operations were debated as well.

As Co-Chairman of the Kazakh-Austrian Business Council Meiram Pshembayev noted during the session 'at the moment Austria is the fourth largest partner of Kazakhstan in Europe in terms of trade and investment volume.'

"Kazakhstan, in its turn, has become the biggest partner of Austria in the post-Soviet space. There are more than 100 joint Kazakh-Austrian enterprises in Kazakhstan. The sales turnover between our countries has reached $4 billion," M.Pshembayev said.

In his words, the priority directions of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Austria are transport technologies, health care and pharmaceuticals, tourism and energy.

The session of the Business Council will continue in Almaty today. The members of the Kazakh-Austrian Business Council are expected to touch upon the economic development of Almaty city, construction of new ski resorts in Almaty and 2017 Winter Universiade.

The agreement on the creation of the Business Council was signed by the Kazakh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber within President Nazarbayev's visit to Austria on 23 October 2012.

The Kazakh-Austrian Business Council was established as a coordination and consultative body promoting ties between the business circles of Kazakhstan and Austria.