On January 27, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Gideon Sa’ar, who arrived in Astana on an official visit.
The sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of political dialogue, trade, economic and investment ties, cooperation in the field of tourism, as well as the exchange of experience in science, education and healthcare. Particular attention was paid to issues of technology transfer and the expansion of practical interaction between relevant government agencies and business communities of the two countries.
A Kazakhstan–Israel business forum was also held in Astana with the participation of the two ministers.
Opening the forum, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov noted that the business forum is an important step toward shaping a new stage of trade and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Israel. Despite the stable dynamics of bilateral trade turnover, which amounted to USD 162 million over the first 11 months of last year, there remains significant unrealized potential for expanding economic interaction between the two countries, primarily in the areas of the agro-industrial complex, digitalization, innovation, and water infrastructure, according to Kazakh Invest.
“Kazakhstan and Israel complement each other in many areas — from agricultural technologies and food security to digital solutions and water resource management. We are interested in launching joint projects, creating new production chains, and forming long-term partnerships. Kazakhstan is ready to offer Israeli business a stable, open, and predictable investment environment,” Kuantyrov emphasized.
Following the forum, a ceremony was held to sign three commercial documents. These included a memorandum of understanding on developing cooperation in the modernization of housing and communal services and water infrastructure with the participation of the Israeli company Mekorot Development & Enterprises Ltd., an investment agreement for the implementation of a bitumen plant construction project in Atyrau Region, as well as a memorandum of cooperation in the field of electric power using renewable energy sources in East Kazakhstan Region.
Photo: gov.kz
