New export opportunities: Kazakhstan strengthens ties with Benelux
The first Kazakhstan-Benelux trade negotiations convened in Astana, drawing notable figures such as Armana Bekbasova, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at KazakhExport, along with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce of the Benelux region, and ambassadors from Belgium and the Netherlands. The assembly also included delegates from the business sector, as well as scholars and researchers from Nazarbayev University and QazTrade.
The meeting’s primary objective was to review the current state of trade between Kazakhstan and EU nations, particularly within the Benelux framework, and to explore future avenues for enhancing trade and investment relations.
Denis Van den Weghe, President of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce, highlighted Kazakhstan's pivotal role as an economic leader in Central Asia and its commitment to fostering global trade recovery and advancement. He underscored the significance of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed between Kazakhstan and the European Union in 2015, which has substantially bolstered bilateral ties and facilitated an expansion in import-export activities.
During the panel discussions, Armana Bekbasova presented the possibilities of developing trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Benelux region, leveraging the financial and insurance mechanisms offered by KazakhExport.
The insights shared by Kazakhstani experts elicited great interest among attendees, prompting suggestions for closer collaboration, direct engagement with Kazakhstani entrepreneurs, and the establishment of joint ventures.
Armana Bekbasova emphasized that Kazakhstan possesses considerable potential for expanding its trade activities, supported by ample resources to facilitate such growth.
– We stand prepared to leverage the resources offered by KazakhExport to facilitate the export of processed products and services to the Benelux countries. Our objective is to foster an environment of enhanced comfort and security for business interactions between partners in our respective nations, thereby elevating our trade and economic ties to a new standard of quality. Given the ongoing developments along the Middle Corridor, we recognize significant potential for collaboration across key industries such as metallurgy, chemicals, mechanical engineering, construction materials, and pharmaceuticals, – stated Armana Bekbasova.
In conclusion, participants concurred on the necessity of diversifying trade channels between the Benelux region and Kazakhstan to amplify exports and services, thus benefiting all stakeholders. Kazakhstan expressed keen interest in broadening partnerships with Benelux countries, particularly in technology, research, and innovation domains, with a view to fostering knowledge exchange, joint project implementation, and the cultivation of emerging industries.
