Kazakhstan intends to increase comprehensive cooperation with Belgium and the Netherlands

Astana, February 6-7, 2024 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko held meetings with the Ambassadors of Belgium and the Netherlands to the Republic of Kazakhstan Henri Vantigem and Nico Schermers.

During the conversation with the Belgian diplomat, issues of further strengthening the political dialogue and intensifying economic and trade ties between the two countries were discussed. The positive role of the bilateral Business Council, created in 2023, in increasing trade and investment cooperation was noted.

The Deputy Minister congratulated Belgium on the start of its presidency of the Council of the European Union and expressed hope for active joint efforts to promote the issue of easing the visa regime for citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

At the meeting with the Dutch diplomat, mutual interest was noted in strengthening trade and investment cooperation, interaction in the fields of agriculture, water resources management and other relevant areas.

The parties expressed their readiness to support the work of the joint Kazakh-Dutch agricultural committee established at the end of last year, designed to give new impetus to the mutually beneficial partnership.

R. Vasilenko called on the interlocutors for the joint development of the Trans-Caspian international transport route, which opens up new prospects for expanding trade and economic interaction between Kazakhstan and Europe.

During the meetings, special attention was paid to issues of cooperation in the region, including in the context of preparations for the VI Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia this year in Astana. R. Vasilenko informed the interlocutors about Kazakhstan’s initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation in the field of environmental protection, water resources, etc. Taking into account the best European experience, he also expressed the readiness of the Kazakh side to implement joint projects in the region.

For reference: Belgium is an important trading partner of Kazakhstan in the EU. Bilateral trade turnover at the end of 2023 amounted to 523,7 million US dollars (exports - 220,7 million, imports - 303 million). The gross inflow of investment from Belgium to Kazakhstan since 2005 has amounted to 12,4 billion US dollars.

The Netherlands is one of the five largest trading partners of Kazakhstan in Europe. In 2023, trade turnover between the countries amounted to 4,4 billion US dollars (exports - 4 billion, imports - 400 million). Since 2005, the volume of direct investment from indigenous peoples in the Republic of Kazakhstan has amounted to about 117,7 billion US dollars.