First Belgium–Kazakhstan Business Council Held in Astana

On 5 June 2023, Astana hosted the first Belgium–Kazakhstan Business Council.
The event's main organisers were the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan.

The Business Council's main themes were expanding the presence of Belgian companies on the Kazakh market and implementing joint investment projects, further developing trade, economic and investment cooperation between Belgium and Kazakhstan, creating a platform for business leaders to interact, and exploring potential business opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals; agriculture; the food industry; communications, transport and logistics; engineering and infrastructure; information technology, digitalisation and communications; and the chemical industry and biotechnology.

The event offered an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest business development trends in Kazakhstan and to meet potential business partners from Belgium.

The Business Council was attended by representatives of official and business circles from Kazakhstan and Belgium: Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium Mr Baimukhan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Vantieghem, Head of AWEX (the Wallonia Export and Foreign Investment Agency) Mr Richard, President of the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce Mr Denis Van den Weghe, Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan Mr Ayan Yerenov, representatives of the Kazakh business community (the Astana International Financial Centre, Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC, Kazakh Invest National Company, and a number of Kazakh companies from various sectors of the economy), as well as the heads and representatives of Belgian companies taking part in the Belgian trade mission, including OTN SYSTEMS, ORFIT INDUSTRIES, AMB Ecosteryl, IBA and others.

The event was held in a hybrid format and brought together around 80 participants.

As part of the Business Council, a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was signed between the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan and SK-Pharmacia LLP.