Agreement Signed to Establish the Netherlands–Kazakhstan Business Council

Astana, Kazakhstan – Today, 4 April, the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan proudly announced the signing of an Agreement to establish the Netherlands–Kazakhstan Business Council, marking an important milestone in trade and investment relations between the Netherlands and Kazakhstan.

The signing ceremony, graced by the presence of His Excellency Nico Schermers, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Kazakhstan, marks a new era of cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Schermers commended the initiative of Denis Van den Weghe, President of the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce, to establish the Netherlands–Kazakhstan Business Council, highlighting its potential to boost trade and business relations.

His Excellency Askar Zhumagaliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in his video address to the participants, stressed that "the Business Council is intended to serve as a platform where ideas will emerge and partnerships will be built."

The establishment of the Netherlands–Kazakhstan Business Council is expected to strengthen cooperation in such sectors of the economy as water treatment engineering and infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, the chemical industry and others.

Underlining the importance of Dutch investment and trade, it was noted that the Netherlands ranks among Kazakhstan's top five trading partners while retaining its status as the country's number one global investor. As of the end of 2023, bilateral trade turnover reached $4.4 billion, while the volume of Dutch foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan from 2005 to 2023 totalled $111.7 billion.

Mr Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan, stressed the Chamber's commitment to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of domestic and international companies operating in Kazakhstan.

More than 900 legal entities with Dutch capital are currently registered in Kazakhstan, operating across a wide range of services including oil and gas production, geological exploration, the supply of agricultural machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals and medicines, and the manufacture of consumer goods.

Witteveen+Bos, FoodVentures, Rijk Zwaan, Nijhuis Saur Industries, Amicorp Group, Dutch Clean Tech, Impulse Plants, Veon Holdings BV and Dutch Mokveld currently represent the Dutch business community as members of the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce.

President Denis Van den Weghe extended an invitation to all interested parties to take part in the first meeting of the Netherlands–Kazakhstan Business Council, planned for mid-June in Astana as part of the Astana International Forum.