An Agreement on the establishment of the Netherlands-Kazakhstan Business Council was signed

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

The signing ceremony, which was graced by His Excellency, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Kazakhstan Nico Schermers, marks a new era of cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Schermers praised the initiative of the President of the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce, Denis Van den Weij, to create the Netherlands-Kazakhstan Business Council, highlighting its potential for enhancing trade and business relations.

His Excellency, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Askar Zhumagaliev, in his video message to the event participants, emphasized that “The Business Council is intended to serve as a platform where ideas will arise and partnerships will be built.”

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

Highlighting the importance of Dutch investment and trade, it was noted that the Netherlands occupies a position as a “top 5” trading partner, maintaining its status as the No. 1 global investor in Kazakhstan. As of the end of 2023, bilateral trade reached US$4,4 billion, and foreign direct investment from the Netherlands to Kazakhstan from 2005 to 2023 amounted to US$111,7 billion.

Mr. Murat Karymsakov, Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan (FTC), emphasized the VTC's commitment to ensuring the protection of the legal rights and interests of domestic and international companies operating in Kazakhstan.

Currently, more than 900 legal entities with the participation of Dutch capital are registered in Kazakhstan, whose enterprises provide a wide range of services including oil and gas production, geological exploration, supply of agricultural machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals and medicines, as well as the production of consumer goods.

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

President Denis Van den Weij extended an invitation to all interested parties to participate in the first meeting of the Netherlands-Kazakhstan Business Council, which is scheduled to be held in mid-June in Astana as part of the Astana International Forum.