Kazakh-Saudi investment business forum kicks off in Nur-Sultan

Kazakh-Saudi investment business forum kicks off in Nur-Sultan

Kazakhstan is resuming flights to Saudi Arabia. Direct flights from Almaty to Jeddah will be launched in October. The prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation were discussed during the Kazakh-Saudi Investment Business Forum in Nur-Sultan. It was attended by more than 170 business representatives from the two countries. During the event, Kazakhstan advocated the bilateral recognition of vaccine passports with Saudi Arabia, as well as the possibility of supplying there the domestic QazVac vaccine and launching a joint production of an antiviral drug ‘Made in Kazakhstan’ on their territory. Meanwhile, Saudi companies shared their experiences in implementing a national programme aimed at developing the private sector, creating a vibrant society and increasing competitiveness in international trade. As part of a number of signed agreements, the parties intend to launch projects in IT, RES, tourism, energy and agriculture. Since the beginning of the year, trade between the two countries has grown by almost a third.

“Delegates from Saudi Arabia are interested in investing in Kazakhstan. To date, direct investment from that country to our country amounts to about US$117 million. However, this does not fully reflect the potential of investment cooperation between the two countries. We believe that this forum will become an motivation for future cooperation between large companies and the implementation of joint investment projects of the two countries,” said Saken Olzhabayev, Head of Investment Promotion and Marketing Department at Kazakh Invest company.

 

Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova