Kazakhstan and Slovakia affirm determination to intensify strategic alliance.
Loosen Up Your Ties, Slovakia! Kazakhstan's Ready for Business
ASTANA - Prime Ministers Olzhas Bektenov of Kazakhstan and Robert Fico of Slovakia locked horns in a thrilling meeting on June 11, discussing the juicy tidbits of trade and economic cooperation.
Slovakia, a true pal in the European Union, is just the ticket for Kazakhstan, shares Bektenov. Both countries boast similar economic clout, industrial development, agri-talent, and prime geographical locations, making them a match made in business heaven.
"It's all about beefing up our Kazakh-Slovak bromance," Bektenov mused.
Fico, a shrewd businessman as well as a politician, expressed his country's adoration for both increasing the trade pie sizes and creating joint ventures.
Last year, trade between the two powerhouses tottered at $140 million. Jan-Apr this year, the trade volume grew like a weed by a whopping 46%. The bigwigs acknowledged that diversifying trade offerings and expanding product lines were the keys to further success.
Kazakhstan's hearts yearn for agricultural growth through joint ventures and Slovak knowledge in organic farming. Bektenov emphasized the need for efficient transport and logistics routes to maintain a steady pulse in the international market.
The Business Bash
The Prime Ministers strutted their stuff at the Kazakhstan-Slovakia Business Bash, a swanky event that brought together business elites from both nations.
The who's who exchanged ideas on how to strengthen business ties, with a keen focus on exploring new opportunities. Slovak businesses are leaving their mark on Kazakh soil, particularly in healthcare, energy, and the food industry.
Bektenov invited Slovak investors and business mavens to invest in various priority sectors, promising a land of milk and honey. Promising areas for collaboration included industry, energy, agriculture, and the military-industrial complex.
Sprinkling some water-wise wisdom into the mix, the PMs emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise in water resources management. Kazakhstan even extended a friendly invitation for Slovakia to join the Party Water Initiative, an all-out national effort to boost the irrigation system.
Market-savvy IT folk couldn't miss out on the fun. The Astana Hub International Technopark, home to over 1,500 startups such as Google and Microsoft, beckoned Slovakia's techies to collaborate and shake things up in Kazakhstan's tech scene.
The PMs stood shoulder to shoulder, committing to deepening their comprehensive, mutually beneficial partnership.
Nuggets of Knowledge:- Kazakhstan and Slovakia have been expanding ties in the trade sector, with investments from Slovakia in Kazakhstan reaching $20 million[4].- The future looks bright for cooperation across many sectors, including the energy sector, engineering & manufacturing, digitalization & tourism, agriculture, and the military-industrial complex[2][3][5].- The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) could potentially enhance trade and transportation links between Asia and Europe[2][5].- Slovakia's expertise in water resources management may be invaluable to Kazakhstan[5].- Education and cultural exchange are also priorities in strengthening the relationship between the two countries[5].
- The discussions between Prime Ministers Bektenov and Fico in Astana regarding trade and economic cooperation extended to the fields of finance and general news, as they explored opportunities for joint ventures and increasing trade volumes.
- As both countries aim to diversify trade offerings and expand product lines, a closer look at political parameters, such as policies and regulations that foster business growth in each nation, would be beneficial in cementing a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership between Kazakhstan and Slovakia.
