As part of the state visit to Kazakhstan of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Kazakh-Qatar Investment Forum, organized by Samruk-Kazyna JSC and NC KAZAKH INVEST JSC, was held in Astana. This year, representatives of large businesses from both countries took part in the high-level event; the total number of delegates was more than 200 people.

The event was opened with a welcoming speech by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almas Aidarov. In his speech, he emphasized that the Government of Kazakhstan is continuously working to increase the level of investment attractiveness of the country. In particular, a draft of a new Concept of Investment Policy of Kazakhstan was approved with a focus on increasing the investment attractiveness of Kazakhstan in the context of strengthening ESG requirements, global energy and technological transition. According to him, the signing of the Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the State of Qatar will open up new opportunities for investors and strengthen relations between the countries.

The work of the first plenary session was opened by the Managing Director of Samruk-Kazyna JSC Yernar Zhanadil, who emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and investment cooperation. According to him, the Qatari economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the Middle East and in the world, at the same time Qatar is one of the most important economic partners of Kazakhstan.

Investment opportunities in Qatar were presented by such large companies as Hassad Food, Qatar Mining, Estithmar Holding, Baladna, SNOONU, Metito Qatar, etc.

In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer of Hassad Food, Mohammed Al-Sada, spoke about the importance of food security, noted that the company is successfully implementing projects in 6 countries around the world and expressed its readiness to use this experience to strengthen trade relations and ensure food security between countries.

Henrik Halager Christiansen, CEO of Estithmar Holding, noted that the conglomerate includes 45 companies operating in 5 areas. In Kazakhstan, they expressed interest in implementing projects in the tourism and healthcare sectors.

Regional director of the Metito Qatar company, Vignesh Yer, which has offices in 35 countries, noted that the company has begun to study the issue of implementing projects in the Aktobe and Karaganda regions. They have a desire to expand activities in other regions of Kazakhstan. Thus, on the sidelines of the Forum, the Qatari company signed a Memorandum on the implementation of the project in the Zhambyl region.

During the visit, the Qatari delegation held business meetings between large Qatari companies and the Kazakh public and private sector.

On the sidelines of the Investment Forum, a ceremony was held to sign 13 bilateral documents totaling more than $625 million.

List of signed documents:

1. Memorandum of cooperation in the field of agro-industrial complex signed by Baiterek NMH JSC and Hassad Food;
2. Memorandum of cooperation on the dairy farm project between the Dinara Group Agroholding, Baiterek NMH JSC and Baladna;
3. Memorandum of cooperation on the poultry farm project between Alel Agro JSC, Baiterek NMH JSC and Baladna;
4. Memorandum of cooperation in the field of mining and metallurgical complex signed by JSC NGK Tau-Ken and Qatar Mining;
5. A memorandum of cooperation in the field of tourism was signed by KIDF Estithmar Holding;
6. Memorandum of cooperation in the field of PPP projects between KIDF and Estithmar Holding;
7. KAZAKH TOURISM signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of tourism with Estithmar Holding;
8. A memorandum of cooperation was signed by the Akimat of Zhambyl region and Metito Qatar;
9. An agreement on cooperation in the field of agriculture was signed by JSC NC KAZAKH INVEST and Qatar National Enterprise;
10. KazakhAgroExport LLP and QazTrade JSC signed a Memorandum of Cooperation;
11. A memorandum of cooperation was signed by the Parqour private company and QazTrade JSC;
12. Memorandum of cooperation between Kazakh State University named after. Al-Farabi and Qatar University;
13. Agreement on cooperation in the field of healthcare between Cynosure LLP, KIFD and Estithmar Holding.

source: Kazakh Invest