The 8th meeting of the Kazakh-Italian Intergovernmental Working Group on Industrial and Economic Cooperation and Exchange (IWG) was held In Rome.

The host country was represented by the Italian co-chairman, Italian Vice Minister of Economic Development, Ivan Scalfarotto.

Within the framework of the IWG on investments, Yerlan Khairov, Chairman of the Investment Committee of the MID RK, gave a speech.

"I want to note that for us, Italy is one of the main trade partners with Europe and a leading investor. The foreign trade turnover amounted to $9.6 billion between Kazakhstan and Italy at the end of 2017, which is 13.5% more than in the same period of the previous year. Kazakhstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. This is a single market without customs borders with a capacity of more than 180 million people, with foreign trade turnover of about $1 trillion. Therefore, I propose to perceive Kazakhstan as a platform for production for the subsequent access to large markets of Eurasia, China, Central Asia and the Middle East," said Yerlan Khairov.

During the event, a wide range of priority issues related to the assessment of the state of bilateral cooperation and further development of Kazakh-Italian cooperation was considered. The parties discussed the intensification of interaction between business and banking circles, the development of the legal framework, cooperation in energy, industry, agriculture, issues in the development of humanitarian cooperation. The culture and tourism industry was noted as a promising area of ​​bilateral cooperation.

On the same day, at the end of the IWG meeting, the Kazakh Embassy in Italy, in conjunction with the General Confederation of Italian Industry and the ICE, held a business forum dedicated to the presentation of Kazakhstan's economic opportunities, attended by representatives of the largest Italian companies and business associations.

Last year Kazakhstan and Italy celebrated a quarter of a century of diplomatic relations.

For 25 years, the Italian Republic has become one of the main investors for our country. The Italians used the opportunity to participate in the Expo-2017 exhibition in Astana in order to establish cooperation with Kazakhstan in the new sphere – green technologies.

Italy is really interested in cooperation with Kazakhstan. Italian business values ​​Kazakhstan for its stability and considers the country to be promising.