The agreements with the Czech company Skoda Transportation, Export Insurance Agency EGAP, Czech Export Bank, a memorandum with Transco and other documents worth 230 million euros were signed at the end of the Kazakhstan-Czech business forum in Astana.

The event was attended by heads of the two Governments Alikhan Smailov and Petr Fiala, representatives of the public sector, national companies and the business community. The business forum included a plenary session and bilateral meetings in B2B format.

In his speech, Alikhan Smailov noted that about 200 joint Kazakh-Czech enterprises are currently operating in the country.

"The growing interest of Czech business in the launch of joint projects in Kazakhstan is evidence of the fact that our country pays great attention to improving the investment climate. We have all necessary prerequisites for implementation of breakthrough investment projects," Alikhan Smailov said. 

He reminded that Kazakhstan remains a leader in attracting investment in Central Asia. During the years of independence the republic managed to attract over $410 billion of direct foreign investments.

"Our strategic task is to attract another $150 billion by 2029. Our country provides various measures of state support for investors, such as preferences in the form of tax benefits, exemption from customs duties and so on. Separately, there are special economic and industrial zones for priority sectors of the economy. Their participants get all the necessary infrastructure and benefits," Prime Minister stressed.

Prime Minister paid special attention to the activities of the Astana International Financial Center, which has become an important platform to attract investment, having a full range of relevant financial instruments and services. The proof of the success of the center is the fact that it has already registered more than 1,800 companies from 73 countries.

At the end of his speech, Alikhan Smailov noted that the business forum in Astana is an effective practical step in deepening the trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.

"Within the framework of our forum we sign a number of documents to the amount of 230 million euros, on the basis of which we plan to implement various joint projects. We are ready and intend to further deepen our investment cooperation with our Czech partners," the Prime Minister concluded.

#Alikhan Smailov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #International Cooperation