Today in Astana Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev met with the Head of the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi.

During the meeting, issues of development of bilateral relations in various spheres of the economy, establishment of strategic partnership between countries and implementation of joint investment projects were discussed. The participants touched upon the implementation of the initiative of Kazakhstan on the establishment of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, the draft Agreement on the promotion and protection of mutual investment, and cooperation in the development of the Astana International Financial Center.

M. Al Gergawi noted the high level of holding the first Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Science and Technology and Expo-2017 in Astana and expressed the hope that the experience of Kazakhstan will contribute to the worthy holding of the next International Exhibition Expo-2020 in Dubai.

In turn, Bakytzhan Sagintayev noted the positive dynamics of the development of relations and assured that the Kazakh side will make every effort for their further strengthening and development.

For reference:

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the UAE were established on October 1, 1992.

The Emirates occupy the 52^nd place in Kazakhstan's trade turnover among 205 countries, including: 16^th place - from 42 countries of Asia and first place among Arab countries of the Gulf. Last year, the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $374.2 million and increased more than threefold as compared to 2015. Export of Kazakhstan to the Emirates also significantly exceeded the corresponding import figures - four times and amounted to $305.2 million in 2016.

In the first half of 2017, trade between the countries amounted to $317.3 million (exports - $273.8 million, imports - $43.5 million). Over the period from 2005-2016, the total volume of attracted foreign direct investment from the UAE to Kazakhstan amounted to $2 011.8 billion.