Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov participated in the VII Kazakhstan Roundtable on Global Investment (KGIR-2024). More than 500 representatives of business, including heads of leading international and Kazakhstani companies in agriculture, food industry, energy and mining industries, financial sector, as well as representatives of domestic entrepreneurship, investors gathered at the site. The plenary session was dedicated to the theme "Global Investment Trends: Vision for the Future".

Opening the KGIR, Olzhas Bektenov noted that the round table is a logical continuation of the meeting of the Council of Foreign Investors, held the previous day under the chairmanship of the Head of State, and is aimed at building a close dialogue with the business community.

The Government of Kazakhstan in pursuance of the Head of State's instruction is carrying out systematic work to create a favourable investment climate. As of today, 14 special economic zones are functioning in the country, where tax and customs preferences are provided for investors, the procedure for hiring foreign labour force is simplified, and administrative barriers for business are reduced. The Investment Headquarters under the Government works on a permanent basis to promptly resolve the issues of entrepreneurs. The "Green Corridor" or Fast-track mechanism is being launched, which speeds up the passage of authorisation procedures for priority investment projects. Conditions have been created to ensure maximum protection of the rights and interests of domestic and foreign investors. Thus, foreign businesses are given the opportunity to choose between English law in MFCA and the national legal system.

KGIR participants shared their experience in implementing projects in the country and outlined prospects for further co-operation.

Yan Guochuan, Deputy General Manager of China Energy Investment Corporation, emphasised the importance of cooperation in the energy sector and expressed confidence in the potential of joint projects: "We will make full use of our advanced technologies, professional potential and excellent management team in the energy sector to actively participate in Kazakhstan's projects on coal development and clean coal utilisation, new energy, infrastructure support. It is important for us to contribute to the friendly co-operation between China and Kazakhstan".

Nitin Kapoor, Vice President for International Biopharmaceuticals Region of AstraZeneca, in his speech emphasised the importance of Kazakhstan as a key player in the pharmaceutical market of Central Asia. The company's efforts to develop local production and innovative solutions were noted.

"Kazakhstan is the locomotive of AstraZeneca's business in Central Asia, and as a global biopharmaceutical company we support the ambitions of the government of Kazakhstan to become the centre of the pharmaceutical industry in the region," Nitin Kapoor emphasised.

Also speaking at the plenary session were President of Power International Holding Ramez Al-Hayat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fufeng Group Limited Li Xuechun, Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power Marco Arcelli, Executive Vice President for Europe, India of Carlsberg Group Lars Lehmann, President for Africa, Middle East and Central Asia of Alstom Andrew DeLeone and Vice President for Banking Operations of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Matteo Patrone.

The Prime Minister emphasised that an important priority for the country is the development of industry, and called on foreign companies to closer partnership with the Kazakhstan business community.

"The Government of Kazakhstan will make every effort to maintain a stable and predictable investment climate. We attach great importance to direct interaction with investors at every stage of project implementation, we aim to protect your rights. Domestic companies, working in the supply chain with large investors, adopt experience and raise quality standards. Large investment projects have a multiplicative effect on the development of the SME belt, contributing to the formation of a diversified economic ecosystem. We endeavour to ensure that as foreign production facilities develop in Kazakhstan, the share of Kazakhstani content in products grows. Special attention is paid to supporting Kazakhstani human resources. We welcome and encourage foreign investors to actively hire local specialists at all levels," Olzhas Bektenov said.

As a result of KGIR-2024, a package of 32 documents totalling $7 billion was signed, including in the presence of the Prime Minister:

• Agreement on strategic cooperation between Akimat of Akmola region, KAZAKH INVEST and Dalian Hesheng Holding Group on deep processing of wheat for the amount of $650 million;
• Agreement on strategic cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, KAZAKH INVEST and CHN Energy on production of coal chemical products for the amount of $4 billion;
• Investment agreement between Orhun Medical LLP and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on improvement of medical services and healthcare infrastructure of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the amount of $80 million;
• Investment Agreement between ‘SILK WAY ENERGY LTD’ and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on construction of a natural gas liquefaction plant with an input capacity of up to 1,000,000 nm3/day in Panfilov district of Zhetisu region for the amount of $305 million;
• Project Implementation Agreement between KTZ and Transport Globel L-Si for the introduction of digitalisation and artificial intelligence elements in railway engineering. The amount of the agreement is $10.4 million;
• Framework Agreement on Basic Principles between Carlsberg Kazakhstan LLP and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the construction of a soft drinks plant in Kazakhstan for the amount of $100 million.
• Framework agreement on basic principles between Shin-Line LLP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the creation of a food cluster in Almaty region with the participation of leading world companies (35 production facilities are under development);
• Agreement on basic principles between the Akimat of Kostanay region and Tech Digital LLP in the sphere of production of high quality bars and profiles from aluminium alloys;
• Memorandum of co-operation between Akimat of West Kazakhstan region and Hyundai Solar KZ 777 LLP on construction of solar power plant, waste processing complex, waste incineration complex, modular greenhouse complex for the amount of $167 million;
• Joint plan of research of geological exploration potential on block ‘Northern 1’ between NC QazaqGaz JSC and CNPC;
• Memorandum of Understanding between Otbasy Bank JSC and Asian Development Bank on the project to promote inclusive and green housing finance in Kazakhstan.

The plenary session honoured the best investor companies: Linde Gas GmbH industrial, medical gases and engineering enterprise, Shin-Line food production, KazFoodProducts group of companies for deep processing of grain crops and production of confectionery, Orhun Medical group of companies in the healthcare sector, tungsten ore development company Jiaxin International Resources Investment, railway engineering company Alstom, ceramic granite tile production plant Zerde-Ceramics Aktobe, corn processing company Zharkent Starch Plant, leading railway cluster Railways Systems KZ, brewing company Sarlsberg Group.

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