Kazakhstan and Belgium Continue to Develop Mutually Beneficial Cooperation, DKNews.kz reports.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium Margulan Baimukhan met with the Head of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Belgium Peter Moors. The Kazakh diplomat congratulated Peter Moors on Belgium’s Presidency of the European Union.
The parties discussed development of political and economic relations between Kazakhstan and Belgium, as well as cooperation with the European Union. It is important to note that the trade turnover and the flow of foreign direct investment from the Belgium to Kazakhstan continue to increase. At the end of 2023, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belgium amounted to 523.7 million US dollars, which is 1.7% higher than a year earlier (514.9 million US dollars). Meanwhile, the volume of foreign direct investment from Belgium to Kazakhstan in the period from 2013 to 2023 exceeded 11 billion US dollars.
Today 76 companies with Belgian capital operate on the Kazakh market. In addition, the Kazakh-Belgian Business Council was created in May 2023 in accordance with the agreement between the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexandre De Croo, the second meeting of the Business Council will be held in May 2024.
Kazakh-Belgian interparliamentary cooperation is also developing successfully. In 2023, for the first time in more than 18 years, members of the Senate and House of Representatives of Belgium visited Kazakhstan.
Margulan Baimukhan and Peter Moors also discussed the expansion of transport routes between Kazakhstan and the EU, as well as cooperation in the development and supply of rare earth metals to the European market.
Margulan Baimukhan also informed the Belgian politician about the political and economic reforms being carried out in Kazakhstan, initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Margulan Baimukhan invited the Belgian politician to take part in the Astana International Forum in June 2024.
The parties agreed to maintain working contact in order to implement planned bilateral events this year.
