Netherlands and Kazakhstan Establish Business Council to Boost Cooperation
The BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce, which unites the trade circles of the Kingdoms of Belgium and the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, alongside the Kazakh Chamber of International Commerce, signed an agreement on April 4 to establish the Netherlands-Kazakhstan Business Council, as reported by the BeNeLux press service.
The establishment of the council is anticipated to bolster cooperation across various economic sectors, including water treatment engineering and infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and the chemical industry.
During the ceremony, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan Nico Schermers lauded the initiative led by Denis Van den Weghe, President of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce, in spearheading the creation of the council. He emphasized its potential to reinvigorate trade and business relations.
In a video address to the event's participants, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Askar Zhumagaliyev underscored the council's aim to "serve as a platform where ideas will arise, and partnerships will be built."
The Netherlands stands as one of the top five trading partners of Kazakhstan, maintaining its position as the leading foreign investor in the country. In 2023, bilateral trade turnover amounted to $4.4 billion, with foreign direct investment from the Netherlands to Kazakhstan totaling $111.7 billion from 2005 to 2023.
Murat Karymsakov, chairman of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan (CIC), reaffirmed the CIC's commitment to safeguarding the legal rights and interests of domestic and international companies operating in Kazakhstan.
Van den Weghe extended an invitation to all stakeholders to attend the inaugural meeting of the business council, which will be held in mid-June in Astana as part of the Astana International Forum.(Source:astanatimes)
