ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 5. Kazakhstan is ready to supply the premium segment of food products to Qatar, such as caviar, fish, honey and others, said Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin during the 6th meeting of the Kazakh-Qatari high-level joint commission, Trend reports.
"We attach special importance to expanding diverse cooperation with the state of Qatar. This year marks 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. Over these years, the states have confirmed their commitment to open political dialogue and further strengthening of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation," he said.
According to him, a number of memorandums of cooperation are being implemented, and direct flights between Almaty and Doha have been established with an intensity of 7 flights per week.
"Negotiations were held, and an agreement was reached to increase the number of flights to 28," he said.
Zhumangarin proposed intensifying interaction between the parties in other sectors.
"Kazakh producers of meat and other food products have expressed interest in exporting goods to the Qatari market. In this regard, I believe it would be advisable to speed up the approval procedures of Halal certificates between our countries. There is also significant potential for cooperation in the energy sector between our countries. Kazakhstan sets serious goals to increase the resource base of commercial gas and produce products with high added value through the development of gas processing and gas chemistry, as well as the construction of plants for the production of liquefied natural gas," he said.
Following the results of 7 months of 2023, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Qatar increased almost 2 times, reaching $4.8 million (from January through July 2022 - $2.8 million).
Exports amounted to $0.4 million, imports - $4.3 million.
In general, from 2005 to 2022, Qatari investments worth $56.6 million were attracted to Kazakhstan.