An investment round table, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Swiss Confederation with the Joint Chamber of Commerce of Switzerland (JCC) was held in Bern with the participation of leading Swiss companies, representatives of government agencies, economic organizations and financial institutions, El.kz cites MFA.
Within the framework of the hybrid meeting, Kazakh Invest and JCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding on expanding investment cooperation and strengthening business ties.
At the opening of the event, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Kairat Sarzhanov called on Swiss business to actively participate in the modernization of Kazakh enterprises on mutually beneficial terms and invest in priority sectors, including the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, mechanical engineering, agriculture, food industry, transport, infrastructure and logistics. He noted the importance of large-scale transformations in Kazakhstan aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability, economic diversification, SME development, improving the quality of human capital and ensuring the rule of law. He stressed that Switzerland is one of the three largest foreign investors in Kazakhstan with a capital investment of 32.7 billion US dollars since 2005.
JCC Managing Director Dorit Sallis noted that Kazakhstan is a priority trade and investment partner. According to her, Swiss companies in the interregional context consider Kazakhstan as the main transport and logistics hub not only in Central Asia, but also in the Greater Caspian region. She stressed their growing interest in mechanical engineering, infrastructure, agriculture and chemical industry of Kazakhstan.
Kazakh Invest representative Saken Olzhabayev presented the main tools for supporting foreign investors, voicing investment proposals in priority sectors of the economy of Kazakhstan. Managing Director of the AIFC Administration Temirlan Mukhanbetzhanov spoke about the unique opportunities and legal guarantees provided to foreign companies for doing business in Central Asia. In turn, Secretary General of the European and Central Asian Transport and Trade Association Leyla Batyrbekova drew attention to the urgency of diversifying transit routes and investing in transport infrastructure.
Swiss companies such as SGS and Militzer & Münch, who came to the Kazakh market at the dawn of independence, shared with the participants of the event the positive experience of doing business in Kazakhstan and examples of successful projects in strategically important sectors of the Kazakh economy.
Alexander Luft, CEO of Stadler CIS, announced the beginning of the process of technology transfer and staff training within the framework of an agreement with KTZ for the production and maintenance of railway equipment in Kazakhstan.
Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Switzerland Jean-Paul Peria informed about the upcoming business mission to Kazakhstan in June this year, during which it is planned to visit the Astana International Forum, hold Swiss Days in Almaty, as well as meetings with business circles and representatives of state bodies of Kazakhstan.
The round table allowed the Swiss side to be acquainted with the economic situation in Kazakhstan, exchange business experience, best practices and investment opportunities, as well as establish business contacts ahead of the meetings of the Intergovernmental Economic Commission and the Business Council scheduled for this year in Astana.