Country eager to contribute to Kazakhstan privatisation initiatives, HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari says co-chairing the fifth session of Qatari-Kazakh Joint Higher Committee, which was held in Nur Sultan.

Qatar looks forward to contributing to Kazakhstan's privatisation initiatives and establishing a strategic partnership with the Central Asian country, said HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari.

He was speaking at the fifth session of the Qatari-Kazakh Joint Higher Committee, which was held in Nur-Sultan on February 13 and 14.

Discussions touched on promotion of bilateral co-operation in various sectors of mutual interest to both the countries.

Al-Kuwari highlighted the friendly relations, strong ties and bilateral co-operation between Qatar and Kazakhstan, urging increased efforts to establish a strategic partnership in the trade and investment fields.

He called for increased co-operation at the governmental level to engage the Qatari and Kazakh business sectors in dialogue and enable the private sector in both the countries to enter into successful investment partnerships that will bolster bilateral relations.

The minister noted the importance of following up on the recommendations issued by the Qatari-Kazakh Joint Higher Committee during its previous session in Doha, particularly activating the agreement on establishing a joint businessmen council, which was signed in 2008 to bolster bilateral investments and trade.

Al-Kuwari also hailed the progress achieved in terms of signing new memoranda of co-operation and activating existing agreements including a deal on the protection and promotion of mutual investments and an MoU on air transport.

Ratified in November 2019, the MoU on air transport envisages operation of seven flights between Doha and Nur-Sultan and seven additional flights between Doha and Almaty.

The MoU will pave the way for further collaboration in tourism, he said.

Al-Kuwari said Qatar has succeeded in achieving balanced economic growth as well as economic diversification in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022.

Qatar has sought to accelerate the implementation of initiatives and measures aimed at cementing its leading position as the regional investment and business hub, al-Kuwari said, noting that Qatar has worked on improving its business environment to attract foreign investors.

In addition to opening its economy to global markets and building fruitful international partnership, Qatar is capitalising on its advanced infrastructure such as the Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port, the free zones and logistical and industrial areas.

Thanks to these efforts, Qatar has been ranked among the top 20 countries that have undertaken reforms to improve the ease of doing business for 2020.

The fifth session of the Qatari-Kazakh Joint Higher Committee touched on co-operation in sectors of mutual interest. Both sides discussed the recommendations issued by the joint committee during its previous session in Doha in 2015 in addition to exiting projects, expansion plans and current challenges.

The committee also discussed issues related to strengthening cooperation between both countries in various fields, including the trade, investment, industry, agriculture, health, education, and infrastructure and energy sectors.

The two sides agreed to take the necessary steps to enhance commercial, investment and industrial co-operation with the aim of increasing bilateral trade and flow of goods, services and investments between the two countries.

Al-Kuwari and Kazakhstan's Minister of National Economy Ruslan Dalenov co-signed the minutes of the meeting at the conclusion of fifth session of the Qatari- Kazakh Joint Higher Committee.