The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) organised a meeting yesterday with a high-level delegation from the Republic of Kazakhstan headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov to discuss potential opportunities for enhancing bilateral economic relations.
QBA received the delegation, which included Kazakhstan’s Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Vice Minister of National Economy, in the presence of Arman Issagaliyev, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Qatar.
QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani led the meeting in the presence of QBA members Sheikh Faisal bin Fahd al-Thani, Khalid al-Mannai, Nabil Abu Issa, Mohamed al-Rabban, Maqbool Khalfan, Ramez al-Khayyat, Ibrahim al-Jaidah, Faisal al-Mana, and Mohamed Althaf, as well as QBA Deputy general manager Sarah Abdullah.
During the meeting, Sheikh Faisal stressed the openness of QBA to explore investment opportunities in the global market as most QBA members have diversified investments in many countries.
Sheikh Faisal spoke on the competitiveness of Qatari companies and the many opportunities in the Qatari market. He also expressed QBA’s willingness to facilitate partnerships among businessmen of both countries and the readiness of Qatari businessmen to co-operate with their counterparts in Kazakhstan.
QBA members also provided an overview of their companies’ specialisation in different economic sectors and the areas of investment they prefer.
Smailov underscored the “distinguished relations” between Kazakhstan and Qatar, saying that the visit aims to strengthen co-operation and develop business partnerships with Qatar.
He explained Kazakhstan’s strategic goals, which the government aims to achieve with its trading partners, especially in the fields of mining, energy, agriculture, and construction, among others.
The delegation discussed the investment opportunities and projects in various economic sectors, stating that there are more than 5,000 mineral deposits in Kazakhstan estimated to be worth “tens of trillions of dollars.” The country ranks first globally in explored reserves of zinc, tungsten, and barite, and second on silver, lead, and chromite. It also places third on copper and fluorite, fourth on molybdenum, and sixth on gold reserves.
Kazakh government officials also spoke about their oil and gas resources, which ranks ninth worldwide in terms of proven oil reserves, most of which are located in the country’s western regions.
In addition, Kazakhstan’s uranium and coal deposits rank second and eighth in the world, respectively. The delegation presented opportunities for public-private partnerships in future investment projects in the energy sector, specifically with regard to uranium for electricity production.
The Vice Minister of Agriculture spoke about the agriculture sector of Kazakhstan, which is among the top 10 grain-exporting countries in the world and is one of the leading countries exporting flour. He said nearly 70% of the arable land north of the country is occupied by grains and industrial crops, such as wheat and barley. Rice, cotton, and tobacco are also grown south of the country, he added.
Kazakhstan is also famous for its gardens, vineyards, and melons. Livestock farming is another leading area of agriculture in the country, especially with the government's Agricultural Development Fund to attract foreign investors.
QBA members expressed their interest in discussing investment opportunities in Kazakhstan, stressing their readiness to develop co-operation between both parties. They proposed that the first visit would be organised after the opening of a direct flight line between the two countries “soon” to discuss and study possible investment projects not only in Qatar and Kazakhstan but also in other countries.
The representative of the National Investment Agency also provided an overview of the investment climate in Kazakhstan, as well as information on the country’s ratings in major economic indicators, such as Fitch and Moody's. The delegation also indicated that the country intends to vaccinate 100% of the population by the end of September, in addition to the development of an advanced transportation network for the transportation of goods.
QBA received the delegation, which included Kazakhstan’s Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Vice Minister of National Economy, in the presence of Arman Issagaliyev, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Qatar.
QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani led the meeting in the presence of QBA members Sheikh Faisal bin Fahd al-Thani, Khalid al-Mannai, Nabil Abu Issa, Mohamed al-Rabban, Maqbool Khalfan, Ramez al-Khayyat, Ibrahim al-Jaidah, Faisal al-Mana, and Mohamed Althaf, as well as QBA Deputy general manager Sarah Abdullah.
During the meeting, Sheikh Faisal stressed the openness of QBA to explore investment opportunities in the global market as most QBA members have diversified investments in many countries.
Sheikh Faisal spoke on the competitiveness of Qatari companies and the many opportunities in the Qatari market. He also expressed QBA’s willingness to facilitate partnerships among businessmen of both countries and the readiness of Qatari businessmen to co-operate with their counterparts in Kazakhstan.
QBA members also provided an overview of their companies’ specialisation in different economic sectors and the areas of investment they prefer.
Smailov underscored the “distinguished relations” between Kazakhstan and Qatar, saying that the visit aims to strengthen co-operation and develop business partnerships with Qatar.
He explained Kazakhstan’s strategic goals, which the government aims to achieve with its trading partners, especially in the fields of mining, energy, agriculture, and construction, among others.
The delegation discussed the investment opportunities and projects in various economic sectors, stating that there are more than 5,000 mineral deposits in Kazakhstan estimated to be worth “tens of trillions of dollars.” The country ranks first globally in explored reserves of zinc, tungsten, and barite, and second on silver, lead, and chromite. It also places third on copper and fluorite, fourth on molybdenum, and sixth on gold reserves.
Kazakh government officials also spoke about their oil and gas resources, which ranks ninth worldwide in terms of proven oil reserves, most of which are located in the country’s western regions.
In addition, Kazakhstan’s uranium and coal deposits rank second and eighth in the world, respectively. The delegation presented opportunities for public-private partnerships in future investment projects in the energy sector, specifically with regard to uranium for electricity production.
The Vice Minister of Agriculture spoke about the agriculture sector of Kazakhstan, which is among the top 10 grain-exporting countries in the world and is one of the leading countries exporting flour. He said nearly 70% of the arable land north of the country is occupied by grains and industrial crops, such as wheat and barley. Rice, cotton, and tobacco are also grown south of the country, he added.
Kazakhstan is also famous for its gardens, vineyards, and melons. Livestock farming is another leading area of agriculture in the country, especially with the government's Agricultural Development Fund to attract foreign investors.
QBA members expressed their interest in discussing investment opportunities in Kazakhstan, stressing their readiness to develop co-operation between both parties. They proposed that the first visit would be organised after the opening of a direct flight line between the two countries “soon” to discuss and study possible investment projects not only in Qatar and Kazakhstan but also in other countries.
The representative of the National Investment Agency also provided an overview of the investment climate in Kazakhstan, as well as information on the country’s ratings in major economic indicators, such as Fitch and Moody's. The delegation also indicated that the country intends to vaccinate 100% of the population by the end of September, in addition to the development of an advanced transportation network for the transportation of goods.
