2nd EU-Kazakhstan High-Level Business Platform focuses on investment climate issues

The EU-Kazakhstan High-Level Platform of dialogue on economic and business matters held its second meeting in Nur-Sultan, chaired by Kazakhstan Prime Minister Askar Mamin. The event brought together leading European companies and EU Heads of Mission led by EU Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan Sven-Olov Carlsson, press service of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan informs.

Ambassador Carlsson highlighted the positive and concrete impact of the High-Level Platform, launched earlier this summer, for regular exchange of views between the European Union, its businesses and the Kazakh Government. He also highlighted the EU funded programmes that shortly will be launched or are ongoing, in the areas of trade facilitation, the rule of law and the financing of small and medium enterprises.

Participants discussed cooperation on the investment climate and business environment, including recent and planned legislation in the areas of environment protection, currency regulations and control, and import of agricultural machinery.  

The first meeting of the High-Level Platform took place on 1 July and provided an opportunity to discuss cooperation on reducing technical barriers to trade, notably in the agro-food sector. Other issues discussed related to tax legislation in particular prospects for decriminalization of tax offences.

EU is Kazakhstan's first trading partner and represents more than half of foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan. With the EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), the EU and Kazakhstan have developed a framework for further strengthening trade and economic relations. The EU supports Kazakhstan's ambitious reform and modernization processes, including the improvement of the business climate.