External barriers to export are in focus of Kazakhstan diplomacy

As it is known, First President of Kazakhstan – Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev has set the task to the Government to increase the volume of non-primary exports in 2019 to 24.7 billion US dollars.

For these purposes, first of all, the algorithm of interaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with other state bodies and quasi-state structures involved in export promotion processes with a clear division of functions has been built.

So, the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development determines the export policy and implements it in the field of the manufacturing industry; the Ministry of Agriculture - in the food industry; the Ministry of National Economy develops the state policy in the field of regulation and development of foreign trade activities; the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs provides service support measures; KazakhExport JSC provides financial and insurance services to exporters, the Kazakhstan Industry and Export Center (based on Kazakhstan Industry Development Institute JSC) acts as a “single window” for domestic exporters. It is important to note that the competence of the above and other sectoral structures includes the design and coordination of documentation required by exporters.

Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not participate in the process of issuing any permits, taking into account its specifics it focuses on another important area - the external aspects of export development.

The Foreign Ministry is directly involved in holding negotiations with the authorities of foreign countries on such important issues as minimizing the use of tariff and non-tariff barriers to Kazakhstani exports; study of optimal transport routes abroad; inclusion in the lists of allowable for the importation of products; the conclusion of agreements in the trade sphere, including on free trade zones; providing favorable conditions for the participation of Kazakhstan in international exhibitions and fairs (for example, preparations are underway for our country to participate in the 2nd trade fair “Made in Kazakhstan” in Orenburg (October 2019) and 2 China International Import Exhibition in Shanghai in November this year) and others.

The effectiveness of this work largely depends on the regular “reconciliation of hours” with other national players in the field of export support. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a special Interdepartmental Working Group on the Promotion of Non-Commodity Export, which is focused on developing practical measures and exchanging the necessary information.

A new element in the toolkit of the Foreign Ministry is the direct interaction with the Kazakhstan export-oriented private sector. Enterprises make requests for the provision of necessary information on doing business in various countries, organizing meetings with foreign partners, searching for buyers, etc. Since the beginning of 2019, the Foreign Ministry has worked out the requests of a number of companies and associations involved in agriculture, engineering, the military-industrial complex, light industry, pharmaceuticals and the provision of construction services.