Qatar and Kazakhstan: Promising prospects to enhance relations

The relations between Qatar and Kazakhstan have been witnessing steady growth across political, economic, investment, and social spheres, positioning Qatar as one of Kazakhstan’s key partners in the Middle East.The state visit by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Qatar marks a new milestone in the development of the distinguished historical relations between the two friendly countries, paving the way for broader horizons. Qatar views Kazakhstan as a promising strategic partner, given the significant economic potential of both countries, enabling them to enhance co-operation across various sectors.His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will discuss the distinguished relations between the two countries and the prospects for developing and strengthening them in various fields in a way that achieves the interests of the two countries and their friendly peoples as well as exchanging views on the most prominent regional and international issues and developments of mutual interest.The two countries are keen to move bilateral relations to promising horizons of co-operation and partnership by increasing the volume of trade exchange and establishing further joint investment projects in all sectors.Diplomatic relations between Qatar and Kazakhstan were first established on July 1, 1993. Qatar’s embassy in Astana opened its doors in May 2008, whereas Kazakhstan’s embassy in Doha opened its doors in May 2007.Last year, the two countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.Relations have been strengthened through a series of mutual visits at the level of leaders and senior officials from both countries. His Highness the Amir made three visits to Kazakhstan, the first of which was in January 2014. He also visited in October 2022 to participate in the 6th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.The Amir was awarded by the Kazakh president the Order of the Golden Eagle or "Altyn Qyran”, the highest order of Kazakhstan that is awarded to heads of friendly countries.The Amir also visited Kazakhstan in June 2023 to participate in the Astana International Forum.President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Doha to participate in the Qatar Economic Forum in June 2022, while his predecessor former president Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Qatar in October 2015.His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was the first Arab leader to visit Astana after its selection as the capital of Kazakhstan in April 1999.Qatari-Kazakh relations are set on a number of agreements and memorandums of co-operation in many fields, including the agreement on the encouragement and mutual protection of investments, in addition to MoU for co-operation in the field of trade and public health, and the training of diplomatic cadres between the two countries.Over the course of nearly three decades of close relations, the two countries have witnessed notable co-operation development, most notably the establishment of the Qatar-Kazakhstan Joint Higher Committee, which had held six successive sessions, the last of which was in Doha last October during which the two sides agreed to take the necessary steps to move ahead towards commercial, investment and industrial co-operation with the aim of increasing the volume of trade exchange and facilitating the flow of goods, services and investments between the two countries.Both countries are well located in terms of investment and business climate, proven by many international and local rating agencies, which gives businessmen in both countries the opportunity to enhance co-operation in various fields, especially agriculture, food security supply, education, healthcare, energy, renewable energy, mining, and other vital fields.Qatari investors are interested in investing in Kazakhstan as it is a promising destination for foreign investments due to wide investment opportunities.The Qatar Chamber encourages Qatari businessmen to explore the investment opportunities available in the country. A group of Qatari companies is also looking into the possibility of participating in Kazakhstan’s Comprehensive Privatisation Plan as well as benefiting from the investment projects proposed in the sectors of agricultural, mining, petrochemical industry, tourism infrastructure, livestock breeding, dairy production, and other vital projects.Kazakhstan is looking forward to benefiting from the great experience that Qatar possesses, especially in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petrochemical production. Qatar is one of the largest exporters of LNG in the world and Kazakhstan is taking many measures that serve to enhance economic diversification and protect foreign investment. It also seeks to be a commercial, financial, educational, health, and tourism centre, as well as excellence in food production.Qatar has also pumped investments into Kazakhstan’s economy, especially in the field of infrastructure.Qatar is also considered one of the countries that provide the most aid to Kazakhstan. Among the most prominent projects it established are the opening of the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani School in September 2018, the maternity hospital project in the Almaty region, southern Kazakhstan, and the construction of one of the largest mosques in the capital the Nur-Astana Mosque, renamed later to Abu Nasr Al Farabi Mosque. The mosque was built based on the initiative of the His Highness the Father Amir during his first visit to Kazakhstan in 1999.The tourism movement between the two countries is witnessing continuous growth, with the launch of the direct flight between the two countries by Qatar Airways in November 2021, which will contribute to the economy and trade movement between the two countries in the future. (QNA)