Kazakhstan offers Qatar investment opportunities in agriculture

An official of the Qatar-Kazakhstan Business Council has underscored the potential of forging several investment projects in a variety of sectors, especially in the field of agriculture.

Almassadam Satkaliyev, who represents the Kazakh side of the joint business council, made the statement in a speech during the Qatar-Kazakhstan Business Council meeting hosted by Qatar Chamber in Doha yesterday.Alibek Kuntirov, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of National Economy, lauded trade relations of both countries during the meeting and said, “there are broader areas for investment co-operation,” especially in the fields of banking, air freight, and air transport.Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ruslan Manatayev also said Kazakhstan’s government is implementing a development programme for its agricultural sector, “which will result in many investment opportunities in this sector.”He said 5mn sq km of arable land with the availability of groundwater, “makes the agricultural sector attractive sector for investment.”During the meeting, the council held a panel titled ‘Economic and Investment Prospects for Co-operation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan’, which saw the participation of a number of business owners and representatives of companies from both sides. The panel reviewed the available investment opportunities and the most important projects in different sectors. The participants were also introduced to incentives and facilities available to foreign investors.Qatari business owners participating in the meeting emphasised their interest in exploring investment opportunities and the economic policies and regulations related to foreign capital in Kazakhstan.Businessman Ahmed al-Khalaf said holding a joint business council and joint meetings between Qatari and Kazakh businessmen “would enhance co-operation and increase trade exchange between the two countries.”In a video conference, the director general of the International Islamic Food Processing Association said there are many areas for Qatari-Kazakh joint projects, especially in food security.He also emphasised the importance of co-operation between the Islamic commercial institutions in the two countries and underscored the role of the business council in strengthening these relations.Participants from both sides also reviewed strategic investment opportunities and projects available in agriculture, livestock, mining, and other sectors, as well as significant tourist destinations in Kazakhstan.