– The volume of direct investments from your country over the past 16 years has amounted to more than 4.2 billion dollars. Turkish investment continued to grow despite the pandemic, when global foreign investment declined. Of course, we are pleased with this evidence of the high confidence of the Turkish brothers in our country. In 2021, a record level of foreign direct investment from Turkey was recorded, which reached $680 million. Now about 4,000 companies with Turkish capital are successfully operating in Kazakhstan, the Head of State said.
According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a favorable investment climate has been created in our country for authoritative business representatives of the fraternal Turkish people. He stated that an atmosphere of mutual understanding and cooperation has developed between the Kazakh and Turkish business circles.
– As President, I pay special attention to the continuous improvement of the situation. This work is very important to us. Turkish businessmen have great prospects in Kazakhstan, and there is no doubt about that. The solid presence of Turkish business in our country is largely due to the proximity of the mentality and the high level of mutual trust between our states. With the participation of Turkish business in Kazakhstan, 61 major projects worth more than $2 billion have already been implemented. Today, 25 projects worth more than $2.5 billion are being implemented. There are 54 promising projects worth more than $1.3 billion at the implementation stage. Thus, our trade and economic cooperation is developing dynamically,” the Head of State noted.
The President of Kazakhstan informed the representatives of Turkish business circles about his course towards building a New Kazakhstan with a complete transformation of the political and economic systems. He noted that the transition from a super-presidential form of government to a presidential republic with a strong parliament is being systematically carried out.
On June 5, a nationwide referendum will be held in our country. Amendments will be made to 33 articles of the Constitution. My goal is to give more freedom to my people, to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. As President, I am not interested in any privileges and benefits. I do not accept this,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Along with this, he spoke about the deep modernization of the national economy.
- We have set a course for a qualitative modernization of the economy through strengthening fair competition, protecting private property, and demonopolizing the economy. All these measures will significantly strengthen political stability, the system for protecting the interests and rights of business, and create broad economic opportunities for foreign investors. In a word, new horizons of cooperation are opening before us today. This opens up prospects not only for large Turkish holdings and companies, but also for representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, the Head of State believes.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes that the implementation of projects in the manufacturing industry, agriculture, healthcare and tourism is of great strategic importance for Kazakhstan. The head of state said that in order to achieve the goals set, the law “On Industrial Policy” was adopted last year, highlighting the development of mechanical engineering, which has become one of the drivers of Kazakhstan's economic growth.
– Every year, imports of engineering products amount to $17 billion, while domestic production is only $4.3 billion. You know that large-scale, multibillion-dollar projects are being implemented in Kazakhstan to expand such large oil and gas fields as Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak. With the support of Chevron, Total, ExxonMobil, the International Center for the Development of Oil and Gas Engineering was established in Kazakhstan. Together with oil and gas operators, we analyzed over 35,000 commodity items and identified products with the greatest potential for localization. Kazakhstan intends to produce equipment and spare parts for the oil and gas industry. We have created favorable conditions for this. In the oil and gas industry, there is demand from investors who have. And you have advanced technologies and accumulated experience,” the Head of State said.
The President dwelled separately on the prospects for cooperation in the field of subsoil use. He noted that Kazakhstan can offer Turkish investors 5 ready-made projects in the field of exploration of precious and non-ferrous metals. According to the Head of State, another important area of mutual cooperation is the agro-industrial sector.
– We are ready to support projects for the processing of agricultural products. Kazakhstan ranks second in the world in terms of the amount of arable land per capita and fifth in terms of pasture resources. Our country is one of the ten largest producers of food wheat and flour. We also increased oilseed exports to over one million tons. Over the past 5 years, Kazakhstan has expanded the area of flax by 2.5 times to 1.5 million hectares and has become one of the world leaders in the export of flax seeds. If earlier Turkey bought up to 10,000 tons of flax per year, then in just two months of this year, purchases of Kazakh flax amounted to almost 8,000 tons. Growth by 6 times. We invite you to open joint ventures for processing flax and other oilseeds in Kazakhstan,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Kazakhstan will continue to strengthen cooperation with Turkey in the field of healthcare. In addition, due to the changing geopolitical situation, the role of the Trans-Caspian international transport route has significantly increased.
- After the Kuryk seaport was connected to the Trans-Caspian corridor, the time for transporting goods from Khorgos to Istanbul was reduced by 5 times. The cargo, which used to take 60 days, now arrives in just 13 days. We have begun to diversify oil export routes to China and Europe, including using the Turkish transport corridors. Work has begun to increase the throughput capacity of oil pipelines and modernize the seaports of Aktau and Kuryk, said the President of Kazakhstan
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called Turkey one of the world leaders in the tourism industry and noted the great contribution of Turkish companies to the development of the tourism industry in Kazakhstan. In particular, he recalled the construction of the Caravanserai in Turkestan, the international hotel Rixos Aktau, Tetys Blu park and other facilities that delight all Kazakhstanis today.
- The need for financial support for tourism projects from the state has decreased by 10 times. The Kazakh coast of the Caspian Sea has a huge tourism potential. Inzhu-Marzhan Bay in the Caspian Sea is ideal for the construction of hotels, resorts and recreation areas. Together we will be able to create a new center here to attract tourists to Central Asia,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
The President noted that a favorable and modern institutional environment for investors has been created in our country, and expressed readiness to provide maximum support to priority investment projects.
- This meeting will undoubtedly contribute to the strengthening of trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Turkey. Today, 30 commercial documents have been signed between the companies of our countries. I hope that all this will give a new impetus to the intensification of bilateral relations. I invite all of you to Kazakhstan for joint work and mutually beneficial cooperation. The most important issue is the implementation of the agreements reached. This is a very important job, so it will be under my personal control,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev summed up.
During the meeting with representatives of the business community, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna JSC Almasadam Satkaliyev, President of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey Rifat Hisarciklyoglu, Chairman of the Board of Yildiz Holding Ali Ulker, Chairman of the Board of Anadolu Industry Holdig Tuncay Özilhan, Aselsan Chairman of the Board Halyk Gorgün, Femash Group Board Member Yusuf Uge, Eczacıbaşı Holdıng Chairman of the Board Atalay Gümrah, Atabay Chairman of the Board Zeynep Atabay, Ronesans Holdıng Chairman of the Board Erman Ylıcak, MFA Maske Chairman of the Board Fatih Furtun, Iskefe Holdıng Board Member Bilal Alkoch, Chairman of the Board of Çalık Holdıng, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in the province of Bursa Ahmet Chalyk.
