Japanese companies are interested in investing in Kazakhstan
In Astana, with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Japan and Kazakh Invest, Kazakhstan-Japanese Business-Forum and the VII meeting of the Joint commission of the Government and Private sector on Economic cooperation is being held. Cooperation agreements with the largest companies of Japan were signed as part of the forum, primeminister.kz informs.
Opening the forum, the Vice-Minister for Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arystan Kabikenov said that Japan is one of key strategic partners of Kazakhstan in the East Asia. Since 2015, there is the Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments between the countries.
«Since the first years of independence, Kazakhstan has relied on providing the economic growth through the creation of favorable conditions for foreign investors. Japan is among largest investors of Kazakhstan. In 2005-2017, the gross inflow of direct investments from Japan to Kazakhstan accounted for more than USD 5 billion, - Arystan Kabikenov said, having invited the Japanese companies to participate in the Privatization Program.
In his turn, the Vice Minister for International Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Tadao Yanase highlighted that the Japanese companies are interested in investing in Kazakhstan.
The Deputy Chairman of the Japan-Kazakhstan Economic Commission, ITOCHU Corporation Adviser Toshiyuki Kosugi stressed that their company imports industrial equipment, oil-field chemicals and fibres to Kazakhstan, but now the investment environment in Kazakhstan is undergoing significant changes.
«And now we have to implement new initiatives which are consistent with our development strategy. Last year, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted the program “Digital Kazakhstan”, and I would like to see further development of mutual relations in many directions”, - he said.
A number of cooperation agreements were signed at the forum. So, the Chairman of Board of Kazakh Invest Saparbek Tuyakbayev and the Vice-Chairman of Marubeni Corporation Yamazoe Shigeru signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding and Common Cooperation on Development of City Transport in Almaty.
«Now in Almaty under the public-private partnership scheme, we are working on implementing the project on construction of the light-rail system. Along with solving the problems related to construction, operation, maintenance and financing, we are work on creation of the digital infrastructure, considering the light-rail to be a part of the city planning, and thus strive to provide comfortable living conditions for citizens”, - Yamazoe Shigeru said.
Besides, a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation on implementation of a pilot project in the heating and water supply systems was signed between KazCenter for Housing and Utilities JSC, Mitsui & Co LTD and Japan System Planning Ltd, as well as a Memorandum of Cooperation in the nuclear energy between Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants and The Japan Atomic Power Company, Marubeni Utility Services.
As of 1 May, 77 legal entities, branches and representative offices with Japanese participation were registered in Kazakhstan.