The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan discusses issues of Kazakhstan-German cooperation
The sides discussed topical issues of strengthening the investment cooperation, noting the important role of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the Kazakhstan-German Business Council for Strategic Cooperation and the Berlin Eurasian Club in this process, and the creation of the most favorable conditions for the work of German investors in Kazakhstan, including representatives of small and medium-sized businesses.
During the conversation, the special attention was devoted to the cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, the enhancement of the German language learning in the secondary education system and through a network of German language learning centers, as well as the further development of cooperation in the field of dual education. It was noted that the presence of a “living bridge” between the two countries represented by the German Diaspora in Kazakhstan, numbering about 200,000 people, and about 900,000 “Kazakhstani” Germans in Germany was of great importance.
Germany is one of the largest trading partners and investors of Kazakhstan. At the end of 2018, the trade turnover between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Federal Republic of Germany amounted to USD2.1 billion, which is 10.8% higher than in 2017. Over the past 13 years, the inflow of direct investment from Germany to Kazakhstan amounted to more than USD8.6 billion. About 90% of German investment in Kazakhstan goes to the "non-resource sector", including the support and development of SMEs.
In Kazakhstan there are more than 900 enterprises with the participation of German capital. Among them are representatives of such large companies as METRO, KNAUF, Heidelberg Cement, BASF, Linde AG, CLAAS and others. Only last year, the WILO production complex was opened, which includes a high-tech center for the production, testing and training of designers and engineers in the field of cantilever, block and borehole pumping systems, as well as a center for construction materials and equipment of the OBI company.