US Chamber of Commerce launches Kazakhstan-American Business Council
The US Chamber of Commerce officially announced the launch of the Kazakhstan-American Business Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan said on Wednesday, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports.
“The mission of the Business Council is to further deepen economic ties between the two countries through the enhanced platform of the US Chamber of Commerce,” said the Ministry.
Chevron as the largest investor in the economy of Kazakhstan has been named the Chairman of the Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan said. The secretariat of the Council will be located in the corresponding territorial department of the US Chamber of Commerce and chaired by Senior Vice President Khush Choksy.
According to the report, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the United States is about $2 billion per year, while there are great opportunities for further growth of mutual trade in such sectors of the economy as agriculture, energy, mining and infrastructure. More than 700 American companies currently operate in Kazakhstan.
“The integration of the Kazakhstan-American Business Association into the US Chamber of Commerce will provide the business community with the necessary tools to develop these important and strategic relationships,” said the President for Chevron’s Eurasia-Pacific Region Nigel Hearne.
“We consider the opening of the Kazakhstan-American Business Council under the US Chamber of Commerce as a historical event to provide a powerful impetus for expanding the trade and economic partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States as well as contribute to the creation of new jobs and opportunities in both countries. As the leading economy of Central Asia, Kazakhstan remains a reliable partner of the United States and is committed to further mutually beneficial cooperation with American companies,” added the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States, Erzhan Kazykhanov.
The US Chamber of Commerce unites and represents the interests of about 3.5 million American companies, 3,000 regional chambers and has more than 90 of its representative offices abroad.