The Kazakh-Belgian business forum with the participation of more than 60 officials and representatives of business communities of Kazakhstan, Belgium and Luxembourg was organized on March 12 in Brussels by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Brussels, as well as the BEСI (Brussels) and BeNeLux (Astana) Chambers of Commerce.
While greeting the participants, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Margulan Baimukhan emphasized that Belgium is one of the largest investors in the Kazakh economy. Over the past 30 years, the FDI from Belgium has exceeded 11 billion US dollars, and this amount continues to increase every year. Moreover, the trade volume has been growing steadily in recent years. Today, there are more than 70 companies with Belgian capital operating in the Kazakh market.
The Ambassador of Belgium in Astana Henri Vantigem noted the important role of Kazakhstan in the Central Asian region and invited Belgian companies to consider the possibility of deepening cooperation with business entities in Kazakhstan.
During the event, participants were informed about investment opportunities, as well as the potential for exporting Kazakh products to European markets.
As part of the business forum, bilateral documents on cooperation were signed between JSC NC Kazakh Invest and Ahlers, a Belgian logistics company, as well as between the BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce and the MEUWISSEN law firm.
The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belgium in 2023 amounted to 523.7 million US dollars, which is 1.7% higher than in 2022 (514.9 million US dollars). At the end of 2022, the volume of FDI into the economy of Kazakhstan from Belgium amounted to 1.560 billion US dollars. In 2023, the Kazakhstan-Belgium Business Council was established.
Photo: Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry
