Kazakhstan and Japan are set to
expand cooperation. To strengthen business ties, direct flights between the two
countries are expected to be launched in the near future, as announced during
the C5+1 business forum in Astana. Overall, the interaction between Central
Asia and Japan holds significant potential. Representatives of Japanese major
businesses express interest in implementing large-scale technological projects,
particularly focusing on the modernization of existing production facilities and
those engaged in the green energy sector.
«The main goal of the forum is to further
enhance business, economic, and investment cooperation between Japan and the Central
Asian countries, as well as to sign specific projects. Notably, each
country has put forward three proposals», said Gabidulla Ospankulov, Chairman of
the Investment Committee of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
It is noteworthy that the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC) financed 26 projects worth $2.3 billion in
various sectors in Kazakhstan.
«We’ve had a long-standing relationship with
the bank, supporting projects here, with regard to oil and gas. We want
to renew and reinvigorate our long-standing relationship in terms of energy,
also in other sectors, as well as we are seeing more and more opportunity in
Kazakhstan as your economy is growing very rapidly. And, as we are the official
Japanese institution that support Japanese business activities overseas, we
would like to bring in more Japanese technology, know-how in this country,» said
Hayashi Nobumitsu, Chairman of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
Japan is one of Kazakhstan’s key
partners in East Asia and ranks among the top 10 largest investors. Last year,
trade turnover between the two countries grew by 10.5 percent, surpassing $2
billion. In the first five months of this year alone, it reached $768 million.
Regarding investments, in 2023, Japanese businesses invested over $400 million
in Kazakhstan’s economy, bringing the total investment since the country’s
independence to almost $8 billion.