European Investment Bank considers Kazakhstan as attractive investment partner in Asian region
The parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, primarily prospects of partnership within the EU mandate for interaction of the Bank with the CA region as well as the Framework Agreement on cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Investment Bank.
The meeting was also attended by Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium and Luxembourg Yerik Utembayev, Vice Minister of Economy and Budget Planning Timur Suleimenov and Vice Minister of Justice Dulat Kustavletov.
Vice PM Y. Orynbayev noted Kazakhstan's interest in development of long-term relations with the EIB which "will allow expanding investment cooperation of Kazakhstan with the European Union". Having noted successful work with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other international financial organizations Y. Orynbayev stressed necessity of conclusion of the abovementioned Framework Agreement which aimed at creation of reliable legal base for development of mutually beneficial dialogue.
Orynbayev also informed the European side of the main aspects of Kazakhstan investment policy, priority directions of interaction with the European companies, activity of the Council of Foreign Investors under the President of Kazakhstan and some promising directions of future cooperation of Kazakhstan and the EIB.
The European side in turn confirmed its readiness for active development of close interaction with RK having noted that the EIB considered Kazakhstan as an attractive investment partner in Asian region together with China. Vice President of the Bank E. Schreiber expressed particular interest in projects in energy and ecology. "Apart from the existing EU mandate for the Central Asian region the EIB considered an opportunity of attraction of additional financial resources to the amount of EUR 2 bln in accordance with the bank's special package on financing the projects in energy sustainability and energy supply security", she said.
Besides, constructive discussion of the articles of draft Framework Agreement became an important step demonstrating high mutual aspiration for establishment of bilateral partnership.
Kazakhstan-EIB cooperation is expected to give fresh impetus to expansion of investment opportunities of Kazakhstan, create a stable platform for interaction of our country with the leading European companies and provide attraction of additional investments in energy and ecological sectors.