Kazakhstan Pakistan Complement Each Other in Various Sectors for Mutual Benefit
Kazakhstan can export Petroleum & Wheat while Pakistan provides Connectivity to Africa & ASEAN through its Ports
Working is on in 3 joint groups that deal with trade & investment, transport ,connectivity and energy
Transit Trade Agreement Signing and Direct Contact between Customs to be Established Soon
President Tokayev Mentioned 15 Projects to be Completed in 3 years for Economic Prosperity of the Citizens & the State
Kazakhstan Receive FDI worth $450 Billion in Last 3 Decades that Clearly Indicates the Potential Available Here
Interview : Tazeen Akhtar, Editor Pakistan in the World / Pictures : Ramzan Mughal
The largest Land Locked country Kazakhstan is all set to emerge and rise as the Land Linked country with the busiest transit connectivity and rapidly growing economy in next three years that is the target set by the President of the Republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev after he led the state transform into New Kazkhstan as a result of the constitutional reforms in the first quarter of current year.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state of the nation address on 01 Sep 2023 was focused upon what the Republic has to achieve in next 3 years in 15 different areas. The government in light of the guidelines of the leadership of President Tokayev and according to the aspirations of the public is determined to bring economic and financial development in the country by working on 15 projects in different sectors mentioned by the President. Kazakhstan’s economic and trade potential can be seen in the foreign direct investment up to $450 Billion received in last 3 decades.
The Republic has adopted reforms in foreign policy as well in which building mutually beneficial relations in all spheres with all neighboring countries is one of the key points of the policy. Pakistan being another transit hub and having historical, cultural, traditional ties with Kazakh people stands central in the priority areas of cooperation that Kazakhstan is keen to work upon.
Positively both nations have warm feelings and cordial relations with each other. The governments on both sides enjoy close friendly rather brother political bonds that offer an ideal environment to turn them into meaningful economic cooperation.
President of Kazakhstan Outlines Comprehensive Economic Reforms in State-of-the-Nation Address
Ambassador H.E Yerzhan Kistafin and Kazakhstan are well known in Pakistani media, business community, the educators, academics, think tanks, in all who matter in Pakistan thanks to his untiring efforts to bridge the gaps and spread the information about his country. We contacted his staff for interview on bilateral affairs and the vision of the President Tokayev that is before us in shape of constitutional reforms in his country.
Ambassador shared ” Kazakhstan and Pakistan complement each other in most of the areas including connectivity and transit potential of both countries. Kazakhstan is bridge between China and Europe while Pakistan is transit to South East Asian Nations for Kazakhstan.”
Here it is worth noting that President Tokayev visited Vietnam last month where the leaders of both countries agreed to enhance the present level of bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors. Vietnam is an important country of ASEAN.
When we talk about connectivity the first spark in our minds is Belt and Road Initiative and China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Ambassador said, ” Kazakhstan is integral part of BRI. President Xi Jinping visited Astana 10 years ago and announced his vision of connectivity there including BRI and CPEC. Kazakhstan provides transit to 70% exports of China to EU. We are strengthening our rail network on east with China and on the west with EU through Russia.
“East and West are being connected by the logistic and transport potential of Kazakhstan. We are the largest landlocked country in the world but we are making it land linked country through our priorities to strengthen our transit potential, said Ambassador Kistafin.
H.E also referred to North South and Trans Caspian Corridors and expressed his hope that Pakistan can play important role in both connectivity routes. Only a couple of days ago , Ambassador gave the same opinion at a conference at Foreign Services Academy of MOFA Pakistan. As some circles in Pakistan are looking at North South as the substitute of CPEC, I asked Ambassador to elaborate his comment.
Mr. Kistafin said, ” Pakistan provides transit to Africa and ASEAN countries through its ports in Arabian Sea. Pakistan is the transit hub here. We can use Pakistani ports.”
Ambassador added, ” Kazakhstan Pakistan are working on multi-dimensional approaches that include G-to-G, B-to-B and P-to-P. The government are discussing the bilateral agenda on regular basis at their level. Business communities of both countries are supposed to play at the forefront with their own bilateral programs. Governments are working on making the business easy and providing the access easy through connectivity efforts. Pakistan opted Vision Central Asia in 2021. People to people contacts are necessary to transform this vision into reality. For that we seek cooperation among universities, youth, culture, academia, think tanks and media.”
Mr. Kistafin noted that economic cooperation is no doubt very crucial but we are giving attention to education, culture, sports, tourism as well.
Ambassador shared, ” Direct flights are the back bone in the cooperation that is on between Almaty and Lahore, only 2 and half hours. Transit Trade agreement is about to be singed. Second important step forward is direct contact between the customs of both countries that will help boost trade rapidly. Both countries are working on 3 joint groups that deal with trade & investment, transport ,connectivity and energy.”
Kazakh envoy argued , ” Kazakhstan and Pakistan complement each other in many sectors. Pakistan is facing energy crisis. Kazakhstan is rich in petrol, gas, uranium. Our energy resources can fulfill the requirements of Pakistan. Kazakhstan is among top 10 wheat producing countries. We are food basket of the region. We can provide wheat to Pakistan. Kazakhstan is building textile industry and Pakistan has vast experiences in this sector”
“President Tokayev has set development targets in agriculture sector. Our area is more than 2.7 Million SQ KM. This is important to promote agriculture. Pakistan has vast experiences in agri sector as well. Pakistan is among top 10 countries in textile sector. I went to Faisalabad and visited the textile industries there. Another area where Kazakhstan can benefit from Pakistan is surgical instruments sector. Kazakhstan has expertise in financial sector. Both countries can share their experiences with each other, H.E continued.
The Speakers Appreciate the Economic Roadmap Presented by the President Kazakhstan in State of Nation Address
The envoy , to a question said, ” The trade volume between two countries stands approximately at $200 Million. With the direct flights and connectivity , the volume is increasing and we can take to the first milestone of $1 Billion in the near future because both sides understand that our bilateral potential is more than the estimates.”
” Kazakhstan can import mangoes, potatoes, banana, citrus, textile, surgical instruments, sports goods and wear from Pakistan. We can export wheat , coal, petrol, machinery to Pakistan. Our delegation is in Karachi. They met with members of FPCCI there. We need to spread as much information about each other as is possible to bridge the gaps.”
About tourism promotion, the Ambassador said, ” The number of people visiting from both sides is increasing. Information sharing is central in promotion of tourism on both sides. For example, our first businessmen delegation was astonished to see Pakistan because they did not know about Pakistan is a big , vibrant, growing, beautiful country. To spread the information about both countries at both sides, the press, media can play their connecting role. Moreover , tour operators on both sides are supposed to remain in touch and contribute in the development of tourism on both sides.”
He said , ” Direct flight between Almaty Lahore will be sustained and more connectivity operations will also be launched. Lahore is cultural as well as business hub of Pakistan while Almaty is also a very beautiful city and financial capital of Kazakhstan. This direct connectivity will help put the bilateral trade on upward trajectory.”
“Kazakhstan is investing in hospitality industry. We are constructing international brands five star hotels in different parts of our country to attract the tourist. “
The Republic of Kazakhstan under the leadership of the President Tokayev has received $450 Billion Foreign Direct Investment in last 3 decades that clearly proves the great potential of the state in all spheres of life not only for Kazakhstan but for the foreign investors as well. Now the President has further mentioned 15 projects to be completed in next 3 years for the economic and financial well being and prosperity of the state and the citizens.
Ambassador answering to a question in this connection said, “Our government is working on 15 projects to reach this milestone. These projects are in different sectors including focus on investments through technology, knowledge, development of agriculture, engineering and IT sectors improvement, general machinery and others. President Tokayev is working on tangible things. Kazakhstan will achieve the goal in its working on above mentioned projects in 3 years.”
About his stay in Pakistan , the Ambassador pleasantly shared, ” Pakistan is very beautiful country. People are welcoming and hospitable. I feel at home in Pakistan. We have many commonalities like in food Pulao, Samosa, Chaye, Naan are same. Pakistan is worth living and worth visiting country. The bad image created in some section of international media is totally wrong.”
Both countries are working on Multiple Sister City Agreements. Unique phenomenon is that the cities will be declared sister cities according to their composition and nature. Ambassador shared that Almaty Karachi as Financial Capitals – Lahore Turkistan as Historical Cultural Capitals – Multan Taraz as Agri Capitals – Faisalabad Shymkent as Textile Capitals and Astana Islamabad as Gov Capitals can be declared sister cities.
Astana is relatively new city and construction of high-rise buildings is on there. Which ever road side you walk out, you will see large scale construction around. Construction sector is growing in Pakistan as well in shape of housing societies, shopping malls etc. I asked Ambassador about the prospects of cooperation in this sector as the construction sector gives boost to more than 50 other industries. It means if both countries cooperate here, the trade turnover can exceed maximum in minimum time.
Ambassador replied, ” We are working in construction sector as well. I met with the representatives of this sector 3 weeks ago. They want to visit Kazakhstan to see the construction there and observe the development in this sector. We can share experiences and technology in construction and real estate. The construction companies on both sides can design joint ventures.
Science Tech finds the prioritized place in the economic policies of New Kazakhstan. Few weeks ago, Ambassador Kistafin called on President Dr Arif Alvi along with team of COMSTECH. It was about a conference with Nobel Laureates to be held in Islamabad. Kazakhstan is supporting COMSTECH to hold this event.
Ambassador shared that Science Tech is basic in industrial and economic development. That is why we are working on holding this conference in which more than one thousand people will participate. The conference will be in both offline and online formats. The event will help both countries to learn how to use science and technology for the uplift of our nations.
I visited Astana in late April 2023 to observe the outcome of constitutional reforms. I met local people from various communities and had discussions with many government officials and think tanks and reached to the conclusion that the state and the nation is determined to achieve common goal of development and prosperity with all citizens on board in all decision making bodies. Parliamentary elections and the elections of city governments in March 2023 brought the representatives of the public into decision making bodies who are determined to implement the constitutional reforms in their true sense and spirit.
Pakistan has many lessons to learn from Transformation in Kazakhstan. Our experiment of New Pakistan could not get the desired results but still we can do many things to make our country economically, financially viable and for that Pakistan can share the experiences of Kazakhstan.
Constitution of Republic of Kazakhstan – A Review on First Constitution Day 30 Aug 2023 after Incorporation of Reforms
