Finnish companies have good opportunities to promote exports to Kazakhstan. The country is particularly interested in know-how for innovation and education and in expertise of clean technology, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen said. He led a delegation with more than 50 representatives of business and civil servants, who visited Astana, the capital, and Almaty, the business centre of Kazakhstan on 3–5 March.
Finland hopes that the business environment of Kazakhstan will be developed to be more open. The country was near to joining the World Trade Organization but is now one of the trio that belongs to the Customs Union together with Russia and Belarus. This delays membership of the WTO.
Minister Väyrynen hopes that Kazakhstan will continue to seek WTO membership and will join as soon as possible.
During the visit, the new Finnish Embassy in Astana was inaugurated. The events linked with the inauguration, including the official opening, a high-level business forum and a concert by opera singer Riikka Hakola, figured prominently in the media in Kazakhstan.
Establishment of the Embassy raises political, economic and cultural relations to a new level, Minister Väyrynen stated at the official opening. Several delegations from Kazakhstan are coming to Finland, as our country has been seen as model in this leading country of Central Asia.
Kazakhstan has ambitious objectives for economic growth in the coming years. According to Minister Väyrynen, Finland’s current special position offers Finnish companies opportunities to take part in the country’s projects aiming at diversification of the economy.
Further information: Markus Ojakoski, Senior Political Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 500 459 009, and Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, tel. +7 701 977 9778
