BLED (SLOVENIA), September 10, 2018 - Kazakhstan and Slovenia intend to strengthen their comprehensive cooperation and partnership, with an emphasis on economic diplomacy and global interaction. This is the main message of the Kazakh-Slovenian political consultations that took place today.

The Kazakh delegation was headed by Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko, while the Slovenian delegation was led by the State Secretary of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrej Logar.

The diplomats discussed in detail a wide range of political, economic, cultural and humanitarian interactions, reiterating their mutual commitment to expanding their partnership. An agreement was reached to intensify interaction between the foreign ministries within the economic diplomacy (bilateral trade turnover in 2017 was over €100 million). Mr. Vassilenko noted that one of the main tasks facing Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry today is to attract investments and new technologies to the country.

In this regard, the sides commended the results of the meeting of the Fourth Kazakh-Slovenian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, as well as the agreements within the Kazakh-Slovenian Business Forum, held on June 5-6 in Astana.

Among other things, the successful work of Slovenian companies in Kazakhstan was noted, they are leaders in their field and have representative offices around the world, for example, KRKA (medicines), Iskratel Group (IT solutions), Gorenje (home appliances), Bisol Group (solar batteries). In general, about 20 Slovenian companies are represented in Kazakhstan.

The sides noted IT, pharmaceuticals, transport infrastructure, logistics, tourism, rehabilitation medicine, and green technologies as promising areas for cooperation.

The Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister informed Slovenian colleagues about the possibilities of investing in the Kazakh economy, and the benefits for foreign investors in Kazakhstan. In this regard, he urged the Slovenian side to actively cooperate in the implementation of projects based on Expo 2017 – the Astana International Financial Centre, the International Technology Park of IT Start-Ups, and the Centre for the Development of Green Technologies and Investment Projects, named 'Future Energy'.

The sides also reaffirmed the common desire to intensify cooperation in the development of transit and transport capacity in Eurasia, including in light of the implementation of the Belt and Road initiative, and the opportunities provided by the Slovenian port of Koper.

During the talks, a thorough exchange of views took place on the relevant issues relating to Kazakhstan's activities as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the Astana peace talks regarding Syria, and the prospects for cooperation between Central Asia, the European Union and the Balkan countries. Mr. Vassilenko expressed gratitude to the Slovenian side for their support in launching negotiations on the visa regime for Kazakh citizens, within the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the European Union.

During his stay in Slovenia, the Kazakh diplomat got acquainted with the activities of Kazakhstan's Honorary Consuls in Maribor, GorazdSifrer, and in Nova Gorica, Dimitri Piciga. He also had a conversation with the President of the Kazakh-Slovenian Business Club DejanStancer, who is an independent representative of Kazakh Invest in Central and Eastern Europe.

During the visit, the Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister also laid flowers at the grave of the partisan hero from Kazakhstan, known only as “KasseSebero”, in the Slovenian village of Povir. The Kazakh authorities continue to make efforts to identify the soldier, who died in 1943.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/22363?lang=kk