Almaty, 27 November 2021 (TDI): On 24 November, it was the first day of the Kazakhstan-Pakistan Business Forum held in Almaty, which was organized with the assistance of the Embassy of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, the Trade Representative Office of Pakistan to Kazakhstan, as well as USAID.
Manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, textiles, surgical instruments, sports goods, as well as several other companies, represented Pakistani Businesses. The forum was attended by more than 100 representatives of the business circles of the two countries.
In their speech, the Pakistani participants of the event presented their business opportunities, inviting Kazakh companies to establish cooperation. Within the framework of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Foreign Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan.
At the end of the day, the parties held several B2B meetings, established direct contacts with each other, and also agreed to hold such events regularly.
BILATERAL RELATIONS
Pakistan and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations on 24 February 1992. According to the Embassy of Pakistan in Kazakhstan, Pakistan offers land routes and connectivity for trade and energy transactions.
Pakistan has an Embassy in Nur-Sultan, and Kazakhstan has one in Islamabad. The first official visit that Pakistan made to Kazakhstan took place in 1995 when the Prime Minister visited.
559 Pakistani citizens living in Kazakhstan. Small businessmen and some professionals that work in the oil and gas sectors, make up the Pakistani community in the country. Pakistan also supported the candidacy of Kazakhstan to the Security Council for the 2017-2018 term.
According to Kazakhstan’s Embassy in Pakistan, Kazakhstan also supported Pakistan’s candidacy in 2011. Pakistan also supported Kazakhstan’s bid to join the Asia-Europe Forum and the World Trade Organization.
Both countries share similar ideologies on world political issues. In 2015, the total volume of trade between Pakistan and Kazakhstan was 34.7 million.
In 2018, the countries confirmed their intentions to strengthen their relations, during the Inaugural round of political consultations. According to the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Pakistan, Pakistan provided medicines to Kazakhstan as humanitarian aid against COVID-19, in 2020.
There are more than 70 businesses in Kazakhstan that count with Pakistani capital. Out of the 45 million of the volume trade in 2020, Kazakhstan’s imports were 29 million, and exports were 16 million.
RELATIONS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND USAID (US)
Pakistan and the US established diplomatic relations in 1947. The United States is Pakistan’s largest exportation destination country. According to USAID, Pakistan and the United States have cooperated to forge fruitful relations for their citizens.
Pakistan undertook development projects with the assistance of USAID, like the Institute for Business Administration, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, and the Indus Basin Project. Among those projects, there are also the Faisalabad Agricultural Institute and several efforts for Pakistan’s Green Revolution.
US assistance has also delivered results on important issues for Pakistanis, like energy, education, economic growth, and stability. Through USAID, the United States has given 7.7 billion dollars for funding.
RELATIONS BETWEEN KAZAKHSTAN AND USAID (US)
Kazakhstan and the United States established diplomatic relations in 1991. Currently, the US has an Embassy in Nur-Sultan. The US is helping the country to support its emergence as a regional leader to maintain peace in the region.
USAID provides assistance to improve the health system, promote rule of law, diversify the economy, and also modernize the energy sector. Regarding the health system, USAID partnered up with the Kazakh government to improve prevention and care services for several illnesses (Covid19).
USAID has also assisted Kazakhstan with the creation of a community of civil society organizations. Finally, USAID plays an important part in the country, directly in the government’s efforts to diversify their economy, to increase trade connections, and also to increase regional business.
