23 agreements signed during Kazakhstan’s President Nazarbayev's visit
Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Finland on 16–17 October 2018.
Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Finland on 16–17 October 2018. The President was accompanied by three ministers and other state representatives. Two memorandums of understanding were signed between Finland and Kazakhstan, one on air transport and another on energy efficiency and environmental protection.
In addition, a total of 21 memorandums of understanding between different parties of cooperation were signed at an event where President Nazarbayev met representatives of Finnish companies.
The visit focused on how to increase the volume of trade. Nazarbayev emphasised that Kazakhstan has natural resources and assets, which Finns could exploit because they have the necessary knowledge and technology. Kazakhstan is trying to facilitate foreign companies' operation in the country by offering access to the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and through tax concessions. The tax rate for companies is a flat 20% and the personal income tax rate is 10%.
The tax-free Astana International Financial Center is located in the premises of Expo 2017 in Astana. Finnish banks and other financial sector actors were welcomed to join the hub, which offers tax concessions and other relief for companies operating there.
From among projects showcased at the Expo, a hundred projects were selected for implementation under state funding, including 14 Finnish projects. Finland was the only Nordic country to take part in the Expo 2017 in Astana.
The Eastern Transport Corridor for rail transport from Kouvola to China via Khorgos in Kazakhstan is a topical matter. The current two freight transports by rail in a month will be increased to four and later to twenty per month. The air transport agreement that was now signed will make it possible for Finnair to negotiate direct flights to Almaty and Astana. So far, direct flights have been operated in summer 2017 and in summer 2018, but these are now longer operated.
Inquiries: Päivi Karhio-Szilvay, Counsellor, tel. +358 295 350 050, firstname.lastname@formin.fi
Signed agreements:
1. Agreement between the University of Eastern Finland, Rector
Jukka Mönkkönen and «Kazakh National Agrarian University», Rector
Tlektes Yespolov.
2. Cooperation agreement between the University of Eastern
Finland, Rector Jukka Mönkkönen and «Kazakh National Agrarian
University», Rector Tlektes Yespolov.
3. Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Energy of
Republic of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, Minister of Energy
Republic of Kazakhstan, and «Wärtsilä» Company, Director Bjarne
Forsbacka.
4. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Minister of Energy Republic of
Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev, and the Technical Research Centre of
Finland «VTT», Vice President Ilmari Lastikka.
5. Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Energy, Kanat
Bozumbayev, Minister of Energy Republic of Kazakhstan, Mayor of the
West Kazakhstan region, Deputy to Mayor Mirzhan Satkanov and
Consortium «ICM Recycling», Managing Partner Kalver Kapper.
6. Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the
Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev,
Minister of Energy Republic of Kazakhstan, and Solid Environmental
Technologies Oy ("SETCleanTech"), Market Area Director, Jouni
Suomalainen.
7. Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic
of Kazakhstan, on behalf of the Ministry of National Economy of the
Republic of Kazakhstan, Arystan Kabikenov and Nordic Investment
Bank, First Vice President and Head of Lending Thomas Wrangdahl
(EXCHANGE OF FOLDERS).
8. Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between JSC
«NC» KAZAKH INVEST» «NC» JSC, CEO S.Tuaykbayev and the
«Confederation of Finnish Industries EK», Director Petri Vuorio.
9. Agreement between «KTZ EXPRESS», CEO of «KTZ»
Company Kanat Alpysbayev and Nurminen Logistics Service JSC,
President & CEO Marko Tuunainen.
10. Agreement between KTZ EXPRESS, CEO of «KTZ» Company
Kanat Alpyspbayev and «Kouvola Innovation» JSC, Executive Director
Martti Husu.
11. Memorandum of Cooperation between «International Center for
Green Technologies and Investment Projects», CEO Rapil Zhoshibayev
and Qazaq-Finnish Technology Transfer Center QFTC, CEO Niiles
Airola.
12. Memorandum of Cooperation between the Mayor of the West
Kazakhstan Region, Deputy Mayor Mirzhan Satkanov and Finnish
Business Hub, Director Mukhtar Mankeyev and «Collaprime», CEO
Tony Lindqvist.
13. Cooperation agreement between Маyor of Karaganda region
Counsellor to the Mayor Seitzhan Madiyev and Suomen Biovoima Oy,
CEO Jari Kangasaho and Karaganda «Eco-Service» LLP, Chairman of
the Board Dauren Kamaliyev.
14. Memorandum of Cooperation between «EK REK» JSC, CEO
E.Kirkinbayev and «Reka Cables», CEO Ralf Sohlström.
15. Memorandum of Cooperation between «EK REC» JSC, CEO
E.Kirkimbayev and «Ensto» Company, President & CEO Ari Virtanen
16. Memorandum of Understanding between «KAZAKH INVEST»
«NC» CEO JSC S.Tuaykbayev and «KOJA» company, CEO Matti
Sippola.
17. Memorandum of understanding and cooperation between National
Agency for Technological Development JSC, CEO Marat Omarov and
«Business Finland», Executive Director Ari Grönroos
18. Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the
National Agency for Technological Development JSC, CEO Marat
Omarov and «Qazaq-Finnish Technology Transfer Center QFTC», CEO
Niiles Airola.
19. Memorandum of Cooperation between «KazCenter ZhKH» JSC
Deputy Chairman Adilkhan Numerable and «Onninen», Director Väinö
Nuuttila.
20. Memorandum of Cooperation between «KazCenter ZhKH» JSC
Deputy Chairman Adilkhan Umerbayev and «AINS Group», CEO Jyrki
Keinänen.
21. Memorandum of Understanding between the Mayor of Karaganda
region, Counsellor to the Mayor Seitzhan Madiyev and «Onninen Oy»
Director Väinö Nuuttila.