Finnish-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation to meet in Astana

The Finnish-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation will meet in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, from 28 February to 1 March 2019. The Commission will be co-chaired by Finland's Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen and Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbajev.

The Intergovernmental Commission had its previous meeting in Helsinki in March 2017. A seminar for Finnish companies will be held in connection with the meeting.

The main task of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation is to promote business opportunities and trade and to build contacts between companies and authorities. The meeting will focus on trade and companies' business opportunities in Kazakhstan and the cooperation relating to energy, transport, the environment, agriculture and education. Digitalisation is a new topic on the agenda. In the use of its natural resources and other assets, Kazakhstan could make use of Finnish expertise and technology. There is potential for growth in trade.

Kazakhstan is Finland's biggest trading partner in Central Asia. When Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Finland in October 2018, he had meetings with Finnish companies. During the visit, 23 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed.

Finland ratified the European Union–Republic of Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) in February 2017. The Agreement strengthens the relations between the EU and Kazakhstan in different policy areas, including political relations, justice and the economy.

Inquiries: Tuuli-Maaria Aalto, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 50 527 8459 and Päivi Karhio-Szilvay, Counsellor, Unit for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, tel. +358 295 350 050.

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.