The second meeting of the Kazakh-Brazilian Business Committee was held in the capital of Kazakhstan, co-chaired by the Kazakh Center for Industry and Export «QazIndustry» and the National Industrial Confederation of Brazil (CNI). More than 40 representatives of state bodies, economic organizations and companies of the two countries took part in the event, DKNews.kz reports.
Opening the event, Chairman of the Board of «QazIndustry» JSC Berik Bekenov noted that the Business Council, established in 2021 as an institutional base for the leading industrial enterprises of Kazakhstan and Brazil, is an active platform and driving force for trade, economic and investment cooperation. In this context, the urgent need to consolidate the efforts of the business community to realize the full potential of the economic and investment opportunities of the two countries was emphasized. It was also noted that, taking into account the achievements and experience of Brazil in the field of mechanical engineering, instrument making, energy, agrochemistry and agriculture, it is of practical interest for the Kazakh side to expand cooperation in these sectors of the economy.
In turn, Vice-President of the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) Gilberto Porcello Petry stressed that the establishment of the Business Council and the involvement of more Brazilian companies in this mechanism to implement joint projects is the main priority of work within this institution. According to Gilberto Petry, at present, the business circles of Brazil and South America are still not sufficiently aware of the huge resource, technological and transit potential of Kazakhstan, therefore, the top priority of the Business Council remains its disclosure and content. In addition, according to the speaker, Brazil and Kazakhstan play an important role in ensuring global food security and could actively cooperate in this direction.
Ambassador of Brazil to Kazakhstan Rubêm Antonio Correia Barbosa and Director of the Americas Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov also delivered welcoming addresses at the opening of the meeting. According to diplomats, Kazakhstan and Brazil are each other's key partners in the regions of Central Asia and South America. A strong political dialogue has been established between the two countries, and business ties are actively developing. To date, the Kazakh-Brazilian Business Council has already made it possible to expand the geography of bilateral economic ties through direct business contacts. This is evidenced by the increased dynamics of economic forums and presentations, as well as a significant increase in bilateral trade last year. Currently, Kazakhstan and Brazil are making active efforts to join the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), membership in which will give an additional impetus to expand bilateral cooperation in the economic sphere.
From the Kazakh side, during the meeting, reports and industry presentations were made by the Head of Plant Products Processing Division of the Department of Agro-food Markets and Processing of Agricultural Products of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gulnar Bizhigitova, Executive Director for Commerce of «Kazphosphate» LLP Bauyrzhan Bolatkhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of «Kazakh Invest» Ruslan Ibraimov and Head of the Directorate for the Development of Special Economic and Industrial Zones of «QazIndustry» JSC Aydin Rakymzhan.
From the Brazilian side, Andrey Kokoulin, Commercial Director of «WEG Central Asia», Vadims Fokins, Director for Europe of «Embraer», Sergey Chulnov, Regional Director of «Tramontina», and Mario Daros, President of «Piratini», specializing in the processing and sales of potash and nitrogen fertilizers. Currently, «WEG», as so far the only Brazilian company, has launched an investment project to create a technical hub in the Republic of Kazakhstan and localize the production of electrical equipment.
During the discussion, the parties stated that despite the geographical remoteness and difficulties in the logistics of maritime transport, Kazakhstan and Brazil have great potential for further building up trade and investment cooperation. An important support in this process will be the creation of an Intergovernmental Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation and the conclusion of a bilateral Agreement on Mutual Protection and Investment Promotion. Taking into account the high demand of Brazil in providing the country's agriculture with fertilizers, the parties considered the possibility of supplying the necessary raw materials from Kazakhstan. In turn, the Kazakh side informed about the holding of a round table on the investment and trade opportunities of Kazakhstan (Investment Round table) in Sao Paulo in June this year and invited the Brazilian side to take an active part in it.
As a result of the event, the Protocol of the second meeting of the Kazakh-Brazilian Business Council was signed.
This year, Kazakhstan and Brazil celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
The Kazakhstan-Brazil Business Committee was established on August 26, 2021 by signing a relevant Memorandum between the Kazakhstan Industry and Export Center «QazIndustry» and the National Industrial Confederation of Brazil (CNI). The first meeting of the Business Council was held in November 2021 with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Almas Aidarov in the capital of Brazil. Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Brazil doubled in 2022 and amounted to $364.4 million (exports - $84.7 million, imports - $279.4 million). For January-February of this year, the volume of mutual trade increased by 333% compared to the same period last year and reached 58.9 million US dollars (Kazakh export - 28.8 million dollars, import from Brazil - 30.2 million dollars).
