Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium Roman Vassilenko met with the Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Matthias Diependaele to discuss prospects for strengthening cooperation between Kazakhstan and one of Belgium’s most economically dynamic regions, DKNews.kz reports.
The talks focused on expanding partnerships in trade, logistics, innovation, and scientific cooperation.
Focus on trade, industry and innovation
During the meeting, Vassilenko noted that Kazakhstan views Flanders as one of the most advanced industrial regions in Europe, with a strong economic base and developed innovation ecosystem.
In this context, Kazakhstan is interested in developing long-term, project-oriented partnerships with leading European regions.
The discussions covered potential cooperation in:
- trade and industrial development
- logistics and transport connectivity
- scientific and technological cooperation
- innovation and digital technologies
Officials emphasized that such cooperation could open new opportunities for business and research collaboration.
Strategic importance of the Middle Corridor
Transport and logistics were a central theme of the meeting.
The ambassador highlighted the growing importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, which connects Central Asia with Europe.
Particular attention was given to cooperation with major European logistics hubs, including:
- the Port of Antwerp-Bruges
- international transport and logistics networks
- Eurasian trade corridors
The port is one of the world’s largest logistics and petrochemical clusters and plays a key role in global trade flows.
Opportunities in high-tech and industrial sectors
The parties also explored prospects for collaboration in several high-value sectors.
These include:
- chemical and petrochemical industries
- pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
- agro-industrial and food production
- artificial intelligence and digital technologies
They also discussed strengthening partnerships between universities, research centers, and innovation clusters in Kazakhstan and Flanders.
Kazakhstan’s reforms presented during the meeting
Vassilenko briefed his counterpart on the political and socio-economic reforms currently underway in Kazakhstan.
He noted that the country is preparing for a nationwide referendum on March 15 regarding the draft of a new Constitution.
According to the ambassador, the constitutional reform aims to:
- improve public governance
- strengthen the rule of law
- expand citizen participation in political life
Strong economic potential of Flanders
Diependaele highlighted the strong potential for cooperation between Flemish companies, research institutions, and Kazakh partners.
He expressed interest in expanding economic and technological ties with Kazakhstan and supporting joint initiatives between businesses and research organizations.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to continue dialogue and work toward implementing concrete cooperation projects.
Flanders is the largest economic region of Belgium. In 2024 its GDP reached €332.6 billion, with GDP per capita of around €47,000, significantly above the European Union average.
