Kazakhstan wants to increase bilateral trade

Mr. Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, Kazakhstan Minister of Industry and Trade visited Israel last week at the head of a delegation of 24 Kazakh government officials and businessmen.
 
The delegation participated in a "Doing Business in Kazakhstan" conference in which 80 representatives of Israeli companies also attended.
 
The Kazakh minister said during the conference that Kazakhstan was willing to expand business ties with Israeli companies. Kazakhstan, according to the minister was giving priority not only to the development of high-tech industries but also to management and marketing know-how.
 
Minister of Industry Trade and Labor Ehud Olmert said, following a meeting with Mr. Dzhaksybekov, that a rare window of opportunity was opening for Israeli companies in Kazakhstan. The country has embarked upon a fast developing policy in which the country was upgrading its infrastructures and technologies. Mr. Shraga Brosh chairman of Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute said that Kazakhstan was important market for Israeli industry.
 
According to Brosh Kazakhstan's economy was growing rapidly and had goodwill toward Israeli technology and products. He added that a delegation of Israeli businessmen is planning to visit Kazakhstan in the first half of 2005 to examine co-operation and investment opportunities in the country.
 
Ministry of industry figures show that Israeli exports to Kazakhstan rose 40% in January-September 2004 to $30.5 million, and is expected to rise 43% to $41 million for 2004 as a whole. The main exports are high-tech and communications products and food products.