Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, held a meeting with Antonio Tajani, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic. Tajani arrived in Astana for an official visit.
Both parties welcomed the dynamic development of Kazakh-Italian relations and discussed the current state and future prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation. Areas of focus included politics, trade, economics, investment, science, technology, culture, humanitarian efforts, and tourism, along with multilateral interactions.
Minister Nurtleu emphasized the importance of expanding the scope of interaction with Italy. “Italy is a time-tested, reliable strategic partner. Trade turnover with your country has reached record levels among European nations. We attach great importance to our cooperation with Rome. Over more than 30 years of diplomatic relations, we have achieved impressive results,” said the Kazakh Minister.
In response, Minister Tajani expressed his support for the initiatives announced in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s State of the Nation Address, titled “The Economic Course of a Just Kazakhstan,” as well as for political and socio-economic reforms aimed at building a strong economy and a prosperous society. He also highlighted the high level of relations between the two countries, emphasizing new, promising areas of collaboration.
The two ministers underlined their mutual interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation through maintaining regular political dialogue and boosting trade, economic, and investment partnerships. This includes potential interactions with Italian high-tech companies. Both parties noted a 54% increase in mutual trade turnover, which reached $14.9 billion at the end of 2022, and cited the successful completion of several major investment projects in Kazakhstan involving Italian companies, such as a wind power plant in the Aktobe region and tractor and combine production in the Kostanay region.
They also highlighted the significance of the direct flight established last year between Almaty and Milan, which operates twice a week and substantially contributes to trade and economic relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, the Kazakh Foreign Minister expressed hope for Italy’s support in liberalizing the visa regime for Kazakh citizens within the European Union.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the Kazakh-Italian strategic partnership, based on the 2009 agreement, and signed a Joint Statement emphasizing interaction in priority sectors, such as manufacturing, digitalization, and water management, as well as in cultural and humanitarian dimensions like interpersonal exchanges and academic connections.
During his visit, Minister Tajani was also received by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov.
Italy is Kazakhstan’s third-largest global partner and its largest trading partner in Europe. Key areas of trade and economic cooperation include energy, natural resource exploration and production, construction, infrastructure, transport, communications, agriculture, scientific and technological activities, and consulting services.
From 2005 to 2022, the gross inflow of direct investments from Italy into Kazakhstan totalled $7.3 billion, ranking Italy 12th among investing countries.
Approximately 270 companies with Italian capital are registered in Kazakhstan.
