Kazakhstan and Benin Reach Diplomatic Milestone through Inaugural Foreign Ministerial Visit
Freshened-Up Version:
Astana played host to Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin, during his recent working visit on April 18. This was the first official trip of a Beninese foreign minister to the Kazakhstani capital.
In a friendly meeting at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Minister Nurtleu and Minister Bakari dove into a series of important topics, focusing on key areas of collaboration including political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian matters. They mulled over possibilities of bolstering partnerships in strategic sectors such as trade, logistics, and digitalization.
Committed to fostering "equal partnerships" with African nations, Nurtleu expressed Kazakhstan's interest in deepening ties with Benin across sectors like agriculture, transport and logistics, finance, digitalization, and telecommunications.
Bakari praised Kazakhstan's accomplishments both domestically and internationally. He highlighted the strong foundation shared by the two nations and their strive for strong, dynamic, and productive relations.
According to data published in 2024, bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Benin surpassed $700 million. Looking to forge ahead, Kazakhstan signaled its readiness to dispatch a trade mission to Benin soon.
Both ministers also discussed filling Benin's agricultural needs by exploring the potential supply of Kazakh grain, flour, vegetable oils, fertilizers, and organic products. They touched on the potential uses of Kazakhstan's satellite-based remote sensing services, which could aid in Benin's agriculture and geological exploration.
Furthermore, the ministers agreed on the significance of joint efforts in transport connectivity. Kazakhstan manages approximately 90% of overland freight traffic from China to Europe, while Benin's Port of Cotonou acts as a vital gateway to West and Central Africa. They demonstrated interest in deepening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, known as the Middle Corridor.
Lastly, the pair also talked about collaboration within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, with a focus on food security.
Insights: The strategic sectors that garnered attention during the visit include:
- Trade: Both countries aim to expand their trade relations, with Kazakhstan looking forward to sending a trade mission to strengthen ties[1].
- Logistics and Transport: Cooperation in this field was highlighted, considering Kazakhstan's role as a major transit hub and Benin's status as a gateway to West and Central Africa[1].
- Digitalization: Collaborative opportunities in this area were discussed as part of their broader discussions on strategic sectors[1].
- Agriculture: Kazakhstan proposed supplying Benin with various agricultural products, while offering its satellite-based remote sensing services to boost its agriculture and geological exploration[1].
- Finance and Other Areas: Further cooperation in these fields was also on the agenda, as part of Kazakhstan's broader strategy to engage in promising sectors for both countries[4].
These collaborative efforts form part of a broader plan to enhance political and diplomatic ties through deals and agreements[3].
Tokayev and Bakari, during their meeting, discussed the formalization of beneficial partnerships in the sectors of trade, logistics, and digitalization, aiming to strengthen Kazakhstan-Benin relations. They deliberated on the potential supply of Kazakh agricultural products, such as grain, fertilizers, and organic goods, to address Benin's agricultural needs. Moreover, they explored the possibility of using Kazakhstan's satellite-based remote sensing services to aid Benin's agriculture and geological exploration.
