Kazakhstan and Israel hold talks to boost bilateral relations, expand trade, and collaborate on water management.
Fresh Take:
Kazakhstan-Israeli Summit: Boosting Economic Ties and Water Management Partnerships
On the 8th of April, Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed Israeli Speaker of Knesset, Amir Ohana, for a discussion on enhancing economic cooperation, investments, and joint projects.
The meeting, a testament to the two nations' shared desire to strengthen Kazakh-Israeli relations, highlighted the significance of these discussions in broadening the scope of bilateral cooperation.
Central to the conversation was the exploration of trade and economic partnerships. President Tokayev expressed Kazakhstan's eagerness to intensify investment connections and create a conducive environment for the execution of mutually beneficial projects [1][2].
Israel's expert technologies in water resource management caught Kazakhstan's attention. President Tokayev acknowledged the potential for a fruitful partnership in this area, expressing Kazakhstan's willingness to collaborate [1][2].
Ohana, grateful for the warm reception, acknowledged the continuous development of the ties between the two countries, opening promising avenues for future collaboration.
In recent years, Israeli exports to Kazakhstan have shown significant growth, with exports valued at $118 million in 2023 [3]. Key Israeli exports include potassic fertilizers, tropical fruits, and beauty products. On the other hand, Kazakhstan's major exports to Israel are crude petroleum, sulphur, and coal briquettes, valued at $364 million in 2023. However, Kazakh exports have been experiencing a slight decline [3].
The discussion between the leaders reflects a broader commitment to reinforce trade, economic, and investment ties. Foreign ministers from both countries have reiterated this dedication in recent diplomatic interactions [4][5]. Moreover, the two nations are also keen to deepen their dialogue on regional and international matters, indicating a potential broadening of their strategic partnership.
[1] Akorda. (2023, April 8). Kazakh President Tokayev meets with Speaker of Knesset Amir Ohana. https://www.akorda.kz/en/news/kazakh-president-tokayev-meets-with-speaker-of-knesset-amir-ohana
[2] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, April 8). Israeli Speaker of Knesset, Amir Ohana, meets with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-798566
[3] The Kazakh Invest National Company. (2023). Trade and economic cooperation with Israel. https://www.kazakhinvest.gov.kz/ru/investment/marketing-research/trade-and-economic-cooperation-with-countries/israel
[4] The Astana Times. (2023, February 21). Minister of Foreign Affairs erbolov: Kazakhstan seeks a comprehensive partnership with Israel. https://www.astanatimes.com/2023/02/minister-of-foreign-affairs-erbolov-kazakhstan-seeks-a-comprehensive-partnership-with-israel/
[5] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, February 28). Israel's Foreign Minister meets with Kazakhstan's Prime Minister. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-795970
Insights:- Economic Cooperation: Kazakhstan and Israel are fostering their economic ties, focusing on increasing investment opportunities and creating favorable conditions for joint projects.- Investment Ties: The leaders discussed enhancing investment connections, with Kazakhstan open to strengthening collaboration with Israeli businesses across various sectors.- Trade Trends: Israel's exports to Kazakhstan have been growing significantly, while Kazakhstan's exports have shown a slight decline.- Water Resource Management: Both nations are keen to collaborate on water resource management, leveraging Israel's advanced technologies due to its expertise and Kazakhstan's needs in this sector.- Future Prospects: The foreign ministers from both countries have reinforced their commitment to strengthening trade, economic, and investment ties. The dialogue on regional and international issues suggests a broader strategic partnership.
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan emphasized the importance of expanding economic cooperation and investment ties with Israel, as evidenced in his discussion with Israeli Speaker of Knesset, Amir Ohana, on the 8th of April.
- During the meeting, the potential for a partnership in Israeli water resource management technologies was highlighted, with President Tokayev recognizing the prospect of a mutually beneficial collaboration in this area.
- In acknowledging the continuous development of ties between their countries, Amir Ohana expressed optimism for the future of Kazakh-Israeli relations, indicating a potential broadening of their strategic partnership in areas beyond water management and economics.
