BULGARIA AND KAZAKHSTAN HAVE POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Export of Bulgarian products to Kazakhstan, gas supplies to the future “Balkan" gas hub and exchange of goods between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan were among the topics discussed on 9th of June during the 4th Intergovernmental Bulgarian-Kazakh Commission for Economic Cooperation.

Bulgaria will assist Kazakhstan in the next round of privatization.

Bilateral economic relations in the area of agriculture and energy sector were discussed between officials from Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan, one of the richest in energy resources in Central Asia, with 7,1 trilllion cubic metres of natural gas, may become one of the sources of gas for the “Balkan” gas hub near Varna.

The co-chair of the commission Tamara Duisenova thanked for the support provided by Bulgaria, which was among the first countries that recognized the independence of Kazakhstan 25 years ago and helped it joining the World Trade Organization and signing the cooperation agreement with the EU.

Tamara Duisenova, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health, said that they were trying to develop all areas of the economy with the focus now being on industry. 898 large projects were implemented, creating 100,000 new jobs, she said and added that the next stage would be the development of agricultural sector.

Bulgaria’s Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Lilyana Pavlova said the cooperation between Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency and the state holding Bayterek were among the main topics of discussion.

Kazakhstan has interesting experience in the public-private partnership namely in terms of building of road infrastructure, Minister Pavlova said.

The two countries also discussed the possibilities for reviving the export of goods from Bulgaria to Kazakstan.