President Nursultan Nazarbayev met Aug. 22 in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda and other top officials as he began the first ever state visit by a Kazakh head of state to Poland.
Photo credit: akorda.kz
The two leaders discussed cooperation in trade, economic, investment, agriculture, transit and transport, as well as in the cultural and humanitarian spheres. They also discussed international issues and implementing joint projects, the Akorda press service reported.
“We discussed political and economic issues. More than 100 Kazakhstan businessmen came to Poland to take part in the business forum to take place tomorrow. It is planned to sign bilateral economic contracts to the amount of $1 billion,” Nazarbayev said during a joint press conference with his Polish counterpart following the talks.
Nazarbayev thanked Duda for the invitation and warm reception, noting progress in bilateral relations and the potential for additional cooperation. The Kazakh leader reminded that almost 40,000 ethnic Poles live in Kazakhstan, creating a “bridges of friendship” between the two states.
“Eighty years have passed since their deportation to Kazakhstan. According to our Constitution and legislation, they have the same rights and freedoms as the other 130 ethnic groups living in Kazakhstan in peace and harmony. The state renders support to all of them,” Nazarbayev added.
In turn, Duda said the Kazakh President’s visit is evidence of the strengthening of bilateral relations and that the two countries have common interests in deepening cooperation in the transport, logistics, oil and gas sectors.
Also, Duda noted that Poland will participate in EXPO 2017 and said he will attend the event.
Nazarbayev also pointed out the fact that Kazakhstan is building up its industrial potential.
“During the past five years, around 1,000 new industrial enterprises have been commissioned. I invite Polish business people to take part in their work. There are all the prerequisites for this. For example, as of next year, a visa-free regime is planned to be introduced for citizens of our countries, and an opportunity for establishing direct air links is being explored. Today, our mutual trade amounts to $1.1 billion. Certainly, this is far for the existing potential,” he said.
Following the talks, the presidents adopted an extensive declaration on economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Poland. The declaration concerns cooperation in energy, transport, space research, science, technology, finance, environmental protection and agriculture.
The two countries’ agriculture ministries also signed an agreement on cooperation.
Representatives from the two countries also signed an agreement on the readmission of persons and a framework agreement between the Development Bank of Kazakhstan and the National Economy Bank of Poland.
Later, Nazarbayev and Duda were scheduled to take part in a Polish-Kazakh business forum on Aug. 23.
During his visit, Nazarbayev also met with Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and Senate Speaker Stanislaw Karczewski.
Poland exports mainly machinery and chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, to Kazakhstan. The main Polish imports from Kazakhstan are mineral products (including petroleum products), according to www.president.pl.
