The Head of State noted that the Republic of Finland is one of the most important trade and economic partners of Kazakhstan, and stressed that relations between the two countries are based on friendship and mutual trust.
- Since independence, Finland has invested more than 300 million US dollars in our country. About 100 enterprises with Finnish capital participation in various spheres are registered in Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The Head of State noted that Kazakhstan opens up new opportunities for profitable business, and indicated that the purpose of the meeting lies in intensifying economic relations and search for new business partners.
- In order to effectively interact with investors and businesses, national companies Kazakh Invest and Kazakh Export have been created. There is a Presidential Council of Foreign Investors. When implementing investment projects in such priority sectors as metallurgy, oil refining, engineering, chemistry, food production, there is an exemption from corporate, land and property taxes, and the procedure for obtaining licenses and entering into contracts for subsoil use is simplified. Involvement of foreign labour is also carried out without quotas and permits, the President of Kazakhstan said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev told the businesspeople about the large-scale privatization carried out in Kazakhstan and the demand for foreign investors, including Finnish investors.
- It is gratifying that we have opened a new railway route from Finland to China through Kazakhstan. Now container shipping in this direction and back takes four times less time than shipping by sea, the Head of State said.
The President of Kazakhstan highlighted the issues of state support for agricultural producers and invited Finnish companies to actively participate in carrying out the projects in the agro-industrial complex.
- Kazakhstan has embarked on an accelerated economic modernization, introduction of new technologies and innovations. A special state program “Digital Kazakhstan” is being implemented. Taking into account the experience of Finnish companies in this field, this could be a promising field for our cooperation, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
In addition, the Head of State spoke about the benefits of Astana International Financial Centre, the high-tech stock exchange established within it, and stressed that the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the US NASDAQ have been partners in the implementation of this project.
- AIFC has all the opportunities to become a regional centre for the development of “green”, Islamic and innovative financial instruments. I invite Finnish companies to take part in its work, the President of Kazakhstan said.
At the end of the meeting, Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed confidence that Finnish businessmen are using all the conditions created in Kazakhstan to develop business and strengthen mutually beneficial partnership.
