On February 14, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met in Doha with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss the prospects of cooperation in energy, trade, and economic projects, QazMonitor reports citing Akorda.
During the meeting, the President emphasized Qatar's significance as ‘an important and reliable partner in the Islamic world’ for Kazakhstan. He proposed elevating the interaction between the countries to a full-fledged strategic partnership by signing several agreements.
In turn, Al Thani outlined the areas of potential cooperation. “Within the framework of our interaction, we are interested in the realization of energy, trade, economic, and investment projects,” he said, adding, “I hope that meetings with representatives of major companies during your visit will ensure the promotion of partnership in these areas.”
Kazakhstan's Head of State envisions Qatar emerging as one of the top ten investors in the country in the near future. The President underscored Kazakhstan's eagerness to boost exports to Qatar by 60 non-resource commodities totaling $250 million. Furthermore, he proposed to elevate mutual trade between the two nations to $500 million.
The discussions during the meeting encompassed key sectors such as agriculture, transportation, logistics, and tourism. Specifically, Tokayev invited Qatar to collaborate in establishing an intermodal transportation network linking the Gulf and Central Asia, to foster economic activity in the region. Presently, Kazakhstan ranks among the world's leading producers of wheat and flour, with plans to expand irrigated land to 3 million hectares. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev considers that there is potential for broadening cooperation in the agricultural sector.
Cultural and humanitarian ties were also addressed during the talks. President Tokayev proposed to host Kazakhstan and Qatar Culture Days in the capitals of both countries in 2025. He expressed confidence that these events would strengthen the bond between the two peoples and showcase the richness of their cultural heritage.
Additionally, the parties discussed pertinent issues on the regional and international agenda.