Kazakhstan and Italy Step Up Investment Cooperation
The foreign representative of JSC "NC "KAZAKH INVEST" in Italy, Altynai Mukanova, spoke at the opening of the three-day business forum "Kazakhstan-Italy: Trade and Investment opportunities on the way to Kazakhstan," held in Milan. The forum was held to implement the instructions given by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, following an official visit to Italy in January of this year.
At the forum's opening, high-ranking Italian officials, such as Senate Chairman Ignazio La Russa, Chairman of the EU Policy Commission from Italy, Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanche, and others, spoke.
In his welcoming speech, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Italy Yerbolat Sembayev noted that the current Kazakh-Italian relations are characterized by growing activity, as evidenced by the official visit of the Head of State to Italy, as well as other visits at the level of government members, heads of national companies and business circles.
In turn, the speakers from the Italian side outlined the significant potential for bilateral cooperation. In particular, the Chairman of the Senate of the Italian Parliament, I. La Russa, stressed that Italy pays special attention to developing cooperation with Kazakhstan.
"This forum provides an opportunity to return to the issue of developing relations between Kazakhstan and Italy, which I discussed at a recent meeting with Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev in Rome. The degree of Italy's attention to Kazakhstan, which today is a bridge between Europe and Asia, is very high and is manifested in active cooperation in the field of industry and trade," the Chairman of the Senate noted.
The event provided a unique platform for the exchange of experience and the establishment of partnerships between entrepreneurs from the two countries. Representatives of large Kazakhstani and Italian companies operating in various sectors of the economy attended the forum.
During the visit of the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliev, to the forum, A. Mukanova assisted in organizing several field meetings with potential and existing investors in Milan, Genoa, and Rimini. Thus, A. Shakkaliev met with Alessandro Bernini, CEO of Maire Group, to discuss prospects for cooperation in green technologies and sustainable development. During the meeting, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding between KMG Aero and Maire Group to cooperate in producing and using sustainable aviation fuel SAF. This partnership will significantly contribute to the development of green technologies in Kazakhstan's aviation industry, reducing carbon emissions and improving the environmental safety of flights.
The Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan also met with the Head of Ansaldo Energia SpA, Fabrizio Fabbri, to discuss prospects for cooperation in the energy sector. Ansaldo Energia is a leading Italian company that produces equipment for energy generation, including for the nuclear industry.
In addition, a visit to the Tubacex plant was organized, where a meeting with the company's management was held on the localization of the production of flanges and steel pipes in the Atyrau region. The industrial group produces seamless stainless steel pipes and alloys with a high nickel content and has 24 manufacturing plants and 14 service centers worldwide.
At the meeting with GKCD's management, potential projects in healthcare and energy in Kazakhstan were discussed. GKCD is the largest medical group in Italy, serving 5 million patients per year and owning 16 general hospitals, 37 clinics, and three research hospitals (IRCCS) in Milan and Lombardy.
These meetings demonstrated the growing interest in cooperation between Kazakhstan and Italy in priority economic sectors, opening up new opportunities for mutual investment and sustainable economic growth.
