Kazakhstan and Slovenia Expand Economic Partnership
The Kazakhstan–Slovenia Business Forum was held in Astana with the support of JSC "NC KAZAKH INVEST", featuring the participation of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar. The event marked an important step toward deepening trade and economic cooperation and strengthening investment ties between the two countries.
The forum gathered leaders of government bodies from Kazakhstan and Slovenia, as well as representatives of the business communities of both nations, including more than 25 Slovenian companies.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia Tanja Fajon, who emphasized mutual interest in advancing political and economic dialogue.
During the first panel session, "Investment Potential and Business Dialogue," participants discussed Kazakhstan’s investment landscape. Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gabidulla Ospankulov, presented the country’s investment potential, noting that Kazakhstan has attracted over $453 billion in foreign direct investment over three decades, thanks to its strategic location, rich resources, and favorable investment policies.
The second session, "New Horizons of Cooperation in Strategic Sectors," focused on tourism, digitalization, engineering, and sustainable technologies. Kazakh and Slovenian companies explored specific initiatives, including construction solutions manufacturing, IT infrastructure development, and the adoption of sustainable energy-efficient technologies.
"Kazakhstan offers Slovenian companies vast opportunities across various sectors – from agriculture to high-tech. Today's forum is a platform to move from words to concrete partnerships," said Madiyar Sultanbek, Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC "NC "KAZAKH INVEST".
Following the forum, participants held a series of B2B meetings, establishing direct connections between entrepreneurs and discussing potential joint projects.
Slovenia remains an active EU partner of Kazakhstan, with over $195 million in direct investments since 2006. Around 20 enterprises with Slovenian capital are registered in Kazakhstan. The business forum served as a natural continuation of the positive momentum in bilateral relations.
