The heads of Swiss multinational companies plan to implement a number of investment projects in Kazakhstan
A delegation of the heads of large Swiss multinational companies arrived in Nur-Sultan on a working visit. During the visit, the delegates held a number of meetings to discuss investment projects in Kazakhstan in such sectors as mechanical engineering, agribusiness, mining, health care, infrastructure, etc.
The delegation included the heads of such large companies as "Stadler Rail AG", "Credit Suisse Switzerland", "Glencore International", "Roche Holding", "ABB Switzerland", "Rey Group", "KS Genetics", "Inoks Capital", etc.
Thus, within the framework of the visit, a meeting of Swiss companies was held with the Head of State of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the meeting, the President underlined that the Swiss Confederation is one of the most important trade and economic partners of Kazakhstan in Europe.
"The relations between our countries are based on friendship and mutual trust. I consider today's meeting as a constructive continuation of the recent talks with Swiss President Guy Parmelan. We agreed that we will work to strengthen our trade relations and investment cooperation, and we have made progress in all these areas. During the years of Kazakhstan's Independence, Switzerland has invested about $ 30 billion in our economy. The trade turnover of our countries, even in the crisis year of 2020, amounted to $ 1.7 billion", - the Head of State said
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that today there are more than 400 enterprises with the participation of Swiss capital in Kazakhstan.
"I believe that there are certain achievements in our relations and cooperation. At the same time, there is also a huge potential for its further development. Kazakhstan will take all steps to make the investment climate in our country more comfortable for direct investment. Kazakhstan's economy is the largest in the region. Our goal is to maintain a leading position. At the same time, we will have to solve issues related to the diversification of the economy", - said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
According to the President, projects related to decarbonization of the economy, green technologies, environmental protection and the financial sector will be considered as priorities in Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, Peter Spuler, President of "Stadler Rail AG", Co-chairman of the Kazakh-Swiss Business Council, Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of "Glencore International", Christoph Franz, Chairman of the Management Board of "Roche Holding", Jens Haas, Head of the investment Division of "Credit Suisse Switzerland", Robert Ichner, CEO of "ABB Switzerland", Filippo Lombardi, President of "KS Genetics", Nabil Abdul-Massih, Chief Executive Officer of "INOKS Capital", President of the "Rey Group" Christian Rey.
Following the meeting with the delegation of the Swiss business community, the President held separate meetings with the CEOs of Stadler Rail AG, Glencore International AG, and F.Hoffmann-La Roche AG.
During the conversation with Peter Spuler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Stadler Rail AG", President Tokayev discussed the prospects for the implementation of investment projects in the transport area, as well as issues related to the holding of the next meeting of the Kazakh-Swiss Business Council.
Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of "Glencore International AG" informed Kassym-Jomart Tokayev about the company’s plans for further development of "Kazzinc" LLP, including the construction of a polymetallic ore processing plant at the Zhairem Mining and Processing Plant.
The Head of State pointed out to the importance of introducing advanced technologies in order to improve the environmental situation in the East Kazakhstan region.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked Ivan Glasenberg, who is going to retire as Glencore’s CEO, for his contribution to the development of the mining industry in Kazakhstan. He also wished success to Gary Nagle, who will take over the CEO position, and was present at the meeting.
Furthermore, the opportunities for implementing joint projects, including building laboratory infrastructure in Kazakhstan to diagnose various diseases, including COVID-19, President Tokayev discussed at the meeting with Christoph Franz, CEO of “F.Hoffman-La Roche” Ltd.
In addition, during the working trip of delegates from Switzerland, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, KAZAKH INVEST, a number of meetings were organized with the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Nur-Sultan, NWF "Samruk-Kazyna" JSC, "NUH" Baiterek" JSC, "Development Bank of Kazakhstan" JSC, "SK-Pharmacy" LLP, NMC "Tau-Ken Samruk" JSC, where joint investment projects in Kazakhstan, as well as benefits and preferences provided to investors were discussed.
It should be noted that the organizers of the visit of Swiss companies to Kazakhstan were the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Swiss Confederation and "NC "KAZAKH INVEST" JSC.
Source: Official website of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
