Business mission to Kazakhstan

SARIO agency in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Astana jointly organized the so-far largest business mission to Kazakhstan on 2^nd – 4^th October 2024 in the country´s capital city of Astana. 

Representatives of 37 Slovak companies were present as part of the official business delegation, which during two days completed 110 B2B/B2G meetings with more than 60 representatives of the Kazakh state and business sector. The official state visit was led by State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the SR Vladimír Šimoňák on the occasion the 10^th meeting of the Kazakh-Slovak intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical cooperation

On the first day, the program of the business mission brought reception at the Kazakh National chamber of entrepreneurs "ATAMEKEN" under the leadership of the Vice-chairman of the Chamber´s Council Ms. Gulanara Bizhanova. In addition to the introductory presentation of the Vice-chairman of the Chamber, Slovak business representatives could ask their own individual questions related to specifics of their business subject.

After the transfer from the ATAMEKEN chamber, individual B2B meetings organized by a local Kazakh consulting company followed in the conference rooms of the SAAD Hotel in such a way as to meet the pre-defined requirements of the Slovak entrepreneurs participating in the business mission. Together, 60 B2B and B2G meetings were held.

The main point of the delegation's program on the second day was an organized business forum in the representative premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. Representatives of KAZAKH INVEST, ATAMEKEN and KAZTRADE participated in the preparation and recruitment of local companies. The business forum was opened with speeches by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Roman Vasilenko, who previously acted as Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Slovakia, and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Vladimír Šimoňák. Subsequently, in his opening speech, the SARIO Director General agency Robert Šimončič, together with the KAZAKH INVEST Vice-chairman of board Madiyar Sultanbek, highlighted the existing cooperation and potential for further development of business relations between Kazakhstan and Slovakia.

The B2B meetings themselves took place after the official opening of the business forum and presentations by representatives of local institutions. Representatives of 28 Kazakh companies participated in the bilateral meetings and about 50 B2B/B2G meetings were held together with a few inquiries were generated for the supply of machinery and equipment from Slovakia by SARIo agency. In conclusion, it can be summarised that Slovakia has companies capable of competing on global markets, including in the region of Central and East Asia, and the creation of similar opportunities can lead to the gradual opening up of these foreign markets.