BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 17.
Kazakhstan has identified potential exports to Canada across 45
product categories worth about $255 million, Kazakh Minister of
Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said.
According to the ministry's press service,
Shakkaliyev made the remarks during a phone conversation with
Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu.
"We have prepared a list of potential Kazakh export
goods across 45 product categories worth about $255 million. We are
ready to work with the Canadian side to identify specific
mechanisms for promoting these products in the Canadian market,"
Shakkaliyev said.
He added that Kazakhstan could serve as a platform
for Canadian partners to access the markets of China and other
countries in the region. More than 160 joint ventures with Canadian
capital currently operate in Kazakhstan. The sides noted that the
current volume of bilateral trade does not yet reflect the
potential for cooperation.
Shakkaliyev proposed launching flagship joint
projects and preparing a joint action plan between Kazakhstan and
Canada with specific priorities and projects.
The sides also discussed opportunities under the
"Made with Canada" approach and expanding the presence of Canadian
products in Kazakhstan.
Particular attention was paid to cooperation in
nuclear energy. The Canadian side proposed exchanging experience in
small modular reactor projects, including the Darlington SMR
project, as well as CANDU technology. The sides also discussed
potential participation by Canadian companies in Kazakhstan's
nuclear energy development plans.
Critical minerals and mining were identified as
another area for cooperation. The sides discussed moving from
raw-material cooperation toward processing and production of higher
value-added products.
In agriculture, the sides considered the use of
Canadian agricultural technologies to increase productivity and
improve the efficiency of water and other resource use, as well as
opportunities to develop agricultural processing.
"Canadian agri-tech companies can help increase
yields with less use of fertilizer and water, which will contribute
to your food security," Sidhu said.
The sides also discussed expanding cooperation in the
aerospace sector, including firefighting aviation and the use of
Canadian aircraft and technologies.
Investment cooperation was another focus of the
talks. The sides agreed to continue preliminary work on a possible
Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA).
According to the Canadian side, such a mechanism could support
investment cooperation, particularly in mining, agriculture and
sectors linked to international supply chains.
The sides also noted the potential of the
Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) to further
diversify foreign trade. Kazakhstan proposed considering the
development of an economic strategy for Canada's engagement with
Central Asian countries, taking into account Canada's experience
with its Indo-Pacific Strategy.
The sides agreed to prepare a joint economic plan
setting out priority areas, trade facilitation measures, investment
cooperation and sector-specific projects.
Shakkaliyev invited Sidhu to attend Digital Bridge
and the Astana International Forum. The Canadian side, in turn,
invited the Kazakh minister to continue talks in Canada, including
during the PDAC mining conference.
