„Between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan there is a significant unused potential for mutually beneficial cooperation”. Viktor Temirbaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Bulgaria, said this in an interview for FAKTI. In the last year and a half, since he has been ambassador in our country, a number of projects have been implemented in various fields – starting with the educated, passing through culture and reaching the economy. What makes Bulgaria attractive for the ninth largest country in the world, what are the plans for the development of bilateral relations? You can read the answer to these and other questions in the interview that Ambassador Temirbaev gave to FACTS.
The world is currently in a state of geopolitical turbulence. In such conditions, Kazakhstan continues to demonstrate its openness to all countries in terms of investment and business and successfully attracts them. What is the recipe for success?
Attracting foreign investment is one of Kazakhstan's priority strategic goals. In the context of global competition for investors, our country is actively developing the investment environment, providing entrepreneurs with a wide range of support and incentives through specialized mechanisms.
One of the key tools was the creation of the national company “Kazakh Invest”, which acts on behalf of the government and offers investors advice and services to support the principle of “one stop”. This allows us to effectively facilitate investment activities and promote projects.
The Government of Kazakhstan provides extensive financial and non-financial support for investment projects: exemption from various taxes (corporate income tax, VAT, land tax and property tax), provision of land plots, as well as creation of special economic and industrial zones with tax preferences.
In accordance with the best global practices, we have identified 14 special economic zones and 41 industrial zones located throughout Kazakhstan, which provide developed infrastructure and a wide range of investment preferences (0% - land tax, VAT, tax on property, corporate income tax, customs duties).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a key role in supporting investment projects by concluding investment contracts, granting investors exemption from customs duties and VAT when importing raw materials and materials, as well as providing state import aid.
Since 2017, the International Financial Center “Astana“ has been successfully operating in the country. (AIFC), which plays a key role in strengthening Kazakhstan's position as a regional financial center. The AIFC is a unique platform for the Central and Central Asian region with a special legal status that grants its participants special privileges. The center brings together the best experience and state-of-the-art capabilities of the leading financial centers New York, London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The AIFC Court and its International Arbitration Center are legally separate and independent from Kazakhstan's judicial system. It provides an English common law court system that operates to the highest international standards for the resolution of civil and commercial disputes.
The 24th meeting of the SCO was held a few days ago in Kazakhstan. The organization is one of the key for the development of Eurasia. How will the decisions of the SCO affect the development of the world economically and politically?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an international organization founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Since then, it has expanded significantly and currently unites 10 countries from the Eurasian continent.
The SCO has become one of the leading international organizations, uniting almost half of the world's population and a significant part of the world's GDP and trade. It plays an important role in shaping the political and economic order in the region, promoting cooperation in various aspects, including the fight against terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.
Just a few days ago, the 24th summit of the heads of state of the SCO and the summit in the format "SCO+" ended in Astana, in which the heads of state and government of 16 countries participated: Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, UAE, Turkey and Turkmenistan, as well as UN Secretary General A. Guterres and heads of such international organizations as the Eurasian Economic Commission, the Treaty Organization collective security, the Conference on Cooperation and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Organization of Islamic Food Security.
At the summit, the Republic of Belarus became the 10th full member of the Organization.
Kazakhstan has been the chairman of the SCO since 2023. During that time, about 150 events of various levels were held, including digital, tourism, energy and business forums, as well as the SCO Youth Council. 60 new documents were drawn up, including the Anti-Drug Strategy, the Implementation Plan for the Economic Cooperation Strategy, the Environmental Protection Agreement and the Energy Cooperation Development Strategy. The range of international organizations cooperating with the SCO has expanded.
As a result of the summit, the Astana Declaration was adopted, as well as about 25 documents and statements by heads of state, including the Initiative for World Unity for Just Peace, Harmony and Development, which was supported by SCO members.
The summit emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation between the organization's participants in the context of contemporary global challenges. Current problems of political stability, economic development, security and sustainable development of the region were discussed. Each participant contributed to the discussion of strategies and solutions aimed at strengthening cooperation within the SCO.
In September, the capital of Kazakhstan will host the 5th World Nomad Games. Many experts call them the second Olympic Games. Pleasetell us how it goes strong> preparation for such significant event and how will be the games? h2>
Indeed, from September 8 to 13, 2024, Astana will host the 5th World Nomad Games (WGN), a significant international event dedicated to the ethnic sports and culture of peoples with nomadic traditions. They are aimed at developing the ethno-sports and ethno-cultural movement as an important heritage of human civilization.
The SIN program covers three main areas:
1. Sports:
• Over 2,000 participants from more than 85 countries around the world will compete in 21 sports, including ashik atu, kokpar, Kazakh wrestling, “9 stones“, tug of war and others.
• The program also includes 10 demonstration sports, such as horse racing, folk wrestling, intellectual games, martial arts, traditional archery, national bird hunting and others.
• A total of 110 sets of medals will be awarded at the Games.
2. Culture:
• On the day before the opening ceremony of the Games, the opening of the ethnoaula (ethnic village) will take place, with a dynamic theatrical performance “Astana – the capital of the nomads”.
• Throughout the days of the event, cultural events will be held in the ethnoaula, including the largest exhibition-fair of the best craftsmen of Kazakhstan with master classes and exhibitions of works.
• An important part of the program will be the traditional competition of the Aquinas - “Aits“, in which leading and novice singers from the country will participate. The “Universe of Nomads” festival will also be presented.
3. Science:
• From September 9 to 11, 2024, an international scientific and practical conference on the topic "Nomads: history, knowledge, lessons" will be held.
• The conference will cover three main areas: “History and Culture“, “Sport Science“ and “Feeding the Central Asian Nomads”, providing a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience between scientists and specialists.
The World Nomad Games in Astana 2024 is a unique event that helps to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of nomadic peoples through sports and cultural events, as well as to enrich the scientific dialogue in this area.
Returning to Bulgaria, how deep will relations between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan be in the near future?
As I noted earlier, our countries have significant untapped potential for mutually beneficial cooperation.
1. Transport and transit sector. Considering that both Kazakhstan and Bulgaria have somewhat similar, quite advantageous geographical positions at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, as well as the priority national tasks of diversifying export and import routes, I consider for the expedient joint development of the transit potential through practical cooperation within the framework of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route or the so-called Middle Corridor. TMTM passes through China, Kazakhstan, Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and then goes to Turkey and European countries.
Today, the delivery time of cargo via TMTM from the borders of China to the borders of EU countries is 19-23 days. For comparison, the delivery of goods from China to Turkey via the Suez Canal takes 35-45 days, i.e. 3 times more.
The volume of cargo transportation in 2023 amounted to more than 2.8 million tons, which is 65% more than in 2022.
The International Association "TMTM" works to ensure effective complex tariffs for freight transportation, uniting the owners of highway infrastructure, carriers of various types of transport in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, as well as China . One of the major port operators in Bulgaria, BMF Port Burgas, has been a member of this association since October 1, 2023. In addition, the companies Gopet Trans, Fidelitas Group and Clever Synergies Investment Fund have expressed interest in membership in the Association.
2. The sphere of the agro-industrial complex. Kazakhstan has 220 million hectares of agricultural land, including 180 million hectares of grassland. By these indicators, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, our country is in 6th place in the world. We are interested in attracting investments and advanced European technologies in the agricultural sector. Prospective directions for us: deep processing of meat, milk and grain, development of industrial greenhouse cultivation. In this context, we are ready to work with interested Bulgarian farmers.
3. IT sphere. Kazakhstan sets itself a strategically important task - complete transformation into an IT country. Our government actively supports digital transformation, the development of new IT products and the development of IT infrastructure.
In the UN ranking, Kazakhstan ranks 28th in digitization and 8th in digital services. 92% of government services are provided electronically, and 85% of them can be accessed via smartphone.
The largest international technology park in Central Asia is operating - AstanaHub, on the platform of which more than 1.4 thousand companies are successfully working, of which about 400 are foreign.
IT solutions of Kazakh companies are in great demand all over the world. We have set ourselves the goal of bringing IT services exports to $1 billion by 2026.
4. Rare earth metals. Kazakhstan has significant reserves of minerals, many of which the country is one of the world's leading suppliers. Kazakhstan accounts for about a quarter of the world's production of titanium sponge (the main user is Airbus - 60%) and is the second largest producer of chromium in the world, accounting for 16% of the world's production, while possessing deposits of such minerals as gold, silver and silicon.
According to World Bank estimates, Kazakhstan still has more than 5,000 unexplored deposits worth more than 46 trillion. USD. The mineral resource base of the country is formed by deposits of ferrous, non-ferrous, precious and rare metals, as well as non-metallic minerals. Despite the large number of deposits that are currently being developed, according to experts, the subsoil of Kazakhstan still has quite a lot of potential for new discoveries.
We invite Bulgarian companies to actively use Kazakhstan's potential for a mutually beneficial partnership.
5. Tourism. Currently, a draft Memorandum of Understanding in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria has been agreed and is ready for signing. Of course, the signing of this document will give impetus to the further expansion of our cooperation in the field of tourism.
Kazakhstan, which has the 9th largest territory in the world with an area of 2.7 million sq km and a population of over 20 million people, has significant natural resources, including various types of national parks, as well as the potential to develop almost all types of tourism: cultural-educational, ecological, sports, health, religious, business tourism, etc. This is facilitated by a rich history that has left many archaeological and historical monuments in the country.
This is due to the unique geographical position, thanks to which in Kazakhstan you can find untouched corners of nature in a wide variety of landscapes, as well as due to the development of tourist infrastructure, constant work to simplify the visa regime and many other factors.< /p>
In this era of globalization where travel destinations are becoming increasingly similar, many travelers are looking for something authentic and different. In this context, Kazakhstan is definitely worth discovering.
Its location along the historic Silk Road gives the country significant tourist potential.
National nature parks attract lovers of trekking, hiking, cycling and horse riding, as well as bird watching. The suburbs of Almaty and the pearls of Sarkarka - Burabay, Bayanaul, Imantau and Karkarali - deserve special attention.
The core of the state policy to stimulate the tourism industry is the key 10 destinations (places) with the highest tourist potential: Astana (the capital of Kazakhstan), Burabay, Bayanaul, Lake Alakol, Almaty Mountain, Balkhash, Turkestan (pilgrimage center ) , Baikonur, Mangistau and Imantau-Shalkar.
Citizens of 80 countries can enter Kazakhstan without a visa. Our e-Visa system simplifies the process of obtaining visas for over 100 countries, combining easy entry with maximum security. Easier entry of tourists and investors can only strengthen our economy and international authority. And we don't plan to stop there. I am pleased to announce that Bulgaria is on this list. Visa-free entry with the right of residence in the country for citizens of Bulgaria is granted for a period of up to 30 days.
We invite our Bulgarian friends to more actively use the tourist potential of Kazakhstan and get to know its main attractions!