International affairs
On March 2nd 2017, the Chamber of Commerce of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg organized, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Brussels, a country seminar on the business opportunities in Kazakhstan in front of an audience of interested Luxembourg-based companies. This meeting was held in preparation of the accompanied visit to the Specialized International Expo Astana 2017 and the economic mission to Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan’s political and economic capitals, from the 9th to the 13th of June 2017.
Kazakhstan is the strongest economy in Central Asia. Strategically situated between Russia, China, the European Union and the Middle East, the Republic of Kazakhstan – with a land area equal to Western Europe yet one of the lowest population densities in the world – is striving to become the go-to hub for intercontinental exchange along the New Silk Road, the multinational economic overland and maritime corridor between China and Europe.
The seminar celebrated the ambition of Kazakhstan to become the go-to hub in its region, as well as all the other business opportunities that could be of interest for all parties: such as joint efforts in the sectors of information & communication technologies, finance & banking, mining & smelting, machinery and last but not least, energy. The latter sector is key as the “Energy of the future” will be this year’s mantra when the whole world meets at the ‘Specialized Expo Astana 2017’ in order to showcase their national achievements and ambitions.
Following the intervention of the Kazakh delegation, representatives of Luxembourg-based companies, namely Mr. Benedikt Sobotka from Eurasian Resources Group and Mr. Max Kremer from Arendt & Medernach, gave testimonials on their experience in Kazakhstan, before passing the word to Mr. Christian Hartung from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, who illustrated why Kazakhstan is in second place on its top 10 investee countries list.
The Prime Minister of Luxembourg Mr. Xavier Bettel as well as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy, Mr. Etienne Schneider, have recently initiated the organization of a long-term active presence in the form of a Luxembourg Pavilion at the Expo Astana in parallel to our upcoming visit/economic mission. This information was officially announced in concert with the seminar. A working group is currently implementing the concept of the Luxembourg Pavilion at the Expo 2017 Astana where Luxembourg companies will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services in a dedicated corporate area. The Mantra of the Expo, i.e. “Future Energy”, is divided in to three subthemes: “Reducing CO2”, “Energy Efficiency” and “Energy For All.
If you wish for more information on the sponsorship opportunities on the Luxembourg Pavilion at the Expo Astana, which will take place from June 10th to September 10th, please contact us via expo-astana@cc.lu.
For further information on the Accompanied Visit to EXPO 2017 ASTANA and the Economic Mission to Astana & Almaty from the 9th of June to the 13th of June, do not hesitate to contact us via cis@cc.lu. We will be present at the official opening of the Expo Astana and enjoy a tour of the premises on June 10th. After a second day in Astana, during which we will partake in Luxembourgish festivities, the commercial delegation will continue onto Almaty, the country’s economic capital, for a company visit and B2B’s. More details about the economic mission, as well as the invitations will soon follow.
