President of Kazakhstan Pays Official Visit to the Slovak Republic

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid his first official visit to the Slovak Republic on the 20th to 21st November 2007.

After bilateral talks the Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič described the visit as significant in terms of future economic cooperation as well as in terms of cooperation in culture, education, science and sport. Economic experts also appreciate bilateral steps that have been taken in the field of the economy. They include, in particular, activities in the building industry, mechanical engineering, the electrical and electronics industry, special equipment production, as well as the areas concerning the promotion of tourism development. Ivan Gašparovič appreciated the year-on-year increase of 80% in bilateral trade in 2006.

The Slovak President familiarised his Kazakh guest with Slovakia’s economy and business sector, which had already launched a number of investment and business projects in Kazakhstan, and vice-versa. The two top officials also discussed the quality of bilateral cooperation within international organisations. Slovakia appreciates its cooperation with Kazakhstan within the UN and other international organisations; the Kazakh side thanked Slovakia for its support both for Kazakhstan’s WTO accession effort and its endeavours to be awarded the OSCE chairmanship. Ivan Gašparovič in return appreciated Kazakhstan’s support for Slovakia’s chairmanship over the Council of Europe.

Kazakh President noted that his visit to Slovakia opened new dimensions for further bilateral economic cooperation, from Kazakhstan’s perspective particularly in metallurgy, mineral resources, ores and the oil industry. “Kazakhstan is becoming a key player in the energy sources market. This is a very important moment for both the Kazakh and Slovak economy,” Nazarbayev said.

He put a special accent on the economic aspect of his visit to Slovakia, mainly the signing of important agreements which would establish a new “legal framework for our cooperation”.

At the end of his visit, the Kazakh President invited his Slovak counter-part to visit Kazakhstan.