As President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gears up for his state visit to Qatar on February 13-14, anticipation is rife for discussions and potential collaborations that lie ahead. This visit stands as a testament to the enduring bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Qatar, which have flourished over more than three decades.
Kazakhstan and Qatar Relations
Qatar and Kazakhstan maintain strong ties of friendship and cooperation marked by trust and mutual respect, with bilateral diplomatic relations established on July 1, 1993. The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Astana was established in May 2008, while the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Doha commenced operations in May 2007. In 2023, the two nations commemorated the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
Qatar is widely recognized as a significant political and economic ally of Kazakhstan, holding a pivotal role as one of its key partners in the Gulf region. Qatari-Kazakh relations are supported by numerous agreements and memorandums of cooperation across various sectors, with exchanges of visits between senior officials from both countries further solidifying bilateral ties. President Tokayev and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have met on several occasions, reflecting the commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
Despite geographical distance posing logistical challenges, bilateral trade has been steadily rising, presenting immense potential for growth. Over the past three decades, Qatar and Kazakhstan have fostered close bilateral ties, marked by successive stages of cooperation. A significant milestone was the establishment of the Qatari-Kazakhstan Joint Higher Committee, which held five consecutive meetings, the most recent in October 2023. These meetings led to the signing of various bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, solidifying the relationship into a strategic partnership. The committee has played a vital role in enhancing economic, commercial, and cultural cooperation, facilitating communication between businessmen from both nations.
In October 2023, the Qatar Chamber (QC) and a delegation from the DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund in Kazakhstan discussed bilateral cooperation in trade and economics, investment opportunities, and potential alliances and partnerships. Kazakhstan highlighted investment opportunities in the Jambyl region, including industries such as chemicals, renewable energy, agriculture, and minerals, providing access to global markets, particularly China and Russia. Qatari investors view Kazakhstan as a promising destination due to its wide range of investment prospects. QC encourages Qatari businessmen to explore these opportunities for investment.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Doha and Astana, there has been reciprocal support for each other's initiatives in regional and international forums. Qatar supported Kazakhstan's accession to membership in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in 2015 and to the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS).
Economic Cooperation
Economic cooperation is fundamental to the relationship between Kazakhstan and Qatar, leveraging the strengths of both nations' vibrant economies across various sectors. Kazakhstan's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia complements Qatar's position as a major hub in the Middle East, offering significant potential for trade and investment collaboration. President Tokayev's upcoming visit aims to further explore avenues for economic cooperation, including joint ventures, infrastructure projects, and investments in emerging sectors.
Although trade between the two countries has shown steady growth, reaching $6.3mn in 2021, there remains room for expansion, especially considering the substantial potential highlighted by the $1.9bn trade volume in 2019. Factors such as geographical distance contribute to the relatively lower level of bilateral trade, posing challenges in terms of transportation costs and logistics. Nonetheless, efforts are underway to address these barriers and enhance the competitiveness of trade between Kazakhstan and Qatar.
Cultural and Educational Initiatives
Additionally, cultural cooperation between the two nations has seen initiatives such as a delegation from the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding visiting Kazakhstan to explore prominent cultural, artistic, and scientific institutions after selecting the Kazakh language for the award cycle in 2022.
Furthermore, the State of Qatar has provided funding for the establishment of the Islamic Finance Centre within the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), the largest university in Kazakhstan. This center, the first of its kind in Central Asia, aims to educate Kazakh students on financial trading principles, financial engineering, and technical analysis of stocks and stock exchanges.
Energy Sector Partnership
Qatar, a global leader in energy, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), has emerged as a significant partner for Kazakhstan in the energy sector. Despite this, there exists untapped potential for trade and investment between the two nations. Efforts to enhance cooperation were underscored during the sixth meeting of the Kazakhstan-Qatar Joint High-Level Commission in 2023, focusing on expanding trade channels and bolstering business cooperation. Moreover, both countries see potential for collaboration in the energy sector, including the development of gas processing and petrochemicals, and the construction of LNG plants.
Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry expressed optimism about the positive trajectory of relations between the two nations, urging Kazakh investors to establish partnerships with Qatari counterparts. Financial services, particularly Islamic finance, are areas ripe for collaboration, along with construction, manufacturing, oil processing, and the chemical industry.
Investment Opportunities
Qatari investors are keenly interested in Kazakhstan as it offers abundant opportunities for foreign investment. The Qatar Chamber (QC) actively encourages Qatari businessmen to explore the various investment prospects available in the country.
Although investments remain relatively low, there is significant interest from Qatar due to Kazakhstan's economic prominence in Central Asia. Joint ventures and projects are underway, including agreements signed during the Emir of Qatar’s visit to Astana in 2023, totaling over $500mn. These agreements encompass diverse sectors such as dairy production, medical infrastructure, and grain processing, signaling a promising future for bilateral cooperation.
Furthermore, Qatar demonstrated its commitment to assisting Kazakhstan during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Under the directives of Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar was among the first countries worldwide to provide medical aid to Kazakhstan to help combat the pandemic.
Enhancing Connectivity
Direct flights play a pivotal role in bolstering bilateral relations between nations by facilitating easier and more frequent interaction among their people, businesses, and governments. Qatar Airways launched a direct flight route from Doha to Almaty on November 19, 2021.
During a meeting with the Kazakh Ambassador to Qatar, Arman Issagaliyev, in December 2023, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer announced an increase in the number of direct flights on the Almaty-Doha route to 14 flights per week. Additionally, plans were shared to inaugurate direct air service between Astana and Doha in 2024.
Both sides also noted a rise in cargo flights, with the Kazakh diplomat reporting a significant increase in bilateral trade volume since the beginning of 2023. Kazakh exports to Qatar surged by 59.3%, totaling $5mn, with Kazakh meat and meat products constituting 15.5% of the exports and gaining availability in major retail chains in Qatar.
As per the Kazakh Embassy in Doha, approximately 20,000 Kazakh citizens have visited Qatar since 2022. President Tokayev's upcoming visit to Qatar holds great promise for further strengthening the ties between Kazakhstan and Qatar across various sectors. The extensive agenda of the visit is poised to pave the way for a new phase of partnership between the two countries.
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