The United Arab Emirates is one of the main trading partners of Kazakhstan in the Middle East and the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to $907 million during the past year, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE, Madyar Menelikov, said Tuesday as quoted by WAM news agency.
Speaking during a ceremony which was held at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi on the occasion of Kazakhstan National Day, Ambassador Menelikov emphasized that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Emirati investment in Kazakhstan amounted to about $2.7 billion.
During the ceremony, which was attended by UAE Minister of Community Development Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, the ambassador also pointed out that while the total direct investment flows from the UAE increased by 43% (or $243.4 million), the value of Kazakh investments amounted to more than $1 billion.
The event was also attended by several officials from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, members of the Kazakh community in the country and members of the Arab and foreign diplomatic corps accredited to the UAE.
Reminding that on the October 1st they marked the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan, Ambassador Menelikov highlighted the distinguished relations that bind the two countries together, emphasizing how much his country values the UAE leadership’s interest in strengthening relations between the two countries.
In a speech on this occasion, the ambassador pointed to the tourism sector as another promising field of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UAE as a global tourism center, noting that there are currently 40 direct flights per week in both directions.
Earlier in the day, UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent a message of congratulations to Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the occasion of Kazakhstan’s National Day.
