A business mission to Kazakhstan has exceeded expectations, according to the Secretary General of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philokypros Rousounides, who said the visit opened clear prospects for deeper economic and business ties between the two countries.
“The business mission and the Business Forum we organised in Astana, as part of the first official visit by President Nikos Christodoulides to Kazakhstan, exceeded our expectations and confirmed that there are substantial prospects for further strengthening economic and business relations between the two countries,” Rousounides told Politis.
He said the presence of the President, government ministers, senior state officials and leading business and investment organisations from both countries gave particular weight to the forum and showed political will at the highest level to deepen bilateral cooperation.
“What we are taking away is not only the extremely positive response we received from government and business bodies in Kazakhstan, but above all the strong interest shown in cooperation with Cypriot companies,” he said.
The contacts, company meetings and discussions held during the mission, he added, create solid expectations for specific business partnerships, investment initiatives and new trade opportunities in the coming period.
A Fast-Growing Economy
Rousounides described Kazakhstan as a fast-growing economy and one of the most important markets in Central Asia. Cyprus, he said, can act as a reliable business, investment and financial hub towards the European Union and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.
This strategic complementarity, he noted, creates significant prospects for mutual benefit.
He said it was particularly encouraging that substantial interest was recorded in areas including technology and innovation, financial services, energy, agriculture, transport, shipping, the digital economy and tourism.
A Strong Institutional Framework
Rousounides also pointed to the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its counterpart in Kazakhstan, saying it establishes a strong institutional framework for continuing and expanding the effort.
“We are leaving Astana with very positive messages. We are not returning simply with contacts and good intentions, but with strong indications that a new and promising channel of cooperation is opening between Cyprus and Kazakhstan, one that can deliver tangible business and investment results in the coming years for the benefit of the economies and businesses of both countries,” he said.
