The Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliyev, met with the State Secretary to Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Diana Janse, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Kazakh ministry. During the talks on Saturday, the sides discussed current issues of trade and economic cooperation, prospects for increasing mutual trade, attracting investment, and expanding interaction between the business communities of the two countries.
Special attention was paid to trade facilitation, including simplifying access for products to markets of Kazakhstan and Sweden, removing technical barriers, improving logistics and customs procedures, and creating favorable conditions for export-import operations.
Kazakhstan confirmed its interest in expanding supplies of domestic non-commodity products to the Swedish and European Union markets. In this regard, the sides considered opportunities for deeper cooperation between QazTrade, the Swedish National Board of Trade, and Business Sweden to support exporters and develop direct business contacts.
The participants also focused on industrial cooperation. The sides welcomed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Hyundai Trans Almaty and the Volvo Group. The project is expected to boost domestic mechanical engineering, create new production facilities, attract investment, and strengthen Kazakhstan's export potential.
The talks also explored prospects for expanding Swedish business presence in the Kazakh market. Kazakhstan expressed interest in developing cooperation with leading Swedish companies, including the possibility of opening IKEA stores in the country. The sides noted the importance of establishing the Kazakh-Swedish Commission on Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation, which will serve as an effective platform for promoting joint projects and addressing business issues.
Following the meeting, both sides confirmed their mutual interest in continuing to enhance trade and economic partnership, expand investment cooperation, and implement new joint initiatives.