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What to expect from Tokayev's state visit to Singapore.

The main topic on the agenda is the implementation of joint investment projects. It should be noted that the total volume of Singapore investments in our economy exceeded 1.5 billion dollars. Last year alone, mutual trade approached the $2 billion mark.

For the President of Kazakhstan, the visit to Singapore has an important symbolic significance. After all, it was here that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev began his diplomatic career back in the 70s of the last century. Tokayev worked in Southeast Asia at the height of the reforms of the country's leader Lee Kuan Yew and watched from the inside how the "Asian Economic Miracle" was being built. Today it is a developed country, one of the leaders in terms of GDP per capita in the world. The most experienced diplomat Usen Suleyman tells how, having already found himself in Singapore in the early 90s, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pleasantly surprised representatives of the local Foreign Ministry.

Usen Suleyman, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Singapore

: - We were met by the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore. Tokayev started talking to him in Chinese, then switched to English, he was very surprised. Then Tokayev said: "I came to Singapore in 1975, worked until 1979 and often met Lee Kuan Yew." This is a good example of a man who developed a country so that it became the first in the world. Then this experience helped him to further cooperate with Singapore.

Trade between the countries is also actively developing. The total volume of Singapore investments in the economy of Kazakhstan exceeded 1.5 billion US dollars. And in 2023, mutual trade approached the $2 billion mark. The key point of contact is energy. Kazakhstan exports oil to Singapore. Singapore, having a favorable geographical location, the seaport of Singapore, one of the largest in the world, has long been considered a key logistics hub with a developed system for processing black gold.

Diana Ablyakimova, Foreign Representative of JSC NC Kazakh Invest in Singapore:

- To date, the list of Kazakh-Singaporean investment projects consists of 13 projects totaling 632 million US dollars. Such large companies as International Cement Group are already operating in the Kazakhstan market & Quest Ventures and others. Also, the Tiktok team, whose head office is located in Singapore, relocated a regional office and staff to Kazakhstan. However, there is a great unrealized potential for cooperation between our countries, especially in terms of investment activity. Among the most promising industries are infrastructure development, construction, and start-up projects.

Readiness to strengthen bilateral ties was also voiced during the official visit to Kazakhstan of former head of Singapore Halima Yakub in May 2023. At the same time, the leaders outlined their commitment to principles such as openness and order.

Miras Zhienbayev, Head of the Foreign Policy and International Studies Program MIND, Maqsut Narikbayev University:

- We continue to strengthen our strategic partnership with Singapore. Singapore is one of the most important regulatory leaders, an example to follow. A case study of best practices in public administration, in many aspects of interaction between the state and society. We see that Kazakh foreign policy is becoming more adaptive, changing, flexible in the context of modern crises in the system of international relations. From this point of view, Singapore can become our important partner in the entire Asian space. First of all, in trade and economic cooperation. And here we see mutual interest.

During the visit, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to hold a meeting with the captains of the Singapore business. A number of new joint investment projects will be discussed at the business forum.

Yerzhan Elekeev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC Kazakh Invest

- Currently, about 500 companies from Singapore are registered. These are mainly SMEs and large businesses. In addition to the business forum itself, at the senior management level, we organize meetings with companies such as Temasek Holdings, which is the largest financial corporation not only in Singapore, but also around the world. In addition, there are a number of meetings with a company that is a leader in the field of logistics. I hope we will achieve concrete results.

The growing dynamics of the development of relations between Kazakhstan and Singapore indicates that strong, trusting relations have developed between the countries. The upcoming talks between Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the leadership of the Asian Tiger will give an additional impetus to the development of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Singapore. Authors: Anuar Abdrakhmanov, Arman Akshabaev.

A source:24.kz
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