Doha, 16 July 2023 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

QATAR holds a significant position as one of the primary partners of Kazakhstan in the region, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to State of Qatar, Arman Issagaliyev has said.

In an exclusive interview on the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations between Qatar and Kazakhstan, the ambassador emphasized the close ties forged between the two countries, characterized by friendship, mutual understanding and mutual respect.

According to the envoy, frequent exchange of visits and meetings at international forums along with regular telephone conversations between the leaders of the two countries have further cemented a close relationship between government institutions, the private sectors, and the people of the two countries.

He noted that over the years, more than 80 official delegation visits have occurred between Kazakhstan and Qatar, while five meetings between Kazakhstan-Qatar high-level joint commission have taken place, leading to the development of a robust legal framework for cooperation.

Ambassador Issagaliyev added that 40 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements covering nearly all areas of partnership have been signed.

Regarding tourism, the ambassador highlighted the increasing appeal of Doha as a destination for Kazakhstani visitors while tours to Kazakhstan have also gained popularity among Qatari citizens and residents. “Trade, economic and investment cooperation between the two countries has reached unprecedented levels. Notably, Qatari investments in the Kazakhstani economy have tripled by the end of 2022. The fields of medicine, agriculture, education, telecommunications and banking present significant prospects for collaboration,” the envoy noted.

The ambassador said that following the working visit of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Astana in June of this year, five agreements worth $500 million were signed.

He further emphasised the close cooperation between Kazakhstan and Qatar within international organisations. “Qatar’s active involvement in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) at the highest level has played a crucial role in transforming CICA into a full-fledged international organisation. As Asia emerges as the world’s fastest-growing continent, the support of HH the Amir of Qatar has been instrumental,” he added.

The Kazakh envoy also mentioned President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to host a high-level conference in Astana in 2024 to address environmental issues among CICA members, adding that this conference serves as a primary priority during Kazakhstan’s CICA chairmanship.

“Kazakhstan and Qatar actively collaborate within the framework of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS). Since joining in April 2016, Qatar has been supporting IOFS activities consistently. Presently, the IOFS focuses on improving the situation in Afghanistan, where approximately 23 million people are impacted by a food crisis. Notably, the IOFS General Assembly is scheduled to take place in October this year on the sidelines of the international EXPO in Doha, where Qatar will assume the chairmanship of the organization,” Ambassador Issagaliyev pointed out.

The ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and all Qatari officials for their significant contributions to establishing warm, fraternal and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.