Kazakh Prime Minister Attends Opening of 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai

Shanghai, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov of Kazakhstan took part in the opening of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, showcasing Kazakhstan’s commitment to enhancing global economic integration, according to a statement by the Kazakh Government. The event drew high-profile leaders, including China’s Premier Li Qiang and prime ministers from Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and Serbia.

Kazakhstan has emerged as China’s leading trading partner in Central Asia, accounting for over half of China’s trade within the region in 2023. In his address, Bektenov emphasized the significance of trade, e-commerce, transport logistics, and artificial intelligence, underscoring plans to create the “Silk Road E-Commerce” area to streamline digital trade. He noted that Kazakhstan’s national pavilions are already active on prominent platforms like Alibaba and JD, with expansions to Douyin and the establishment of bonded warehouses and logistics infrastructure on the horizon.

Highlighting Kazakhstan’s strategic role in regional transport, Bektenov shared that over 80% of China-to-Europe ground transportation passes through Kazakhstan, a key player in the Western Europe-Western China project. Additional infrastructure, including a logistics center in Lianyungang Port, a terminal in Xi’an, and a new checkpoint, are underway to optimize trade routes.

Kazakhstan’s leadership in digital innovation was also showcased, with Bektenov noting the country’s ranking of 24th in the UN Global E-Government Development Index and 6th in the GovTech Maturity Index. He highlighted artificial intelligence as a driving force for future economic growth.

Premier Li Qiang and other dignitaries visited Kazakhstan’s National Pavilion, “New Era, Common Future,” which featured presentations by Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev and representatives from leading institutions, including Kazakh Invest and Kaspi Bank. Notable Kazakh startups, such as Squares, Alaqan AI, and Cerebra AI, demonstrated innovative solutions in global location services, biometric identification, and medical diagnostics.

In the commercial pavilion, spanning 260 square meters, Kazakhstan presented around 50 domestic products, including meat, dairy, grain, and textile goods. The exhibition attracted significant interest, with $22,000 worth of goods sold in the first hours through a live TikTok streaming, enabling global buyers to make purchases online.

This year, over 80% of Kazakh participants represent small and medium-sized businesses, capitalizing on the large exposure provided by the CIIE. With more than 300,000 Chinese buyers expected, Kazakhstan stands to expand its exports, leveraging the expo’s vast platform for increased trade and collaboration with China.