“Astana EXPO-2017 is a valuable opportunity for both countries to commence new trade which is at present at a very low USD 5 Mn” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 12 August in Colombo.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing Commissioner of International Specialised Exhibition Expo 2017, RapilZhoshybayev, who was meeting him along with New Delhi based Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Sri Lanka Bulat Sarsenbayev on 12 August at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Colombo 3. The duo was meeting Minister Bathiudeen who was witnessing the signing of the agreement between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan for Sri Lanka’s participation at the forthcoming Expo 2017 in Astana. The signatories of the agreement were the Commissioner of International Specialised Exhibition Expo 2017 Rapil Zhoshybayev (for Kazakhstan) and Hubert Jayakody (Chairman - Huejay International -signatory for Sri Lanka and the official organiser of Lankan delegations).
“The forthcoming Astana EXPO-2017 in Kazakhstan will be a great opening for Lankan products” said Commissioner Zhoshybayev addressing Minister Bathiudeen and added: “Kazak Expo 2017 will be taking place from June 10 to September 10 where some Heads of States also will participate. We expect about five million visitors from Kazakhstan and abroad during the three months of the expo. We are specially building an airport, separate city and a railway station for this Expo. With USD 300 Mn, we build an expo village to be later converted to an international financial centre. There will be a special focus on energy at the Expo. Minister of Energy of Kazak will conduct a Ministerial Conference for all the participating countries. We believe that Sri Lankan delegations will win prizes at the Expo. Only a couple of days ago a Sri Lankan delegation was received back in Kazakhstan. EXPO2017 will be an opportunity for Sri Lanka to bilaterally meet other, usually difficult to meet trading partners as well. I am sure that this is a great opportunity to renew our trade relations.”
According to the Department of Commerce, in 2015 Lanka-Kazak bilateral trade stood at a very nominal USD 4.8 Mn.
Minister Bathiudeen welcomed the invitation and expressed his intentions to expand trade with Kazakhstan. “Astana EXPO-2017 is a valuable opportunity for both countries to commence new trade which is at present at a very low USD 5 Mn. Therefore Kazakhstan is a virgin market for keen Lankan exporters” said Minister Bathiudeen. He added that “Tea is the only major Lankan export item to Kazak. Therefore it is time to renew trade. More importantly, Sri Lankan exporters can access the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of which Kazakhstan is a member. I and my Ministry are looking forward to support a strong Lankan delegation to Astana Expo 2017 and shall extend our best possible cooperation.”
The 182 million EEU market was launched in 2015 with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia as member states. It aims to be an “international organization for economic integration.”
Minister Bathiudeen, Commissioner Zhoshybayev and Kazak Ambassador to Sri Lanka Sarsenbayev also discussed other forms of social cooperation between both countries during the meeting.
At present, Sri Lanka imports only asbestos from Kazakhstan.
