Kazakhstan, Astana, Oct 24 /Trend D.Mukhtarov/
Kazakhstan expects more active participation of the Czech business in the process of implementing its industrial and innovative economic development programs, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said during the Kazakh-Czech Economic Forum in Prague.
The forum, organized by the National Agency for Export and Investment Kaznex Invest of MINT RK was attended by over 40 representatives of Kazakh organizations and about 150 representatives of Czech companies.
The President said the Czech Republic is an important trade partner of Kazakhstan in Central and Eastern Europe.
"At present, Kazakhstan attracted more than $160 billion of foreign investment. Due to reforms and the efforts of the whole society Kazakhstan has reached such a success to which other countries have been going for decades. During brief period GDP per capita rose from $700 to $12,000," Nazarbayev said.
The president said a positive growth trend continues in Kazakhstan, which did not stop even during the crisis of 2008-2009, the country's GDP grew by 7.5 percent in 2011. Two years ago Kazakhstan launched a state program of forced industrial-innovative development. According to it, in 2015 Kazakhstan plans to increase GDP by 50 percent from 2008. The share of non-oil exports should reach at least 40 percent of total exports.
He added that Kazakhstan's plans to further modernize the country's economy are taking into account the need in foreign investment and technology.
"In this regard, we look forward to more active participation of the Czech business in the implementation of industrial and innovative development program of Kazakhstan's economy in the industrial modernization of Kazakhstan. I'm Sure Czech companies has much to offer in terms of expertise and technology," Nazarbayev said.
The President also invited the Czech businessmen to participate in the VI Astana Economic Forum to be held in Astana in May 2013.
Kazakhstan and the Czech companies signed 13 documents on projects worth more than 155 million euros ($207 million). Nine of them worth 110.3 million euro are investment ones.