Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 9
By Daniar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The next meeting of the Kazakh-Estonian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015, the Estonian MP, head of the Kazakh-Estonian working group on interparliamentary cooperation, Denis Borodich, told Trend Jan. 8.
"There is a desire to discuss and enhance the abilities of our interaction," Borodich said. "For us, it would be desirable to hold a business forum as part of the intergovernmental commission, for the Estonian entrepreneurs, who would define new cooperation areas, could come to Kazakhstan."
He said that Estonia, in the light of EU's economic sanctions on Russia, is interested today in seeking alternative markets for its products.
The MP also named several prospective areas for cooperation of Kazakhstan and Estonia.
"The first direction is the development of transit and logistics," Borodich said, adding that Estonia is the transit and logistics center in the Baltic region while Kazakhstan is the transit and logistics center of Central Asia.
He said goods go from China to Europe and back through Kazakhstan, aside from that, Kazakhstan is exporting its goods - hydrocarbons, iron ore, and grain.
The MP went on to add that Estonia has modern, well-equipped ports and terminals on the Baltic Sea.
"By the way, about half a million metric tons of oil products from Kazakhstan are already being transhipped every year for export through the seaport Sillamae," Borodich said.
He further noted that "green technologies" and the development of renewable energy sources could be the second promising area for cooperation.
Borodich said Estonia has well arranged its own electricity production from shale and biofuels.
"The country produces more electricity than it consumes, and so exports it to the neighboring countries - Finland and Latvia," he said.
Borodich noted that Estonia has highly developed use of wind installations, and the country could be interested in taking part in the EXPO 2017 exhibition in Astana.
"We know that Kazakhstan holds a road show in the countries participating in the upcoming exhibition, and we would be interested to examine the possibility of our participation in this great event," Borodich added.
He further said agriculture is the third promising direction in development of bilateral cooperation.
"Today, Estonia's Agriculture Ministry, in the light of closure of the Russian market for us due to the sanctions, is seeking alternative markets for its famous dairy products," the MP said. "Now we are contemplating Asian markets, such as Taiwan, China, and Kazakhstan".
He noted that there are hopes to revive the supplies of breeding cattle for meat and dairy to Kazakhstan.
"As is known, Kazakhstan intends to export meat," Borodich said. "We pay great attention to the selection."
He said Estonia has derived such breeds of cattle, which give up to 12,000 liters of milk per year.
"For comparison, in other countries, in Belarus, this figure is only 9,000 - 10,000 liters per year," the MP added.
The last meeting of the Kazakh-Estonian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2013.
Edited by CN