Croatia - Kazakhstan Business Council founded in Zagreb

The Croatia-Kazakhstan Business Council was established during the Croatian-Kazakhstan Economic Forum today in Zagreb. By establishing the council, the International Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce undertake to expand cooperation between Kazakh and Croatian companies, promote trade and economic relations and investment opportunities, facilitate market access and direct exchange of information and contacts between business communities.

Luka Burilović, President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy ; Source: HGK 

"Since Kazakhstan has a good geostrategic position, significant natural resources, and given that there are good political and economic relations between the EU and Kazakhstan, an opportunity opens up for strengthening the cooperation of Croatian and Kazakh companies. We are convinced that now is the right time to renew establishment of cooperation with Kazakh institutions, and in this sense, we are pleased that we have established the Kazakhstan-Croatia Business Council with the International Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan as part of today's forum," Luka Burilović, president of HGK, said in the introduction. 

The Chambers of Commerce of Kazakhstan and Croatia also signed an Agreement of Understanding with the aim of expanding and developing mutually beneficial trade, economic and scientific cooperation between member companies of the chambers.

"In addition to the resource base, Kazakhstan's transit potential and human resources provide excellent opportunities for expanding production capacity and delivering goods to Central Asia and China. We want also to encourage Croatian companies to locate their production in Kazakhstan. The International Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan can provide Croatian entrepreneurs with services to find potential partners in region, project support and organizing B2B and B2G meetings," said Murat Karimsakov, President of the Board of the International Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan.

Murat Karimsakov, President of the Board of the International Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan.; Source: HGK

"Kazakhstan is Croatia's key partner in Central Asia with significant potential in the economy, energy diversification, as well as geostrategic and security issues. There is also an obvious mutual interest in expanding trade. That is why I am convinced that the Business Council between our countries will give additional incentive to the improvement of the thirty-year-old friendship and open opportunities for new forms of economic cooperation," said Ivo Milatić, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.

Ivo Milatić, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development; Source: HGK

Representatives of the companies Jadran-galenski laboratorij and KazMunayGas were elected as co-chairmen of the Business Council Croatia - Kazakhstan. 

"JGL has been operating in Kazakhstan for a number of years with an annual income of 10.5 million euros, and we plan further growth. I would like to note that the pharmaceutical market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10 percent until 2025. We expect the Business Council to continue working on economic integration, and we will suggest customs privileges for medical products and food supplements produced in Croatia," said Marijo Volarević, director of digital excellence at JGL.

Marijo Volarević, Digital Transformation Leader, JGL; Source: HGK

The forum was visited by over 50 companies from different sectors. Representatives of companies from the energy sector, pharmaceutical industry, transport and tourism, construction, IT industry, electronics, energy, agriculture had the opportunity to exchange experiences and explore cooperation possibilities.

Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Croatia; Source: HGK

"Despite the recent devastating floods in Kazakhstan, it is encouraging to see the extraordinary response of the delegates from Kazakhstan. Croatia is the third trading partner of Kazakhstan among the countries of Southeast Europe. I see opportunities for increased cooperation in increasing the export of processed goods from Kazakhstan to Croatia, as well as in the petrochemical, food, metallurgical and engineering industry", said Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Croatia.

Refik Šabanović, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Kazakhstan; Source: HGK

"This is an important step that we have been expecting since the Croatian Embassy in Astana was opened 5 years ago. I am happy to see such many delegates from Kazakhstan and I hope that the visit will not only be a business one, that there will be time for a tourist tour as well. I would like to point out that the last In 2018, the number of tourists from Kazakhstan to Croatia was 30 percent higher than the year before, and we hope for even better numbers this year," emphasized Refik Šabanović, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Source: HGK

In 2023, the total trade in goods between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to USD 102 million, which is an increase of 1 percent compared to the previous year. In the same period, Croatian exports amounted to USD 53 million, which is an increase of 136 percent, while recorded imports reached USD 49 million.