Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli co-chaired the tenth session of the Italian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Working Group on Industrial and Economic Cooperation today at the Farnesina, alongside Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliyev.
The discussions focused on deepening bilateral relations and identifying new growth opportunities for the ‘Sistema Italia’: Kazakhstan is an important partner for Italy’s security and the diversification of its energy supplies, and is a crucial hub for infrastructure and logistics interconnections along the corridor linking Europe and Asia. Considerable attention was then given to opportunities for Italian businesses in the sectors of infrastructure and transport, tourism, agribusiness, the environment and renewable energy, water resources and healthcare.
Among the outcomes of the previous session of the Working Group, which met in Astana in 2024, was a EUR 200 million loan to the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, backed by a SACE guarantee, for the development of projects in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, water resources, energy efficiency and healthcare.
“Kazakhstan remains a strategic partner of fundamental importance for Italy in Central Asia,” emphasised Deputy Minister Cirielli. “By strengthening our bilateral dialogue and consolidating the 1+5 format promoted by Italy with the countries of the region, we intend to support our business community in exploring new industrial and commercial frontiers, creating lasting synergies between our respective economic systems.”
