Ahmad Maslan on working visit to Kazakhstan
KUALA LUMPUR; Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Datuk Ahmad Maslan will be on a working visit to Kazakhstan, from July 10-13, to represent the ministry at the Malaysia Day Celebration on July 10, 2017 at Astana EXPO 2017, a specialised world expo, themed ‘Future Energy’.
In a statement yesterday, MITI said Ahmad would also deliver a keynote address, titled ‘Business Opportunities With Malaysia’ at the Malaysia-Kazakhstan Business Forum on July 12, 2017.
“The forum which will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Astana is expected to be attended by Kazakh companies and international expo participants with export and investment interest with Malaysia and ASEAN,” said MITI.
The Deputy Minister was also scheduled to meet several Kazakh companies to discuss business and investment opportunities between the two countries, especially in the manufacturing sector including medical devices, food products, production of electrical and electronic components and automotive spare parts, among others.
Kazakhstan is Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner among the Commonwealth of Independent States countries, said the Ministry.
In 2016, total trade with Kazakhstan rose 36.1 per cent to reach RM203.58 million (US$49.22 million).
Malaysia’s largest export item to Kazakhstan is coffee-based preparations (other agricultures) while the two biggest imports from Kazakhstan are zinc and television components.
Malaysian companies have established a presence in Kazakhstan in sectors such as oil and gas, cement manufacturing and consultation services in education and training, added MITI.