Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) led a Business Delegation to the Republic of Kazakhstan
Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) led a Business Delegation to the Republic of Kazakhstan from 7th – 13th October 2023. The Delegation was led by Shri Namit Bajoria, President, MCCI. Shri Lalit Beriwala, Senior Vice President, MCCI and Shri Vishal Jhajharia, Past President, MCCI and Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Kolkata were part of the Delegation.The 24-member delegation, the largest delegation from the Chamber, comprised eminent industrialists and industry captains having varied interests in real estate, retail, tourism, logistics, textiles, steel, TMT bars, metals, minerals & chemicals, organic farming, kitchen solutions, financial services, pharmaceuticals, tea, timber trading, leather goods, and advertising solutions.
MCCI organised the “India Kazakhstan Business Meet” at Hotel Kazakhstan, Almaty on 9 October 2023 to explore business and bilateral trade opportunities between the two countries. More than 40 business organisations from Kazakhstan attended the B2B meetings, besides high-ranking government officials from Kazakhstan. During the B2B meet, the business fraternity from both sides was present and discussed business opportunities in Kazakhstan and India. Kazak Invest made detailed presentations regarding opportunities available for doing business in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s strategic location, abundant resources, and conducive business environment present an enticing prospect for Indian businesses to expand operations in Kazakhstan. The Indian delegation promoted Bengal Global Business Summit, being organised by the Government of West Bengal, and invited the Kazakhstan companies to attend the forthcoming BGBS to be held in November 2023 in Kolkata and explore business opportunities in West Bengal.
The Hon’ble Governor of Almaty region, His Excellency Mr. Marat Sultangaziyev also warmly received the Indian delegation and expressed a robust belief in the substantial potential for enhanced bilateral trade and tourism ties between India and Kazakhstan.
MCCI delegation during its wider discussions with their Kazakh counterparts has identified agriculture, mines and minerals, metals, chemicals, oil and natural gas, tea, financial services, IT & ITeS to be the major sectors where India can increase its bilateral trade and business.
“Kazakhstan is rich in natural resources and can be an important source of supply for Indian business. There is also a great opportunity to invest in Kazakhstan due to its proximity to many Eurasian countries with which they have tariff-free trade agreements” – said Mr. Namit Bajoria, President of MCCI.
The Kazakh companies expressed their interest in Indian Ayurveda and were keen to procure Ayurvedic herbs and medicines from India. They have also expressed their interest in enhancing knowledge about farming processes in India and consequently export-import of farm produce.
Kazakhstan is an unexplored country with an abundance of natural and scenic beauty. Being a landlocked country there are challenges regarding logistics time and costs. The flying time from any region in India to Kazakhstan is about 3-5 hours. Thus, there lies a huge potential for Indian travel agencies to tie up with the local tourism industry of Kazakhstan to promote bilateral tourism and provide Indian tourists to experience Kazakhstan’s diverse cultural heritage and scenic landscapes. Indian tea industry can boost their exports to Kazakhstan, regarded as one of the world’s most tea-loving countries. Kazakhstan has a sheer taste for promoting infrastructure and design. Infrastructure companies in India can explore opportunities to build and create new technologies through innovation and holistic approaches in Kazakhstan.
During their stay in Kazakhstan, the Indian delegation visited Konayev City and visited Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan Factory, a fruit processing and storage facility operated by Frutta, and a greenhouse plantation for strawberries.
The Chamber deeply appreciates and acknowledges with thanks the support and assistance provided by His Excellency Mr. Nurlan Zhalgasbayev, Ambassador, Embassy of Kazakhstan in New Delhi, India and His Excellency Dr. T. V. Nagendra Prasad, Ambassador, Embassy of India in Astana, Kazakhstan in facilitating the visit to be purposeful and successful.
(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)
