- Published: 27.05.2015.
Prime Minister says Croatia wants to upgrade cooperation with Kazakhstan
Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, who arrived in Astana on Wednesday for his first official visit to Kazakhstan, met with his Kazakh counterpart Karim Massimov and at the talks Milanovic said that Croatia was keen to establish closer economic cooperation with that central Asian country
"Currently the two-way trade is low and we want to bring it to a higher level," the Croatian official was quoted by the Kazakh news agency "Kazinform" as saying.
As for the Kazakhstan-Croatia Business Forum scheduled to be held in Astana later in the day, Prime Minister Milanovic called it "a good way to start friendly and long-term relations", according to Kazinform.
Milanovic, accompanied by Defence Minister Ante Kotromanovic and Deputy Foreign Minister Josko Klisovic, also led a business delegation consisting of senior executives from companies in the food sector, defence industry, public healthcare, shipbuilding and tourism.
After the talks with Massimov, Milanovic also welcomed the fact that Croatia and Kazakhstan intended to establish closer economic cooperation.
Recalling that his country joined the European Union two years ago, Milanovic said he was hopeful that this visit to Astana would result into contracts and agreements and the continuation of fruitful contacts.
I hope that this will be confirmed by the visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Croatia this summer, Milanovic told the press after the meeting with Massimov.
The Kazakh premier called on Croatian businessmen to invest in the Kazakh economy.
"We've invited Croatian companies to do business in Kazakhstan, since it plays a role of the hub in the Eurasian region," he was quoted by Kazinform as saying.
"Today we've held meaningful talks and discussed ways to step up our cooperation with Croatian companies. Hopefully, our cooperation with Croatian business circles will help us gain access to the Balkans and EU markets," Prime Minister Massimov said.
During his stay in Astana, Milanovic was received by President Nazarbayev.
Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic visited Kazakhstan in late October and met with Massimov, Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov, and Investment and Development Minister Asset Issekeshev. The working visit was a preparation for Nazarbayev's visit to Croatia this year.
Kazakhstan has opened an embassy in Croatia and Croatia plans to open an embassy in Astana this year.
(Text: Hina)