BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 8. There are significant opportunities to enhance Kazakhstan-EU cooperation in the agriculture and forestry sectors, Head of EU Delegation to Kazakhstan Kestutis Jankauskas told Trend.
For example, he said, Kazakhstan plays a key role in regional and global supplies of wheat.
“Productivity and sustainability can be improved in cooperation with the EU on digitalisation, modern technologies and efficient land use, making the sector safer, healthier and more resilient, developing organic agriculture, improving water management. Improved sanitary and phytosanitary system can help expand the range of agricultural products that Kazakhstan could export. There is also a strong interest in cooperation on forestation, management of forests and forest industry,” Jankauskas noted.
He explained that European companies are actively supplying breeding animals and quality seeds to Kazakhstan, operate greenhouses, export agricultural machinery.
“We hope that announced reforms and the new impetus to improve the investment climate and ensure transparent business conditions will encourage more European companies to invest in and trade with Kazakhstan. The EU already is Kazakhstan’s main trading partner ‒ representing 40 percent of its external trade, and also the first foreign investor in the country. The EU has been consistently sharing with Kazakhstan its best practices and standards, and will continue to do so,” Jankauskas said.