Kazakhstan targets increasing exports to China, Africa through Egypt

CAIRO – 6 April 2022: Minister of Transport kamel al-Wazir received Tuesday Kazakhstan Ambassador to Egypt Khairat Lama Sharif who expressed his country's desire to boost its exports to China and Africa through Egypt.

That is by bringing goods into Egypt through maritime transportation, and then, shipping them to the intended destination via railways. That is why Kazakhstan is also interested in investing in multi-purpose stations located at maritime quays.

In turn, the minister of transport noted that Egypt looks forward to a partnership with Kazakhstan in the sectors of producing railcars, and train engines, given the political leadership's interest in localizing such industries.  

Hence, the minister and the ambassador agreed on holding a series of meetings by officials from both countries to draft a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the transport sector.

In a phone call between the Egyptian and Kazakh chiefs of state, they expressed keenness on bolstering trade exchange, and joint investments in the sectors of health, agriculture and culture.

The two presidents also conferred over regional issues of mutual concern so as President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi expressed worries regarding a potential rise in wheat prices and scarcity in wheat supply due to the Russia-Ukraine War.

It is noteworthy to mention that Kazakhstan is among the 10 largest producers of wheat and also one of the world’s largest wheat and flour exporters.

Further, Kazkhstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which raised the number of Egyptian accredited fisheries to 20 up from eight earlier in February.

The union, which had also accredited 16 dairy exporters, and 12 meat and pourtly exporters from Egypt, comprises, in addition to Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan.

The Kazakh ambassador also requested in August the assistance of the distinguished technical and scientific experts of the Egyptian National Library and Archives in the field of classification, indexing and restoration of manuscripts in the Kazakh National Library.

Moreover, Sharif expressed Kazakhstan's need for the Egyptian expertise in restoration, as the Kazakh Library includes nearly 3,000 manuscripts in need of restoration and indexing.