Minister Kotromanović on official visit to Kazakhstan

The meeting was focussed on bilateral defence co-operation, with an emphasis on the defence industry, the regional security situation and the co-operation within the NATO framework.
“Croatia and Kazakhstan have common interest in intensified relatons and co-operation across a spectrum of fields, from defence industry, education and training to economy“.
Minister Kotromanović also emphasised that Croatia as NATO nation appreciated the good relations Kazakhstan nurtured with the Alliance, as one of its main partners in Central Asia.
 “Croatia is committed to further strengthening of the relations between NATO and the EU with the Kazakhstan, through the co-operation mechanisms in place – the Partnership for Peace and the EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Co-operation Agreement“ stated  Minister Kotromanović, who proposed the establishment of a joint Commission for Military-Technical Co-operation, to facilitate co-ordination between the two countries’ representatives from defence industries and the government institutions. The two ministers signed the Memorandum on Defence  Co-Operation between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Kazakhstan. . 
Minister Kotromanović attended the bilateral meetings held by the Croatian Prime Minister, Zoran Milanović with the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev and the Prime Minister Karim Massimov respectively, considering the prospects for economical co-operation.
Kazakhstan is the largest central Asian country, with rich oil, gas and mineral deposits which are its principal export items. It boasts a high economic growth rate and a considerable investment potential, as stressed by its President and the Prime Minister. 
Prime Minister Milanović underlined the sizeable interest by the Croatian companies to enter the investment cycle going on in the area. The Prime Minister lead the delegation of representatives of 35 most successful companies from various domains (civil engineering, food industry, IT , pharmaceutical and defence industry)  to use the opportunity to present their products and discuss the co-operation prospects.
“I am happy to visit Kazakhstan with the Croatian delegation, and convinced that this visit will produce contracts and agreements and further fruitful contacts, which I hope will be crowned by the visit of the President Nazarbajev to Croatia this summer“, stated the Croatian Prime Minister.
The Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Karim Massimov invited the Croatian companies to open the co-operation with Kazakhstan and take part in its development, to start with the attendance at the  The Kazakh-Croatian business forum  held in Astana.
During the visit to Kazakhstan the Croatian business representatives met also with the Minister for Investment and Development Aset Isekešev.
Minister Kotromanović stresed the example of Kazakhstan in terms of economic growth and business-friendly environment to be followed by Croatia too.
 “Kazakhstan is known to have drawn impressive investments and to have grown economically, and to aspire to be the leader in Central Asia. This has been facilitated by the country’s openness towards the international business and investments. The Kazakh representatives have demonstrated the interest in the Croatian military industry and I believe that the Croatian companies will find their business opportunities and strike deals here“, said Minister Kotromanović.
The Croatian defence industry representatives (namely, Alan, HS Produkt, Dok-Ing, Šestan-Busch, Đuro Đaković, Kroko and  Geofoto) presented their respective production programme and the possibilities for military-technical co-operation on the occasion.
The Alan Government Agency’s Director, Ivica Nekić said that Croatia was a country of particular interest for Kazakhstan, in view of its EU and NATO membership, and in view of Kazakhstan’s interested in procuring new technologies applied in the western countries and in expanding the economic co-operation with them. “Kazakhstan is determined to create optimal investment environment and to serve as the gate for investments into the Central Asian market“, said Director Nekić.
The Government delegation’s visit to Kazahstan will be concluded by the participation in the  Kazakh-Croatian Forum businss forum.