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Kazakhstan is a significant and prospective co-operation partner for Latvia in the Central Asian region. Latvia is interested in stability and prosperity of the region, and, as an EU member state, supports the development of relations between the EU and the countries of Central Asia.
Relations between both countries have traditionally been very friendly, and the dialogue has intensified considerably in recent years. In July 2006, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan arrived on a state visit to Latvia. In October 2004, a meeting between the presidents of both countries took place as part of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga's official visit to Kazakhstan. The Embassy of Latvia was opened in Kazakhstan's capital city of Astana in 2004.
Chronology of diplomatic relations
Kazakhstan recognised Latvia's independence on 23 December 1991.
Latvia recognised the independence of Kazakhstan on 8 January 1992.
Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on 30 December 1992.
The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Vilnius also covers Latvia. The former Ambassador Rashid Ibrayev's term of office ended in May 2006. The accreditation visit to Latvia of Teluhan Kabdrahmanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, took place in August 2006.
Kazakhstan's consular official commenced the fulfilment of duties in Riga in 2004.
The Embassy of Latvia commenced operations in Astana on 13 December 2004, with the arrival in Kazakhstan of Dainis Garancs, Counsellor and Chargé d'Affaires. On 13 September 2005, the first Latvian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kazakhstan, Rets Plesums, presented his credentials to the President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.
Latvia has its trade representative in Almaty since the autumn of 2000. As of September 2004, a representation of the Investment and Development agency of Latvia has been operating in Almaty; it is presently headed by Kalvis Vitolins.
In 2000, a protocol was signed on co-operation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
Bilateral co-operation
Between 22-24 May 2006, a session of the Latvia - Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission took place, during which both parties discussed important issues with regard to co-operation in the fields of economy, transit, research and technologies.
The next session of the Intergovernmental commission is scheduled for 2008.
On 22 September 2006, during an international conference, the Transport Minister of Latvia, Krisjanis Peters, met with Abelgazy Kusainov, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan and discussed topical bilateral issues.
Valuable experience has been developed in the field of education: - At the Riga Air Navigation Institute, students from Kazakhstan acquire the professional qualification of air transport controller;
- The Riga Business School within the Riga Technical University offers opportunities current managers of companies and aspiring managers to acquire an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree in accordance with the highest world standards in business education;
- The Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration (RISEBA) is planning to establish a subsidiary in Kazakhstan, in association with one of Kazakhstan's tertiary schools.
Bilateral economic relations
Latvia is interested in the facilitation and further development of economic co-operation with Kazakhstan. Since 2004, co-operation between the two countries has increased considerably, in particular in the areas of trade and economy: - In 2004, a delegation of 70 businessmen accompanied the President of Latvia on her visit to Kazakhstan;
- On 12 May 2005, the official opening of the trade mission of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIDA) was held in Almaty. The official opening was attended by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Mr Kaspars Gerhards;
- In May 2005, a Joint Committee for Transport Issues held its regular meeting in Riga;
- In autumn 2005, the opening of the Latvian-Kazakh joint venture Ventspils Graudu Terminals took place.
As of 12 July 2006, there were 37 Kazakh-Latvian joint ventures listed on the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia (according to data from Lursoft).
Trade
2Q 2007
1. Lithuania - 454, 806,549 USD or 13.76 % of total exports from Latvia 2. Estonia - 437, 091,217 USD or 13.22 %
3. Russian Federation - 339,883,752 USD or 10.28 %
4. Germany - 286,313,650 USD or 8.66 %
5. United Kingdom - 24,3271,992 USD or 7.37 %
...
23. Kazakhstan - 21,157,712 USD or 0.64 %
1. Germany - 945,815,660 USD or 14.68 % of total imports to Latvia
2. Lithuania - 859,915,900 USD or 13.32 %
3. Russian Federation - 596,244,399 USD or 9.28 %
4. Estonia - 501,943,307 USD or 7.78 %
5. Poland - 427,401,602 USD or 6.63 %
...
29. Kazakhstan - 21,595,208 USD or 0.33 %
As of the first half of 2007Latvia has a negative trade balance with Kazakhstan of -437,496 USD.
Main exports to Kazakhstan by type of commodity Q2 2007, USD
|
Type of commodity |
USD |
Percentage of total exports |
|
Total |
21,157,712 |
100% |
|
Products of chemical and allied industries |
8,125,637 |
38.41% |
|
Timber and timber products |
4,991,403 |
23.59% |
|
Vehicles |
2,762,867 |
13.06% |
|
Machinery and equipment, electrical appliances |
1,658,922 |
7.84% |
|
Prepared foodstuffs |
706,107 |
3.34% |
|
Textiles and textile articles |
564,105 |
2.67% |
|
Base metals and articles of base metal |
432,829 |
2.05% |
|
Plastic and plastic items, rubber and rubber items |
409,549 |
1.94% |
|
Live animals and animal products |
339,495 |
1.60% |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
305,141 |
1.44% |
|
Articles of stone, plaster, cement; ceramic products, glassware |
269,974 |
1.28% |
|
Pulp of wood; paper and paperboard |
247,297 |
1.17% |
|
Vegetable products |
153,281 |
0.72% |
|
Optical instruments and apparatus (incl. medical; clocks and watches, musical instruments |
152,775 |
0.72% |
|
Mineral products |
35,997 |
0.17% |
|
Raw skins and skins, leather, furskins and articles thereof |
1,957 |
0.01% |
|
Footwear, headgear umbrellas and other articles |
376 |
0.00% |
Main imports from Kazakhstan by type of commodity Q2 2007, USD
|
Type of commodity |
USD |
Percentage of total imports |
|
Total |
21,595,208 |
100% |
|
Base metals and articles of base metal |
15,505,106 |
71.80% |
|
Mineral products |
1,681,162 |
7.78% |
|
Products of chemical and allied industries |
1,656,221 |
7.67% |
|
Vegetable products |
1,518,358 |
7.03% |
|
Textiles and textile articles |
982,485 |
4.55% |
|
Live animals and animal products |
243,949 |
1.13% |
|
Machinery and equipment, electrical appliances |
6,583 |
0.03% |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
1,344 |
0.01% |
Trade dynamics between Latvia and Kazakhstan from 1999 to Q2 2006i, USD
|
Year |
Export |
Import |
|
1998 |
12,301,283 |
8,357,188 |
|
1999 |
3,703,004 |
3,923,720 |
|
2000 |
4,431,380 |
6,273,690 |
|
2001 |
7,486,924 |
2,883,838 |
|
2002 |
9,367,136 |
2,955,832 |
|
2003 |
10,607,674 |
2,736,891 |
|
2004 |
20,718,706 |
3,129,755 |
|
2005 |
16,735,450 |
20,491,366 |
|
2006 |
23,946,631 |
49,298,254 |
|
2007 Q2 |
21,157,712 |
21,595,208 |
Investment
As of the end of the second quarter of 2007, Kazakhstan's direct investment in Latvia constituted 2.8 million LVL. Latvia's direct investment in Kazakhstan constituted 0.8 million LVL. (Data from the Bank of Latvia: The statistical data of the Bank of Latvia, with regard to Latvia's direct investment, present residues exceeding 0.1 million LVL at the end of at least one period, and, with regard to foreign direct investment stock, present volumes no less than 1 million LVL.)
As of 3 September 2007, there were 31 Kazakh-Latvian joint ventures listed with the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia.
Most significant visits
By Latvia's officials
|
18 December 1994 |
Visit to Kazakhstan by President Guntis Ulmanis of Latvia. |
|
September 1998 |
Visit to Kazakhstan by Vilis Kristopans, Minister of Transport |
|
5-7 September 2001 |
Official visit to Kazakhstan by Prime Minister Andris Berzins |
|
7-9 October 2004 |
Visit to Kazakhstan by President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia |
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9-12 January 2006 |
Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis attends the inauguration ceremony of President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan |
|
November 2006 |
Visit to Kazakhstan by Ina Gudele, Minister for Special Assignments for Electronic Government Affairs |
By Kazakhstan's officials
|
26 May 2000 |
Working visit by Jerlan Idrisov, the Kazakh Foreign Minister |
|
30 November - 1 December 2000 |
Working visit by Daniel Ahmetov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, |
|
14-15 February 2001 |
Visit by Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, Chairman of the Lower House (the Mazhilis) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan |
|
March 2004 |
Visit by Ahmetjan Yesimov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Minister of Agriculture |
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July 2006 |
State visit to Latvia by President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan |
Legal framework
Agreements under approval: - Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters;
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the extradition of offenders for prosecution or conviction.
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on co-operation in the field of tourism.
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