Chief Executive John Lee continued his trip to Kazakhstan by meeting Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, visiting various enterprises, and witnessing the achievement of multiple outcomes among government departments, enterprises and organisations of Hong Kong, the Mainland and Kazakhstan.
In the morning, Mr Lee visited a national investment holding company and met its Chairman of the Board Rustam Timurovich Karagoishin.
He welcomed the company to explore the development potential of the Northern Metropolis and jointly create new business opportunities.
The Chief Executive then met Olzhas Bektenov to exchange views on strengthening bilateral co-operation. He expressed hope that Hong Kong and Kazakhstan would strengthen hub-to-hub connectivity.
Mr Lee then attended and gave a speech at a business luncheon, noting that he was pleased to announce that multiple outcomes had been achieved during this visit.
Notably, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan have agreed to push ahead at full speed with exploratory discussions on a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, and discussions on an Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement, with the aim of concluding such agreements as soon as possible.
Additionally, a Hong Kong airline plans to launch direct flights to Almaty in the first quarter of 2027, further promoting economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong business delegation has so far concluded a total of 43 memoranda of understanding and agreements covering areas including aviation, finance and trade, innovation and technology, the digital economy, and green development.
In the afternoon, Mr Lee visited the national sovereign wealth fund of Kazakhstan and met its Chief Executive Officer Nurlan Zhakupov to learn about the fund’s diversified portfolio of assets and Kazakhstan’s investment strategies across different sectors.
During a meeting with the Minister of Trade & Integration of Kazakhstan, the officials exchanged views on further deepening bilateral trade co-operation.
