Astana, Dec 27 (EFE).- Kazakhstan and Spain celebrate 15 years of strategic partnership marked by robust political dialogue, growing trade, and economic collaboration. In an interview with EFE, Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko illuminates the evolving bilateral relationship, highlighting milestones such as increased trade turnover, Spanish investment in Kazakhstan’s thriving sectors, and the enduring legacy of partnerships in infrastructure, energy, and aerospace. With ambitious projects on the horizon, the two nations are poised to further solidify their multifaceted cooperation.
How is the political dialogue between Kazakhstan and Spain developing?
Spain is our long-standing and reliable friend in Europe. This year we celebrate the 15th anniversary of strategic partnership.
Traditionally, Astana and Madrid maintain regular political dialogue through the exchange of visits at various levels, political consultations between foreign ministries, and engagements at multilateral venues.
Additionally, our countries have established a solid legal framework, and meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Business Council are held regularly.
We remain committed to further developing mutually beneficial relations with Spain. In 2025, we expect a visit to Kazakhstan by Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain José Manuel Albares, which will further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian spheres.
How would you characterize the trade and economic relations between the countries? Is there any dynamic comparison between the trade turnover for 2023 and 2024?
We consider Spain one of Kazakhstan’s key trading partners in Southern Europe. In 2023, the trade turnover between our countries exceeded $2 billion. Over the first 10 months of this year, the volume of mutual trade amounted to $1.5 billion.
Kazakhstan’s exports are diverse and include crude oil, ferroalloys, engines, and generators. Spanish exports to Kazakhstan consist of aircraft, medicines and dietary supplements, machinery for the mining industry, tires, household goods, and food products.
We believe there is significant untapped potential in our trade and economic relations with Spain. We invite our Spanish partners to actively leverage the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and emphasize the importance of enhancing the infrastructure and trans-shipment capacities of Caspian ports, such as Aktau and Kuryk.
How many Spanish companies operate in Kazakhstan?
Large foreign companies, including those from Spain, have operated successfully on the Kazakh market for many years. We strive to create the most favorable conditions for their operations.
Currently, 61 legal entities with Spanish capital are registered in our country. These include companies such as Airbus Defense & Space, Técnicas Reunidas, Glovo, Roca, Maxam, Talgo, Inditex, Pronovias, Cortefiel, Desigual, Mango, and Joma, among others.
It is gratifying that prominent Spanish companies demonstrate a sustained interest in localizing their branches and production facilities in Kazakhstan, recognizing our strategic geographical location as a key factor in creating a regional hub targeting Eurasian markets.
Kazakhstan offers excellent conditions for implementing new so-called “anchor” projects with Spain, particularly in mechanical engineering, energy, automotive manufacturing, agriculture, and aerospace.
Additionally, our country has vast potential in the extraction and processing of rare and rare-earth metals. According to the World Bank, Kazakhstan has more than 5,000 unexplored deposits valued at over $46 trillion. Investors from Asia, Europe, and America are already showing interest in this sector.
Lastly, Kazakhstan continues to rank among the world’s largest wheat producers, harvesting more than 10 million tons annually. Advanced grain processing technologies enable the efficient production of fertilizers, food additives, amino acids, feed, bioplastics, and vitamins.
Is it known if KTZ will purchase more Talgo rail wagons to connect the capital with regional centers?
The Spanish company Talgo has a long-standing presence in Kazakhstan. For more than 20 years, its high-speed and comfortable trains have been widely appreciated by many Kazakh citizens.
As far as I know, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy does not currently plan to purchase additional rail wagons from Talgo. However, the company continues to service the existing Tulpar-Talgo trains in Kazakhstan. We remain focused on identifying new growth opportunities in railway transport.
Recently, an Airbus A400M aircraft purchased for the country’s Air Defense Forces arrived in Kazakhstan.
Yes, that’s correct. In early December, the first of the two Airbus A400M military transport aircraft purchased by Kazakhstan and assembled in Seville was delivered to Almaty.
This modern multifunctional aircraft is designed to strengthen the logistics capabilities of the Kazakh army, facilitating the effective transportation of personnel, equipment, and humanitarian supplies.
We extend our gratitude to Airbus representatives for their close cooperation and active involvement in training Kazakh specialists.
One of the important projects is the participation of a Spanish company in the petrochemical sector of Kazakhstan.
I assume you are referring to Técnicas Reunidas, one of the largest Spanish engineering companies, which has entered Kazakhstan’s petrochemical market as an EPC contractor for the first phase of a polyethylene complex in the Atyrau region. This €2.3 billion project includes the installation of a steam cracker that will use gas from fields to produce ethylene. The plant is expected to have a capacity of 1.3 million tons of ethylene per year, with completion scheduled for the end of 2028.
Additionally, in January 2023, Técnicas Reunidas signed a contract for the design and construction of an ammonia-urea complex at the Aktau Seaport Special Economic Zone in the Mangistau region. Completion is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. Once operational, the facility will become Kazakhstan’s largest producer of mineral fertilizers, with an annual capacity of 1.5 million tons, meeting the needs of domestic farmers and industrial enterprises for high-quality nitrogen fertilizers.
What are the volumes of investment in the economy as a whole and over the past year?
Over the past three decades, Kazakhstan has attracted over $441 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI). In 2023, the gross inflow of FDI into Kazakhstan amounted to $23.4 billion.
In 2023, Spanish investment in Kazakhstan totaled $30.2 million, a 45% increase compared to 2022. Since 2005, Spanish companies have invested approximately $338 million in Kazakhstan’s economy, with $86 million of that invested in the past four years alone.
Overall, we aim to attract $150 billion in new FDI by 2029. To achieve this, the state is implementing measures to create a favorable ecosystem for investors, including offering incentives, ensuring legal protections, and minimizing corruption and bureaucratic barriers. EFE