World Monitor Magazine, Economy WM_April 2019 web version (2) | Page 11

DESTINATION europe
candidly, there are still problematic
areas that we need to work on.
Challenges remain in the areas of tax
administration, legal certainty and in
the fight against corruption, as well as
in the banking system and regarding
the sustainable implementation of
reforms. Germany and the EU want to
support this with bilateral measures
and joint programmes, particularly
with the Enhanced Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement between the
EU and Kazakhstan, and also within the
framework of the new EU Strategy for
Central Asia.
Kazakhstan intends to modernise its
production capacities by introducing
the Forced Industrial and Innovative
Development Programme by 2020,
diversifying the economy and by
strengthening competitiveness through
enhanced digitalisation (Industry 4.0).
Germany is therefore a natural partner,
and some close bilateral cooperation in
the realm of agriculture industry is up
and running but needs to be extended.
In 2017, a pilot scheme run by the
Frauenhofer Institut was introduced
with the aim of implementing Industry
4.0 in Kazakh model companies. This
scheme is now due to enter the second
phase. Frauenhofer is a byword for
excellent application-oriented research.
Logistics are also relevant to both
countries. The logistics service-
providers present on site could play a
central role. Kazakhstan has improved
its connectivity as well as its relations
to neighboring countries considerably
in recent years. This will enable further
markets to be opened up via Kazakhstan.
For example, the volume of freight
traffic between Kazakhstan and China
increased by 26% in the first half of the
year compared with the same period
the previous year. In future, it is going
to be important for German companies
together with their Kazakh partners to
participate in the extension and use
of Eurasian land connections, most of
which pass through Kazakhstan.
In addition to the core areas of
agriculture, infrastructure and supply
industry, where German companies
have been active for some time, there
are now new and highly promising fields
that were presented to a broader public
at the EXPO 2017. Given the challenges
of climate change, major importance
attaches to topics such as the Green
Economy and renewable energies.
Modern technologies, such as those
provided by our companies, play an
important role in this context. German
expertise is thus in demand here.
Our ‘to-do’ list is long. If the framework
conditions and the figures add up, we
must have the courage to seize the
opportunities on offer.
supported by EUROBAK
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