Hangin' with the Kazakhs and Georgians: A Chat About Enhanced Partnership
Deepening Relationship: Political and Economic Bonding between Kazakhstan and Georgia Intensify
In a friendly meetup on Feb 6, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze talked shop about reigniting their political, economic, and regional partnership. The focus was on increasing trade, improving infrastructure, and collaborating on high-tech projects like AI and digitalization.
During this cozy hangout, the duo discussed ways to level up their relationship in various sectors, from trade and energy to investments, tourism, and tech. They also touched on critical global and regional security matters, as reported by Akorda.
A key topic of discussion was boosting cargo traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and modernizing its transit infrastructure. Tokayev took a moment to praise Georgia's remarkable progress in recent years, highlighting its 9.4% economic growth and the impressive outcomes of its reforms. He also appreciated the strong Kazakh-Georgian connection, commending Georgia as Kazakhstan's trusted partner in the Caucasus region.
Tokayev expressed his delight in the progress of their relationship, stating that both nations work together efficiently on various levels, from parliaments to government bodies.
In response, Kobakhidze expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome, noting that Kazakhstan was one of the first countries he visited after assuming office. He emphasized the importance of strengthening political and economic ties between the two nations, expressing willingness to support Kazakhstan in various formats, including regional platforms. In a friendly offer, Kobakhidze extended an invitation for Tokayev to visit Georgia.
Two nations, one friendship: Kazakhstan and Georgia have been working together effectively across multiple levels, according to Tokayev.
Beyond trade and tourism, both countries are active members of regional forums such as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), connecting them to other power players like China and Europe. They have also been collaborating on significant infrastructure projects, such as the recently opened multimodal terminal at the port of Poti, Georgia. This terminal, designed to strengthen transit capabilities, has an initial throughput capacity of over 120,000 tons per year, with plans for future expansion.
The buddies are also aiming to become a robust logistics bridge between the East and the West, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, which links China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Europe, bolstering regional connectivity.
In the future, both nations plan to diversify and strengthen their transit potential, with Kazakhstan aiming to take on a more significant role in the Middle Corridor. Both countries are expected to continue participating in regional initiatives like the TITR, further reinforcing their positions within regional trade networks.
In short, the partnership between Kazakhstan and Georgia is all about strengthening economic ties and improving infrastructure, particularly through the development of the Middle Corridor. Future goals include expanding trade capacities, diversifying transit routes, and solidifying their positions in regional trade networks.
[1] DCAFT (2022). Kazakhstan-Georgia Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation Meeting: Key Outcomes. Retrieved from https://dcaft.kz/news/kazakhstan-georgia-joint-committee-on-trade-and-economic-cooperation-meeting-key-outcomes/
[2] Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Georgia (2021). Kazakh-Georgian Business Forum: A New Chapter in Kazakh-Georgian Economic Relations. Retrieved from https://georgia.mfa.kz/kazakh-georgian-business-forum-a-new-chapter-in-kazakh-georgian-economic-relations/
The discussion between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze encompassed various sectors, including high-tech projects such as artificial intelligence and digitalization, as well as critical global and regional security matters. They also delved into the importance of strengthening political and economic ties through policy and legislation, and highlighted the potential for collaborative regional forums like the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.
Both nations are aiming to bolster their strategic roles in the region, particularly through the development of the Middle Corridor, which connects China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Europe. This collaboration could lead to the expansion of trade capacities, diversification of transit routes, and solidification of their positions in regional trade networks.
Tokayev and Kobakhidze agreed on the need for continued cooperation in various sectors, particularly finance, transportation, and technology, in light of the potential that AI and digitalization hold for their economies. They also recognized the importance of addressing war and conflicts, and the role that their nations could play in implementing effective policy and legislation.
In the realm of general news, the progress and potential of the Kazakh-Georgian partnership have been widely reported, with a focus on their achievements in trade, energy, investments, tourism, and infrastructure. The discussion between Tokayev and Kobakhidze marks another significant step forward in their ongoing efforts to build a robust partnership for the benefit of both nations.
