Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Ambassador Kairat Sarybay met with Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Baibazarov to discuss current issues of the CICA Business Council and Business Forum.
Ambassador Sarybay briefed the high-ranking official on CICA, its current processes and agenda. The CICA Secretary General highlighted the potential for internationalizing Kazakhstan businesses through the platform of the Business Council, an advisory body of CICA that brings together representatives of commercial organizations and government authorities from CICA Member States to promote and expand economic cooperation in the field of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
During the meeting, both parties agreed to enhance cooperation within the Business Council framework.
Considering the upcoming handover of the chairmanship in CICA and its several advisory bodies, including the Business Council, from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan in November 2024, the interlocutors discussed prospects for Kazakhstan's continued presence in this body as co-coordinator of the priority area "Development of Small and Medium Enterprises".
Ambassador Sarybay informed about the efforts of Member States and the CICA Secretariat to develop inter-sessional activities of the Business Council. Deputy Prime Minister – Minister N.Baibazarov expressed his support for these initiatives and intention to assist in preparing an e-book on "National approaches and incentives used by CICA Member States to support SMEs" by the CICA Think Tank Forum, another advisory body of CICA.
The interlocutors also discussed issues related to the upcoming seventh plenary session of the CICA Business Council and Business Forum, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024 in Bishkek.
