Your Excellency, Mister Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me express my appreciation to the Kazakh National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” for this opportunity to address to the business community of the broad CICA area and warmly welcome all the members of the Fourth CICA Business Council session.
I would like to thank the Chairmanship and Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Tleuberdi, for his constant and substantive support and personal participation in today's session of the CICA Business Council.
Mr.Chair,
Within 30 years since its establishment the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, CICA, proved its relevance as one of the levers to consolidate Asian nations for the common good and security.
I have the honor and pleasure to serve to CICA – an international forum whose relevance is growing significantly in light of the challenges the world currently experiencing and the associated opportunities.
Speaking of opportunities, which are on the flip side of challenges, I would like to mention recently published fact that speaks for itself.
Asia has grabbed $ 1 out of every $ 2 in new investment over the past decade, according to McKinsey's Davos Economic Forum 2020 Report.
According to other research it is also expected that by 2030 Asia will surpass North America and Europe combined in terms of power, GDP growth, population size and technology investment.
In the time the World faces the most significant global disruption Asia proves its ability for the progress.
Mr. Chair,
The establishment of the CICA Business Council was initiated by the Russian Federation in 2011. In 2014, the Regulation on the Business Council was approved. To date, three meetings of the Business Council have been successfully held, including in Beijing, Nur-Sultan and Moscow.
CICA philosophy is to deepen trust and expand cooperation between its Member states through joint implementation of Confidence Building Measures within five dimensions.
The Business Council and the Business Forum are held under the Economic Dimension of interaction, which covers currently 8 areas:
The Economic Dimension, as the most promising for the revival of business activity in the situation of the global economic downturn, is being updated at the initiative of the CICA Member States.
In particular, the implementation of a new specific measures and areas of pipeline security, and safety of financial transactions to prevent money laundering, as well as the novelty – connectivity, are currently under consideration.
Mr.Chair,
The CICA Plan for 2021 contains 20 activities related to the Economic Dimension.
Seven events out of these activities are directly related to the implementation of confidence building measures in the field of small and medium-sized businesses, including the meetings of the Business Council, the Business Forum, the Roundtable discussion on digitalization of the economy, the Seminar in the field of cooperation on financial technologies and investments, a Training course in the field of finance, a Training course in the field of sustainable development, and a Seminar on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. The mentioned activities were hosted by Thailand, China and Kazakhstan.
I use this opportunity to express our gratitude to the India’s valuable contribution to the development of the Economic Dimension. Last week the Government of India conducted a comprehensive training seminar on the Use of renewable energy to strengthen global energy security.
China held a two-day seminar aimed at improving the skills of agricultural producers. Chinese experts shared amazing opportunities to increase crop yields, restore soil fertility, and use drones to control yields.
I would also like to thank the Russian Federation in its capacity as the Coordinator of Confidence Building Measures in the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, for holding the Round Table "Digital Economy and its Role in the Development of SMEs in the CICA States" last year. As part of this event, Russia presented a digital platform for SMEs as a tool to promote the efficiency of SMEs. Taking into account the effectiveness of this instrument of business activity, it is worth to consider the Russian digital platform for SME support as a basis for creating a digital platform for supporting SMEs throughout the CICA.
I would also like to thank all the Member States for your kind support and especially Turkey and Thailand for their efforts as co-coordinators of Confidence Building Measures in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Chair,
In conclusion I hope that Business Council’s Members engaged participation, concrete proposals and joint projects will add value to ensuring food security and prosperity in the CICA space.
I thank you.
