Catania, 9 dicembre 2022.
During his diplomatic visit to Sicily, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Italian Republic, H.E. Mr Yerbolat Sembayev spoke at the first Kazakhstan – Sicily Business Forum organized by the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in the Region, and hosted at the International Cooperation Hub Free Mind Foundry, in Acireale.
Accompanying the Ambassador on his visit "to the Island of the Sun" were the First Secretary of the Embassy of Kazakhstan Dr. Azamat Kaiyr, the Second Secretary of the Embassy of Kazakhstan Dr. Mukhit Tleuzhanov and the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Sicily, Dr. Alessandro Arborio Mella di Sant'Elia, moderator of the forum. Among the authorities of the Region who spoke H.E.R. Mons. Antonino Raspanti, Bishop of Acireale and President of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference, and the Mayor of Acireale Dr. Stefano Alì, as well as representatives of the police forces.
Round table – in the center H.E. the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Italian Republic Mr. Yerbolat Sembayev, on his right the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Sicily Dr. Alessandro Arborio Mella di Sant'Elia, and on his left the CEO of Free Mind Foundry Eng. Simone Massaro
The Kazakh side, in addition to the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was represented by Kazakh Invest, a national company, by a senior representative of the Tourist Information Center of Almaty, by the Vice President of "Turan", a special economic zone, and by the Department for Investment Promotion of Shymkent, whose speakers spoke remotely. The event was attended by institutions, CEOs of Sicilian companies, the CDO Sicilia, investors and entrepreneurs operating in the sectors tourism, food, digital, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, telecommunications and fashion.
During the conference, representatives of the Sicilian business community were provided with detailed information on the ongoing reforms in Kazakhstan, investment potential and opportunities for the implementation of joint business projects.
Speech by H.E. Mr. Yerbolat Sembayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan
In particular, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Italy, Mr. Yerbolat Sembayev, spoke about unprecedented changes in the political and economic life of Kazakhstan, the modernization of the country as a whole, the strengthening of the role of Parliament, the strengthening of mechanisms for the protection of human rights, and measures to guarantee the participation of citizens in government. The Kazakh diplomat also highlighted the country's new economic reform program, which includes the de-oligopolization and demonopolization of the economy, measures to increase competition, a fair distribution of national income and favorable conditions for investors.
Mr Yerbolat Sembayev also underlined the strategic nature of relations between Astana and Rome. Italy is Kazakhstan's first trading partner in Europe and our country's third trading partner after Russia and China. Mutual trade turnover between January and October 2022 was $13 billion. This is an increase of 66.3% compared to the same period of the previous year ($7.8 billion).
The conference represented an important information opportunity aimed at strengthening the existing relationships between Italy and Kazakhstan and at creating future synergies in the economic, social and cultural fields with a country that has always been receptive to Made in Italy, attractive and favorable to investments by Italian players (made with Italy).
The new direct Milan-Almaty connection operated by the Neos airline facilitates trade, creating a bridge for business and tourism between Kazakhstan and Italy, a valid support for the 250 Italian companies already present in the country and for those to come.
In Kazakhstan there are 36 industrial zones and 13 special economic zones; the country has already started a process of collaboration and economic differentiation and is investing mainly in tourism and the agricultural sector.
Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kazakh Invest National Company Zhandos Temirgali presented the activities of the national company to the Sicilian business community, talking about measures to improve the attractiveness of Kazakhstan for investments. The director of the Almaty Tourist Information Center Edige Margulan explained to the participants of the forum the work of tourism development, measures to transform Almaty into a regional tourist hub. Zhasulan Tulebekov, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Special Economic Zone, and Bolat Etekbaev, Director of the Investment Promotion Department of Shymkent, spoke about measures to attract foreign investors to the Turkistan and Shymkent regions.
"Kazakhstan has just celebrated the 30th anniversary of Independence and this means that today's generation of thirty-year-olds was already born in an independent Kazakhstan. The choice of Free Mind as the venue for the conference is not accidental. Kazakhstan is a country that gives priority to culture and linguistic and technological education, and despite the changeability of international scenarios, generations of well-prepared young people will brilliantly face the challenges of the future. A strong state feeds on its past but finds new life in the generations to come. Free Mind which operates here in Sicily is a young reality made up of young people who work with passion in the technological and innovation fields." – declared the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Sicily, Dr. Alessandro Arborio Mella di Sant'Elia, at the conclusion of the conference.
“I thank all those who actively contributed to the success of the event, and in particular Dr. Isidea Lo Sardo, Chief Marketing Officer of BaxEnergy, and the Director of Compagnia delle Opere Sicilia, Dr. Claudia Fuccio.” – added the Consul, Dr. Alessandro Arborio Mella of San’Elia.
After the Business Forum, lunch favored convivial networking moments among all those present, which were followed by B2B and one-to-one meetings between the Delegation and representatives of the Sicilian business community.
Da sinistra: Dott. Mukhit Tleuzhanov , Dott. Azamat Kaiyr , Dott. Alessandro Arborio Mella di Sant’Elia , S.E. Mr Yerbolat Sembayev , Ing. Simone Massaro
Finally, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Italy Mr. Yerbolat Sembayev, met the founder and CEO of Free Mind Foundry, Eng. Simone Massaro, who expressed his desire to actively contribute to exporting the use of intelligent technologies and to take part with his companies, together with others in the area and the Honorary Consul in Sicily, in a delegation visiting Kazakhstan, with the aim of creating future Kazakhstan-Sicily synergies.