German chancellor starts official visit to Kazakhstan

ASTANA. Sept 16 (Interfax) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in Astana on an official visit, the Kazakh government press service said on Monday.

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met Scholz at the airport.

The German chancellor is to take part in a Central Asia+Germany summit, at which the parties plan to discuss strategic cooperation and partnership in a broad range of areas, including trade and economic interaction and the implementation of joint investment projects.

Germany is an important trade and investment partner of Kazakhstan. Trade between the two countries grew 13% to $2.3 billion in the first seven months of 2024 year-on-year. The amount of direct investment in Kazakhstan from Germany grew 64% to $770 million last year, with most of it directed at developing the non-commodity sector, which is prioritized, the press service said.