Excellency Bulat Sarsenbayev in an exclusive conversation with Journalist Shikha Sharma discussed about Kazakhstan & India trade relations also lots of other important things.
The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and India have a long history.
The Great Silk and Spice Routes united Kazakhstan and India in the Middle Ages.
This period is linked to the Kushan and Indian ruler Kanishka, known in the
history of Kazakhstan as Khan Yerke, and to the Central Asian people called by
Greeks Scythians (their own name Saks). In the middle ages our peoples and
culture had linked when such historic personalities as QutubuddinAibak,
Iltutmish, Raziya Sultan, Babur, and Muhammed HaiderDughlat were active.
As First President of Kazakhstan, Yelbasy (Leader of the
Nation)NursultanNazarbayev said during his first India visit in February 1992:
«India had never been a far-off country for the Kazakh people. Historical and
geographic proximity gave us the opportunity to closely follow events in the
Indian peninsula and democratic transformations taking place there found a
vivid response in the hearts of the people of Kazakhstan».
I would like to remind that the relations between India and Kazakhstan was
established 27 years ago and developed in the spirit of friendship, partnership
and are based on the cultural and historical affinity between the peoples of
the two countries. Bilateral cooperation has been raised to the strategic level
in 2009.
Twenty seven years is a very short period, considering the centuries-old
history of our relations. However, representatives of both countries generally
agree that over these years our ties of friendly and mutually beneficial
cooperation have stood the test of time and our people have retained the warmth
towards each other despite the crises and challenges of a constantly changing
world.
The main highlights of the cooperation are the absence of any political
issues between the two countries. Effective political cooperation between our
states has been ensured due to the similarity of our positions on the basic
international issues and problems.
Now Kazakhstan and India intend to strengthen their comprehensive
cooperation and partnership, with an emphasis on economic diplomacy, trade and
investment interaction.
Our priority areas of cooperation are space, IT, Fintech, energy and
military cooperation.
Right now, Kazakhstan is the main trading partner of India in Central Asia.
The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and India reached 1.2 billion USD in
2018.
For the first two months of this year bilateral trade between the countries
amounted to 265.7 thousand dollars, recording 50,4% increase from the same
period of last year. Undoubtedly, the sides can increase this figure by
improving transport connection between the countries.
In order to facilitate the transport connection Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Kazakhstan BeibutAtamkulov proposed the idea of creating a consortium with
the participation of India to connect Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran and
Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran rail routes with the port of Chabahar
to transport cargo in the Central Asia-India direction.
I would especially like to stress the establishment of a very high level of
political trust between our countries. In 2018 Kazakhstan peacekeeping
contingent has been deployed in the UN mission UNIFIL in Lebanon within the
Indian battalion.
I would also like to note the substantial support of our honorary
consulates in deepening Kazakhstan-India relations. There are three honorary
consulates have been opened until now: in Mumbai (for Maharashtra) in 2015 and
in Chennai (for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala) in 2017, Gandhinagar
(Gujarat) in 2018.
On June 9, Kazakhstan will hold a presidential election. This is a most
important moment, not least because a head of state can take the country in a
particular direction and set tasks and priorities for government that can have
an impact on the country and beyond. It is also the first time in almost thirty
years that a new President of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be elected.
The upcoming election is promising to be the most competitive and diverse
in Kazakhstan’s history as an independent nation. A total of seven candidates
have been registered by the Central Election Commission.
The upcoming vote is not just important to Kazakhstan, but to our
neighbours and partners all over the world. As is known, Kazakhstan has been
actively participating in global affairs, including, most recently, the
resolution of the Syrian conflict. From an economic perspective, our government
has also been vigorously improving Kazakhstan’s investment climate, making us
the number one investment destination in the region.
The results of the presidential election will be officially confirmed by
June 16. Active work will then begin to continue to develop close ties between
Kazakhstan and India. We have every reason to be confident about the future and
the cooperation between our countries.
Today the state and prospects of development of Kazakh-Indian ties show
that we have chosen the right vector of development of cooperation. Existing
capacity is very large and almost unlimited. Kazakhstan will continue to strive
to make the most of every opportunity to raise the strategic partnership to an
even higher level and to fill relations between India and Kazakhstan with new
meaning and content for the sake of the friendship and prosperity of the people
of the two countries.
In conclusion I emphasize that it is a great honor for me to be the
Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the country, representing one sixth
of the humanity. Serving in India which has deep historical roots, rich and
multifaceted culture, living alongside hard-working, sincere and kind-hearted
Indian people, making efforts in the name of
friendship and cooperation between our countries - all these brings me a
feeling of deep satisfaction and honor.
About H.H. Bulat Sarsenbayev
Date and place of birth: 17
July1957, Almaty city (Kazakhstan).
Education: Pedagogical
Institute of Foreign Languages in Almaty city, Faculty of English Language,
1978.
1990 – 1991 The Supreme
Council (Parliament) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chief Legal Consultant.
1991 – 1992 Ministry of
Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Legal & Treaty
Department, Chief Legal Consultant.
1992 – 1993 Moscow District
Administration (municipality) of Almaty city, Deputy Head of Administration.
1993 – 1994 London University,
LLM courses (Urban Development & Law, International Law of Natural
Resources, International Tax Law, and International Environmental Law).
1994 – 1996 JSC
"Danc Corporation", a leading new created Kazakh private company,
Vice President on legal aspects.
1996 – 1997 "Mc
Kenna & Co. International", a leading British law firm, Head of the
Representative Office.
1997 – 2000
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Israel, Counselor.
2001- 2003 Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, International & Legal
Department, Deputy Director.
2003 – 2005 The
Consul General of The Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong.
2005 – 2007 The
Charge de'Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Hellenic Republic.
2007 – 2014 The
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
2008 – 2014 The Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Iraq.
2012 – 2014 The Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Lebanese
Republic (non-resident) with concurrent accreditation to the State of
Palestine.
Since 2014 The Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of
India.
Since 2015 The Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of
India with concurrent accreditation to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
Lanka.
Diplomatic rank: Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary Envoy of I class.
Married, has two daughters.
Honours and awards: Medal “10
years of Astana”, Medal “10 years of the Constitution of Kazakhstan”, Medal
"20 years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan", Order of
the Republic of Kazakhstan “Kurmet” (Honour), Order of the President of
Palestine “Gold medal for merit”, Order of the King of Jordan “Al-Istiklal”
(Independence).
By Journalist Shikha Sharma
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| AMBASSADOR BULAT SARSENBAYEV |
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