Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Poland's trade turnover with Kazakhstan exceeded $2 billion in 2012, Polish Ambassador Jacek Kluczkowski told Azerbaijani news agency Trend on Thursday.

"The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Poland last year, according to preliminary data, exceeded $2.1 billion. Moreover, the share of Poland's export to Kazakhstan amounted to $600 million, which is 20-25 percent higher than in the previous years," Kluczkowski said.

The ambassador said oil is the main commodity for Kazakhstan's export to Poland. Equipment for the mining industry, engineering products, construction materials, medicine, fruits and vegetables are exported from Poland to the Central Asian state.

"In comparison with other Commonwealth of Independent States countries, Kazakhstan ranks third -- after Russia and Ukraine -- among the most important economic partners of Poland and the fifth among Asian continent countries after China, Japan, India and Singapore," the diplomat said.

Kluczkowski noted that two Polish oil companies are operating in Kazakhstan's oil and gas sector.

"Polish oil company Petrolinvest and Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNIG)... are operating in Kazakhstan's oil and gas market. According to world standards, our companies are small and aware of their position in the oil and gas business. Nevertheless, Polish companies are interested in working in the oil and gas sector of Kazakhstan and are open to collaboration with both Kazakh and foreign companies," Kluczkowski said.

He said one of the main Polish investors in Kazakhstan is Petrolinvest, which is developing a field in the Aktobe province.

According to the Embassy of Poland, Petrolinvest has joined efforts with France's Total to develop the field in Aktobe, following the news of perspective development. Currently, the development of the field is at the initial stage.

Earlier, Kazakh and Polish media reported that in 2011, Petrolinvest announced the discovery of oil fields in Kazakhstan.

Kluczkowski also stressed that Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov is expected to visit Poland.

"We are now preparing for the visit of Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, which is due in the second half of May this year. We hope it will be a step ahead in the development of our cooperation. We need some major mutual strategic projects," Kluczkowski said.

He said there will be a third meeting of the heads of government of the two countries. The latest meeting took place in 2003.

According to Kluczkowski, during Akhmetov's visit to Warsaw, it is planned to identify new trends and opportunities of strategic cooperation.

"This will help to direct targeted government support. If we see that Kazakhstan is a country of economic success, we can direct state support to those companies that are interested in operating in the Kazakh market. For this, we have tools to support the business for establishing contacts abroad," he said.

Kluczkowski added that last year 15,000 to 16,000 visas were issued to Kazakh citizens who sought to visit Poland -- 50 percent more than in the previous years.