Kazakhstan - Germany's largest trade partner in Central Asia

Sales turnover between Kazakhstan and Germany makes up to 85 per cent of the latter's foreign trade volume with the Central Asian countries.

Kazakhstan's Embassy in Germany made these figures public prior to the first official visit to Astana of German Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle scheduled on Wednesday (August 29).

According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, the sales turnover between Kazakhstan and Germany in 2011 exceeded the mark of 6.2 billion Euro. The volume of mutual trade amounted to approximately 3.1 billion Euro in January-June 2012. Above 1 200 enterprises with the participation of German capital are registered in Kazakhstan.

As Kazinform reported earlier, on August 29, 2012 Guido Westerwelle, German Federal Foreign Minister, will make his first official visit to Astana. In line with the agenda, German diplomat is expected to meet with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov, and Industry and New Technologies Minister Asset Issekeshev.

Astana and Berlin are to focus on a host of issues related to mutual interaction in bilateral and multilateral format. A special attention will be given to the implementation of agreements reached within the last visit of President Nazarbayev to Berlin in February 2012.