The representatives of the Pilsen Region and businessmen managed to conclude a specific € 9.4 million business deal during their business trip to East Kazakhstan Region. The business trip lasted from 14 to 19 September, 2014, and the agenda comprised trade negotiations in the cities of Astana and Ust-Kamenogorsk.
A round-table negotiation
The Pilsen Region signed a partnership agreement with East Kazakhstan Region two years ago. However, this was the first meeting of the Akim, head of the East Kazakhstan Region, and the President of the Pilsen Region. The meeting was held during September business trip in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, where Akim Berdibek Saparbayev met President of the Region Václav Šlajs, Councillor Jaroslav Šobr and a group of businessmen who had come to Kazakhstan in order to make business deals there.
Twelve businessmen and the representatives of the Region started the business trip in Astana on 15 September, 2014. The agenda comprised negotiations with Yesimbekov Sabra, President of Kazakhstan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, followed by a meeting with Vice-minister of industry and new technologies B. Dzhaksaliev. The main topic was natural resources, in particular large reserves of hard coal in Kazakhstan. Apart from the representatives of the Region, also Miloslav Zeman, Chairperson of the Board of the Association of the Chambers of Commerce ‘Jihozápad’, or Tomáš Drápela, Director of Plzeňská teplárenská, took part in the negotiation.
“The whole Europe is seeking compensation for blocked Russian markets and Kazakhstan is now listed as a priority country. Thus I am happy that our cooperation with the President of the Region is exemplary and that we are helping to open the market for small companies,” said Miloslav Zeman.
The afternoon agenda contained a meeting with Czech Ambassador Eliška Žigová, followed by a meeting with the commercial counsellor at the embassy concerning the cooperation between the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan.
Next day, a negotiation with the representatives of investment agency Kaznexinvest, considered as a partner for local businessmen helping with mediating export and import opportunities, was held. The whole delegation took part in the negotiation which was a great opportunity especially for the businessmen to obtain valuable contacts. The topic of the meeting was energetics and resource utilization.
In Ust-Kamenogorsk, the delegation visited company Asia Auto, Inc., producing e.g. Škoda or Kia cars, and then met the Akim in the evening.
Excursion to Asia Auto, Inc.
On Wednesday 17 September an important round-table meeting with businessmen from East Kazakhstan Region was held, during which a major contract was signed, and the businessmen had an opportunity to arrange individual meetings which they attended during the following days in Kazakhstan.
The above mentioned major contract was signed by the representatives of Frýdlantské strojírny Rasl a syn, a.s., who travelled to Kazakhstan together with the delegation from the Pilsen Region. The contract was concluded with company Techstrojinovacia and concerned a delivery of the production line worth € 9.4 million.
Symbolic tapping on the cornerstone of a new production line that will be built by Frýdlantské strojírny – Rasl a syn, a.s.,
“Concluding such an important contract is an impulse for other companies showing that Kazakhstan market is open for business opportunities. Personal meetings and negotiations are crucial for making first contacts leading to future cooperation and further contracts that would support the development of companies in the Pilsen Region,” said President of the Region Václav Šlajs.
After signing the contract, the representatives of the companies and the delegation of the Pilsen Region moved to the place where a new production line will be built so that they could tap the cornerstone.
All negotiations with the representatives of Kazakh companies are not conceivable without the politicians whose presence at the meetings is a guarantee for the companies willing to do trade with Kazakhstan. The aim of the business trip to this region was to strengthen mutual cooperation and open the door for the businessmen from the Pilsen Region to further development opportunities. The interest of the other party in cooperation was obvious.
“The opportunities for cooperation are not only in energetics, and during the negotiations we were open to further requirements. We were surprised that e.g. the investor was able to get 30 % of their investment immediately paid by the government. As the Pilsen Region is preparing the opening of mirror offices in a Chinese province, we have brought up this idea in East Kazakhstan Region as well,” said Miloslav Zeman in the evaluation of the business trip and added: “We were surprised by their immediate and specific interest. It could be an important bridge for cooperation and communication between businessmen.”