During the Italian Prime Minister’s visit to Astana and Samarkand, agreements were signed to strengthen the strategic partnership, as well as a number of treaties in various areas, including critical raw materials and migration.
Italy and Kazakhstan signed several agreements worth a total of 4 billion euros during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni to Astana.
The parties reportedly agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership and expand cooperation in various sectors, including oil and gas, renewable energy and water management.
Speaking at the International Forum in Astana, Meloni stressed the importance of deepening ties with the Central Asian countries.
“I consider this visit not just a protocol one, but a significant one,” the Italian Prime Minister said at the forum. “We want to cement the friendship that unites our peoples with concrete facts and strengthen our strategic cooperation in many important areas.”
In addition to the declaration on bilateral strategic partnership, the leaders of the countries signed a readmission agreement and a document on critical minerals and raw materials.
“Italy was the first EU country to invest in relations with Central Asia, creating a stable format for the exchange of ideas,” Meloni noted in her speech at the forum.
Tokayev: Italy is Kazakhstan’s main trading partner
Today’s meeting “gives a very serious and powerful impetus to the development of bilateral ties in many areas. We attach great importance to the development of trade between our countries. Italy is Kazakhstan’s third largest trading partner and the largest in the European Union,” Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with Meloni.
According to official data, trade volume has reached 20 billion dollars.
Key areas of cooperation are the oil and gas sector, energy (including renewable and “green” energy), water management, mechanical engineering, and the agro-industrial complex.
Via Roma in Samarkand
Before traveling to Astana, Meloni held talks in Samarkand with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and signed a declaration on strengthening partnership, as well as several agreements, including in the field of critical raw materials and migration.
On the occasion of the Italian Prime Minister’s visit, one of the streets in Samarkand was named after the capital of Italy. President Mirziyoyev noted that this decision was made taking into account the deep historical and cultural ties between the two countries, as well as a sign of friendship and mutual respect between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Italy.
At the meeting between Meloni and Mirziyoyev, a declaration was signed providing for the conclusion of agreements between Italy and Uzbekistan with a total value of more than 3 billion euros.
