Italy was the last EU country to ratify the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) with Kazakhstan, signed in 2015, paving the way for the trade deal to enter into full force.

“We are very happy of course that the ratification process of this agreement is now almost complete,” said Roman Vassilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan at an EURACTIV event.

The Council will now be able to conclude the ratification process after the Italian Senate approved the deal, often described as “WTO-Plus”, as its chapter on government procurement in essence mirrors the equivalent WTO chapter.

The EPCA also sets a legal framework for cooperation in 29 areas, from international and regional security to trade, investment, development of infrastructure as well as innovation in culture, sport and tourism sectors.

The EU-Kazakhstan agreement in an nutshell The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the EU (EPCA) is unique. The European Commission says that the EU’s relationship with Central Asia in general and Kazakhstan in particular “has never been any stronger or any better”.

Vassilenko hopes that the agreement will increase the dynamism of the trade relationship, in particular in the field of high-tech products. The EU accounts for almost half of Kazakhstan’s external trade, and remains Kazakhstan’s biggest trade and investment partner.

“Kazakhstan is by far the largest trade partner of the EU in Central Asia”, said Jocelyn Guitton from the Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade. EU-Kazakhstan trade comprises 86% of commerce flows between the bloc and Central Asia. “It is our only significant trade partner in the region”, the official added.

However, about 80% of Kazakhstan’s exports to the EU are fossil fuels, especially oil and gas. Diversification will require connectivity to become one of the key elements of the EU’s new strategy for the region.

Kazakhstan invested heavily into its flagship Nurly Zhol programme, a $9 billion domestic economic stimulus plan to develop and modernise roads, railways, ports, IT infrastructure, education and civil services linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Kazakhstan positions itself as a bridge between Asia and Europe The main areas that Central Asia region wants to be focused on in the next years are environment protection and trade liberalization. EURACTIV.cz reports from Nur-Sultan.

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest land-locked state. “You’re right in the middle of Central Asia. Some could say it’s in the middle of nowhere but you can also see it as a middle of everywhere”, said the Commission official.

The key issue for Kazakhstan to become more than just a logistical hub. “We believe that the EPCA is a major drive in the medium to long-run to improve the business climate”, which can aid in attracting foreign direct investment to achieve that goal, argued Guitton.

Another area “where we would like to develop cooperation is the set of efforts to promote regional cooperation” in Central Asia commented Philippe van Amersfoort, the European External Action Service’s Deputy Head of division responsible for the region.

“Our interest is to support what we call open regionalism in Central Asia and all forms of cooperation to tackle cross-border challenges”.

There is a transition process underway which provides Kazakhstan a chance to undertake systemic reforms, says Philippe van Amersfoort, Deputy Head of Central Asia Division, @eu_eeas. #eaDebates pic.twitter.com/2HrgDPwg04 — EURACTIV Global EU (@eaGlobalEU) November 13, 2019

Time is indeed ripe for Kazakhstan to become a regional leader. “Kazakhstan right now is a country on the move, economically socially and politically”, said Vassilenko, referring to the economic and social reforms promised by the new president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The second summit of the five Central Asian countries, expected to be announced shortly, will be a good opportunity to exercise leadership in the trade sphere, since only 5% of the volume of trade of the countries of Central Asia is among themselves.

Astana hosts little-publicised Central Asia summit Only a couple of years ago, a summit of the five Central Asia countries would have been absolutely unthinkable. But the leaders came together on Thursday (15 March) and decided to hold such meetings annually, always at the same time of the year, which is a major holiday in the region.

[Edited by Georgi Gotev and Sam Morgan]