Society 379

SOCIETY
Embracing natural
synergies
SOCIETY Magazine spoke with H.E. Kairat
Umarov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Austria,
about potential fields of cooperation, future
alliances and his country’s transformation.
Kazakhstan was the first country in
Central Asia with which Austria established
diplomatic relations. How are
bilateral relations today and where do
you as Ambassador see the greatest
potential for cooperation?
Bilateral relations between our two
countries are excellent: Kazakhstan
is actually the only country in the
area which has an Austrian Embassy
and trade representation. Respectively,
here in Austria we have seven
honorary consuls who are constantly
cultivating our connection. Laudably,
the tie between the two countries is
not only established on a capital-tocapital
level, but a lot of networking is
happening on a regional level as well.
As Ambassador, I would like to enforce
cooperation between Kazakhstan and
Austria in countless fields, nevertheless
it is important to line out one’s
priority areas: The most substantial
goal is certainly strengthening the
economy and investments between
our two countries. At the moment,
more than 40 Austrian companies are
working in Kazakhstan – a solid number,
which we would nevertheless like
to see increase. Austria is our ninthlargest
trade partner in the EU, with a
yearly Kazakhstani-Austrian business
council uniting our respective trade
circles. The council is operating in
different working groups on transport
and infrastructure, hydro-energy and
alternative energy as well as medical
equipment. I think of all of these sectors
as important areas for promising
collaborations. As a Eurasian state,
Kazakhstan has an important geographical
position, especially as a transit
country to China and other neighbouring
states: A connection to Kazakhstan
opens the gate to huge new
markets. Moreover, we can draw on a
lot of potential in human resources,
people are very young, talented and
well educated.
Making use of this upward-dynamic
we would like to see more exchange
among students and medical workers
as well as an increased cooperation in
technology and science. In addition,
our two countries are connected by
an almost forgotten, but nevertheless
interesting fact: In October of 1991,
the first Austrian Cosmonaut Franz
Viehböck and the Kazakhstani Cosmonaut
Toqtar Äubäkirow embarked
on their first journey to space together.
This year we are celebrating the
30th anniversary of this event. Overall,
I am convinced that our countries
have a lot of synergies; it is only natural
to develop those ties and seize all
our mutual opportunities.
Very recently, the EU and Kazakhstan
agreed to deepen their energy ties.
How important is a strengthened
cooperation between the two parties
and how will future energy ties look
like?
The green energy and economy sector
offers exciting chances for collective
action. Kazakhstan is very rich in fossil
fuels, yet we are aware that the future
belongs to clean energy. We are actively
pursuing wind and solar energy,
making good use of our 360 sunny
days per year. Our president is very
active on this issue and by 2050, half of
our energy could be covered by green
sources. Austria is very advanced as far
as renewable energy solutions are concerned,
so a transfer of technologies
and knowledge is absolutely desirable.
Actually, three years ago the first
mosque in the world with a positive
energy balance was built in our capital
by an Austrian company. Speaking of
sustainability, the agricultural sector in
Kazakhstan holds potential for possible
alliances as well; in tune with the spirit
of green economy, we are not aiming
for a more industrialized production,
but rather focus on ecologically friendly
and sustainable farming.
Kazakhstan’s history is strongly entwined
with the ancient Silk Road. The
Foto: SOCIETY/Pobaschnig
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