During last week’s official visit of the Croatian economic delegation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Croatian-Kazakhstan Economic Forum took place in Astana. Around twenty Croatian companies took part in the forum, including JGL, represented by Alenka Jajac-Knez, Director of Market Operations, and Irina Karakai, Head of the BSR and CAMA Regions. The visit was led by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, with the economic delegation organised by the Croatian Chamber of Economy.
“This forum highlights the strong mutual interest and commitment of both Croatia and Kazakhstan in building a long-term economic partnership. I see significant potential for collaboration, particularly through the exchange of knowledge and expertise between our business communities. We see Kazakhstan as a country of remarkable potential, not only due to its dynamic market growth but also thanks to its strategic location in Central Asia. Our own company is a testament to this, with a nearly 20-year presence in the country, making us one of the largest Croatian exporters to this market. Over the years, we have gained valuable experience and established strong partnerships, which we see as essential to successful international collaboration. With mutual respect, openness, and a shared vision, we believe there is great potential to further strengthen our cooperation—not only through trade but also through innovation, sustainability, and deepening people-to-people connections,” said Alenka Jajac-Knez, addressing the forum on behalf of the Croatian-Kazakhstan Business Council.
The Forum highlighted that in recent years, trade between Croatia and Kazakhstan has grown significantly, driven primarily by the import of energy resources from Kazakhstan, particularly oil and petroleum products, which make up the bulk of bilateral trade. At the same time, Croatian exports continue to show stable and promising growth, particularly in high value-added segments such as pharmaceuticals, food products, cosmetics, and technological equipment. This demonstrates that economic cooperation between Croatia and Kazakhstan is not only expanding in volume but also evolving in structure, creating new opportunities for an increasing number of businesses on both sides.