Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Asian Affairs
May 2, 2019
Originally published: https://www.asianaffairs.in/magazine/shift-to-the-centre/#.XNbFskN7mfZ
A Central Asian giant larger than Western Europe, Kazakhstan is friendly with all its neighbours, especially Russia and China. Yet it is keen to further expand its influence throughout Asia, which, Wilder Alejandro Sanchez believes, could be good news for India
India and Kazakhstan – the third and fourth biggest nations in Asia
respectively –have seen their diplomatic ties increase in significance
this century.Now, should both governments decide that this relationship
deserves to be a priority, the two countries have much to gain from each
other on other levels too.
Kazakhstan will hold a presidential election in June but there is
little doubt in my mind as to who will win. I believe that Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev will continue in his role as leader. His predecessor, the
former first secretary of the Communist Party, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was
re-elected in 2015 with 98 per cent of the vote. He resigned last
month, endorsing Mr Tokayev to take over. Voters are likely to support
political continuity and elections in Kazakhstan are far less hotly
fought than those in India.
Meeting Modi
Assuming he wins the vote in June, Mr Tokayev could meet India’s
Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon afterwards, if the two leaders
participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.
Trade between India and Kazakhstan reached USD$1.2 billion in 2018, a
new record for the two nations. Indeed, Kazakhstan is India’s major
trading partner in Central Asia and the two governments have enjoyed
cordial relations in terms of diplomacy, defence (including joint
peacekeeping operations), trade and people-to-people interactions since
the Central Asian nation gained its independence from the Soviet Union
in 1991.
India’s exports to Kazakhstan include coffee, tobacco and rubber,
while Kazakhstan’s exports to India are mostly uranium, oil and steel.
Both governments have maintained a pro-trade policy and Kazakh Invest
– a company that was founded to promote sustainable socio-economic
development in Kazakhstan by inviting foreign investment in priority
sectors– helped to organise a forum in Kolkata in early April to attract
Eastern Indian investment.
Trade between the two countries could grow even more in the coming
years, should India and the Eurasian Economic Union – of which
Kazakhstan is a member – sign a free trade agreement.
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