AKIPRESS.COM - UAE’s investments in Kazakhstan have crossed Dh2 billion ($545 million), said Kairat Lama Sharif, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Emirates, adding that trade exchange recorded $135 million by the end of 2015, UAE media report.

Lama Sharif unveiled that Kazakhstan is willing to extend the validity of the UAE visitors stay to 30 days, instead of the regular 15-day permit. This is in addition to the fact that UAE nationals are exempted from visa to Kazakhstan since July 2014.

This was revealed on the sidelines of a delegation visit headed by Lama Sharif to Dawood Al Shezawi, founder and president of Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), one of the world’s leading Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) - focused platform.

AIM Higher Organising Committee, in collaboration with the Embassy of Kazakhstan to the UAE, presented to around 70 of Kazakhstani businessmen and investors details about 14 additional investment activities to be added during the recent sixth edition of AIM, running from April 11 to 13 at Dubai World Trade Centre, according to Gulf Digital News.

Lama Sharif assured their eagerness to facilitate Kazakhstani delegations to attend AIM annually, pointing out that the Kazakhstani participation in AIM will be of broader scale. Lama Sharif revealed that the city of Almaty, the largest city and financial centre in Kazakhstan, is seeking to establish bilateral relations with Dubai Municipality to help businessmen in Kazakhstan to activate economic relations with Emirati investors.

Lama Sharif said Kazakhstan sees great importance in UAE presence in Expo Astana 2017, which will be held in the capital Astana from June 10 to September 10, 2017.

More than 15,000 attendees from over 140 countries will take part in the 6th edition of AIM. According to Al Shezawi, participating in AIM will enhance opportunities for investors and companies from Kazakhstan to strengthen their presence in the UAE, the region and the world, and will enable Kazakh companies to establish new partnerships and expand its business in global markets through Dubai.