(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 13. Romania pledges
continued support for Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in their
contributions to the EU's energy security, Ana Cristina Tinca,
State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, said
in an exclusive interview with Trend .
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan as garants of EU energy
security
" With a trade volume of around $42
billion in 2023 and an overall investment stock (over the past 20
years) of $180 billion, the European Union is the main economic
partner of Kazakhstan. The EU-Kazakhstani Enhanced Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement and the EU Global Gateway, backed by
consistent, regular political dialogue at the highest levels, have
opened new venues of cooperation in transport and logistics,
energy, critical raw materials, agriculture, digitalization, and
many other fields," she said.
As the state secretary noted, the Southern Caucasus region and
Azerbaijan, as a riparian Caspian country, are the most natural
bridge connecting the European Union and Kazakhstan and bringing
them closer politically and economically.
"Equally important, both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are key
partners for the European Union in the energy field. Thus, the
European Union and Romania in particular (as an EU Member State at
the Black Sea) will continue to support all projects aiming to
enhance energy security. We are particularly interested in
diversifying supply sources and transport routes, promoting
sustainable development of new energy sources, and encouraging a
balanced transition to green economies. Naturally, increasing the
volumes of hydrocarbons shipped via the Caspian and Black Seas,
building new infrastructure capacities or expanding existing ones,
as well as developing green energy, remain key topics of interest
for us," Ana Cristina Tinca said.
As she noted, when it comes to connectivity, Romania believes
that policymakers in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and the European Union
(including Romania) share the same views about the importance of
developing transport and logistics, energy, and digital
connectivity.
"Romania is directly involved in key projects such as the
regular ferry lines in the Black Sea, the development of the
electric cable under the Black Sea (the "Green Electricity
Corridor"), the underwater fiber optic cable towards the South
Caucasus, and the Black Sea-Caspian Sea Freight Transport Corridor.
All these projects also help strengthen the links between Europe
and Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region," she said.
Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
The state secretary noted that the EBRD Study on Sustainable
Transport Connections between Europe and Central Asia presented its
first preliminary results at the second EU-Central Asia Economic
Forum in May 2023.
"Since then, the Middle Corridor (or the Trans-Caspian
International Transport Route) has received unprecedented attention
and benefited from renewed, convergent political and practical
efforts. The EU Global Gateway Forum, the Investors Forum for
EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity, and the Coordination
Platform for the Trans-Caspian Corridors have been the main
platforms for exchanges and cooperation on developing the Corridor,
including finding sustainable solutions to overcoming existing
bottlenecks and boosting transit capacities," she noted.
Ana Cristina Tinca highlighted that transport and logistics,
especially considering the importance of the Constanta Port, have
always featured prominently in high-level Romanian-Kazakhstani
contacts.
"Our presidents and ministers of foreign affairs have recently
discussed these topics. Discussions have continued extensively
between the line ministries in the first half of 2024, for example
during the visit to Romania of the Minister of Transport of
Kazakhstan, then at the 17th plenary session of the
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, and most
recently during the visit to Astana of the State Counsellor of the
Prime Minister of Romania – the national senior official in charge
of EU Global Gateway," she said.
Green energy between Romania and Kazakhstan
The state secretary emphasized Kazakhstan's unwavering
commitment to the shift towards green economies and
decarbonization, highlighting its significant value.
"We are fully aware of Kazakhstan's leading positions in terms
of fossil fuel output and exports, green energy potential (wind,
solar, hydrogen), and rare earth reserves that are critical to
shaping the transition towards zero emissions economies. These
topics have been high on the bilateral agenda, particularly within
the framework of the Romanian-Kazakhstani Intergovernmental
Commission for Economic Cooperation, which meets regularly every
two years, most recently on February 14th–15th, 2024, in Bucharest.
The energy ministers on both sides chair the commission," she
said.
According to her, Romania remains a reliable partner for
Kazakhstan, including by sharing its experience in green energy
market development.
"Currently, Romania bases 40 percent of its domestic consumption
on green energy, with green energy production, including renewable
sources, accounting for more than 50 percent of the total energy
output. For instance, Romania inaugurated the largest photovoltaic
park in Southeast Europe in October 2023. Equally important, the
transition to green economies requires sustainable,
environment-friendly technologies for oil and gas drilling, coal
mining, and in petrochemical industries. Romania also has a long
and rich manufacturing tradition," she noted.
Trade turnover dynamics
She highlighted that Romania and Kazakhstan share solid, strong
ties of partnership, extending more than 32 years.
"Kazakhstan is Romania's most important economic partner in
Central Asia; furthermore, Romania is a key gateway for Kazakhstan
to the European Union and its Single Market, currently ranking 5th
among EU countries and 12th worldwide as a trade and investment
partner for Kazakhstan. Despite the significant geopolitical
challenges we have faced in recent years, we have continued to
build on our long-standing tradition of trustful dialogue at all
levels. Last year, President Klaus Iohannis and President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had substantial discussions on the margins of
the UN General Assembly, focusing on concrete steps to boost our
trade, connectivity, and energy cooperation," she said.
Following the meeting, Ana Cristina Tinca noted that
Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Murat Nurtleu, made his first-ever official visit to Romania.
"2023 set new records of bilateral trade, reaching $3.07 billion
(a two-fold increase compared with the pre-pandemic period), with
the most significant share going to hydrocarbon imports from
Kazakhstan, in particular oil. For the first quarter of 2024, the
overall trend remains dynamic, with Romanian imports reaching $740
million and Romanian exports rising by 115 percent to $36 million.
However, we have yet to fully tap into the potential. Consequently,
the tasks ahead of us could be resumed as follows: diversification
- more focus on manufactured products; more input from the new
technologies; development of the circular economy," she said.
Potential areas for partnership development
"Bringing our countries and regions closer in all respects
remains the strategic guiding line of our relationship. There is
impressive potential within the Romanian-Kazakhstani cooperation
waiting to be developed by joint efforts, particularly in trade,
investments, energy, and connectivity. As far as trade and
investments are concerned, we need to move up to a new level and
reach the mutually agreed diversification goals, particularly in
fields as chemical, pharmaceutical, plastics industries,
electronics and electrotechnics industries, electric machinery and
materials, agriculture, agricultural machinery and food industry,
rolling stock and freight infrastructure, and critical raw
materials," the state secretary concluded.
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