Distinguished President and Chairman of the Management Board of Bank CentreCredit, Mr. Ruslan Vladimirov;
Vice President Mr. Shegebaev N.U.;
respected representatives of BCC;
my colleague from the Embassy, Mr. Swapnil;
esteemed Kazakh partners;
and members of the Indian business community—

Dobroye utro, Salemetsiz be, Namaste.

It is a privilege to join you this morning. The theme of today’s event—“Kazakhstan–India: Opportunities for Cooperation in 2026”—captures the current moment in our bilateral relationship. Our focus is no longer on whether we should cooperate, but on how we can deepen this cooperation in ways that are meaningful, strategic, and beneficial for our peoples.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

India and Kazakhstan share a partnership anchored in trust, mutual respect, and the complementarity of our strengths. Kazakhstan, the largest economy of Central Asia, stands as a vital bridge between Europe and Asia, endowed with vast energy and mineral resources. India, one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, is recognized for its leadership in information technology, pharmaceuticals, innovation, and higher education. Together, our two nations are natural and mutually reinforcing partners.

Over the past years, despite global disruptions, our engagement has steadily expanded. Indian pharmaceutical products have a firm presence in the Kazakh market. Thousands of Indian students have made Almaty and other cities in Kazakhstan their academic homes. Tourism and medical tourism are growing, though still far from their full potential. Indian companies are actively exploring opportunities in energy, mining, logistics, IT, healthcare, education, and other promising sectors.

The question before us today is: How do we convert this promising potential into concrete, mutually beneficial projects? This is where institutions like BCC can play a transformative enabling role.

BCC is more than a financial institution; it is deeply integrated with the real economy, backed by assets, partnerships, and experience that can attract credible investors. In this context, it would be extremely useful if BCC could identify and share with the Embassy a list of strategic assets—be it land parcels, mining licenses, industrial projects, or other ventures—that are open for partnership with Indian companies. Such information will allow us to guide serious Indian investors effectively and ensure that their engagement is well-aligned with Kazakhstan’s regulations and development priorities.

From the Indian side, interest in Kazakhstan is strong and growing, particularly in mining, infrastructure, logistics, healthcare, education, and services. However, in a competitive global landscape, investors seek clarity, predictability, and transparent processes. If BCC and its subsidiaries can present a well-defined, partnership-ready pipeline of invest-able assets, it will send a very powerful signal of commitment and seriousness.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Another very welcome development is BCC’s introduction of rupee-denominated accounts and the possibility of contracts with Indian financial institution. This is not merely a technical banking facility; it will introduce financial facilitations and predictability for both individuals and businesses. This would also go a long way in facilitating enhancing tourism and medical tourism for individual as well as companies operating between our two countries, as well as for Indian service providers in Kazakhstan, Indian students in Kazakhstan which are in thousands, INR accounts can simplify payments, improve planning, and enable long-term contractual arrangements rather than ad-hoc transactions.

Health insurance for students is another area where constructive collaboration can make a tangible impact. If institutions like BCC can offer affordable, transparent, and English-language insurance options, it would significantly ease concerns for families in India who send their children here to study.

Likewise, as with any institutional client, the Embassy values reliability, transparency, and quality of service. Should BCC be in a position to provide premium banking services—such as dedicated relationship channels or co-branded cards—for Embassy personnel, we would be pleased to explore a formal partnership. Such a model could also be extended to other diplomatic missions and international institutions.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Kazakhstan is undergoing important reforms and pursuing economic diversification. India is deepening its engagement with Central Asia, with an emphasis on connectivity, trade, digital transformation, and people-to-people exchange. Our strategic goals align naturally. What we need now are credible institutions, reliable partners, and well-structured mechanisms to carry this momentum forward. BCC and its group companies are well positioned to assume this role.

The Indian business community stands ready to contribute to this shared journey. The Embassy will continue to guide and facilitate Indian investors and to help address genuine challenges within our respective legal and policy frameworks.

Let today’s dialogue not remain a discussion alone but an action oriented. Let it mark the beginning of measurable, substantive, and forward-looking partnerships. If a year from now we can point to new ventures in mining, higher education, healthcare, or technology, we will know that our discussions today have yielded meaningful results.

Ladies and Gentlemen: I extend my sincere appreciation to the leadership of BCC, to Mr. Altaev Danabek for moderating this event, and to all participants from Kazakhstan and India for your presence and engagement. May our deliberations today be candid, ambitious, and fruitful—strengthening the bridge of friendship and cooperation between our two great nations. Thank you. Khop Rakhmat.

****