India-Kazakhstan relations

Bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Kazakhstan have increased in importance in the 21st century after initially remaining passive in the 1990s. Both nations seek to develop an extensive commercial and strategic partnership in the Central Asia region.

History

India recognised the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union after the latter's dissolution in 1992.cite journal | last = Yermukanov | first = Marat | title = Kazakhstan-India relations - Partners or Distant Friends? | url = http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2368860 | work = Eurasia Daily Monitor | publisher = Jamestown Foundation | volume = 1 | issue = 128 | date = 2004-11-16 | accessdate = 2008-10-10] In recent years, India has sought to increase its commerce and strategic ties with Kazakhstan, which is the largest nation of the former Soviet republics and occupies a major expanse of territory in Central Asia with extensive oil, natural gas and mineral reserves. India has sought to expand ties after mounting concern about the growth of the economic and strategic influence of the People's Republic of China. In 2002, Nursultan Nazarbayev made an official visit to India and in the same year, the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee attended the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia in the Kazakh capital of Almaty.

Development of bilateral relations

As of 2003, Indo-Kazakh trade stands at USD 78.91 million.cite web|title=India-Kazakhstan economic and commercial relations|url=http://www.ficci.com/international/countries/Kazakhstan/kazakhstancommercialrelation.htm|publisher=Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry|accessdate=2008-10-10] To bolster commerce, both nations have established the Indo-Kazakh Joint Business Council.cite web|title=India, Kazakhstan to oil ties in IT, space|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2142347.cms|publisher=The Times of India|date=2006-10-10|accessdate=2008-10-10] Although India failed to acquire equity in the Kurmangazy oil field, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India is set to acquire a stake in the Satpayev field. The Kazakh national firm KazmunayGaz had offered the ONGC a choice between Satpayev and Makhambet fields and has asked for Indian participation in petrochemical industrial projects in the Atirau and Akhtau regions. Both nations have also sought to establish extensive cooperation and commerce in information technology, space research, banking and increasing volume of bilateral trade. India has offered Kazakhstan USD 1 billion in loans while the latter has granted major tax concessions to Indian companies. Kazakhstan has also sought to negotiate a multilateral agreement with Iran and Turkmenistan to create a transport corridor to India to ensure a reliable trade route and provide Kazakhstan commercial and shipping access to the warm water ports of India.

trategic coopeartion

India and Kazakhstan have developed close cooperation in fighting terrorism, religious extremism and promoting regional security. A joint memorandum signed in December 2002 enabled joint projects such as training military officers, developing joint military-industrial projects and establishing a partnership between the defense industries of India and Kazakhstan. India has also provided support and emerged as a partner in Kazakhstan's bid to develop a naval fleet in the Caspian Sea, despite opposition from Kazakhstan's northern neighbour, Russia. Kazakhstan earned kudos for bringing together traditional rivals Pakistan and India at the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asiain Almaty on June 4, 2002.

References