Over 280 Italian companies attend CDP's webinar for the launch of the Business Matching platform in the Kazakh market

On July 16, 2025, the digital event “Italy Meets Kazakhstan” was streamed live, organized by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Italy’s national promotional institution and development bank, to present the launch of its Business Matching platform in Kazakhstan. This free digital tool is designed to facilitate connections between Italian and international companies.

The event drew participation from over 280 companies, a clear sign of growing interest in Central Asia, a region becoming increasingly strategic for the internationalization of Italy’s industrial system.

ACIK played a central role at the event, reaffirming its commitment to promoting structured economic cooperation based on local value creation, reciprocity, and long-term partnerships.

A Strategic Market, a Real Opportunity

The Italian Ambassador to Astana, Antonello De Riu, described the launch of the platform not only as an operational step, but also as a concrete sign of the strengthening partnership between Italy and Kazakhstan. He noted that the initiative is a direct result of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s institutional visit, during which bilateral agreements worth over €300 million were signed.

Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Trade, Asset Nussupov, highlighted Italy’s importance as the country’s main European trading partner and expressed Kazakhstan’s intent to expand cooperation beyond the energy sector to include agriculture, tourism, metals, and sustainability.

Local Content as a Strategic Lever: ACIK’s Vision

During his speech, Marco Beretta, President of ACIK, emphasized the strategic role that the association plays in bilateral relations. Kazakhstan is not looking for simple commercial partners, he noted, but for players capable of contributing to the development of a local production base, moving beyond the traditional extractive model and focusing instead on transforming raw materials into higher-value products.

ACIK positions itself as a guide and operational partner for Italian companies, helping them enter the Kazakh market in a conscious, sustainable, and strategic way.

The association’s commitment is expressed through a constant on-the-ground presence: providing tailored consulting, facilitating relations with Kazakh authorities, supporting the creation of industrial initiatives aligned with local content principles, enhancing logistical connectivity (as seen in the recent launch of the first direct air link between Italy and Kazakhstan), and organizing economic forums that foster real dialogue between businesses and investors.

ACIK’s work goes far beyond commercial promotion — it is a daily commitment to building the foundations for Italy’s industrial presence in Central Asia, through relationships based on trust and a shared vision of mutually beneficial economic development.

Concrete Opportunities in a Favorable Context

The second segment of the event featured institutional and technical presentations outlining existing opportunities. Martino Castellani, Head of ICE, highlighted that Kazakhstan is currently the wealthiest country in Central Asia, with a GDP exceeding $300 billion. However, it no longer wants to rely solely on its natural resource wealth. The Kazakh government is investing heavily in economic diversification, targeting logistics, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy.

Livio Mazzuoccolo, General Director of Confindustria Central Asia and Caucasus, explained how the current geopolitical landscape has transformed Kazakhstan into a key commercial and manufacturing hub, with trade routes being redrawn and increasing pressure for local tax reforms, including a recently approved VAT increase.

The Business Matching Platform: A Tool for Companies

In the third session, CDP showcased the full functionality of its Business Matching platform, a digital accelerator for internationalization. Offered free of charge to Italian and Kazakh businesses, the platform provides an efficient system for meetings, dialogue, and the initiation of commercial negotiations.

Active since 2021 and already operating in around 20 countries, the platform allows companies to schedule B2B meetings, join thematic events, receive automatic match suggestions, and interact in multiple languages with interpreter support if needed.

It’s a modern, accessible digital infrastructure, designed to help even small and medium enterprises take their first step into a new but promising market.

Financial and Institutional Tools to Support Development

The fourth session brought in voices from key financial institutions active in the region. Botagoz Abisheva from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan shared financing strategies, especially for infrastructure projects.

Giulio Giangaspero (CDP) reaffirmed that Central Asia is a top priority for Italian development cooperation, with CDP supporting projects through direct capital investment, innovative financial instruments, and institutional coordination.

Francesca Alicata from SIMEST outlined internationalization support tools available to Italian companies, while Alice Piazza, speaking from Istanbul, highlighted SACE’s role in offering guarantees and strategic support for more structured projects.

Success Stories: Italy Already a Key Player in Kazakhstan

The event concluded with two business testimonials confirming that economic ties between Italy and Kazakhstan are already strong.

Davide Massone from RENCO spoke about the company’s civil, residential, and industrial engineering projects in the Atyrau region, emphasizing social and environmental impact and the training of local talent.

Anastasia Poliychuk from ARBA WINE presented a virtuous model of wine industry cooperation, where Italian know-how has shaped every step of the production process: from grape selection to machinery and even the label design, printed by Italian manufacturers. It’s a clear example of how Italian quality can drive the growth of high-value local supply chains.

ACIK: Your Partner for Building the Future

The success of “Italy Meets Kazakhstan” clearly showed that Italian companies’ interest in Kazakhstan is real, well-founded, and bound to grow. In this context, ACIK will continue to play a guiding role — acting as an operational bridge between two complementary economies, and promoting a model of cooperation focused on shared growth, local talent development, and the creation of a stable and lasting Italian industrial presence in Central Asia.