Kazakhstan and Thailand Sign Visa Exemption Agreement and Tourism Cooperation MoU

On April 23, 2024, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu held talks in Bangkok with his Thai counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara. During the meeting, the two sides signed an agreement on the exemption from visa requirements for national passport holders of both countries, allowing them to enter, exit, transit, and stay for up to 30 days without a visa.

The foreign ministers also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Tourism, aimed at facilitating more travel and people-to-people exchanges between Kazakhstan and Thailand. The visa waiver agreement will come into force after both countries complete their internal state procedures.

During the negotiations, Nurtleu and Bahiddha-Nukara discussed the current state and prospects for the development of relations in the political, economic, investment, and cultural spheres. They noted the significant potential for cooperation in the field of agriculture and food security, emphasized the need to intensify contacts between business circles, and explored the most favorable conditions for transporting goods and developing cooperation in the field of tourism.

Why this matters: The visa exemption agreement and tourism cooperation MoU between Kazakhstan and Thailand are expected to strengthen economic, political, academic, and cultural ties between the two nations. As Thailand's largest trading partner in Central Asia, Kazakhstan has seen bilateral trade reach $172 million in 2023, a 26% increase from the previous year, and the tourism sector has experienced significant growth, with over 170,000 Kazakh tourists visiting Thailand in 2023, nearly tripling the number from the previous year.

Nurtleu also held talks with leaders of large Thai companies interested in developing investment cooperation, trade, and economic ties. The discussions covered diversifying transport links, including opening direct flights between the capitals and other large cities of the two countries, as well as cooperation in the food industry. A Thai food manufacturer is considering Kazakhstan as a regional logistics hub, while a Thai seafood company expressed interest in investing in a trade and distribution center in Kazakhstan.

The Deputy Prime Ministers of Thailand and Kazakhstan welcomed the growth in tourism, with over 170,000 Kazakh tourists visiting Thailand in 2023, a 190% increase from the previous year. Both sides expressed readiness to work together in multilateral frameworks to further strengthen Thailand-Kazakhstan relations. "The visa-free regime will come into force after the completion of internal state procedures in both countries," stated the Kazakh Foreign Ministry in a press release following the signing ceremony.

Key Takeaways

• Kazakhstan, Thailand sign 30-day visa-free travel agreement.
• MoU signed to facilitate tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
• Bilateral trade reached $172M in 2023, a 26% increase.
• Over 170,000 Kazakh tourists visited Thailand in 2023, up 190%.
• Discussions on diversifying transport links and food industry cooperation.