Germany and Kazakhstan agreed to investment deals and contracts amounting to 2.2 billion euros (2.8 billion dollars), as German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the central Asian country for the first time on Sunday. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev urged German firms to become even more involved in his nation during a meeting with Merkel. "That such documents, amounting to 2 billion euros, were signed is a good starting point," dpa the Chancellor as saying. She noted that German companies are interested in exploring the domains of energy efficiency, telecommunications, construction, manufacturing and agriculture. But "the most important precondition for a bigger involvement in Kazakhstan are reliable general conditions and a solid basis for mutual trust," she said. Kazakhstan still owes some 300 million euros to Germany, according to official German figures. "Some Kazakh banks also had difficulties. German creditors and the German state thus had to suffer financial burdens," Merkel said. The reconstruction of those banks affected by the financial crisis is now necessary, and thereby also "the support of the Kazakh state," she added. Germany could then once again issue the export credit guarantees that are important for the development of reciprocal trade. "We want to look into the future and leave the past behind us," Merkel said. Her visit to Kazakhstan wrapped up a five-day international trip that also included stops in Russia and China. Nazarbayev called Merkel's visit "historic," noting that Germany is a key ally for Kazakhstan in Europe. Merkel in turn lauded Kazakhstan for being Germany's most important economic partner in central Europe.
