RIYAD (Arab News) – There will be direct air services between the Kingdom and Kazakhstan “very soon.” This was announced at the Kazakh-Saudi Arabian business forum held in Astana, capital of the Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan, sources at Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) said.

The two countries are planning to launch direct flights for air connectivity and better cooperation between them, CSC President Abdulrahman Al-Zamil said while addressing the joint business forum in Astana recently.

“We hope that we will find a solution to the problem of the air route network expansion”, Al-Zamil said. “In particular, we plan to facilitate work in this area so that there will be direct flights between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, which will ease our relations further and help implement our joint projects”, added Al-Zamil, who is also the chairman of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah was in Astana recently leading the Saudi delegation to the joint business forum, which was also attended by a number of Saudi businessmen accompanying the minister.

Speaking at the forum, Al-Rabiah said: “Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan have special relations based on friendship, respect and Islamic legacy. We know Kazakhstan as the largest country in Central Asia and a state with developed economy. We should further expand our cooperation in trade and investments.”