KAZAKHSTAN & OSCE
Message from President Nursultan Nazarbayev on the occasion of Kazakhstan's assuming the Chairmanship of the OSCE
Watch NowTO READ KAZAKHSTAN’S PROGRAMME FOR ITS CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE OSCE CLICK HEREAccess OSCE CiO Kanat Sadaubayev's bio. Click HereFILM : RELIGION IN KAZAKHSTAN
An overview of the 130 plus religious groups co-existing peacefully in Kazakhstan. The film includes interviews with Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders.
WATCH NOWRead an open letter signed by Kazakh religious leaders pertianing to tolerance by clicking here.FILM : Contemporary Art in KazakhstanA profile of the dynamic visual arts scene in the Central Asian republic – including interviews with prominent painters, sculptors, curators and art historians.
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To read article by Nursultan Nazarbayev 'Global World and Nuclear Security' click hereTo access a gallery of photographs relating to Nuclear Security Summit in Washington – click here.FILM: THIS IS ASTANAAstana. The capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the world's most ambitious urban development projects.
WATCH NOWYou would like to experience Kazakhstan? Visit the recently-launched tourism portal Visit Kazakshtan by clicking hereKAZAKHASTAN: A MOSAIC OF PEOPLES & FAITHSPlease click here to follow kazakhstanlive.com on Twitter |
ECONOMIC RESULTS FOR FIRST HALF OF 2010 29/07/2010GDP growth in Kazakhstan in the first half of 2010 reached 8% announced Zhanar Aitzhanova, Minister of Economic Development & Trade, at a government sitting today. According to the Minister, unemployment decreased by 0.9% against the same period last year - reaching 5.8%. The success can be attributed to the government’s programmes, said Minister Aitzhanova. Inflation for the period hit 4.4%, mainly driven by food inflation of 5.6%.
Read More... OIL SHIPMENTS TO INCREASE 29/07/2010Kazakhstan plans to increase tanker-assisted oil shipments [through growing volume of oil coming from Kashagan and Tengiz] from the current 7 to 11 million tons by 2014, and to increase the national share of cargo traffic across the Caspian Sea up to 50% of the total cargo traffic by 2013, announced Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister, Abelgazy Kussainov today.
The Government has repeatedly prioritized diversifying its oil export routes, given that Kashagan is to come on stream in 2013 with an initial production of 7.5 million tons-per-year and its further gradual growth to 56 million tons-per-year. Tengiz is expected to bring its production volumes to 36-42 million tons by 2016. “Tankers can be bought by KazMorTransFlot and all other interested parties… As of today we [Kazakhstan] hold a 30% share of the entire cargo traffic in the Caspian Sea. By 2013 we plan to increase the figure up to 50%, with oil and grain being the major cargoes”, said Minister Kussainov. NUCLEAR PLANT FOR AKTAU 29/07/2010Kazakhstan and Russia are establishing a joint venture to construct a nuclear power plant in Aktau, in the Mangystau oblast (region) of West Kazakhstan. Director of the Atomic Energy & Industry Department, Mazhit Sharipov, announced the plan at an extended meeting of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry & High Technologies’ Board on Friday, July 23rd: “Kazakhstan and Russia have already created a joint venture for designing a nuclear power plant, and a feasibility study has been developed,” said Mr Sharipov.
Read More... KAZAKHSTAN AT KABUL CONFERENCE 21/07/2010At the International Conference on Afghanistan in Kabul July 20th, representatives from more than 70 countries – including Kazakhstan - discussed the Afghan government-led plan for improved development, governance and stability. The Conference marked the culmination of months of intensive study and rigorous policy debate on government priorities implemented through national programmes, to deliver on the key goals of economic growth and job creation in Afghanistan.
Building on commitments made at the recent international London Conference (January 2010), the Kabul Conference wholeheartedly supported a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Speeches at the Conference were made by Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State and current OSCE Chariman-in-Office, Kanat Saudabayev.
Read More... VOTE FOR OSCE SUMMIT IN ASTANA - AND FURTHER ASSISTANCE FOR KYRGYZSTAN 21/07/2010The OSCE Foreign Ministers meeting in Almaty on Friday and Saturday last week reached consensus on holding an OSCE Summit in Astana this year and reinforced OSCE assistance to Kyrgyzstan, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev. "We decided that before the end of this year we shall hold a meeting of heads of state and government in Astana," said Mr Saudabayev at a news conference concluding the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers (formal decisions by the OSCE Permanent Council – to be taken on Thursday, 22nd of July in Vienna - will confirm the foreign ministers' agreement).
Read More... KAZAKHSTAN TO COMPLETE TALKS ON WTO ACCESSION 21/07/2010Kazakhstan plans to complete bilateral talks on accession into the World Trade Organization by the end of this year, said Zhanar Aitzhanova, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Economic Development & Trade, yesterday (July 20th).
Read More... KAZAKSHTAN- INVESTMENT HEAVEN 13/07/2010Kazakhstan remains one of the most attractive countries for investors despite the financial crisis. In 2007-2009 annual inflow of direct foreign investments stood at between USD 18.4 - 19.7 billion. The news was announced by Daniyar Akishev, Vice Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, during tan on-line conference at forum.profinance.kz. “Ratio of the gross FDI inflow to the GDP in 2009 reached 16.9% as compared to 14.8% in 2008. In the Q1 2010 gross FDI reached USD 5.2 billion – up 52% year on year”. Answering other questions posted, Mr Akishev said that USD 19 billion has been used for the anti-crisis programme. The money went to support owners of pre-financed apartment blocks under construction [suspended due to lack of bank loans available for construction companies], S&MBs, the country’s financial sector in general, innovative, industrial and infrastructure projects. “AS part of the broad campaign to secure stability of the financial sector, the four largest banks of Kazakhstan have been recapitalized: the state allocated a total of KZT 476 billion (USD 1 = KZT 147) to that end. The state is to sell its stakes in the four banks in line with market principles”.
NATIONAL FUND’S ASSETS INCREASE 12/07/2010As of the first half of 2010, the assets of Kazakhstan’s National Fund account for US$ 26.5 billion, having increased by 0.4 % in June and by 8.92% since the beginning of the year, the National Bank announced on July 7. The Bank’s gold and foreign currency reserves have grown by 15.21% year-on-year to date, and amounted to US$ 26.6 billion. At the same time, the bank’s hard currency assets accounted for US$ 23.9 billion in June, whereas gold assets equalled US$ 2.7 billion. KAZATOMPROM IN DEAL WITH ROSATOM 06/07/2010KazAtomProm is considering buying a stake in the Urals Integrated Electrochemical Plant (the world’s biggest nuclear plant of enrichment uranium isotopes) from Russia’s Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation. The deal would give Rosatom access to uranium resources in exchange for use of the facility.
Read More...III ASTANA ECONOMIC FORUM: KAZAKHSTAN'S PRESIDENT OUTLINES 7 PRIORITY VECTORS FOR INTEGRATION WITHIN EURASIA 01/07/2010The III Astana Economic Forum opened today in the capital of Kazakhstan. During his opening speech, President Nazarbayev announced the 7 priority vectors along which the Eurasian integration should develop.
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CONTADOR WINS FOR TEAM ASTANA Astana cycling team’s rider Alberto Contador won the 2010 Tour de France on Sunday, 25th July after the 20th and final stage of cycling’s premier event. The Tour’s winner in 2007 and 2009, Contador finished in the overall with an advantage of 39 seconds over his main rival Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, with Denis Menshov of Russia earning third place.
IMF URGES A FULLY COMPREHENSIVE BANKING STRATEGYThe International Monetary Fund's executive board has said that it is essential for Kazakhstan to implement a comprehensive and transparent banking strategy "aimed at reducing nonperforming loans... "This should be accompanied by a full assessment of recapitalization needs, and by improvements in the regulatory and supervisory frameworks to address key underlying vulnerabilities, notably excessive reliance on foreign funding, weak governance, and risky lending practices," the IMF said in a statement. The IMF board released Tuesday results from a review of Kazakhstan's economy that was concluded on July 12. According to the IMF, the near-term outlook on growth has improved, boosted by trade. The board noted that Kazakhstan inflation is expected to remain under control. On Kazakhstan's exchange rate, IMF officials concluded it is "broadly aligned with long-run equilibrium."
Uranium production UPKazakhstan plans to produce 18,000 tons of uranium this year, announced Mazhit Sharipov, Head of Nuclear Energy Department, at an extended sitting of the country’s Ministry of Industry & New Technology. According to Mr Sharipov, the nuclear industry should account for a quarter of the Kazakhstan’s energy sector: “If we count all the country’s resources as oil equivalent, then uranium accounts for 46% of the total resources. We plan to construct a nuclear power station and bring the share of uranium industry in the energy sector up to 20%”, he said. At the same Ministry’s sitting, the Head of Electric Power & Coal Industry Department, Zhakyp Bokenbayev, said that Kazakhstan plans to invest a total of USD 4 billion into the coal industry by 2010. The goal is to produce 145 million tons of coal by that year.
ASTANA’S KHAN SHATYR OPENSKhan Shatyry (‘Royal Marquee’ in Kazakh) has finally opened in Astana on the 70th birthday of Kazakhstan’s President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and on the 12th anniversary of the capital city itself.
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KMG joins NCPOC on equal terms with ShellOn June 15, 2010 the National Company “KazMunayGas” (“KMG”) signed an agreement with Shell Kazakhstan Development B.V. (“Shell”) to join NC Production Operations Company B.V. (NCPOC). In accordance with the agreement KMG will join NCPOC which is responsible for executing production operations within the framework of the North Caspian project as a partner on equal terms with Shell. This transaction is carried out by KMG Kashagan B.V. (100%-owned subsidiary of KMG). As a result of signing this agreement, KMG and Shell have become official partners in managing production operations which allows the partners to join their efforts for timely implementation of the project.
INVESTORS ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL INCENTIVESIn an interview, Timur Nurashev, Vice Chairman of the KAZNEX INVEST [Corporation for Export Development & Promotion of Investments] says that “Kazakhstan used to grant unprecedented support only to foreign entities willing to invest into the Kazakh economy USD 1 billion and over, but now this amount can be ten-fold lower. Apart from the amount of investments” he said “there should be some other criteria. USD 1 billion is a normal amount for the O&G sector, but in processing industries, where investors are reluctant to invest heavily, the amount [for application of tax incentives] can be USD 100 or 200 million”. The unprecedented new support measures include allocation of land plots, tax exemptions, and special regimes for hiring foreign labor force. “Some criteria will include efficiency, technology transfer, scale of projects, their contribution to the Kazakh society”. KAZAKHSTAN/WORLD BANK COLLABORATE On July 8, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a US$ 29.2 million loan for the technical and vocational education modernization project for Kazakhstan. The project’s goal is to support improved workforce productivity in key sectors and enhanced skills development capacity in order to meet the demands of key industries and needs of small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN GRAIN EXPORTSIn the 2009-2010 marketing year, Kazakhstan supplied a total of 8.3 million tons of grain and flour to international markets, which is a 36% increase on the previous marketing year. According to Arman Evniyev, Vice Minister of Agriculture: ”Given the global trends, 8.3 million tons is a good indicator. But the figure is not final as grain elevators in Northern Kazakhstan are still filled with last year’s harvest”, he said. Grain and leguminous plants harvest in Kazakhstan in 2009 reached 20.8 million tons (net weight) - 81.9% being wheat.
A NEW UNIVERSITY INAUGURATED IN ASTANAPresident Nazarbayev inaugurated a new university in Astana, located on the left bank of the Ishim River and occupying a territory of 80 hectares. “We are launching a unique university. We will be doing our best to attract best professors from all over the world to teach our students. Ambitious young people are to compete for the opportunity to be educated here”, the President said. Up to now the University has signed 11 agreements on cooperation with universities counted among the top 30 of the world. 500 scholarships have been allocated this year to cover tuition fees of the to-be students of the university this year.
WORKS LAUNCHED FOR BALKHASH THERMOELECTRIC POWER STATIONConstruction works have been launched in Karaganda oblast in Kazakhstan to construct the Balkhash thermoelectric power station. The first two power generating units are to be put in operation in 2013, with the other two commissioned in 2016. The power station will be capable of generating 2 640 megawatt. Its location is conditioned by the proximity of the Ekibastuz coal mines. The project is critical to secure stable power supplies to the southern parts of the country. Construction costs are estimated at USD 4.5 billion. Kazakhstan’s oil Minister Mr Sauat Mynbayev said that the estimated price for electric power generated at the Balkhash power station would make 8.5 cents per kilowatt.
ASTANA GETS ROOFED!An ambitious new construction plan for a roofed city in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana has been unveiled.
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