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KAZAKHSTAN & OSCE
Message from President Nursultan Nazarbayev on the occasion of Kazakhstan's assuming the Chairmanship of the OSCE
Watch NowTO READ PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV’S STATEMENT FOLLOWING OSCE SUMMIT CONFIRMATION
CLICK HERETO READ KAZAKHSTAN’S PROGRAMME FOR ITS CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE OSCE CLICK HEREAccess OSCE CiO Kanat Sadaubayev's bio. Click HereTo 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.Read an open letter signed by Kazakh religious leaders pertianing to tolerance by clicking here.FILM : 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 NOWFILM : 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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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 |
VII FORUM OF KAZAKHSTAN-RUSSIA INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION OPENS 06/09/2010The VII Forum of Kazakhstan-Russia Inter-Regional Cooperation – subtitled ‘Sustainable development and high technologies’ - with participation of Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev and Dmitry Medvedev opens today in Ust-Kamenogorsk, capital of the East Kazakhstan Province.Twelve Russian regions border on to seven Kazakh regions, making interregional ties vital - as they account for 70% of bilateral trade. About 30 agreements on mutual cooperation are planned to be signed.
Medvedev will hold talks with his Kazakh counterpart, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to discuss their customs union with Belarus, other trade and economic issues, and nuclear cooperation.
The Customs Union between Russian, Belarus and Kazakhstan became fully operational in early July, when the three countries ratified the Customs Code. The countries plan to scrap their customs borders on July 1st, 2011.
The talks between the two leaders will also touch upon space industry, as well as interaction in regional organizations such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Russia hopes to sign an agreement with Kazakhstan on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan by the end of the year.
GDP FIGURES FOR 2010 ANNOUNCED 02/09/2010Kazakhstan’s Minister of Development & Trade, Ms Zhanar Aitzhanova announced yesterday that real GDP growth for 2010 should amount to 3.1%, followed by 3.3% in 2011 and 3.5% in 2012. “During the period 2013-2015, the figure will be flat at 4.1%” said Ms Aitzhanova. The Minister added that these forecasts are based on estimated oil prices of USD 65 per barrel.
Ms Aitzhanova also announced several other positive forecasts: industrial production output should grow by 3.6% in 2011 and by 3.9% per annum in 2012-2013; gross agricultural output annual growth in 2011-2015 is estimated at 4.3%; trade is to grow by 4% in 2011, 4.1% in 2012 and 4.4% in 2013 - reaching 5.4% in 2015.
Read more... APPEAL LAUNCHED FROM ASTANA TO WORLD COMMUNITY FOR PRACTICAL ACTIONS ON NON-PROLIFERATION 27/08/2010At the occasion of the International Conference ‘Semipalatinsk: From Rehabilitation to Development’ that took place today in Astana, the participants called the international community to celebrate the International Day against Nuclear Tests on August 29th with practical actions to achieve a complete ban on nuclear weapon tests. Participants included representatives of international organisations such as the United Nations and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), intellectuals and scientists as well as top diplomats and Kazakh government officials.
All participants noted the importance of the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 1996 but it has not yet entered into force.
Read more... KAZAKHSTAN ON ROAD TO RECOVERY, SAYS IMF 19/08/2010Kazakhstan is recovering from economic crisis, but stagnant credit growth and banking sector troubles continue to weigh on economic activity, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In its annual health check of the oil-rich Central Asian economy, the IMF forecasts that the economy will grow by 4 percent in 2010, mainly driven by higher exports, increasing commodity prices, and foreign direct investment.
Read more... KAZAKHSTAN’S GDP GROWS BY 8% IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2010 13/08/2010The GDP of the Kazakh economy reached $59.4 billion from January to June 2010, according to the Kazakh Agency for Statistics. This represents an 8% increase, compared to the same period in 2009.
Read more... KAZAKHSTAN: FDI GROWS BY 3% IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2010 13/08/2010From January to June 2010, net FDI into the Kazakh economy made up $5.109 billion, announced Chairman of the National Bank Grigory Marchenko at a press-conference in Almaty yesterday. This is a 3% increase as compared to the same period in 2009 ($4.974 billion).
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URANIUM PRODUCTION STILL INCREASING 13/08/2010Uranium production volume in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the first six months of 2010 amounted to 8452tU, i.e. 42% more than in the corresponding period of 2009, according to the Kazakh national nuclear company, Kazatomprom.
According to the company, uranium production in the second half of 2010 is expected to reach 9770tU. This will put the total production in 2010 at 18,200tU, which represents a 30% increase on 2009 production (13,900tU).
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DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL NUCLEAR CENTRE MET WITH NGOs 13/08/2010Dr. Kairat Kadyrzhanov, Director General of the National Nuclear Centre (NNC) of Kazakhstan, invited representatives of mass media and non-governmental associations of Semey (formerly known as Semipalatinsk) to a meeting to discuss concerns they might have for the effects of nuclear infrastructure on the region’s environment. The meeting was a continuation of the traditional annual meetings.
Members of NGOs and media were able to meet directly the Director of the NNC, Mr. Kairat Kadyrzhanov, and the Director of the NNC’s Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology, Mr. Sergey Lukashenko. They discussed issues related to the rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the possible future use of parts of this area as well as the long-term medical monitoring of local populations.
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OSCE SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ASTANA IN DECEMBER 2010 06/08/2010The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has today announced that the OSCE Summit will be held later this year in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on December 1st & 2nd. This decision was unanimously adopted by the Organisation’s Foreign Ministers Council on August 3.
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Latest: Kazakhstan : a global leader in nuclear responsibilityKAZAKHSTAN COMMITTED TO HOSTING NUCLEAR FUEL BANKIn view of growing demand for nuclear energy and inherent risks associated with the expansion of nuclear technologies, Kazakhstan has repeatedly expressed willingness to host an international nuclear fuel bank on its territory to provide fissile material for peaceful energy use in nations that demonstrate responsibility in their peaceful nuclear programmes but for whatever political reasons are unable to procure uranium on international markets.
Having a stable political environment and a highly developed uranium industry, Kazakhstan is a worthy candidate for the host nation of such a facility. Its voluntary renunciation of the fourth largest nuclear and missile arsenal indicates that the country has no militaristic intentions.
The Vienna-based IAEA would have control of any such bank and would own the nuclear materials stored there. MORE NEWS
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT IN ASTANAThe 6th Ministerial Conference on Environment & Development in Asia and the Pacific (MCED-6) will be hosted by the government of Kazakhstan from September 27th to October 2nd 2010 in Astana.
The purpose of MCED-6 is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, while assessing the progress to date and remaining developmental gaps in the implementation of internationally agreed development goals and MCED-5 outcomes, including the Green Growth strategy.
MCED-6 also aims to define the priorities and cooperative actions that should have been implemented by relevant government and non-government partners.
Read more... TREASURES OF KAZAKHSTAN IN LONDONFrom September 1st to 8th, Christie’s will welcome in its headquarters in London a loan exhibition of Kazakh and Russian art from the Kasteev State Museum of Arts and a distinguished Kazakh private collection.
This selection of masterpieces of Kazakh and Russian art of the 20th century will enable visitors to discover artistic developments that have taken place in Kazakhstan over the last 80 years. 75 extraordinary works that have never before been exhibited outside Kazakhstan will be shown, including important works from the museum’s permanent collection, complimented by works from a private collection.
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ISLAMIC FINANCE ROADMAP TO BE ADOPTEDThe Regional Financial Center of Almaty (RFCA) has announced this week that the regulating Agency for RFCA Supervision with the support of the interested ministries and state agencies have adopted the ‘Islamic Finance Roadmap Program for 2010-2012’ to promote Islamic financial products in Kazakhstan.
The program seeks to facilitate development and implementation of Islamic financial products, coordinate respective work with Kazakhstan’s public bodies, create favorable conditions to attract Islamic investors, interact with international financial institutions, and raise public awareness of the Islamic finance system.
Read more... Kazakh gold and currency Reserves up by 4.38% in JulyKazakhstan National Bank's gold and currency reserves grew by 4.38% in July. Since the start of the year the figure has grown by 20.26% to make up USD 27,769 million.
As of the end of July, National Oil Fund’s assets totaled USD 27,009 million.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports launches website The website, in Kazakh, English and Russian, aims to promote the various tourism attractions of Kazakhstan.
The website lists the many places of interest in Kazakhstan from the capital city of Astana to the Shymbulak ski resort and the unique Baitak’s mausoleum. The various places to visit include natural beauty spots, sport resorts, historical and architectural building amongst others that already attracts many tourists to Kazakhstan.
The website also facilitates the organization of any trip to Kazakhstan by listing possible routes, travel agencies, hotels and other information relevant to those coming to the country such as car rental visa support and translator. 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.
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