EBRD keen on maintaining socially important projects of Almaty
ALMATY. June 5. KAZINFORM Akim of Almaty Akhmetzhan Yessimov met with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Thomas Mirow who had arrived in Kazakhstan to take part in the 23rd plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council under the chairmanship of the Head of the State.
As the local Akimat informs, the parties discussed the issues regarding development of the relations between Almaty and the EBRD. Earlier the parties concluded a mandate agreement on cooperation in socially oriented projects which must be implemented through state-private partnership.
At present the Akimat and the EBRD work on a joint project directed on modernization of traction substations at Almatyelectrotrans. The Bank provided USD 10 mln loan for this aim. Thus, Almaty has become the first city in the country to enjoy trust of such large international financial institutions.
In the course of the meeting the parties also focused on two more projects which are of great importance for the city - establishment of a municipal bus park and launch of a light-rail transport.
According to A. Yessimov the city is ready to cooperate with the EBRD in this direction and to develop bilateral relations.
In turn, the President of the EBRD said the Bank was interested in cooperation with Almaty regarding the project on switching of Almaty thermal power station from solid fuel to gas. The project is expected to be implemented by the municipal authorities by 2014.