US, Kazakhstan sign protocol on completion of WTO talks
TANA. September 23. KAZINFORM Kazakh delegation headed by Minister for Economic Integration of Kazakhstan Zhanar Aitzhanova visited Washington as part of the negotiations on Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO on September 15-21; Kazinform has learnt from the Kazakh Embassy's press service.
The main result of the visit was signing of the protocol on the completion of the bilateral negotiations between the United States and Kazakhstan on Astana's accession to the World Trade Organization. The document was signed on behalf of the Kazakh side by Zhanar Aitzhanova and on behalf of the American side by US Deputy Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis.
The signing of the protocol was preceded by technical consultations on the issue of access of US service providers to the Kazakh market. Of particular interest were the issues of supply of services for companies engaged in the production of oil and natural gas, telecommunications, construction, cross-border and financial services.
On the negotiations results the parties agreed on terms aimed at improving the investment climate in the above sectors of the economy of Kazakhstan. These agreements will allow the Kazakh government to pursue the policy in line with the country's national economic interests, particularly in favor of Kazakhstan's service providers and for improvement of employment in the country as a whole.
During Z. Aitzhanova's meetings with Special Assistant to the US President Michael McFaul and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, "the US side reiterated its substantial interest for the early accession of Kazakhstan to the WTO and promised to provide assistance in the multilateral negotiations in Geneva."
The U.S. is a key investor in Kazakhstan; the inflow of foreign direct investment into the country during the period 1993-2011 totaled about USD 40 billion.