WEEKLY REVIEW: Chemical industry flourishes in Kazakhstan

On Monday, June 3, Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov held a meeting with Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, at Ukimet Uyi.

During the meeting the sides discussed a wide range of topical issues of the Kazakh-European cooperation and exchanged views on regional and international agenda.The head of the European Commission called for further deepening of relations across the spectrum of relationships.

One of the key issues of the meeting was a new agreement on extended partnership and cooperation. The parties agreed to give impetus to the preparation of this document. According to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, the agreement will bring the relationship between Kazakhstan and the EU to a new level.

Akhmetov and Barroso also discussed the prospects of Kazakhstan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). "The Government of Kazakhstan is grateful for your support in negotiations on the WTO accession. We hope that Kazakhstan, having passed a difficult way, will soon join the organization," Akhmetov emphasized.

For his part, Barroso said that "the European Union, the European Commission will continue to support Kazakhstan's efforts to join the WTO."

The same day, speaking at the Kazakh-Latvian Business Forum, Serik Akhmetov announced that trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Latvia could be increased twice at least. Currently it amounts to USD 350 million.

Besides, Latvian President Andris Berzins and Prime Minister exchanged views on further development of bilateral Kazakh-Latvian relations, including in the trade and economic spheres.

"Latvia is for us an important partner in the Baltic region, and we are ready to expand and deepen our trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian ties, and we have all necessary conditions for it," Akhmetov said.

According to the Prime Minister, the promising areas of cooperation are transit-transport, industrial and commercial sectors, processing industry, as well as innovation and technological cooperation.

On June 4, issues of the chemical industry development were discussed at the session of the Government. Vice Prime Minister-Minister of Industry and New technologies Asset Issekeshev informed, KazPhosphate LLC will start production of four new products till 2020. According to him, Kazakhstan's chemical industry could organize production of 36 materials.

In addition, human resourcing of the newly established production was considered at the meeting. New organizations should establish training centers autonomously.

Besides, on Tuesday, co-chairmen of the Kazakh-Belarusian intergovernmental commission on trade economic cooperation - Minister of Emergencies Vladimir Bozhko and Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Rusyi held a meeting to discuss relevant issues of the Road Map Project's preparation and creation of the Industrial and Technological Park of agricultural and municipal vehicles in the Akmola region.

On Wednesday, June 5, Minister of Environmental Protection Nurlan Kapparov informed, some heat power plants will make a trasition from coal to gas. According to him, gas reserves amount to 3.8 trillion cubic meters and the Ministry regards them as the transit channel. It will allow to prepare a base for scaled development of renewable energy sources and to launch new gas chemical sector.

On June 6, speaking at the 64^thsession of the CIS Defense Ministers' Council Minister of Defense Adilbek Dzhaksybekov announced that joint air defense system is one of the most effective form of interaction of the CIS air forces.

'A joint exercise of the united air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States will take place in August-October 2013. The exercise is titled as Combat Commonwealth 2013. The exercise will involve live fire by troops of the united CIS air defense system. The exercise will take place at permanent stations of the troops, at the firing range Ashuluk in Russia and at firing ranges in Kazakhstan," Dzhaksybekov added.

According to the Defense Minister, such cooperation will strengthen the military interaction of the CIS armies. As for the Kazakh Army, the united air defense system will improve defense capacity of Kazakhstan and will create the basis for cooperation with our colleagues," the Minister stressed.

Head of the Kazakh Government Serik Akhmetov met with members of "Pro Team Astana" Cycling Team Vincenzo Nibali, Paolo Tiralongo, Maxim Iglinsky, and general manager Alexander Vinokourov on June 7.

Akhmetov congratulated the team on the victory in the Giro d'Italia 2013 and wished further success in achieving high results.

"The participation of the cycling team "Astana" in the world's grand tours is important for us, we are closely following the progress of our team and are ready to continue to give it full support," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Alexander Vinokourov thanked the Prime Minister for his support and noted that "the victory of the cycling team "Astana" has confirmed its status as one of the strongest in the world."