WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan to make a transition to 'green economy'

On Monday, September 17, Assylzhan Mamytbekov, Agriculture Minister of Kazakhstan, announced the Government of the country would aid farmers affected by dreadful drought and provide KZT 1.8 billion to that effect. The Ministry of Finance is to sign the draft decree of the Government developed to help the farmers. Minister Mamytbekov also added that state veterinary service was to be restored across Kazakhstan.

The session of the Kazakh-Polish Intergovernmental Commission took place on Monday as well. The sides noted positive dynamics in the development of bilateral relations. Upon results of the session the Program of Cooperation for 2012-2013 between DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund JSC (Kazakhstan) and the Agency for Development of Entrepreneurship (Poland) was signed.

On Monday Justice Ministry of Kazakhstan published the list of Kazakhstani citizens who are temporary not allowed to leave the boundaries of the country. Those are mainly unscrupulous debtors.

Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Industry and New Technologies held a joint session on September 18 chaired by ministers Yerzhan Kazykhanov and Asset Issekeshev. The session was conducted in order to enhance the effectiveness of work directed to the attraction of direct foreign investments. Kazakh Foreign Minister Y. Kazykhanov stressed there were three packages of expansionary measures to attract foreign investments: raising public awareness about Kazakhstan as a country attractive for business and investments; privileges and preferences for investors; exclusive conditions for foreign companies created through fiscal, financial and non-financial mechanisms. Specific mechanisms to attract direct foreign investments from 20 Kazakhstan's priority economic partners have been developed. Minister Kazykhanov suggested instituting a post of the special representative for commercial and economic affairs at the Foreign Ministry of the country based on the U.S. and Russia's experience for that purpose.

Environmental Protection Minister Nurlan Kapparov told the seminar on implementation of the principles of 'green economy' and provision of sustainable development of Kazakhstan on Tuesday in Astana the development of a strategy on transition to 'green economy' was underway. The strategy is being developed on the instruction of the Head of State Nursultan Nazarbayev and will affect almost all sectors of economy. The developers of the strategy will draw upon the positive experience of such countries as Germany and South Korea.

On Tuesday Kazakh Healthcare Minister Salidat Kairbekova surveyed the progress of realization of 100 schools, 100 hospitals program in Pavlodar region, visited healthcare facilities, held talks with the region's medical community.

O Wed, September 19, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry held an international presentation of the Report on Human Rights in Kazakhstan in 2011 by the Human Rights Commission under the Kazakh President.

Following the results of the Kazakh-Russian Interregional Cooperation Forum held in Pavlodar and the visit of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to Kazakhstan the countries signed six joint documents, inclduing the protocol on amendments to the agreement between the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia on trade and economic cooperation in the area of oil and oil products deliveries.

On Thursday, Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov  said, that in 2013 the draft republican budget plans social spending up to KZT 1 trillion 360 bln.

Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, met with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya Thuita Mwangi September 20 in Astana.

According to the Kazakh MFA's press service, Y. Kazykhanov and T. Mwangi exchanged views on the current state and perspectives of the bilateral commercial and economic as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

The sides noted high potential for interaction in the field of tourism and discussed the opportunity of holding business forums in order to develop the commercial and economic ties. The meeting also focused on training of citizens of Kenya at Kazakhstani universities.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister suggested establishing the information exchange between the foreign ministries of the two countries that will allow to support various joint initiatives in future.

During the meeting Executive Secretary of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Rapil Zhoshybayev and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya Thuita Mwangi signed the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the foreign ministries of Kazakhstan and Kenya.

The first visit to Astana of the Kenyan official delegation is to give an impetus to the bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan.

The sales turnover between Kazakhstan and Kenya made USD 48.5 million in 2011.

On Friday, Defence Minister of Kazakhstan Adilbek Dzhaksybekov chaired an enlarged sitting on the results of the mobilization military exercises and tasks for the autumn calling for military service.