Deputy Chief of US Mission in Kazakhstan Michael Klecheski on a fam trip in Ust-Kamenogorsk

M. Klecheski held an official meeting with the region's first deputy governor, Yermek Kusherbayev, after which he met with journalists. He told them that Ust-Kamenogorsk was the third city in Kazakhstan he had visited after Astana and Almaty.

At the official meeting, the parties noted with satisfaction the development of good relations between the two countries, swapped information on prospects for advancing cooperation in various fields.

Americans are known to have been investing in the region's energy, healthcare, culture and education. However, opportunities to expand partnerships are huge. In particular, Y.Kusherbaev said, not only the mining and smelting industry is well-developed in the region, but also the manufacturing, engineering, transport areas, etc. All of them are transparent and open to foreign investors and the format of possible public-private partnership amplifies these prospects.

A recent decision to start large surveying and exploration works in East Kazakhstan opens another bright side to prospective investors, since the Kazakh government has allocated 1, 7 billion tenge to this end and after this sum's disbursement it will be possible to develop new deposits.

Yermek Kusherbayev also focused on possible cooperation in the development of transport infrastructure in the region, which is another attractive area for investors, since East Kazakhstan has the most extensive road network in Kazakhstan - 11 800 km.

M.Klecheski, on his part, called East Kazakhstan's investment opportunities inspiring and expressed a desire to further explore opportunities for cooperation.