GOVERNMENT: Kazakhstan deepens cooperation with OECD

Prime Minister of the country Karim Massimov chaired the session of the Cabinet earlier this week. At the session, Minister of National Economy Yerbolat Dossayev reported on the measures initiated to implement recent amendments to the legislation with a view to improve business climate in Kazakhstan. Vice Minister of National Economy Timur Zhakssylykov spoke about the republican budget at the press conference at the Central Communications Service at KazMedia Center in Astana on Tuesday. He reassured that adjustments to the budget will not affect the Nurly Zhol (Path to the Future) program and projects featured into the program. The list of projects is to be specified, according to him. Vice Minister Zhakssylykov also added that from now on Kazakhstani entrepreneurs can register their business in less than an hour. Small and medium-sized businesses will get other privileges as well. Prime Minister Karim Massimov, who is currently in Davos, met with Premier of the State Council of China Li Keqiang on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum this week. At the meeting, the sides discussed the issues of deepening Kazakh-Chinese cooperation and terms and conditions for the implementation of joint projects. In Davos, the Kazakh Premier and Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurria inked a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the OECD on the implementation of the Country Program of Cooperation for 2015-2016. The program provides for reforms and implementation of major projects in key areas of socio-economic development of Kazakhstan. The country program will give Kazakhstan an opportunity to join a number of OECD declarations and recommendations. Bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and the OECD will enhance the country's competitiveness in public administration, education, health, employment, fiscal policy, and improve its business climate. Following the signing ceremony, Karim Massimov said that "the country program is a strategically important stage of bilateral cooperation, and it confirms the aspiration of Kazakhstan to implement best practices in the OECD countries in order to achieve long-term goal of joining the world's top 30 developed countries in 2050." The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan also had meetings with heads of several major foreign companies and financial institutions. Kazakhstan's investment opportunities, including in the framework of the International specialized exhibition EXPO-2017 in Astana, were presented at the meetings.

At the meeting with Minister of Economy, Education and Research of the Swiss Confederation Johann Schneider-Ammann, the sides touched upon the upcoming entry of Kazakhstan into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In Davos, Mr. Massimov also met with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, Global Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young Mark Weinberger and CEO of JPMorgan Daniel Pinto.