President Appoints New Finance Minister
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
+22° / +6°C WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 No 18 (156) www.astanatimes.com Kazakh President meets with Turkish All conditions created for President, business leaders in Ankara increasing oil and gas extraction in Kazakhstan, says industry official represented by the KAZENERGY By Elya Altynsarina Association, which over the years has implemented several projects ASTANA – As the Kazakh capital to strengthen ties between the or- is preparing to host the World Petro- ganisation members. leum Council Oct. 1-3, The Astana The KNC has initiated a cycle of Times talked to Asset Magauov, expert seminars of the World Petro- Director General of KAZENERGY, leum Council aimed at studying ad- the Association of Oil and Gas and vanced expertise and international Energy Sector Organisations of Ka- practices of developing local content. zakhstan, about the event as well as We received strong support among the trends in the industry, the asso- the members of the organisation and ciation’s work to create a better leg- presented our results at the special islative framework and the longer sections of the World Petroleum term outlook for oil and gas produc- Congresses in Moscow and Istanbul. tion in the country. The upcoming meeting in Ka- zakhstan on Oct. 1-3 is not the first What are the goals, objectives of its kind. In 2012, we already and expected outcome of the up- hosted a WPC meeting in Astana, coming World Petroleum Council where more than 50 national com- Meeting in Astana? mittees’ representatives took part. Kazakhstan joined the World Pe- But for us, it is an honour to bring troleum Council (WPC) in 1997. back the WPC to the capital of Ka- Then we established the Kazakh- zakhstan after six years. stan National Committee (KNC) – Continued on Page A6 Supreme Mufti: care for Following a visit to the Kul- to inform me Turkey recognises Joint Programme, which supports By Elya Altynsarina liye presidential complex in An- our sovereignty,” Nazarbayev re- entrepreneurs. The programme has kara and meeting with his Turk- called. “Since that day, our rela- helped launch 23 projects totaling ASTANA – Kazakh President ish counterpart, the two leaders, tionship is only growing.” $800 million and created 3,000 jobs. peace is moral, civic duty Nursultan Nazarbayev held bilat- Kazakh and Turkish delegations Nazarbayev also praised the dis- Nazarbayev also invited Turkish eral talks with Turkish President sat for the Strategic Cooperation cussions with Erdogan. companies to invest in transporta- Recep Tayyip Erdogan, partici- Council meeting. “Astana and Ankara are open tion and logistics businesses at Ka- of every Muslim pated in the Third Meeting of the The council with the heads of to each other in discussing the zakhstan’s Aktau and Kuryk ports. High-Level Strategic Coopera- state and government ministers regional and international top- One day before Nazarbayev’s recent interview with The Astana tion Council and met with Turkish reviewed cooperation in oil and ics, our positions are similar,” he visit, a Kazakh delegation led by By Meruyert Abugaliyeva Times. business leaders during a Sept. 13 gas, military industries, transit said. He said both countries want Deputy Prime Minister Askar “Surely, Islam is a religion of official visit to Turkey. and education and agreed to de- to strengthen the political dialogue Mamin participated in the Kazakh- ASTANA – Kazakhstan is kindness and peace. There is one “Relations between Kazakhstan velop closer agricultural, tour- and friendship between the frater- Turkish Investment Forum and home to more than 130 ethnic saying by Prophet Muhammad, and Turkey are developing in the ism, science and technology co- nal peoples. signed 24 commercial agreements groups and the nation’s prosper- ‘The Muslim ummah (community) spirit of strategic partnership, an operation. Nazarbayev also met during his totaling $1.7 billion. The agree- ity is only possible when there is is like one body: if one organ com- important component of which is At a joint press briefing, both trip with Turkish business leaders ments are in the non-resource sec- peace and harmony, said Serikbay plains, the rest of the body develops trade and economic interaction,” leaders praised Kazakh-Turkish and noted that 1,800 businesses tor of Kazakhstan’s economy and kazhy Oraz, Chairperson of the a fever.’ Therefore, special attention Nazarbayev said during the visit. relations rooted in common history operating in Kazakhstan with are expected to create 3,000 jobs. Spiritual Administration of Mus- is paid to helping the people around, Turkey is among Kazakhstan’s and shared values. Turkish capital, and annual trade The agreements involve chemi- lims of Kazakhstan (SAMK) and especially those in need,” he said. top 10 trading partners and trade “Kazakhstan is one of Turkey’s volume has reached $2 billion. He cal industries in Zhambyl region, the Kazakh Supreme Mufti, in a Continued on Page B2 between the two countries grew 27 most important strategic partners,” said the sides agreed on a new goal real estate projects to develop percent in 2017. Erdogan said. Calling Nazarbayev of $5 billion. Almaty’s downtown, as well as a Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan a ‘patriarch of the Turkic world,’ Nazarbayev met with CEO of large greenhouse project in Turke- should utilise the intergovernmen- he said relations would grow in all Oyak Holding Suleiman Erdem, stan region. tal commission between Kazakh- sectors after the visit. Board Chairman of Yıldırım Turkish companies expressed stan and Turkey, develop new con- Nazarbayev congratulated Er- Group Robert Yüksel Yıldırım and interest in exploring opportunities President appoints new ditions for investment partnership dogan on his reelection in June. Board Chairman of Koc Holdings offered by Kazakhstan’s political and optimise Kazakhstan’s transit “When Kazakhstan declared its Ali Yildirim Koc, among other stability, growing infrastructural potential under the Nurly Zhol in- independence on Dec. 16, 1991, business persons. capacity in conjunction with Chi- frastructure programme to make late President of Turkey Turgut The Kazakh President and Turk- na’s Belt and Road Initiative and finance minister, security Kazakhstan a leading logistic hub Ozal was the first to call me, just ish industry leaders reviewed the the opportunities of the Astana In- in Central Asia. two hours after the announcement, interim results of New Synergy ternational Financial Centre. council secretary, economic aide Kazakhstan hopes to reach 4 percent state policy in ensuring national By Assel Satubaldina security and defence capabilities to maintain domestic political sta- ASTANA – Kazakh President bility, protect the constitutional or- GDP growth despite sluggish start in Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed der, state independence, territorial Sept. 19 Alikhan Smailov new integrity and the national interests Minister of Finance and Gabit of Kazakhstan. Baizhanov the Assistant to the In a related development, on some sectors, says minister President – Secretary of the Secu- Sept. 21, Nazarbayev appointed have experienced a 3.7 percent ment in fixed capital increased rity Council. Timur Zhaksylykov, until recent- By Aidana Yergaliyeva growth as opposed to the 4.1 per- 21.4 percent. Smailov had served as the Aide ly the Member of the Collegium cent predicted. Foreign trade turnover has also to the President for economic af- (Minister) for Economy and Fi- ASTANA – Kazakh government Growth from agricultural prod- grown steadily. In the last seven fairs since December 2015. He nancial Policy of the Eurasian officials hope to reach 4 percent ucts decreased 1.5 percent due to months, it increased by 20.1 per- replaced Bakhyt Sultanov in the Economic Commission, the inter- gross domestic product (GDP) a poor harvest in the four major cent or $51.9 billion. Exports in- position. governmental body coordinating growth for 2018, despite only 3.8 crop producing regions of Ak- creased by 26 percent or $34 bil- Baizhanov became the Security policies within the Eurasian Eco- percent growth between January mola, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan lion. Council secretary. Previously, he nomic Union (EAEU), as his Aide and August, Minister of National and East Kazakhstan, the minister The labour market also remains served as head of the country’s for economic affairs. Economy Timur Suleimenov told reported. stable with 297,100 people be- Syrbar Foreign Intelligence Ser- Nazarbayev had earlier signed at Sept. 11 government meeting. The production of industrial ing employed. Wages have been vice since May 2015. a decree Sept. 10 dismissing Adil- “Given the GDP growth rate products declined in the North growing at a moderate pace. Aver- The Security Council is a con- bek Dzhaksybekov, 64, from his from the beginning of the year, the Kazakhstan, West Kazakhstan, age monthly salaries increased 2.3 sultative deliberative body formed position as the head of the presi- 4 percent target remains achiev- Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions. percent between January and July. and chaired by the Kazakh Presi- dential administration, where he able. However, it is possible the In general, eight regions and Suleimenov said the 4 percent dent. worked since June 2016, stating he target growth rates will not be sayasat.org. Photo credit: cities of national importance per- GDP growth target remains achiev- In June, the new law granted had reached the retirement age. fulfilled in sectors such as phar- Minister of National Economy formed below the national average able but faces challenges from in- Nazarbayev a life long right to The same day, Nazarbayev re- maceuticals, food and beverage Timur Suleimenov. of 4.7 percent. ternational economic factors. head the body. The recent law also lieved then Astana Akim Asset production, oil refining and agri- Suleimenov also pointed to pos- “To achieve annual targets, expanded the role of the security Issekeshev of his position and ap- culture,” said Suleimenov. grown by 2.4 percent rather than itive signs of growth, including a there are four months left… This council by providing it with the pointed him the head of the presi- Suleimenov noted several sec- the targeted 3.5 percent.