Geopolitical Rivalry, Terrorism Among Threats Facing Eurasia, Nazarbayev
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-2° / -3°C WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018 No 22 (160) www.astanatimes.com Geopolitical rivalry, terrorism President opens AIX’s among threats facing Eurasia, first trading session Nazarbayev tells Astana Club See story on Page A4. GDP grows 4.1 percent not witnessed such a confrontation Economic contradictions, in Nazarbayev said some parts of By Assel Satubaldina in 10 months of 2018 for quite a long time. The so-called what is known as trade wars, are the Greater Eurasia may turn into post-bipolar world order becomes on the rise with an increasing the scene of large-scale military solid growth with an eight-month ASTANA – Astana Club, a a thing of the past. We witness the threat posed to global economies. confrontation and the Middle East, By Zhanna Shayakhmetova increase of 21.6 percent. Exports platform to debate public issues formation of Greater Eurasia,” “One of such wars is unfolding where instability is caused by the increased by 28.2 percent due to based on Chatham House rules, said Nazarbayev. between the U.S. and China, to- Syrian crisis, political tensions in ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s gross the increased supply of oil and kicked off its fourth annual meet- Escalating the geopolitical ri- gether accounting for the third of Iraq, civil war in Libya and inter- domestic product (GDP) grew 4.1 natural gas, agricultural products, ing Nov. 12. The meeting focused valry between China, Russia and the world’s economy, 20 percent nal challenges, is among such re- percent in a ten-month period, re- aluminium and copper ores. on challenges facing the Eurasian the United States also impacts the of global exports and more than a gions. ported Minister of National Econ- In the labour market, 414,500 region and the building of Eura- Greater Eurasia context, he noted. third of investment flow. This will The breaking up of a land- omy Timur Suleimenov at the Nov. people have been employed since sian strategic architecture. The “Difficulties have always been result in the economic downturn in mark Iranian deal that, as Naz- 13 government meeting. Overall, the beginning of the year. Salaries meeting gathered 50 leading ex- present in this strategic triangle if general and will worsen the situa- arbayev put it, was “achieved the economy has maintained a pos- are growing at a moderate pace, perts, politicians and diplomats we look back at history. Yet, the tion in developing countries,” said in difficult circumstances” ex- itive growth trend. with the average monthly sal- from 33 countries. ability to manage them has drasti- Nazarbayev. acerbates the situation. In May, “The high investment activity, ary increasing to 158,200 tenge Kazakh President Nursultan cally weakened in the recent years. Poverty and the unemployment U.S. President Donald Trump a slowdown in inflation processes (US$422) in January – September. Nazarbayev addressed the event’s Large scale crisis is more possible rate, he noted, will continue to rise, announced his country’s with- and an increase in production in the Inflation was 0.4 percent in Oc- plenary session Nov. 13 outlining than ever before,” said the Kazakh turning into a fertile ground for ter- drawal from the agreement basic sectors of the economy con- tober, lower than the expected key risks threatening the greater President. rorism, migration and separatism. initially signed by the five tributed to the economic growth. forecast, said National Bank Chair- region and ways to address them. “The confrontation questions the The same scenario, he noted, un- permanent members of the UN Investment demand is also grow- man Daniyar Akishev. As a result, “First are the growing contradic- efficiency of global development folded in Afghanistan. Security Council: the United ing. Investments in fixed assets annual inflation fell to 5.3 percent tions between major powers that institutes and security in general. The region is also vulnerable to States, the United Kingdom, increased by 20.8 percent. The compared to 7.7 percent in October intensify the instability of the cur- The foundation for strategic stabil- sanctions introduced by countries France, Russia and China, plus production increase amounted to 2017, the lowest rate since 2015. rent global order, making global ity present since World War II is unilaterally as a punitive measure Germany and Iran. 4.7 percent, with the growth of the Low inflation rates at the end of the events less predictable. We have shattering,” he said. to counter sanctions. Continued on Page A3 manufacturing industry outpacing year will result in annual inflation the mining industry,” he said. remaining within the 5-7 percent The mining industry increased target corridor. by 4.6 percent due to increased The bank announced plans to production in iron ore, coal and increase the base rate from 9 to lignite, natural gas, oil and non- 9.25 percent. The change allows ferrous metal ore. increasing demand for tenge and Astana hosts CSTO Collective Construction industry growth assets and retaining convenient stabilised at 4.1 percent. conditions for cash loans. “The growth is due to an increase Banks approved 2,900 loan appli- in the construction of residential cations for 35 billion tenge (US$94 Security Council summit buildings, industrial facilities, the million) as part of the 7-20-25 reconstruction of roads and the housing lending programme. The By Malika Orazgaliyeva modernisation of the Shymkent re- National Bank conducts explana- finery,” he added. tory work among the population ASTANA – The presidents and Output is increasing in the non- through a 24/7 call centre. Baspa- heads of government of the Collec- trading sector due to the expanded na, a Kazakh construction compa- tive Security Treaty Organisation real economic sector. Service produc- ny, will launch the project, which (CSTO) Council member states tion grew by 4 percent, trade by 7.2 will help to assess opportunities for met in Astana Nov. 8 to discuss re- percent and transport by 4.5 percent. online programme participation in gional security, organisational op- International trade also showed the near future. erations and summarise Kazakh- stan’s chairmanship in 2018. The meeting was attended by presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Alexander Lu- kashenko of Belarus, Sooron- EBRD, EU and China bay Jeenbekov of Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Emoma- li Rahmon of Tajikistan, acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol commit to investment Pashinyan, as well as CSTO Sec- Press. Akorda Photo credit: retary General Valery Semerikov and defence and foreign ministers of the six states. completed the work, introduced and military equipment was cre- Kyrgyz chairmanship will be held cooperation in Central Asia The participants discussed in- by our Belarusian colleagues, on ated at the meeting of the CSTO at a high level and help develop the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to ternational and regional security, the legal registration of the status intergovernmental commission on organisation. By Dilshat Zhussupova Central Asia in the financial sector, as well as the interaction of CSTO of the CSTO partner and the ob- military-technical cooperation,” Earlier in the day, a joint meet- agribusiness, renewable energy member states within the estab- server. A corresponding package he said. ing of the Council of Foreign ASTANA – The European Bank development, risk mitigation and lishment and internationally. of documents has been signed,” He also focused on the results Ministers (CFM), the Council of for Reconstruction and Develop- public-private partnership (PPP) Nazarbayev said it was impor- said Nazarbayev. of joint work on countering cyber Defence Ministers (CDM) and ment (EBRD) committed to closer in infrastructure. tant to strengthen cooperation The meeting approved action threats and combating illicit drug the Committee of Secretaries of cooperation with China and the Attendees included EBRD within the CSTO and improve plans to combat illegal migration trafficking. the Security Councils (CSSC) of European Union (EU) to attract President Suma Chakrabarti, the mechanisms to ensure collective and coordinate information policy Nazarbayev stressed that during the CSTO was held with the par- greater investment in Central Asia European Commissioner for In- security. in favour of the CSTO countries. Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, the ticipation of representatives from at Beijing’s Nov. 14 Central Asia ternational Cooperation and De- “The main political document “Kazakhstan considers the initiative on adoption of a univer- Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Investment Forum (CAIF). velopment Neven Mimica and of the CSTO Summit in Astana CSTO as an authoritative and sal code of conduct to achieve a Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Hosted by the EBRD and the PBoC Deputy Governor Chen became the final declaration, effective structure. This year world free of terrorism, which was The meeting sought to strength- People’s Bank of China (PBoC) Yulu, who agreed to enhance in- which reflects the objectives and Kazakhstan successfully imple- approved by more than 70 coun- en international and regional se- and sponsored by the Industrial and vestment in the region. The par- plans of the organisation for the mented its priorities with the ac- tries, was implemented. curity, military cooperation and to Commercial Bank of China, CAIF ties will build on institutions and coming period. A statement ‘On tive and comprehensive support The CSTO chairmanship was address current threats. gathered more than 600 leading clients’ capacities, promote a pre- coordinated measures regarding of the member states,” said Naz- transferred from Kazakhstan to The next joint meeting of the investors, policymakers, econo- dictable and level playing field participants of armed conflicts on arbayev. Kyrgyzstan for the next inter- CFM, the CDM and the CSTO’s mists and experts from China and and incentivise green and inclu- the side of international terrorist “The coordination council for sessional period of one year. Naz- CSSC and the summit will be in abroad.