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-15°C / -17°C WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2014 No 3 (46) www.astanatimes.com Going to sochi to participate President Calls for and Hopefully to Win Stronger Int’l Cooperation in Implementing Kazakhstan 2050 By alibek Zhunussov for understanding and support from your governments and seek ASTANA – To effectively im- a constructive relationship across plement the Kazakhstan 2050 these areas.” Strategy, the country seeks strong- In his extensive remarks at the er dialogue and wider mutually Akorda presidential residence, - Nazarbayev covered in detail the eign partners, President Nursultan Nazarbayev told foreign ambassa- top priorities of his Jan. 17 state- - of-the-nation address and the new- national organisations during his ly approved Concept of Foreign annual grand meeting with them Policy for 2014-2020. The Presi- on Feb. 5. dent was keen to stress the mutual Addressing the gathering, which - included more than 80 ambassa- ing its development priorities and dors, charges d’affaires and heads achieving its goal of becoming one of the world’s top 30 most devel- organisations as the United Na- oped economies by 2050 for both tions and the European Union, the Kazakhstan and its foreign part- ners. Kazakhstan’s national olympic team went to sochi, Russia, to participate in the 22nd Winter olympic Games and to win some medals. With a team of more than 50 President said Kazakhstan is in- athletes, the country’s national team is among the largest at these games and is represented in such sports as speed skating, skiing, biathlon, mogul, luge and others. terested in such cooperation espe- technology, innovation and exper- tise, and in growing the exports of economic cooperation Kazakhstan.” Kazakhstan announces currency devaluation “I encourage foreign entrepre- Is the Word neurs to actively invest in Ka- By aidyn Temirbayev currency interventions on the market nection between this devaluation zakhstan, to establish production and deep processing of raw ma- and stop interference with the for- and the one held in Kazakhstan in markets. Currently, as a result of facilities, and build successful, terials inside the country, manu- mation of the tenge exchange rate. February 2009. quantitative easing in the U.S., facturing, electronics, chemical, the Kazakh tenge (KZT) fell to According to Chairman of the He also stressed that the Na- - not only in the sector of natural agriculture and food processing, 185 per U.S. dollar with a range National Bank Kairat Kelimbetov, tional Bank and the government ing markets to developed ones, resources and advanced process- automobile and aircraft indus- of three tenge on either side on the bank will now take measures will aim to ensure that this year’s leading to increased pressure on ing, but also in infrastructure, ag- tries, among others, as promising Feb. 11. The devaluation was an- to maintain the national currency the currencies of those countries. riculture and many more,” he told for cooperation, Nazarbayev re- nounced by Kazakhstan’s National at about 185 tenge per dollar. 6-8 percent. Amid uncertainty over the further the assembled diplomats. “Im- - Bank on the same day. “We will continue to level the According to the Almaty-based development of the world econo- plementing its industrial policy, ment to ensuring some of the best The National Bank decided to sharp surges. The National Bank is National Bank, the country’s Kazakhstan will further create all environment both foreign busi- stop supporting the exchange rate at well positioned to defend the new economy is closely integrated into and commodity markets has in- the conditions so that businesses nesses. the previous level of 155.56 per dol- equilibrium rate,” Kelimbetov said. the global economy and therefore creased. lar as of Feb. 10 in order to decrease Kelimbetov said he sees no con- must take into account changes in continued on page a4 own and for our country. We hope continued on page a3 In astana, dutch Fm “densify, Intensify, Focuses on Bilateral Ties, diversify and discover” nuclear summit preparations Is French ambassador’s By George d. Gleboff Summit in the Hague,” Timmer- stand for nuclear disarmament and mans said during the meeting, ac- non-proliferation.” ASTANA – Dutch Foreign Min- cording to the Kazakh presidential “Our countries are partners and ister Frans Timmermans visited the Formula for success press service. “We also plan to friends. Our economic ties are of capital of Kazakhstan on Feb. 3 have bilateral meetings with our By Jan Furst for a series of high-level meetings great importance to my country. Prime Minister. We believe that focused on expanding economic And our economic ties, I am sure, we as country with access to open will deepen and grow in the next ASTANA – The new French cooperation and building up the ambassador in Kazakhstan says - seas and developed port infrastruc- couple of years,” Timmermans ture, and Kazakhstan, as a country - he has a clear vision for improv- ing towards a world without nucle- ing bilateral ties during his tenure ar weapons. with huge potential, can achieve lish. He began his comments in in Astana: “Densify, intensify, di- The second area of interest bears versify and another D-word, dis- special importance and urgency together.” of skating at the Medeu rink out- Welcoming Timmermans at cover.” as The Hague is preparing to host “Densify means we want to the Third Global Nuclear Security Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry for trip to Kazakhstan in 1990. their own meeting, Idrissov called “We are deeply honoured that make our political dialogue more Summit on March 24-25 with the dense and meaningful; intensify expected participation of about 50 ties between the countries “out- President Nazarbayev has accept- standing, especially in the eco- ed the invitation to attend the nu- means we want to intensify our heads of state or government and economic and trade partnership; leaders of international organisa- nomic sphere.” clear security summit and we are diversify means our common fo- tions. “Dutch investment in Kazakh- deeply honoured that he has ac- cus on diversifying economic ties In Astana, Timmermans was stan stands at almost $50 billion, cepted our invitation to have a bi- into new areas; and discover, be- received by President Nursultan which is about a quarter of all lateral visit on the same occasion,” cause this is a huge country and so Nazarbayev, Speaker of the Sen- foreign investment in Kazakhstan Timmermans continued. France is working with its european partners to support the negotiations be- is the challenge of discovering it,” ate of Parliament Kassym-Jomart [since independence],” Idrissov “Kazakhstan is a country that tween Kazakhstan and the eU over a new enhanced partnership and coopera- Tokayev and Deputy Prime Min- said. “Our trade with the Neth- was heavily burdened by the past said Ambassador Francis Etienne, tion agreement, ambassador Francis etienne said. erlands stands at almost $10 bil- of the Cold War because of nu- who arrived in Astana in Septem- ister Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, and Mitterand, Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Asia. France is also the third larg- lion, which is among the highest clear testing on its territory,” the met with his counterpart, Erlan Sarkozy and François Hollande. est foreign investor in Kazakhstan, in terms of bilateral trade turnover Dutch foreign minister stressed. mission in October 2013. Idrissov. Presidents Mitterand and Sarkozy after the Netherlands and the U.S., During a meeting at the Ak Orda for Kazakhstan. There are more “Today, Kazakhstan is a global Etienne’s top priority is “foster- visited Kazakhstan. Current Presi- according to the French Embassy presidential residence, Nazarbayev than 1,000 companies with Dutch leader in trying to reach nuclear ing what we call the strategic part- dent Hollande has a standing invi- in Astana. and Timmermans focused on the capital participation registered in disarmament and trying to reach a nership in every meaning of the tation to visit Kazakhstan, Etienne March summit in which the Ka- Kazakhstan, of which around 700 nuclear weapons-free world. The word, pushing for more political France is currently the third larg- zakh leader is expected to partici- are actively working. And it is im- Netherlands wants to be Kazakh- dialogue on every level, promot- said, and the possibility is being est foreign investor in Kazakhstan, pate as well as looked at spheres portant that the spheres in which stan’s partner in eliminating nu- ing ties between French regions considered although no precise according to the French embassy, where economic cooperation can they work include not only energy, clear weapons from this world and and Kazakh regions, promoting and Kazakhstan is their biggest be expanded further. but also agriculture, pharmaceuti- also in creating possibilities for the economic partnership [and] ex- France is also working with its trading partner in Central Asia. “The Netherlands is the largest cals, design and others.” peaceful use of nuclear energy.” changes in culture and education.” European partners to support the investor in Kazakhstan’s economy “Europe is Kazakhstan’s num- Kazakhstan and the Netherlands Political exchanges occur at negotiations between Kazakhstan growing trade in recent years due and trade and economic partner for ber one partner in terms of trade have already worked together to the highest levels, with a number and the EU over a new enhanced to increasing sales of transport us among the countries of the Eu- and investment, and within Eu- promote the nuclear disarmament of presidential visits between the partnership and cooperation agree- machinery (which makes up 48 ropean Union,” Nazarbayev said. rope, the Netherlands occupies a agenda on the global level. In Oc- countries in the past two decades. ment. percent of the total export vol- leading position,” Idrissov told a tober 2012, the Hague-based Or- President Nazarbayev paid at least ume), industrial and agricultural ganisation for the Prohibition of than France in terms of territory, machinery, cosmetic and chemical from the King of the Netherlands with Timmermans.