+1°C / -2°C WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013 No 20 (41) www.astanatimes.com Kazakhstan, Canada Ink Peaceful Civil Forum Looks at Ways Nuclear Energy Cooperation Deal to Expand Government, By George D. Gleboff ity would begin in 2018, with pro- Civil Society Ties duction expected to begin in 2020. By Michelle Witte Information, Finance, Economy ASTANA – Kazakhstan and On a visit to Astana on Nov. 13, and Budget Planning, Regional Canada signed a nuclear energy Baird also met other government ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s sixth Development, and Justice were cooperation agreement during officials to promote bilateral com- Civil Forum, held in Astana on called upon to, among other ac- the first-ever visit of a Canadian mercial relations and to discuss Nov. 14 and 15, resulted in a num- tivities, complete the draft law on Minister of Foreign Affairs to Ka- regional and international secu- ber of recommendations for na- state support for NGOs, amend zakhstan. The agreement sets the rity concerns. In Astana, he was tional and local government bod- Kazakhstan’s laws governing pa- stage for the expansion of the two received by President Nursultan ies, as well as for the country’s tronage of the arts, resolve public countries’ already dynamic joint Nazarbayev and Speaker of the non-governmental organisations. procurement issues, create a new work. Canada and Kazakhstan are Mazhilis of the Parliament Nurlan The forum brought together ma- mechanism for grant provision leading players in global nuclear Nigmatulin. jor nongovernmental organisation and create incentives for business energy. Following a meeting with his leaders from around the country, to become more involved in civil Canadian Minister of Foreign counterpart, Kazakhstan’s Minis- as well as government and interna- society. Affairs John Baird signed the ter of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idriss- tional organisation representatives agreement on Nov. 13 in Astana The forum also called for trans- ov, the two ministers spoke to the to discuss fostering cooperation parency from international organisa- with Deputy Prime Minister and media, with Baird praising the new between the government and civil Minister of Industry and New tions and donor agencies. nuclear cooperation deal as an in- society. Technologies Asset Issekeshev. dicator of expanding ties between The Ministries of Culture and Continued on Page A2 Prior to the visit, Canada’s De- the two countries in economic and partment of Foreign Affairs, Trade commercial spheres. and Development said the agree- “More than that, though, it is an ment would provide “international expression of trust and confidence treaty-level assurances that nucle- that our two governments have Transferring Knowledge ar material, equipment and tech- in our two countries,” Baird said, nology originating in Canada or adding that he was excited to be in Kazakhstan and transferred to the a “remarkable place.” for a Green Economy other will be used only for civilian “We greatly appreciate the presi- By Vladimir Osipov and peaceful applications.” “The Green Academy was es- dent of Kazakhstan’s leadership tablished in June of this year at “This deal will signal our com- on nuclear nonproliferation. That In his Kazakhstan 2050 strategy, the initiative of the Ministry of mitment to the peaceful use of is something that is well known President Nursultan Nazarbayev Environmental Protection. Its nuclear energy,” Baird said be- around the world, and that type called on the people of Kazakhstan objective is to provide informa- fore his visit. “This agreement of leadership is very welcome in to rethink their attitudes toward tion-analytical support for the will also mean jobs and prosper- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov (left) greets John Canada,” Baird said. Concept for Transition to a Green ity for Canada, which remains natural wealth. The Concept for Baird, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, outside the Foreign Ministry in He listed energy, mining, manu- Transition to a Green Economy Economy and educate heads of our top priority as a government, Astana on Nov. 13. facturing, high-technology and agri- and holding EXPO 2017 both give government agencies, national as well as for Kazakhstan. This culture as the most promising areas Kazakhstan a unique opportunity companies, the business sector agreement will permit nuclear ergy area. Last August, Kazakh- tween Kazatomprom and Cameco for cooperation, adding that Canada to diversify its national economy, and nongovernmental organisa- trade between our countries by stan’s ambassador to Canada, Corporation, according to which views Kazakhstan as a “platform for introduce clean technologies and tions. Technical and financial as- ensuring that any nuclear mate- Konstantin Zhigalov, explained the Canadian company is serious investment in Central Asia.” the reasoning behind the new bi- about expanding uranium mining preserve its natural wealth. This sistance in organising the centre rial, equipment or technology Baird also congratulated Ka- was provided by the Network of lateral agreement. in Kazakhstan and will build a opportunity also means Kazakh- transferred between Canada and zakhstan on the 20th anniversary Experts for Sustainable Devel- “The agreement will promote production facility for processed stan can integrate green principles Kazakhstan will be used for of the tenge as its national curren- opment in Central Asia (NES- a new level of cooperation in the uranium products in East Kazakh- in strategic planning, taxation and peaceful purposes.” cy, saying the changes in Kazakh- DCA), the Global Green Growth national statistics. Director of the Kazakhstan’s national atomic uranium industry, in which Ka- stan,” Zhigalov said. stan’s economy and society since it Institute and the Economic and Green Academy Research and company Kazatomprom and Can- zakhstan is at the global forefront. In April 2013, Cameco Corpora- was introduced in 1993 amounted Social Commission for Asia and ada’s Cameco Corporation are In particular, it provides the op- tion’s Senior Vice President Bob to “extraordinary progress in a Education Centre Bakhit Yesseki- the Pacific (ESCAP),” she said. the two companies cooperating portunity to fully implement an Stine confirmed that agreement short period.” na spoke on some aspects of this most actively in the nuclear en- agreement signed last year be- and said construction of the facil- Continued on Page A2 work. Continued on Page A4 20th Anniversary of Tenge Three Years and Celebrated in Almaty Counting... national currency was celebrated Replacing Russia’s ruble, the tenge reserves have increased by 7.3 per- at an international conference in came into being with the presidential cent to an estimated US$92.4 bil- Almaty attended by Kazakh politi- decree on the introduction of the na- lion, including US$68.7 billion as cians and representatives of the na- tional currency on Nov. 12, 1993. the National Fund assets. Deposit tional and global financial sector. According to Kelimbetov, the banks’ funds are growing steadily, “The introduction of our own cur- country’s considerable progress in indicating confidence in the bank- rency in 1993 has become the most transforming its economy and finan- ing system. Inflation has fallen to important factor in the success of Ka- cial system has been achieved thanks 4.9 percent at the moment and is By Rufiya Ospanova zakhstan’s financial system,” Kairat to President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s expected to be at 6 percent by the Kelimbetov, head of the National leadership and his successful policies. end of this year. ALMATY – The 20th anniversary Bank of Kazakhstan, said while Since the beginning of this year, of the introduction of Kazakhstan’s opening the conference on Nov. 15. Kazakhstan’s overall international Continued on Page A2 Aktau Port Increases Efficiency, Capacity In the next few years, the vol- ume of cargo passing through the area is expected to increase sig- nificantly because all of the trans- portation companies using the area will be organised into a single lo- gistics chain. The effort to create the multi- modal hub was approved by the head of state. The organisation of the multi-transportation com- panies into a single logistics chain will increase the flexibil- ity of all links in the transport chain in order to integrate the port into the global transporta- tion network. “Our country as a major player is interested in becoming a world trade logistics hub. Every year about 16 million tons of cargo This coming weekend The Astana Times will turn three. As a toddler, we would Aktau sea port is a major strategic transportation node and Kazakhstan’s only sea access point on the Caspian Sea. pass through Kazakhstan,” Berik like to say thank you to all our friends who have helped us learn to walk and Uandykov, director of the State talk. Without the support of our readers, reporters and contributors we would By Olga Zolotykh point on the Caspian Sea and the modal hub that includes the large never have gotten to where we are now as a premiere English language publica- Enterprise Aktau International hub of the Mangystau region. And Dostyk and Khorgos railway sta- tion on Kazakhstan. To continue this story of success, we will strive to make our Sea Commercial Port, said. best in bringing you the stories and analysis that are both timely and relevant. AKTAU – This city is known as now this major strategic transport tions, on the other side of the coun- We will also continue to improve our design both in print and online on our new Kazakhstan’s primary