ASTANA CALLING
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Kazakhstan
Central Communications Service for the President of Kazakhstan
A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ ISSUE NO 318 / FRIDAY, AUG 23 2013
President Nazarbayev Calls for More Cooperation between Turkic Speaking States CCTS works well but could do better
“Bolashak”- Now A Bright Future for Journalists New educational scholarships approved
Chinese Foreign Minister Visits Kazakhstan High level meetings prepare ground for Presidential visit
“Business Road Map-2020”: A Solid Start One in Five New Jobs created by Program
News from the Government in Brief
Also in the News
Leaders of the Turkic Speaking States in Gabala, Azerbaijan
President Nazarbayev Calls for More Cooperation of Turkic States President Nursultan Nazarbayev made a strong appeal to his fellow leaders in the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS) to further deepen cooperation. He concluded that the level of cooperation is deepening but it could be much deeper yet. The President made his impassioned speech at the meeting of the Heads of State of the CCTS, which took place at the end of last week in the city of Gabala in Azerbaijan. He was joined at the meeting by the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev; Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev; Turkey, Abdullah Gül; and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Sapardurdy Toyliev, who was attending the meeting as an observer. In his speech at the meeting of the Heads of State, President Nazarbayev described the CCTS as a well-known international organization with a wide sphere of activity. The group plays a significant role in strengthening the economic, cultural and humanitarian links between its members, and gives credibility to the term, “the Turkic world”. However, the President of Kazakhstan added that the Council should do more to institutionalize its status through ratification of its documents. In particular, it is vital that the Secretariat – the day-to-day working group of the Council – is properly established. On this solid basis, the member states can go on to strengthen economic ties with each other and with their neighbors in a way that will be beneficial to all sides. As an example of the hitherto unrealized potential of all the Turkic Speaking states including Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, President Nazarbayev pointed out that between them the six states have a combined GDP of over one trillion US dollars. Yet Kazakhstan’s trade with the other Turkic Speaking states in 2012 amounted to only eight billion USD; with deeper cooperation, this sum could be much higher.
President Nazarbayev with the other Leaders of the Turkic Speaking States this week
The President explained to his fellow Turkic Speaking leaders ways in which they could participate in the advances taking place in Kazakhstan, in particular those put in place by the country’s “Strategy-2050” program, the aim of which is to bring Kazakhstan into the group of the world’s 30 most developed countries by the middle of this century. For example, as part of the increased industrialization program, 600 new projects have started since 2010, to the tune of USD 14bn. Foreign partners play a major role in these projects, especially in the exchange of new technologies. In particular, Kazakhstan welcomes the participation of the other members of the CCTS in helping Kazakhstan to develop the new energy sources of its “green economy”. The participation of the Turkic Speaking states in EXPO-2017 would give a real boost to this energy project. The EXPO will also provide great opportunities for the development of tourism. Consequently, the President proposed creating a working group on tourism within the Secretariat. Another area where the member states could work together for the benefit of all is in transport and communications. As President Nazarbayev pointed out, a huge effort is being put into the construction of new air, sea, road and rail links in Kazakhstan, as well as new pipelines, all of which help to link Europe with the Pacific Ocean. Such improved links can only benefit the whole region and the Turkic Speaking states in particular.
“In order to raise the authority of the Turkic Speaking Council we must do everything to create the institutional basis for it to function as an organization. We have to speed up the ratification of certain key documents. The activity of the basic working organ of the Turkic Speaking Council, the Secretariat, is of crucial importance for all of us.” President Nursultan Nazarbayev ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 318 / 2
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Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan: Partnership with a Future President Nazarbayev used his visit to Azerbaijan for the Third Summit meeting of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States to meet with the summit’s host, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan share a common recent history having both been part of the Soviet Union. They are also close neighbors across the Caspian Sea. There are regular contacts between the two countries on all levels; the latest official visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan took place in October 2009, followed two years later by a return visit to Kazakhstan by the President of Azerbaijan. Top of the agenda for these bilateral talks were questions of transport and communications. Each country is modernizing its naval and railway infrastructure in particular. The two presidents also discussed their close cooperation in the oil and gas sphere – both countries are major global oil and gas producers. In the first five months of this year, bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan stood at almost USD 185m, exports from Kazakhstan making up over USD 150m and imports almost USD 35m. This was an increase of 40% on the same period in 2012, when there was already an upward trend in trade. Over USD 390m worth of trade was completed in 2012, up 30% on 2011. The principal exports from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan are oil and gas; chemicals; wheat and other agricultural products; rolled carbon steel; and electrical goods. Azerbaijan mainly exports oil and gas by-productsto Kazakhstan as well as machine parts and construction materials. There are regular flights between Baku and the cities of Astana, Almaty and Aktobe in Kazakhstan. There are also frequent ferry services across the Caspian Sea between Baku and Aktobe.
Kazakhstan
Turkey
Azerbaijan
Kyrgyzstan
A map highlighting the four members of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States
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Chinese Foreign Minister Visits Kazakhstan The Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, made an official visit to Kazakhstan, August 19-20. Mr Yi discussed the bilateral relationship between Kazakhstan and China with senior figures from the leadership of Kazakhstan, including the Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, and the Foreign Minister, Erlan Idrissov. High on the agenda were the arrangements for the eagerly-anticipated state visit to Kazakhstan in September of the Chairman of the Chinese People’s Republic and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping. The visit of Mr Yi and the forthcoming visit of Mr Jinping come at a time when relations between Kazakhstan and China are flourishing. As Prime Minister Akhmetov noted, “Trade between Kazakhstan and China is developing rapidly. The trade turnover in 2012 reached USD 25bn, and there is every possibility that by 2015 this will be up to USD 40bn.” Mr Akhmetov said that among the many areas where the two countries are cooperating are oil and gas; energy; transport; agriculture; and Kazakhstan’s potential as a major transit route for Chinese exports. A crucial role in the transit question will be the opening in 2015 of the “Western Europe-Western China” highway, currently being constructed across Kazakhstan. When completed, this will give a major boost not only to trade between China and Europe, but to trade, tourism and services for Kazakhstan itself. Whilst highlighting these issues, Mr Akhmetov urged the Kazakhstan-China Business Council to play a leading role. The Council was created in June 2012 during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Council in Beijing.
The two Foreign Ministers in Astana this week
A vital issue affecting every aspect of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China is cooperation over the question of the regulation of trans-border rivers. The Prime Minister suggested that there should be an inter-governmental Agreement on water-sharing. Mr Yi agreed on the importance of this issue, adding that trans-border rivers can help to bond the two peoples together. In his talks with Minister Idrissov, Mr Yi discussed the two countries’ membership and cooperation within international organizations, notably the Shanghai Cooperation Council and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The CICA was set up following a proposal put forward at the United Nations General Assembly by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in October 1992, as an efficient and acceptable structure for ensuring peace and security in Asia. Questions of regional and global security were also discussed on this occasion by the two Foreign Ministers. Both sides expressed confidence that the forthcoming visit to Kazakhstan of Mr Jinping will help to raise Kazakhstan-Chinese relations to a new level.
“The new Chinese leadership puts great store by the strengthening of strategic cooperation with Kazakhstan.” Wang Yi,Chinese Foreign Minister
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Third-level students in Kazakhstan
“Bolashak”- Now A Bright Future for Journalists The “Bolashak” educational program, which gives post-graduate students and undergraduates from Kazakhstan the opportunity to study in world-class higher educational establishments, is to open a new strand of scholarships specifically for journalists. The Education Ministry has also announced that 299 scholarships have already been awarded this year under the “Bolashak” scheme, half of them to post-graduate students. The “Bolashak” program was set up 20 years ago on the initiative of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to give some of the country’s leading research students and undergraduates the opportunity to study abroad before returning to Kazakhstan and helping the country’s post-Soviet development. The name itself means “Future” in the Kazakh language, illustrating the aim of assisting the country’s development. In 20 years of the scheme almost 10,000 students have benefitted from “Bolashak” scholarships. The program itself has been refined over the years and students are now offered places at200 of the world’s top universities and higher educational establishments in 33 different countries. It is a sign of the dynamic nature of the “Bolashak” program that a brand new stream is to be introduced in February 2014, aimed specifically at those working in the media. There will be two parts to the scheme: a master’s degree as well as periods of specialized training abroad. Both schemes will be open to all those working as journalists, editors and producers in any area of the media. In fact, a pilot media scheme is already in operation. The first students to be sent abroad for specialized training have been those working in technical areas: video engineers, sound engineers, camera operators and technicians. These specialists will spend time training in the Institute of Radio Electronics in St Petersburg; the New York Academy of Film, based at Universal Studios; and at the BBC in the United Kingdom. When the scheme is fully up and running, journalists will be able to study on masters’ courses in leading universities in the USA, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and Germany.
Nazarbayev University
At the same time as the Ministry of Education and Science announced the new scheme for journalists, it was also revealed that 299 candidates have been chosen to receive this year’s “Bolashak” grants. Around half of these will be studying abroad for masters’ degrees and doctorates. Nevertheless, anyone still wanting to apply for the “Bolashak” scheme still has time: applications continue to be received throughout the year. Of the masters’ degrees approved this year, around 60% are in engineering and technical specialities; information technology; oil and gas-related projects; energy; machine-building; and technical management. The remaining 40% are made up of economists, lawyers and medical specialities, including heart surgery, cancer treatment and reconstructive surgery. Those fields where post-graduates from Kazakhstan are studying for PhDs include sociology, political science and state management. Many of the students on study placements are training to be teachers or medical workers in towns or the countryside.
“Around 60% of those studying for their master’s degree are in engineering and technical specialities: specialists in information technology, the oil and gas sector, petrochemicals, the energy sector, machine building and technical management.” Sayasat Nurbek, President of the “Center for International Programs” of the Ministry of Education and Science
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Funds from the Road Map program stimulate innovative industrial growth
“Business Road Map-2020”: A Solid Start Top of the agenda at the weekly government meeting this week were questions about the progress of the “Business Road Map-2020”. The Prime Minister, Serik Akhmetov, noted that there have been some successes already achieved by the ten-year program, but that its progress must be carefully monitored, especially as regards the financing of the program. The “Business Road Map-2020” was introduced in 2010 by Presidential Decree No. 958, to stimulate the industrial and innovative development of the country. The Road Map was originally the responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. As with other government programs, the progress of the Road Map has been carefully monitored and adjustments have been made where necessary. The most radical change came earlier this year, when the Ministry of Regional Development was put in charge of the program. The Ministry was only created in January. The basic aim of the program is to oversee the reliable and balanced growth of private business in the regions in sectors of the economy which do not involve natural resources. A secondary aim is job creation but also preserving existing jobs. The program is financed by central government and managed by the local authorities. It should encourage new business initiatives; help the private sector; and support manufacturing projects which are concentrated on exporting. At the government meeting, Mr Akhmetov handed the floor to the First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Kairbek Uskenbayev. Mr Uskenbayev reported that more than 36,000 entrepreneurs had already applied to the “Business Road Map2020” program for assistance. As a result 145,000 jobs had been protected and 40,000 new jobs had been created. To put it another way, this means that one in five of all new jobs being created in the country is a result of the program. One quarter of all industrialization projects is being supported by the Road Map. And in the first two years of its operation, the program has brought in KZT 56bn in taxes. In addition, Mr Uskenbayev stated that 2,861 projects have been subsidized by the Road Map program to the tune of KZT 642bn. A further 204 projects have been guaranteed at a cost of KZT 21bn. Among manufacturing industries, 454 enterprises have been helped out, receiving over KZT 95bn in grants. Moreover, 137 business people who were just starting out have received grants totalling KZT 408m. Over the two years the program has been running, the government has already introduced three sets of amendments to the Road Map – a fourth is in preparation and is due to be outlined by the government in October. These amendments should determine the mechanisms for the creation and functioning of service centers and for supporting private business and business incubators, as well as setting out the basic steps to be taken to develop industrial zones and to create development programs for entrepreneurs: “Business Advisor-1” for those new to business, and “Business Advisor-2” for those who are already operating. These courses will replace the more general “Business Advisor” courses, which have already helped 40,000 business owners. In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister noted the positive results achieved so far by the “Business Road Map-2020”. But he stated that the quality of its work could still be improved, in order to fulfil its full potential. He instructed the Ministry of Regional Development to work more closely with the local authorities to this end.
“The proposed changes which the government will bring in in October this year will create the right conditions for the state to support Kazakhstan’s business community.” Kairbek Uskenbayev, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development
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News from the Government in Brief Prison population falling, conditions improving The Deputy Head of the Prison Service of Kazakhstan, Zhanat Keshubayev, told journalists this week that in the last 11 years the number of people held in custody in Kazakhstan has fallen considerably. In 2002, the number of people in prison per 100,000 of the population put Kazakhstan in third place in the world. With some 50,000 people now behind bars, Kazakhstan occupies 31st place. As well as this, there are a further 17,500 under criminal suspicion, of whom nearly 3,000 are women and just over 250 are minors. Conditions in the country’s prisons have improved, too. Although the problem of tuberculosis (TB) among prisoners still exists, the number of prisoners suffering has fallen and TB sufferers are now given a special diet. In 46 prisons, inmates can now learn one of 50 different trades which they can start to practise even before their release and which will certainly help them after they leave prison. Now, 47% of all prisoners who are capable of work are engaged in useful labour. (ortcom.kz)
Presidential Central Communications Service in the spotlight As the official representative of the Presidential Central Communications Service, Altay Abibullayev is used to speaking to journalists. Usually he is communicating information about the week ahead in Kazakhstan. This week, though, he was put on the spot by the Zakon.kz website to talk about the Central Communications Service and his role in it. He refuted suggestions that his role could either duplicate or contradict the work of the press services of ministries or national companies, saying that the views and information he puts across comes from the Presidential Administration. And when asked what the other 42 members of the Central Communications Service do, he pointed out that since the formation of the Service in October last year, they have given over 60 briefings and produced more than 12,000 publications. Mr Abibullayev also revealed that from September there will be a new weekly briefing: each Friday the akims [mayors] of different regions and the cities of Astana and Almaty will be invited to give a briefing on developments in their region, due to the growing interest in what is happening in the regions and how this fits with the overall development of Kazakhstan’s economy. (ortcom.kz)
Dissatisfied Environment Minister inspects rocket crash site Last week the Minister for the Protection of the Environment, Nurlan Kapparov, visited the site where on July 2 2013 a Russian-built Proton-M rocket crashed shortly after take-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Immediately after the rocket exploded and crashed to the ground, a government commission was established to deal with the clear-up operation. The commission included representatives of the mayor’s office of the Kyzylorda Region where the rocket came down and Roskosmos, the Russian space agency, which launched the rocket. Mr Kapparov declared that he was not satisfied with the results of the work to clear up the contamination of the site which the accident caused, nor with the speed with which the process was being carried out. The representative of Roskosmos asked for a further 15 days to complete the detoxification process. Mr Kapparov insisted that further research be carried out into the negative consequences which the crash may have had on the ecology and the health of the local population both in Baikonur and surrounding villages. He also called for more urgency in the process of talks on the implementation of the ecological code of Kazakhstan on the territory of Baikonur. (primeminister.kz
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Also in The News… • New appointments at Ministry of Industry and New Technologies A number of new appointments have been made at the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MINT) this week. Baktybay Kassymbekov, 55, has been made Chairman of the Committee for Industry; Mazhit Sharipov, 48, Chairman of Atomic Energy; and 38-year old Marat Igaliev, Chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee. Confirmed in their posts are: Arman Turlubek, who has been Chairman of the State Energy Supervision and Control Committee since December 2010; Bazarbay Nurabayev, Chairman of the Committee of Geology and Subsoil since December 2012; and Erlan Khairov, Chairman of the Investment Committee since February 2013. (primeminister.kz) • Half-year Trade with Indonesia Breaks USD 150m Barrier The Minister of the Economy and Budget Planning, Erbolat Dossayev, this week announced that trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Indonesia has reached more than USD 150m for the first half of the year. Minister Dossayev, who was visiting the Indonesian capital Jakarta this week, stated that the figure of USD 150m for the first six months of this year is three times higher than the corresponding figure for 2012. Topics of discussion during Minister Dossayev’s visit included the opening of regular direct flights between the two countries; the creation of joint, high-technological enterprises; exports of grain from Kazakhstan to Indonesia; the ‘green’ economy; and cooperation in investment, amongst other topics. (primeminister.kz) • Global ethics conference in Astana An international conference has been taking place in Astana on August 22-23, entitled, “Global Ethics: Preserving Planet Earth”. Scientists, specialists and business representatives of 15 countries have been taking part. The main theme of the conference was continuing sustainable development through the promotion of a global ethic, based on the universal rights of man, intercultural dialogue and social equality for all. Among those taking part were the Chairman of the Kazakhstan Commission of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Imangali Tasmagambetov; and member of the Majilis, Dariga Nazarbayeva. The Conference will close with the Astana Declaration, which will be passed to the General Director of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. (ortcom.kz) • Kazakhstan bids for 2022 Winter Olympics Kazakhstan has officially submitted its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Almaty, the Chairman of the Kazakhstan Agency for Sport and Physical Culture, Erlan Kozhagapanov, announced this week. Mr Kozhagapanov said that with Almaty having hosted the Asian Winter Games in 2010, the city was “almost ready” to host the Olympics now. A few sporting arenas would need to be built and others upgraded, but the basic infrastructure, including transport, is already in place. (ortcom.kz) • Famous victory for Shakhter Karagandy Shakhter Karagandy moved a step closer to becoming the first team from Kazakhstan ever to qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League with a stunning 2-0 victory over the Scottish Champions, Celtic, in Astana. Despite long periods of pressure from Celtic, Shakhter held out and twice caught Celtic on the break, with goals from their captain, Andrey Finonchenko, after 12 minutes and Sergey Khizhnichenko in the 77th minute. Shakhter take their lead to Glasgow for the second leg on August 28. In a generous gesture, the small band of 30 Celtic fans who had made the long journey to Astana were given free access to the stadium. (uefa.com) • Paralympic training center to open in Astana in 2014 Kazakhstan is to open its first Paralympic training center in Astana next year. The center, which will be built at a cost of KZT 129m, will provide the country’s Paralympic athletes with world-class training facilities. (ortcom.kz) • Third medal for Kazakhstan Paralympic swimmer In the first major Paralympic swimming event since the Paralympic Games in London in 2012, Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Gabidullina won her third medal at the World Swimming Championships in Montreal, Canada. Miss Gabidullina picked up the bronze medal in the competition for those with lesions of the musculoskeletal system and impaired vision. She also won the bronze medal in the 100 meters freestyle and the 50 meters backstroke. In the heats for the backstroke, Miss Gabidullina set a new world record time of 0:47.40, beating the previous world record by 0.39 of a second. More than 600 sportsmen from 60 countries are competing in the Championships in Montreal. (ortcom.kz)
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