EBRD to sign new projects during Astana Expo in Kazakhstan

ASTANA (TCA) — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is taking an active part in events during Expo-2017 in Astana in Kazakhstan, the theme of which will be “Future Energy”. The major international forum will open on June 10.

During the June events in Astana, a number of new EBRD projects will be signed. The Bank said it will extend financing to new renewable energy generating facilities, public utility renovations, sustainable natural resources development, small and medium-sized enterprises and other vital areas.

Senior delegations, including EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti, will join discussions with a focus on sustainable energy, including renewable generation, energy efficiency and other forms of climate finance and related policy reform, where the Bank is a recognised leader in its region of operations.

On June 11, EBRD Managing Director, Energy and Natural Resources, Nandita Parshad will represent the Bank at the high-level ministerial conference on Energy, “Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Energy”, and participate in the ministerial dialogue on renewable energy in Central Asia, where a communiqué on the Action Plan for Renewable Energy in Central Asia is expected to be released.

On June 12-14, Aida Sitdikova, EBRD Director for Energy and Natural Resources, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia, will lead the Bank’s delegation at the Eighth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development, which will continue the debate started at the ministerial conference.

On June 12, linking policy for energy efficiency and renewables will be explored by Russell Bishop, EBRD Principal Economist, at the IEA-organised event within the Forum.

On June 14, a session on renewable energy finance will be organised by the EBRD together with IRENA, the international renewables body. The session will be opened by Aida Sitdikova and moderated by the EBRD’s Jan-Willem van de Ven, Head of Carbon Market Development.

On June 15-16, at the Astana Economic Forum “New Energy – New Economy” EBRD speakers will include: Mattia Romani, EBRD Managing Director, Economics, Policy and Governance; Agris Preimanis, EBRD Director, Head of Kazakhstan; and Aida Sitdikova, EBRD Director for Energy and Natural Resources, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia.

On June 15, Agris Preimanis will give a press briefing at the Forum dedicated to the latest economic forecasts and recommendations for Kazakhstan. Mattia Romani will join him to talk about opportunities for Kazakhstan and the region arising from the China-led Belt and Road Initiative.

On June 15, the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan and the EBRD are organising a panel on “Green Economy and Its Fiscal Consequences”, which Mattia Romani will moderate. This will include a keynote speech by the Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan, Bakhyt Sultanov.

On June 16, Mattia Romani will moderate a session “The Dialogue of Silk Road Leaders: A New Episode for Globalization: The Silk Road Initiative”.

On June 22, members of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) gather for the 30th plenary session of the body. The FIC, chaired by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is traditionally co-chaired by the EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti.

On June 23, EBRD President Chakrabarti will give a speech at the Nazarbayev University, focusing on the direction of development for Central Asia and the role of youth.

Sergey Kwan

TCA

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
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Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

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