NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — Up to 20 thousand new jobs will be created as part of the implementation of joint projects with China in Kazakhstan, 95% of which will be occupied by Kazakhstanis. The remaining 5% are specialists from different countries, including Canada, China and other countries, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Zhenis Kassymbek said at a press conference in the Government on September 5, the press service of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.

According to the deputy prime minister, of the proposed investment projects, priority is given to high-tech projects with a high Kazakhstan content and ensuring maximum job creation for citizens of Kazakhstan. Kassymbek emphasized that the joint Kazakh-Chinese projects are new and will be implemented in the next 5-6 years.

“There are claims that these plants, new projects are dirty, that these are old projects that are being transferred to Kazakhstan [from China]. I want to officially declare that there is not a single old plant transferred to Kazakhstan. All these projects are new,” said Kassymbek.

According to him, just recently, an alternative power plant (solar power) was opened in the Kapshagai region, where 30 people work — all are citizens of Kazakhstan.

“A completely new production is alternative energy. We will move towards it. In Kazakhstan, by the end of the year, 1,000 megawatts of wind and sun energy will be produced. I want to emphasize that these are new technologies, there are no ‘dirty’ enterprises or old enterprises that are transferred from one country to another. In general, we plan to create up to 20 thousand new jobs within these enterprises,” the deputy prime minister said.

He said that 15 Kazakhstan-Chinese projects have been implemented so far, and five more will be implemented before the end of the year.

“Over the past year, the share of Chinese investments has remained at the same level — 5-6% of the total. It has not changed,” he said, adding that projects are being implemented in areas such as engineering, industry, transport, agriculture, and energy.

Kassymbek also said that not a single plant that does not meet environmental requirements will be built in Kazakhstan.

This comes amid the rising anti-Chinese sentiment in Kazakhstan.

Earlier this week, protesters in the western city of Zhanaozen and several other Kazakh cities gathered to pressure President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev to cancel a planned trip to neighboring China over perceived corruption and mounting Chinese influence through financial assistance.

They demanded a stop to “Chinese expansion” through factories and other projects in oil-rich Kazakhstan.

Tokayev is scheduled to pay an official two-day visit to Beijing starting on September 11.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — During the period of Kazakhstan’s independence (since 1991), the country has attracted $330 billion of foreign investments from more than 120 countries, the Deputy Prime Minister Zhenis Kassymbek said at a press conference on September 5, the press service of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.

Continue reading

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — “Ukraine–Kazakhstan, Central Asia” business forum took place in Nur-Sultan on September 5.

Continue reading

TASHKENT (TCA) — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a boost to domestic importers and exporters in Uzbekistan by opening a limit of up to US$ 20 million under the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) to Asaka bank, the EBRD said on September 5.

Continue reading

TASHKENT (TCA) — Major nuclear fuel cycle company Orano has signed a partnership agreement with the Uzbek State, represented by the State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources (GoscomGeology) to develop mining exploration and operations activities in Uzbekistan, the French company said on September 4.

The two partners have decided to create a joint venture which will be established in few months, with 51% held by Orano and 49% held by GoscomGeology.

This agreement formalizes the desire of both parties to work together on uranium mining projects in Uzbekistan, in particular in the Navoi region in a desert area at the heart of the uranium-rich province of Kyzylkum.

The two partners plan to conduct borehole drilling works in the area to improve the classification of resources already identified by GoscomGeology and discover new uranium resources. The first works in the field are planned to commence in the first half of 2020.

“We are happy with and proud of this agreement which is part of the geographical diversification of the group’s mining activities and consolidates its presence in Central Asia,” said Nicolas Maes, Senior Executive Vice President of Orano’s Mining Business Unit. “It helps to strengthen relations within the framework of cooperation between France and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has extensive experience in the mining of uranium deposits by ISR, and combined with Orano’s experience, this gives this project the solid foundations expected to move into new territories and develop innovative solutions capable of improving our productivity and thus meet our customers’ expectations.”

Bobir Islamov, Chairman of the State Committee of Uzbekistan on Geology and Mineral Resources said: “Uzbekistan is rich in mineral resources and has a developed mining industry. The country mines major deposits such as the Muruntau gold deposit, the Kalmakyr porphyry copper deposit, and the Uchkuduk uranium mines in the province of Kyzylkum. The partnership agreement we are signing with Orano is about consolidating our efforts and carrying out mutually beneficial projects in order to diversify our uranium industry and create new production capacities by combining the expertise and experience of both parties. We believe cooperating with a reliable partner such as Orano, which has vast expertise and experience as well as a stable place in the global uranium market, will contribute to the success of the projects carried out by the JV we are creating. The agreement signed today is a symbolic event and will, without doubt, contribute to the development of a good relationship and friendship between France and Uzbekistan.”

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Turkish company DESA plans to establish production of leather products in Kazakhstan. In line with the initiative, the Turkish investors arrived on a working trip to Kazakhstan, Kazakh Invest national investment promotion company reported on its website.

Continue reading