ASTANA (TCA) — On October 25 Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev took part in the first international forum on the development of the agro-industrial sector, Astana Agro Forum 2018. More than 800 representatives of the international expert community and the non-governmental sector, agricultural producers, and heads of local executive bodies participate in the two-day program events, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reports.

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ASTANA (TCA) — Countries around the world on October 25 agreed to the Declaration of Astana, vowing to strengthen their primary health care systems as an essential step toward achieving universal health coverage. The Declaration of Astana reaffirms the historic 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata, the first time world leaders committed to primary health care, the World Health Organization said.

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ASTANA (TCA) — The American-Kazakhstan Business Association on October 25 hosted a Business Forum in Astana where the First Vice Premier of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin and US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross addressed the participants. More than 100 Kazakhstani and American companies took part in the Forum, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.

“The US is one of the leading investors in Kazakhstan, more than $40 billion has been invested in the economy of our country,” said Mamin, noting successful cooperation with major American companies, including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Halliburton, in the development of power engineering and machine building, processing industry, and mining sector.

The official visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to the US in January 2018 was a new stage in the development of bilateral cooperation. During the visit, trade and investment agreements were concluded for about $7 billion. The agreements were aimed at implementing projects in the field of aviation and space research, petrochemical and agricultural industries, as well as projects in the field of infrastructure development.

Kazakhstan is the country with the most market-oriented economy in Central Asia. Kazakhstan accounts for 70% of all GDP and 80% of total FDI inflows into the region. Growing openness and integration into global and regional trade and production processes are the main factors driving dynamic economic growth, Mamin said.

“Astana International Financial Center, established in July 2017, is the main institution for the protection of investors. AIFC embodies the best practices of leading financial centers in New York, Singapore, London and Dubai. The platform’s partners are the American stock exchange NASDAQ, the largest US financial organizations such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs,” said Mamin and noted that 24 thousand companies with foreign participation do a successful business in Kazakhstan.

Over 700 of them are created in collaboration with American companies. These companies play an important role in attracting international capital and best practices to the country, meeting the ever-growing demand for Kazakhstan’s exports both in the region and internationally.

“The Government of Kazakhstan considers the visit of the American trade mission as an integral part of the practical implementation of the agreements of the Leaders of the two states,” said Mamin.

The US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said that the US intends to continue diversifying the areas of cooperation with Kazakhstan.

According to him, “if previously the main areas of American capital were the mining and energy sector of Kazakhstan, today we intend to invest in infrastructure development, processing, engineering, the agro-industrial complex, and a number of other high-tech areas.”

Ross also noted US intentions to increase trade in services as a mechanism for increasing employment and value added in the economies of the US and Kazakhstan.

He stressed the importance of the further implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level, including the Agreement on “Open Sky” Air Traffic between Kazakhstan and the US. The document implies the lifting of restrictions on flights between the cities of Kazakhstan and the United States, which will significantly increase the volume of passenger and cargo traffic between the two countries in the near future.

ASTANA (TCA) — A briefing was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan on October 23 for representatives of the diplomatic community accredited in the country and international business associations on the protection of investors’ rights when carrying out investment activities in Kazakhstan. The keynote speakers were Alik Shpekbayev, the Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Timur Toktabayev, the Vice Minister of Investment and Development, the Foreign Ministry reported.

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ASHGABAT (TCA) — Development of interstate cooperation was discussed during the talks held by Turkmenistan Government delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tokyo, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.

On October 22, members of the Turkmenistan delegation were received by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Having confirmed high interest of his country in further improvement of partnership with Turkmenistan, the head of the Japanese Government expressed the gratitude to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his personal contribution to development of traditionally friendly Turkmen–Japanese relations.

During the meeting, the sides discussed opportunities of intensification of productive partnership by implementation of new joint projects with Japanese companies in petrochemical industry, electrical energy, transport sphere, and modernization of the railway network in Turkmenistan.

In addition, the Turkmen delegation had meetings with leaders of ministries and departments of Japan.

Various aspects of cooperation in transport sphere were discussed during the talks with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan Keiichi Ishii. Shipbuilding, automobile and railway transport were outlined as priority aspects.

Opportunities of joint work in telecommunication were reviewed at the meeting with Minister of Communications of Japan Masatoshi Ishida. In particular, the Japanese side expressed interest and willingness to support the construction of a subsea fibre optic cable between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Partnership in the economic sphere was discussed during the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finances Taro Aso. Special attention was paid to financing of projects in Turkmenistan with participation of Japanese companies.

On October 23, the Turkmen delegation met with President of Japanese International Cooperation Agency Shinichi Kitaoka. The sides noted positive experience of cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and JICA gained for more than 20 years. High efficiency of projects for improvement of qualification of Turkmen specialists in different spheres was highlighted. In addition, the Agency arranged joint work of scientists of the two countries in seismology. Necessity of further expansion of bilateral relations in the educational sphere was mentioned in the aspect of future partnership.

The head of JICA expressed the interest in cooperation in social sphere projects. From this point of view, the Turkmen side proposed to consider the participation in the project of modernization of the railroads in Turkmenistan as socially important and aimed at provision of high quality services to the population of the country.