On February 2nd in Astana the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a joint Investment Forum. The event was organized to propose changes to Kazakhstan’s investment legislation, and to highlight important achievements supported by the USAID Kazakhstan Rule of Law Program, run by the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI). The program has partnered with the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan and the company Kazakh Invest, overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Over 50 participants, representing the government, judiciary, business community, investors, and local and international experts participated in the event. The forum was opened by the chairman of the Supreme Court, Aslambek Mergaliyev, who stressed the need for reform in order to attract investors.
At the forum, the US Ambassador to Kazakhstan Daniel Rosenblum commented: “Today’s Investment Forum organized by the American Bar Association is yet another example of the long-term and very strong U.S.-Kazakhstan partnership in support of the rule of law, as it relates to economic policy, foreign investment, and the business climate. I am pleased that this forum will be repeated next year as well, providing an ongoing platform for discussions on issues that are important to foreign investors. We also mark the conclusion of the USAID Rule of Law Program in Kazakhstan, which over the past four years has helped improve the legal environment for protecting investments and strengthen the professional development and independence of Kazakhstan’s judiciary.”
