Kazakhstan eyes German experience in single-industry cities development

BERLIN. June 27. KAZINFORM Heads of Kazakhstani regions led by Vice Minister of Regional Development Serik Zhumangarin paid a working visit to Germany on 23-26 June within the development of Kazakh-German interregional cooperation.

The delegation consisted of nearly 40 akims and deputy akims of regions, cities and districts of Kazakhstan. The goal of the working trip was to explore Germany's experience in the development and reconstruction of single-industry cities. Leinefelde-Worbis in northwestern Thuringia, in particular.

During the negotiations with mayor of Leinefelde-Worbis Gerd Reinhardt, the sides noted the relevance of such visits and talks in terms of sustainable development of interregional cooperation and exchange of experience in the field of territorial development.

A project on modernization of old city blocks, taking into account modern standards of efficient use of resources, requirements to energy efficiency and environmental standards as well as large-scale implementation of renewable energy resources, was demonstrated by German experts. Diversification of regional branches of economy, widening of service industry and creating new jobs, modernization of city infrastructure and legal and financial aspects of single-industry cities' restructuring was in the focus of the meeting as well.