WEEKLY REVIEW: We invest in constructing diversified and innovative economy - PM
On Monday, November 21, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov has received heads of a number of mass media of the CIS countries, who arrived for participation in the Forum of European and Asian Media (FEAM). There was held an exchange of opinions on the issues of development of the media space.
On Monday Kazakh and Russian foreign ministers Yerzhan Kazykhanov and Sergey Lavrov have met in Moscow. Besides, the parties debated a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues. The main focus was the tasks stemming from the meeting of the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus held on November 18. Following results of the talks an actions plan for cooperation for 2012 was signed.
On Tuesday, November 22, within a working visit to Paris Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov has participated in a session of the Council of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Addressing the session of the OECD Council, Prime Minister Karim Massimov has presented Kazakhstan's request for an observer status in the Organization's committees.
K.Massimov defined the country's strive to introduce the OECD standards and cooperate further with the Organization's committees.
"Half a century ago, when the OECD was established, not everyone could imagine that one day Kazakhstan will be able to submit such a request to the Organization. 20 years ago, when our country gained independence, such ambition seemed incredible. Now we are an economy open to new ideas and investments. We invest in construction of diversified and innovative economy with modern infrastructure and high qualified education for maximum use of our citizens' potential," the Premier said.
K.Massimov informed representatives of the OECD participating states of cooperation of Kazakhstan's Government with the Organization. The experts' recommendations in the state policy of education modernization were taken into account.
On the same day the 150th session of the General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau was held in Paris on November 22-23, 2011.
A Kazakh delegation is headed by Chairman of the Organizing Committee for EXPO-2017, First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev. The delegation also includes Minister for Economic Integration Zhanar Aitzhanova, Kazakh MFA's Executive Secretary, National Coordinator of EXPO-2017 Project Rapil Zhoshybayev, Deputy Mayor of Astana Kanat Sultanbekov.
In a 30-minute presentation Kazakhstan presented a territory of holding the EXPO in the 3-D format. The International Exhibitions Bureau delegates were informed of infrastructural opportunities of Astana and Kazakhstan's readiness for holding the event of such scale.
On Wednesday, November 23, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov met with former Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Roland Dumas, who arrived in Kazakhstan to attend the conference dedicated to the successful implementation of Kazakhstan's "Path to Europe" Program. The parties discussed the key issues of Kazakhstan's cooperation with the European Union and bilateral trade-economic relations with France. They also exchanged views on the current economic situation in Kazakhstan and EU countries.
At AstanaSmart 2011 conference held on Wednesday Kazakh Communications and Information Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev told about reduction of mobile connection and Internet tariffs. According to him, they lowered mobile intra-network call tariffs by 33%, roaming tariffs by 48%, and interconnect by 20%. Certainly we will further this work," the Minister said. As for Internet, connection fee was cut by 8%. On January 1, 2012 we will once again reduce the line rental. The Minister also informed that industrial exploitation of 4G technologies in Astana will start in 2013.
On Thursday, November 24, there was held a meeting of K.Massimov with Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. Kazakhstan and Ukraine plan to extend an action plan on trade-economic cooperation of the two countries for one more year and to develop an action plan for 2012-2013, so-called "Road Map No.4.at the Kazakh-Ukrainian business forum there was told about participation of the Ukrainian entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan's industrialization. In this connection, K.Massimov said that the Government will render support to the Ukrainian business under the same conditions as the Kazakh ones.
At the international conference "Kazakhstan-Europe: results and new horizons of cooperation" in Astana Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov informed that Kazakhstan and the European Union are developing a new partnership and cooperation agreement. According to him, Kazakhstan, and EU are aimed at signing a comprehensive document on long-term cooperation having ambitious goals.
"The point at issue is that creating a qualitatively new legal framework for a multi-faceted mutually beneficial partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union," Y.Kazykhanov noted.
