Kazakhstan Sweep – 110428
· The interior ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), an intergovernmental security body, met in the Kazakh capital Astana to discuss efforts to fight crime. The SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan hold observer status.
· The Kazakh authorities are seriously concerned over the killing of a Kazakh citizen in the USA, Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency said on 28 April. They urged the US side to conduct all-round and transparent investigation of the incident, the news agency reported referring to the press release of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. "The (Kazakh) embassy has sent a diplomatic note to the US State Department which expresses a serious concern of the Kazakh side over the incident and urges (the US side) to conduct all-round and transparent investigation," the press release said.
· Venus Airport Investments B.V., a company registered in Amsterdam, has taken over the International Airport of Almaty (IAA). According to an extract from the register of IAA shareholders published at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) website, as of April 25 Venus Airport Investments B.V. was the only shareholder of the IAA.
· Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev calls Turkic nations to strengthen cultural cooperation and to revive common spiritual values. "Kazakhstan attaches great importance to strengthening mutual cooperation among the Turkic peoples, and the revival of common spiritual values," said Nursultan Nazarbayev in his address to the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Countries (TurkPA) on Thursday in Astana.
· Kazakhstan hopes to complete negotiations to acquire a stake in Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) in the near future, said Samruk-Kazyna CEO Timur Kulibayev. "We are negotiating a stake acquisition of up to 10% for KazMunayGas and we hope that we will reach an agreement in the near future," Kulibayev told journalists in Almaty on Thursday.
· CapAsia, a joint venture private equity fund manager between CIMB Group and Standard Bank Group specialising in mid-cap infrastructure investments in Southeast Asia and Central Asia, has entered into a participation agreement to provide $50 million in equity capital to Central Asian Power and Energy Company (CAPEC) in Kazakhstan.
· China says it will close its borders with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from April 30 to May 2 because of the Chinese Labor Day holiday, RFE/RL's Kazakh and Kyrgyz Services report. The Chinese government gave no reason for the closure of the border. It normally closes its border crossings with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for the Chinese New Year.
· Kazakhstan’s economy may grow 7 percent this year bolstered by “favorable” conditions on global commodity markets, Economic Development and Trade Minister Kairat Kelimbetov said. “We see reserves for the 7 percent growth in the processing industry and construction,” Kelimbetov said. The Kazakh economy expanded 6.5 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, he said, citing preliminary figures.
FULL ARTICLE
------
Shanghai Cooperation Organization ministers to meet in Kazakhstan
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110428/163745669.html
4.27.11
The interior ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), an intergovernmental security body, will meet on Thursday in the Kazakh capital Astana to discuss efforts to fight crime.
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, who leads the Russian delegation, said the agenda includes the fight against drug trafficking, organized crime, and cybercrime.
"First of all, we will discuss the situation regarding the fight against drug trafficking. It is no secret that... Russia is in the way of the so-called 'northern route' of heroin transportation from Afghanistan's northern provinces via Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan," Nurgaliyev said.
"And our country is often used for drug transit to Europe," he said, urging all regional countries to unite efforts.
The SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan hold observer status.
ASTANA, April 28 (RIA Novosti)
------
Authorities concerned over killing of Kazakh national in USA
The Kazakh authorities are seriously concerned over the killing of a Kazakh citizen in the USA, Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency said on 28 April. They urged the US side to conduct all-round and transparent investigation of the incident, the news agency reported referring to the press release of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
"The (Kazakh) embassy has sent a diplomatic note to the US State Department which expresses a serious concern of the Kazakh side over the incident and urges (the US side) to conduct all-round and transparent investigation," the press release said.
The Kazakh citizen, Kirill Denyakin, was shot dead by an American policeman on 23 April.
Source: Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 0551 gmt 28 Apr 11
BBC Mon CAU 280411 abm/hsh
------
Venus Airport Investments takes over Almaty airport
http://www.interfax.kz/?lang=eng&int_id=10&news_id=4251
Almaty. April 28. Interfax-Kazakhstan - Venus Airport Investments B.V., a company registered in Amsterdam, has taken over the International Airport of Almaty (IAA).
According to an extract from the register of IAA shareholders published at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) website, as of April 25 Venus Airport Investments B.V. was the only shareholder of the IAA.
The number of ordinary shares of AIA currently totals 100,000, including 78,414 listed ones. The number of preference shares is 10,000. No preference shares have been placed.
At a specialized KASE auction on April 22 the whole package of IAA shares was sold to an unspecified buyer for 12.6 billion tenge or $86.7 million.
The Almaty Airport, the largest in Kazakhstan, was built in 1935. Before April 22 it was owned on a parity basis by Meridian Capital LLP and SAT Infosystems LLP.
------
President Nazarbayev calls Turkic nations to consolidate
http://www.interfax.kz/?lang=eng&int_id=10&news_id=4252
Astana. April 28. Interfax-Kazakhstan - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev calls Turkic nations to strengthen cultural cooperation and to revive common spiritual values.
"Kazakhstan attaches great importance to strengthening mutual cooperation among the Turkic peoples, and the revival of common spiritual values," said Nursultan Nazarbayev in his address to the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Countries (TurkPA) on Thursday in Astana.
"The Turkic World is the golden bridge spanning our cultural heritage. We have common roots, history, religion, language and culture. We must put all that heritage to constructive use," the Speaker Senate of Parliament of Kazakhstan, Ural Mukhamedzhanov, said while presenting the president's statement.
The President believes that the Turkic Council, TURKSOY, Turkic Academy and TurkPA "create great opportunities for further consolidations of the Turkic nations, while the Assembly works hard to expand inter-parliamentary cooperation and advance regional and international integration processes."
------
Kazakhstan looks forward to wrapping up talks on KPO stake in the near future, SK
http://www.interfax.kz/?lang=eng&int_id=10&news_id=4253
Almaty. April 28. Interfax-Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan hopes to complete negotiations to acquire a stake in Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) in the near future, said Samruk-Kazyna CEO Timur Kulibayev.
"We are negotiating a stake acquisition of up to 10% for KazMunayGas and we hope that we will reach an agreement in the near future," Kulibayev told journalists in Almaty on Thursday.
As reported, National Company KazMunayGas had proposed to buy a 10% holding in KPO.
Alongside the proposal, the Kazakh authorities repeatedly launched probes into KPO taxes and financing.
KPO, which is owned by BG-Group (32.5%), ENI (32.5%), Chevron (20%) and Lukoil (15%), is operating the Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field under the 40-year Production Sharing Agreement, signed in 1997.
------
CapAsia invests in Kazakhstan electricity utility
http://www.cpifinancial.net/v2/News.aspx?v=1&aid=7816&sec=Islamic%20Finance
Thursday, April 28 2011
CapAsia, a joint venture private equity fund manager between CIMB Group and Standard Bank Group specialising in mid-cap infrastructure investments in Southeast Asia and Central Asia, has entered into a participation agreement to provide $50 million in equity capital to Central Asian Power and Energy Company (CAPEC) in Kazakhstan.
CapAsia, a Singapore based, private equity fund manager specialising in midcap infrastructure investment in Non-BRIC Emerging Asia, entered into the agreement via its Islamic Infrastructure Fund (IIF). The IIF, managed by CapAsia, is a $262 million private equity infrastructure fund that is jointly sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Dr Johan Bastin, Chief Executive Officer of CapAsia, said, "This is our first investment in Central Asia. We are delighted to be partnering with one of the largest private electric utilities in Central Asia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development who is an anchor investor in it. We are attracted to CAPEC by the strength of its management, corporate culture and track record. We see Kazakhstan as a primary market for IIF because of the Government's commitment to furthering private sector involvement in the provision and financing of infrastructure."
CapAsia said that the proceeds of IIF's equity investment will be used to support CAPEC's multi-year capital improvement programme aimed at improving the company's heat and power generation and distribution facilities.
------
China To Close Border With Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
http://www.rferl.org/content/china_kyrgyzstan_kazakhstan_border/16797091.html
April 28, 2011
ASTANA/BISHKEK -- China says it will close its borders with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from April 30 to May 2 because of the Chinese Labor Day holiday, RFE/RL's Kazakh and Kyrgyz Services report.
The Kyrgyz Border Guard Forces press service told RFE/RL that two major checkpoints along the Kyrgyz-Chinese border, at Torugart and Erkech-Tam, will reopen on May 3.
The Chinese government gave no reason for the closure of the border. It normally closes its border crossings with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for the Chinese New Year.
Representatives of the Kazakh Embassy in Beijing told journalists today that May 1 is the usual holiday in China known officially as the International Day of Workers' Solidarity.
May 2 is an additional holiday in 2011 because May 1 falls on a weekend this year.
Most of the trade by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with China is by trucks across the borders, rather than by plane or train.
------
Kazakhstan’s Economy May Expand 7% This Year, Kelimbetov Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-26/kazakhstan-s-economy-may-expand-7-this-year-kelimbetov-says.html
By Nariman Gizitdinov - Apr 26, 2011 4:30 AM CT
Kazakhstan’s economy may grow 7 percent this year bolstered by “favorable” conditions on global commodity markets, Economic Development and Trade Minister Kairat Kelimbetov said.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered that the economy must expand at least 7 percent, Kelimbetov said today at a Cabinet meeting in the capital, Astana, according to an e-mailed copy of his speech.
“We see reserves for the 7 percent growth in the processing industry and construction,” Kelimbetov said. The Kazakh economy expanded 6.5 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, he said, citing preliminary figures.
------