ASTANA. September 10. KAZINFORM /Muratbek Makulbekov/ The Customs Union creates new opportunities for further development of economic ties between Kazakhstan and Russia. Within the framework of the VII Forum of Inter-Regional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia in which presidents N.Nazarbayev and D.Medvedev participated,

there were  signed the Agreement on interregional and boundary cooperation, Agreement on joint activity on geological study and exploration of the Imashevskoye cross-border gas field and Agreement on joint use and protection of transboundary water facilities.

Besides, there were also signed other treaties directed to further development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia in various spheres. It was noted that cooperation development in the sphere of high technologies and joint projects implementation in the field of 'green' energy should be priority in deepening trade-economic ties between Kazakhstan and Russia. Vice Prime Minister-Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev has said it at an opening of the VII Forum of Kazakhstan-Russia Inter-Regional Cooperation in Ust-Kamenogorsk.  

The Vice Prime Minister invited the Russian companies for active participation in industrial projects implementation within the State Program of Forced Industrial and Innovative Development.
On Tuesday, September 7, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov has taken part in the 6^th Baikal Economic Forum that opened in Irkutsk. Taking the floor Karim Massimov noted that effective interaction between Russia and Kazakhstan had been established on many projects and different directions. The Kazakh Premier met with Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Sergei Mironov within the forum. K.Massimov visited the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Combine and met with General Director Alexander Belousov. The Kazakh Prime Minister said to journalists that the Kazakh Government intends to acquire stock of shares of one of the current Russian enterprises on uranium enrichment. He also noted that Kazakhstan and Russia do not compete with each other in supplying energy resources to China.

"The Russian Federation's export of energy resources is oriented to the eastern part of China, and Kazakhstan - to the western one. It is different markets, hence a do not see competitiveness between our states. Moreover, we coordinate our policy with the Russian side. And our countries have fruitful cooperation, not competitiveness", K.Massimov said.

On Wednesday, September 8, there was considered draft amendments to the national budget for 2010-2012 at the Government's session. According to Kazakh Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zhanar Aitzhanova, the country's real GDP growth has made 8 percent in the first half-year. Introducing the updated forecast for key macroeconomic indicators in 2010 the Minister noted that the industrial output increased by 11 percent since the beginning of the year. "Retail trade grew by 13.3 percent, transport services - by 6.8 percent."

The forecast is based on the average world oil price at 65 U.S. dollars per barrel. "Taking into account the industrial development tendency, economy growth in 2010 is estimated at the level of 5 percent", the Minister resumed.

Reporting on the draft law "On amendments to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On national budget for 2010-2012", Kazakh Finance Minister Bolat Zhamishev said that according to the adjusted national budget, budget revenues are predicted to increase by KZT 169.1 billion. As per Minister Zhamishev, the increase is planned due to the introduction of export customs duties on oil at a rate of $ 20 per ton (KZT 78.6 billion) as well as by reducing the refund of zero rate VAT (KZT 43.1 billion). "Another KZT 24.9 billion of budget revenues is expected from non-recurrent revenues, including the amount of additional accruals as a result of customs inspections", he added.

Kazakh Finance Minister Bolat Zhamishev made public that additional KZT 31.6 billion will be allocated for the completion of construction of facilities and organizational activities of the 7^th Asian Winter Games. "These funds will be directed to the completion of construction of a skating stadium - KZT 7.7 billion, ski jump complex - KZT 1.3 billion; reconstruction of the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace - KZT 6.5 billion; provision of television and radio broadcasting - KZT 4.7 billion", the Minister informed.

As Bolat Zhamishev informed, additional KZT 77 billion will be allocated from the national budget for breakthrough infrastructure projects within the framework of the country's accelerated industrial innovative development. According to Mr. Zhamishev, the funds will be allocated for such projects as construction of Beineu-Bozoi-Akbulak gas pipeline (KZT 37.5 billion), Khorgos-Zhetygen railroad (KZT 10.1 billion), Uzen-border with Turkmenistan railroad (KZT 7.4 billion), Balkhash Thermal Power Plant (KZT 3.2 billion). Besides, it is planned to inject KZT 3.6 billion into construction of Shar-Ust-Kamenogorsk railway.

The Government of Kazakhstan approved a draft sectoral program on developing light industry on Wednesday. Vice Minister of Industry and New Technologies Berik Kamaliyev introduced the corresponding document. According to him, the program is aimed at ensuring diversification and increasing competitiveness of production. The program was developed for meeting all the standards and demands of internal market, production, entering foreign markets. 'The main problem of the sector is a depreciation of fixed funds, low percentage of export, small share of domestic products and lack of personnel', B. Kamaliyev noted. According to him, the program has the solutions to these problems in form of technological modernization and increase of production on the base of innovation development. 'System measures are development of mechanisms of medium term procurement between light industry and national companies and strategic enterprises, introduction of two technical regulations and 50 state standards, harmonization of certificates of compliance by member countries of the Customs Union', Mr. Kamaliyev said noting that one of the main measures was to promote entering of the light industry products foreign markets.   

Kazakh Minister of Transport and Communications Abelgazy Kussainov, who introduced the draft sectoral program of transport infrastructure development for 2010-2014 at the Government's sitting, noted that it was developed within the framework of the State Program on Forced Industrial Innovative Development of Kazakhstan and in compliance with the key directions of the Kazakhstan Development Strategy till 2020. "The main constituent of the program implementation is the financial resources, which allow to carry out 58 infrastructure projects. The total amount of funds needed is KZT 2.7 trillion, including KZT 1.1 billion from the national budget", A. Kussainov said. As the Minister emphasized, the program is aimed at improving main indexes of the transport-communications complex and achieving an increase in gross value added on transport by 63%. The Government of Kazakhstan approved the draft sectoral program of transport infrastructure development for 2010-2014.

On Thursday, September 9, K.Massimov met with Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kazakhstan Shigeo Natsui whose diplomatic mission in our country completes. The Premier held a session of the State Commission on Economy Modernization. The Commission members considered drafts of sectoral programs on competitiveness development, interments attraction, special economic zones development and export stimulation, and on innovations development and assistance to technological modernization, represented by the Ministry of Industry and New technologies and Agency for Competitiveness Protection.

The same day, K.Massimov held a telephone conversation with Russian Prime Minister V.Putin. The two premiers discussed topical issues of bilateral relations, trade-economic cooperation as well as interaction in the field of energy.