Kazakhstan 2009 US Investment Forum

As Kazakhstan approaches the 20th anniversary of independence, its attractiveness to foreign direct investors has never been so great. The country’s economy is fundamentally based on vast natural resources, with the oil and gas sectors underpinning the rapid development of Kazakhstan’s infrastructure and industrial base.The development of the energy sector has involved Kazakhstan operating with a range of foreign partners, suppliers and expertise. This continues to be the case, but the country, under the terms of its long-term development plan, championed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, is seeking to broaden and diversify its economy with foreign direct investors again playing key roles.

In keeping with this policy, the government of Kazakhstan continues to build a foreign investor friendly climate, including a new fiscal code designed to reduce corporate tax burdens, and the promotion of an open economy geared to stimulating entrepreneurial participation, involving, for example, the privatisation of major areas of former Kazakh state-owned industries.

Economic reform has also evolved in harness with constitutional reform, promoting greater transparency and accountability throughout Kazakh society, underpinning the rule of law and civil liberties.

Industrial and commercial relations between Kazakhstan and the U.S. have increasingly featured in Kazakhstan’s rapid economic growth, and against this background, the government of Kazakhstan was proud to stage its first-ever official Kazakhstan-U.S. Investment Forum in November 2009, in New York. This prestigious event offered unparalleled access to key Kazakh ministers and officials, and was hosted by H.E. Erlan
A. Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States.

Who attended?
• Current and potential industrial and financial investors in manufacturing and processing industries in the oil and gas and non-oil and gas sectors, engineering, IT, communications, environmental projects, construction, transport, utilities, telecoms, tourism, financial services, retail, and security
• International banks and providers of international financial services, especially in the trade and project finance sectors
• Transport, freight and logistics companies
• Providers of professional services – legal, accounting and insurance firms