Kazakhstan Daily News Roundup - October 24, 2008

ENERGY:

Kazakhstan is “ready to swap” Caspian oil rights with Iran
(Bloomberg) - Kazakhstan is ready to exchange exploration rights it holds for oil and gas assets in the Caspian Sea with Iran to gain access to reserves in the Persian Gulf, Prime Minister Karim Masimov said.

Kazakh KMG EP January - September oil output up 8 percent
(Reuters - Hemscott) - Kazakh oil producer KazMunaiGas Exploration and Production (KMG E&P) reported on Thursday an 8 percent year-on-year rise in its January-September output to 8.9 million tonnes, or 238,700 barrels per day.

KEGOC JSC completed first stage of “North-South” project (Kazinform)

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

Credit hungry Kazakhstan feels the crunch
(BBC News) - “Unlike many other economies the Kazakh economy is substantially reliant on external borrowings and is dependent on construction as one of the industries that spearheaded development,” says Andrei Timchenko from Kazkommerzbank.

Kazakhstan wants more investment in agriculture
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan’s government urged private companies on Thursday to invest more in the country’s underdeveloped agriculture and vowed to do more to improve Soviet-era infrastructure in the sector.

Food Contract Corporation to develop technical and economic assessment of grain terminal construction in Ukraine next year (AgriMarket.Info)

New UN-Kazakhstan joint project launched (Kazinform)

National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates October 24, 2008 (Kazinform)

Indicators - October 23, 2008 (Reuters)

POLITICS:

Astana promotes plan for expanded ties with Europe
(EurasiaNet) - Kazakhstani government officials are touting a “Road to Europe” development blueprint, which aims to strengthen trade ties between Kazakhstan and the European Union, as well as guide Astana’s democratization efforts.

Kazakhstan Business and Economy Roundup - October 24, 2008

Credit hungry Kazakhstan feels the crunch
(BBC News) - “Unlike many other economies the Kazakh economy is substantially reliant on external borrowings and is dependent on construction as one of the industries that spearheaded development,” says Andrei Timchenko from Kazkommerzbank.

Kazakhstan wants more investment in agriculture
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan’s government urged private companies on Thursday to invest more in the country’s underdeveloped agriculture and vowed to do more to improve Soviet-era infrastructure in the sector.

Food Contract Corporation to develop technical and economic assessment of grain terminal construction in Ukraine next year (AgriMarket.Info)

New UN-Kazakhstan joint project launched (Kazinform)

National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates October 24, 2008 (Kazinform)

Indicators - October 23, 2008 (Reuters)

Kazakhstan Energy Roundup - October 24, 2008

Kazakhstan is “ready to swap” Caspian oil rights with Iran
(Bloomberg) - Kazakhstan is ready to exchange exploration rights it holds for oil and gas assets in the Caspian Sea with Iran to gain access to reserves in the Persian Gulf, Prime Minister Karim Masimov said.

Kazakh KMG EP January - September oil output up 8 percent
(Reuters - Hemscott) - Kazakh oil producer KazMunaiGas Exploration and Production (KMG E&P) reported on Thursday an 8 percent year-on-year rise in its January-September output to 8.9 million tonnes, or 238,700 barrels per day.

KEGOC JSC completed first stage of “North-South” project (Kazinform)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - October 24, 2008

Astana promotes plan for expanded ties with Europe
(EurasiaNet) - Kazakhstani government officials are touting a “Road to Europe” development blueprint, which aims to strengthen trade ties between Kazakhstan and the European Union, as well as guide Astana’s democratization efforts.