Archive for January 16th, 2009
Kazakhstan Daily News Roundup - January 16, 2009
ENERGY:
India hopes to seal deal for Kazakh block in Jan
(Reuters) - India is expected to sign an agreement with the Kazakhstan government later this month for acquiring interest in the Satpayev exploration block.
Aker Solutions venture wins USD135 million Kashagan job
(Reuters) - Norwegian engineering group Aker Solutions and two partners have won a $135 million contract for engineering and design work for the Kashagan oilfield in Kazakhstan.
Kazakh uranium output fails to meet target
(AP - Washington Post) - Kazakhstan increased uranium production by almost one-third in 2008, but fell short of its previous output projection of more than 9,000 tons amid falling demand.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:
Fears of financial system collapse in Kazakhstan
(CACI Analyst) - The overexposure of Kazakhstan to the retail and construction sectors and significant dependence on foreign loans in the context of the decline in oil prices coupled with the financial crisis has made the country’s banks extremely vulnerable.
Two large Kazakh banks sign goverment aid deals
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan’s No.2 bank Kazkommerts and the third-largest lender Halyk signed deals with the government on Thursday, paving the way for capital injections from the state.
SamrukKazyna to allocate USD1 billion to four major commercial banks for recapitalization
(Interfax) - The SamrukKazyna state fund is ready in the near future to provide financing coming to USD1 billion to four leading Kazakh banks - Alliance, BTA Bank, Halyk Bank and Kazkommertsbank - as a part of a recapitalization program.
KZT35 billion to be attracted into concession projects in railway industry in 2009 (KazTAG)
Staff appointments at Samruk-Kazyna (SRI)
Sumitomo Mitsui financial group considers financing projects in Kazakhstan (KazTAG)
Kazakhstan: in 2008 the agrarian sector reached the positive balance (AgriMarket.Info)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates January 16, 2009 (Kazinform)
Indicators - January 15, 2009 (Reuters)
POLITICS:
Kazakhstan: Tougher religion law under constitutional review
(EurasiaNet) - Non-governmental organization activists are encouraged by President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s decision to refer controversial legislation governing religious expression to the Constitutional Council for review.
Kazakh lawmakers approve election law change
(AP) - Kazakh lawmakers approved legislation Thursday to guarantee at least two political parties are represented in parliament, a move designed to improve the Central Asian nation’s tarnished democratic credentials.
SOCIETY:
Can Kazakhstan’s education reforms dodge in face of the global economic meltdown (CACI Analyst)
Over 70 percent Kazakh residents faced corruption at least once in Q4 2008 – social poll (Interfax)
Kazakhstan Energy Roundup - January 16, 2009
India hopes to seal deal for Kazakh block in Jan
(Reuters) - India is expected to sign an agreement with the Kazakhstan government later this month for acquiring interest in the Satpayev exploration block.
Aker Solutions venture wins USD135 million Kashagan job
(Reuters) - Norwegian engineering group Aker Solutions and two partners have won a $135 million contract for engineering and design work for the Kashagan oilfield in Kazakhstan.
Kazakh uranium output fails to meet target
(AP - Washington Post) - Kazakhstan increased uranium production by almost one-third in 2008, but fell short of its previous output projection of more than 9,000 tons amid falling demand.
Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - January 16, 2009
Kazakhstan: Tougher religion law under constitutional review
(EurasiaNet) - Non-governmental organization activists are encouraged by President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s decision to refer controversial legislation governing religious expression to the Constitutional Council for review.
Kazakh lawmakers approve election law change
(AP) - Kazakh lawmakers approved legislation Thursday to guarantee at least two political parties are represented in parliament, a move designed to improve the Central Asian nation’s tarnished democratic credentials.
Kazakhstan Business and Economy Roundup - January 16, 2009
Fears of financial system collapse in Kazakhstan
(CACI Analyst) - The overexposure of Kazakhstan to the retail and construction sectors and significant dependence on foreign loans in the context of the decline in oil prices coupled with the financial crisis has made the country’s banks extremely vulnerable.
Two large Kazakh banks sign goverment aid deals
(Reuters) - Kazakhstan’s No.2 bank Kazkommerts and the third-largest lender Halyk signed deals with the government on Thursday, paving the way for capital injections from the state.
SamrukKazyna to allocate USD1 billion to four major commercial banks for recapitalization
(Interfax) - The SamrukKazyna state fund is ready in the near future to provide financing coming to USD1 billion to four leading Kazakh banks - Alliance, BTA Bank, Halyk Bank and Kazkommertsbank - as a part of a recapitalization program.
KZT35 billion to be attracted into concession projects in railway industry in 2009 (KazTAG)
Staff appointments at Samruk-Kazyna (SRI)
Sumitomo Mitsui financial group considers financing projects in Kazakhstan (KazTAG)
Kazakhstan: in 2008 the agrarian sector reached the positive balance (AgriMarket.Info)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates January 16, 2009 (Kazinform)
Indicators - January 15, 2009 (Reuters)
Kazakhstan Society Roundup - January 16, 2009
Can Kazakhstan’s education reforms dodge in face of the global economic meltdown (CACI Analyst)
Over 70 percent Kazakh residents faced corruption at least once in Q4 2008 – social poll (Interfax)
KZT35 billion to be attracted into concession projects in railway industry in 2009
(KazTAG) – The Ministry of Transportation and Communication plans to attract KZT35 billion (USD292 million) in 2009 for concession projects in the railway industry, according to the ministry’s press release.
“The three projects, which already started, will attract KZT35 billion in investments, KZT54 billion in 2010, and KZT47 billion in 2011,” according to the press release.
Staff appointments at Samruk-Kazyna
(SRI) - Samruk-Kazyna has completed the appointments of its top management, Kazakhstan Today reported on Thursday with the reference to the Fund press service.
Sumitomo Mitsui financial group considers financing projects in Kazakhstan
(KazTAG) - Sumitomo-Mitsui, one of Japan’s largest financial groups, is considering financing projects in Kazakhstan.
