Archive for March 17th, 2009
BTA Bank admits it may seek debt restructuring
(SRI) - BTA Bank, Kazakhstan’s largest bank, which was taken over by the state last month, officially announced that it may seek the restructuring of some of its USD12-billion foreign debt.
Fitch: Kazakh oil, gas tax changes positive
(Fitch Ratings) - Fitch Ratings says today that the overall tax burden on Kazakh oil and gas companies, levied by a new tax code introduced at the beginning of 2009, is not likely to change significantly given the offsetting nature of other tax initiatives.
Regulator takes over management of KazTransGas-Tbilisi
(SRI) - Georgia’s state energy regulator has appointed a “special administrator” to temporarily take over the management of gas distribution company KazTransGas-Tbilisi, Georgian media reported yesterday.
Kazakhstan Daily News Roundup - March 17, 2009
RECENT ANALYSIS:
Banking: Competition for retail deposits heating up
(SRI) - The shakeup in Kazakhstan’s banking sector may allow smaller, well-capitalized institutions to gain market share at the expense of the large troubled banks.
ENERGY:
CNPC rumored to be primary bidder for MangistauMunaiGas
(SRI) - Chinese state oil company CNPC will reportedly be the primary bidder for purchasing the minority share in MangistauMunaiGas (MMG), according to Interfax.
Victoria Oil sees its ownership of Kazakh field restored
(Reuters) - Victoria Oil & Gas said on Monday it expected the ownership of the disputed Kemerkol oil field in Kazakhstan to be restored to it, sending its shares up as much as 81 percent.
India, Kazakhstan to sign contract for Satpayev oil block (Kazinform)
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:
Kazakhstan’s Industrial Production Index declines in February
(SRI) - Kazakhstan’s Industrial Production Index declined 9.0 percent month-on-month and 4.7 percent year-on-year, the State Statistics Agency reported.
Major road projects may start this year
(SRI) - Construction on four major road projects will begin by the end of this year.
Kazakhstan: Unemployment rises again
(EurasiaNet) - Unemployment is Kazakhstan rose in February to 7.1 percent, but a further 1.9 percent of the working population is on reduced hours or unpaid leave.
Kazakh-French Center forTechnology Transfer presented in Paris (Kazinform)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates March 17, 2009 (Kazinform)
POLITICS:
Is Rakhat Aliyev looking for a new home? (EurasiaNet)
Nazarbayev to discuss further cooperation prospects in Abu-Dhabi (Interfax)
SOCIETY:
Kazakhs face big power bill for Asian Winter Games
(AP - IHT) - The mayor of the Kazakh city hosting the 2011 Asian Winter Games says more than half a billion dollars must be spent to get the electricity network ready for the competition.
Kazakh independent weekly’s trial opens (RFE/RL)
REGIONAL:
Turkmenistan: Crisis? What crisis? (EurasiaNet)
Kyrgyz opposition says car crash was political murder
(SRI - Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan’s opposition described the death of a politician in a crash as political murder ahead of a presidential poll but the government said the death was being used by them for political purposes.
Kyrgyz opposition calls for mass protests (SRI - AP)
Kazakhstan Regional News Roundup - March 17, 2009
Turkmenistan: Crisis? What crisis? (EurasiaNet)
Kyrgyz opposition says car crash was political murder
(SRI - Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan’s opposition described the death of a politician in a crash as political murder ahead of a presidential poll but the government said the death was being used by them for political purposes.
Kyrgyz opposition calls for mass protests (SRI - AP)
Kyrgyz opposition calls for mass protests
(AP) - Opposition parties on Monday called for protests across Kyrgyzstan this month, amid worsening economic conditions and mounting accusations of government repression.
Kyrgyz opposition says car crash was political murder
(Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan’s opposition described the death of a politician in a crash as political murder ahead of a presidential poll but the government said the death was being used by them for political purposes.
Kazakhstan Society Roundup - March 17, 2009
Kazakhs face big power bill for Asian Winter Games
(AP - IHT) - The mayor of the Kazakh city hosting the 2011 Asian Winter Games says more than half a billion dollars must be spent to get the electricity network ready for the competition.
Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - March 17, 2009
Is Rakhat Aliyev looking for a new home? (EurasiaNet)
Nazarbayev to discuss further cooperation prospects in Abu-Dhabi (Interfax)
Kazakhstan Business and Economy Roundup - Mach 17, 2009
Kazakhstan’s Industrial Production Index declines in February
(SRI) - Kazakhstan’s Industrial Production Index declined 9.0 percent month-on-month and 4.7 percent year-on-year, the State Statistics Agency reported.
Kazakhstan: Unemployment rises again
(EurasiaNet) - Unemployment is Kazakhstan rose in February to 7.1 percent, but a further 1.9 percent of the working population is on reduced hours or unpaid leave.
Kazakh-French Center forTechnology Transfer presented in Paris (Kazinform)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates March 17, 2009 (Kazinform)
