On the eve of Independence Day in Astana, by an established good tradition, not only domestic production leaders were awarded, but also foreign investors for their contribution to the economy of the republic. This year, the list of those whose merit was highly appreciated by the country's government included ten companies from Germany, France, Turkey, China, Russia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
The handing of valuable decorations and certificates of honour took place in a festive atmosphere at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the capital. Opening the V annual award ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Investment and Development of Kazakhstan, Timur Toktabaev, said that over the years of independence, the gross inflow of foreign direct investment in the country's economy amounted to more than $300 billion. It is well known that financial flows flow where there is a benefit and normal conditions are created for the business.
“In Kazakhstan, legislation in the field of entrepreneurship has been significantly liberalised, in the World Bank’s Doing Business ranking, we are in 28th place among 190 countries. Our country has become an associate member of the OECD Investment Committee and has joined the declaration on international investment, there are 12 special economic and 22 industrial zones in the country, tax and customs privileges, as well as other preferences and support for investors are provided,” Mr. Toktabayev reminded.
Among the winners were companies that have invested in non-primary sector projects. We are talking about such areas as information technology, food industry, construction, renewable energy sources, as well as enterprises for the production of goods of higher processing of gas and petrochemicals. Thus, the Russian company Lukoil opened its subsidiary in the south of Kazakhstan for the production of lubricants. The management of this company intends to use Kazakhstan as a springboard for conquering the huge and promising market of the neighbouring country.
“It is not by chance that we chose Almaty region as a location. This is due to the proximity to the Western Europe-Western China transnational highway. We will be able to enter not only the market of Kazakhstan and the markets of the republics of Central Asia. The main direction for us is China,” Andrey Matyukhov, General Director of Lukoil Lubricants - Central Asia, said in an interview.
According to him, the plant worth $94 million should be launched in the second half of next year. The design capacity is 100 thousand tonnes of products with the possibility of expansion up to 130 thousand tonnes. The French company Air Liquide is also pleased to be entering the Kazakhstan market. It is engaged in the production and purification of hydrogen, which is necessary in the processing of oil at the refineries of the republic. The total investment amounted to 12 million euro.
“A year and a half ago, Air Liquide began cooperation with the Pavlodar plant. We are very positive about the investment climate in Kazakhstan, as well as work with our Kazakh partners,” Olivier Randet, vice president for Eastern Europe and the CIS at the Air Liquide, said after the award ceremony. Among the winners, two companies from Germany are SOLARNET (renewable energy sources) and The Linde Group (gas chemical industry); another French company is ALSTOM (engineering).
It is gratifying that foreign companies have begun to invest more actively in the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan. Among them is a company from the UAE, Global Phoenix DMCC. This investor participates in the project of intensive gardening and fruit processing in SKO, and also builds a plant for the production of animal feed in the Khorgos FEZ.
By Kulpash Konyrova for ABC TV (Kazakhstan).
