President of Azerbaijan arrived to Kazakhstan

Today, on 1 March the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived to Kazakhstan with an official visit, KZ-today correspondent informs.

The Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Vladimir Shkolnik, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kassymzhomart Tokaev and the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan Latif Gandiyalov met in the airport of Astana the president of Azerbaijan.

It is a first official visit of I. Aliyev to Kazakhstan. Bilateral meetings in close and extended membership are scheduled within a visit. I. Aliyev will visit the Eurasian University, the museum of the Presidential Center and other places.

A long-term program for cooperation in culture, science and tourism spheres is expected to be signed between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

The turnover between two countries reduced by 1.6% and made $126.5 million in 2003 against 2002. Kazakhstani export made $113.2 million, import - $13.3 million in 2003. Oil&gas, grain products, electricity equipment, carbon steel roll, chemical and natural combination, barley and tobacco goods refer to Kazakhstani export. Azerbaijani exported to Kazakhstan consists of petroleum products, produced from bitumen products, components for machines and devices, polymers of ethylene, pumps and elevators of fluid.

According to the National Bank report of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as of October 2003 the investments from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan made $4.7 million, which were presented as a trade credits, loans and other obligations. The volume of gross investments from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan made $13.2 million for 9 months of 2003.

36 small enterprises with the Azerbaijani businessmen participation are registered in Kazakhstan, including 13 JV.

Translated by Nataliya Shirinskikh