Kazakhstan in World news: March-April, 2007

General News
Borat Star Scared To Visit Kazakhstan
Contactmusic.com UK (March 16, 2007)
Sacha Baron Cohen has said that he would like to visit Kazakhstan, but co-star Ken Davitian has expressed concern – he said that the only way that he would visit the country is if the government of Kazakhstan officially endorses the movie: Borate Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit of Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan…..Davitian admits that he is scared of visiting the country after appearing in the controversial movie as producer Azamat Bagatov - despite the fact that the film has now topped Kazakhstan’s DVD chart on the Internet retailer – Amazon.com….He explained, «I got a call from Sacha asking me if I had any interest in visiting Kazakhstan with him. «I said no, but I've had a rethink and I've told Sacha that I'll go with him if the Kazakh authorities sanction the DVD version of Borat there. That's the only way we'd both feel safe and welcome.».

Egypt and Kazakhstan join forces for Research
Egypt and Kazakhstan will create a joint council for science and technology research….President Nursultan Nazarbayev approved the plans during his visit to Egypt from 11–13 March….The proposed council will promote cooperation in a number of fields including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, food science, information technology, biotechnology and industrial research….It will also encourage knowledge transfer and the exchange of scientists, as well as establishing cooperative research and development projects and organizing joint scientific meetings….Fostering scientific cooperation with Egypt is the first step by Kazakhstan towards implementing its development strategy for the next decade, announced by Nazarbayev during his February 28th address to the nation….Under the plan, Kazakhstan’s science and education budget would total five percent of gross domestic product by 2012 - higher than the European Union’s science and development target of three percent of GDP by 2010….To help establish a science-based sustainable economy, five national laboratories with links to business will be established in the country for promoting public-private partnerships….Kazakhstan has a small scientific workforce of only 13,200 scientists and engineers - about 870 scientists per million people. Developed nations have about 3,200 scientists per million of the population, according to SciDev.net.

Malpractice Trial ongoing for SKO Doctors
Playfuls.com [Targu Mures], Romania (March 25, 2007)
Nearly two dozen Kazakhstani doctors are accused of contributing to the country’s AIDS epidemic by ordering unnecessary blood transfusions….The 21 physicians are on trial for malpractice related to charges that they ordered unnecessary blood transfusions, the New York Times said Tuesday, March 20. About 100 children treated at a Shymkent hospital have tested positive for HIV since last summer, the newspaper said….The children’s parents contend that the doctors charged patients $20 for 14 ounces of blood and split the money with the local blood bank. The doctors, whose salaries begin at approximately $175 a month, allegedly pocketed up to $10 per transfusion….Greed may not have been the sole motivation, however. Western doctors see a medical culture in parts of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and elsewhere that promotes transfusions to improve patients’ health or combat illnesses….»Its dumb medicine,» said Dr. Max Essex of the Harvard AIDS Institute. That may be why one baby received 25 transfusions before he was found to have HIV, court documents show. «It’s insane, this kid needed no blood transfusion,» said Dr. Michael O. Favorov of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention who headed an investigation that identified the transfusions of tainted blood as the source of the Shymkent outbreak».

Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas Exports increase by 32.5%
Middle East Times (March 15, 2007)
Kazakhstan’s oil and gas exports grew by 32.5% year-on-year to 5.052 million tons in January 2007, while exporting only 3.812 million tons during the same period last year, the state statistics agency said….Exports totaled $2.8 billion, as compared with $1.41 billion in January 2006….Although Kazakhstan exports most of its oil via Russia, it is looking to set up alternative routes….Kazakhstan holds the largest oil deposits in the Caspian by producing 1.3 million barrels per day, compared with Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. By 2015, Astana expects daily oil output to reach 2.6 million barrels….Astana exported 281,800 tons of petroleum products in January 2007 (113,800 tons in January 2006) worth $92.4 million ($29.7 million in January 2006). It imported 216,000 tons of petroleum products (113,000 tons in January 2006) worth $97.9 million ($45.6 million in January 2006)….

Max Potential in Kazakhstan
Financial Times (April 10, 2007)
Max Petroleum is the best known Aim-listed exploration company operating in Kazakhstan. Floated 18 months ago by Cazenove, Max’s portfolio of assets includes the Astrakhanskiy field and an 80 percent interest in the blocks - A&E and East Alibek in Kazakhstan’s Precaspian Basin….Critically for companies operating in the region, Max’s well-regarded management team is boosted by Kazakhstani nationals, while its finances are on a secure footing. The company had $71m (£36m) of cash at its latest set of accounts in December, while it also sells a small amount of oil to local markets. The coming months are likely to bring a flurry of drilling updates, although the full exploration of Max’s portfolio would likely to be in partnership with an oil major. Chevron, BG Group and Russia’s Gazprom are seen as potential suitors….Excitement about Max’s potential has seen the shares rise 70 per cent in just two months, to a high of 157¾p. Cazenove believes that on a sum-of-the-parts basis the shares are worth 360p. Despite a strong run, this stock remains a «buy».

Agip KCO and Tengizchevroil downgrade Production Forecasts
RusEnergy (April 9, 2007)
The future largest oil producer in Kazakhstan, the international Northern-Caspian Agip KCO consortium has revised its medium-term production forecasts. Kazakhstan’s current largest oil producer - TCO has done likewise. Now traders, importers, suppliers and politicians who have connected their businesses and strategic projects with Caspian hydrocarbons will have to change their plans….Agip KCO has created a Declaration of Intent, which it will forward to the government sometime early this year. The document reportedly contains some specific long-term production goals….The paper says that by 2015, the company will produce up to 21 million tons a year of commercial oil, whereas the former production plan forecasted 56 million tons per year….Agip KCO is developing the Kashagan oil and gas condensate deposit in the northeast part of the Caspian shelf. Kashagan’s reserves total 2.72 billion oil and condensate and 880 billion cubic meters of gas.

Finance and Investment
BTA wants to expand in Georgia
Georgian Times (April 12, 2007)
Bank Turan Alem envisages increasing its share in the Georgian-Kazakhstan BTA-Silk Road Bank; it was reported during a special press conference organized via tele-bridge….According to Chairman Roman Solodchenko, the bank is working on increasing its shares at daughter companies in the CIS, implementing new services and financial investment projects….»The amount does not have a limit, and investment can be put in any sectors. At present, the bank is oriented toward the development of tourist infrastructure,» Solodchenko said….Solodchenko added that BTA Silk Road Bank, 49% of shares of which belong to Turan Alem, will take a leading position on the Georgian banking sector by the end of 2007….BTA strategic partners are located in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Georgia and Armenia. The bank also owns daughter offices in China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and United Arab emirates.

BearingPoint gets Kazakhstan pension fund job
bizjournals.com [Business Wire] (March 20, 2007)
BearingPoint will assist the government of Kazakhstan to privatize its state-owned pension fund, after the company won a tender for the consulting job. Bearing Point did not disclose the value of the newly obtained contract. The company has been working with Kazakhstan for more than 10 years….BearingPoint’s London office will lead the assignment to overhaul the Accumulative Pension Fund, it will help to develop a risk-management system as well as marketing and business plans….Earlier this month, BearingPoint was selected as one of nine companies to receive a piece of a $3 billion country-building effort through the US Agency for International Development….The Global, Business, Trade and Investment in Developing Countries contract will provide contracting opportunities through the year 2012. The work will focus on promoting economic growth, reducing poverty and forming open competitive markets in developing and transitioning countries….BearingPoint has several assignments helping to rebuild economies and finances in places such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cypress and Kosovo….The company is also doing consulting work for the government of Iraq, according to.

Mining and Metallurgy
MMC and ENRC Marketing & Sales sign Raw Materials Supply Contract
Finam.ru (March 21, 2007)
The Magnitogorsk Metallurgic Complex (MMC) and ENRC Marketing Sales, the exclusive supplier of iron ore to the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) have announced the signing of a 10-year agreement for the supply of iron ore….ENRC Marketing & Sales will supply iron ore from the Sokolovksy-Saribaisk Mining Enrichment Complex, which is a part of ENRC, to MMC, according to the latter….According to the agreement, ENRC Marketing will supply iron ore, fluxed pellets and other raw iron products to MMC in amounts that have been mutually agreed upon. The parties will stick close to international standards for the formation of prices for the products.