PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN CALLS KAZAKHSTANI BUSINESS TO "HEAD FOR ARMENIA"

Regnum, Russia
Nov 7 2006

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and president of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan took part in a business forum in Astana, REGNUM
correspondent reports.

Kocharyan who is staying in Kazakhstan with a two-day official visit,
told the audience that economically speaking, Armenia and Kazakhstan
are not competitors, thus, the president believes, the business has all
grounds to develop mutually beneficial cooperation. The Armenian leader
said that the both countries’ economies are complementary regarding
each other. "Our countries maintain great bilateral relations, free
of any controversial and sensitive issues," Kocharyan said. He says
that the IT, banking, and agricultural spheres, as well as ore mining
and metallurgical industries may be attractive for the Kazakhstan’s
business.

Nazarbayev called Kazakhstani business circles to more actively explore
the new opportunities. "I call our companies – as the business requires
– to head to Armenia, to their own and everybody’s benefit, learn
the situation and invest in Armenian economy, using legislation and
chance." The Kazakhstani leader pointed that for the 15 years of its
independence, Kazakhstan has invested $18bn in various international
projects. In the Caucasus, Georgia has been lately receiving most
investments.

Kocharyan said that both countries until recently "never seriously
worked on" the issue of active development of bilateral business
contacts. Nazarbayev replied that the present friendly relations
between Kazakhstan and Armenia and his personal friendship with
president Kocharyan will help to develop the business partnership.