OREANDA-NEWS. April 20, 2010. At the Government’s House in Astana, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov held a number of international meetings. In particular, at the talks with Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer the sides discussed prospects of further expansion of the bilateral trade-and-economic cooperation.

Karim Massimov noted that the State-run program to ensure accelerated industrial development of the country and the bigger market formed within the Customs Union (comprising Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine) significantly expand the potential of the Kazakh-Israeli trade-and-economic and investments interaction.

Benjamin Ben-Eliezer emphasized interest of Israeli companies in further investing into the Kazakh agriculture, energy, machinery building and some other industries.

When closing the talks, the sides expressed confidence in further development of the bilateral economic cooperation.

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At the talks with Turkish State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan the sides discussed prospects of economic cooperation between the two nations.

Zafer Caglayan reiterated his country’s interest in expanding the mutually beneficial cooperation and in finding new opportunities.

The sides pointed to positive strengthening of the economic ties and expressed their interest in fostering further cooperation.

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In the afternoon PM Massimov met a French Parliament delegation headed by Jean Arthuis, Chairman of the Senate Committee for Finance.

The delegation comprised Aymeri de Montesquiou (special representative of the President of France in Central Asia), Philippe MARINI (d’Oise), Francois MARC (Finistere), Alberic de MONTGOLFIER (d'Eure-et-Loir), Jean-Pierre DEMERLIAT (Haute-Vienne) and some other officials.

The sides exchanged their opinions on acute issues of bilateral agreements reached between the Presidents and on further development of the economic cooperation between the two nations.

K. Massimov briefed the French Senators on measures taken by the Kazakh Government to stabilize the nation economy in 2007-2009 and prospects of its further growth in the post-crisis period. He also emphasized that through the Program of Accelerated Industrial Development the Government of his country seeks to enhance tax and general business conditions for investors. He stressed that the newly formed common market of the Customs Union exceeding 170 million people is an additional opportunity for investors.

The French Senators reiterated interest of the French side in expanding cooperation in energy, new technology, agriculture and finance. “Our close ties are mainly based on economic interests, but our own research shows that Kazakhstan is in the heart of a very important region and is the key element of the regional stability. Therefore Kazakhstan is of greater interest to us”, Senator Philippe MARINI said.

“I am impressed with Kazakhstan gaining such a significant political weight within a short time”, Senator Jean Arthuis noted.

When closing the talks, the sides expressed their mutual interest in expanding ties between the two nations.