Astana and Ankara agree on building bilateral relations

Astana and Ankara agree on building bilateral relations and broadening
investment projects it was announced on Tuesday April 27th, at a meeting of the akim of the Kazakh capital, Imangali Tasmagambetov, and the mayor of Ankara, Melika Gokchek, during his fourth visit to Ankara’s twin city. In 2001 an Agreement on establishing friendly relations was signed between the two capitals, reports Kazinform
Gokchek has the distinction of being the first mayor of Ankara to have been elected to the post three times. Tasmagambetov noted Ankara’s success in resolving the problem of dilapidated housing. In connection with the renovation of 7000 houses in the Turkish capital, he charged his assistant Sergei Horoshun to study the work carried out in Ankara on his forthcoming visit there, and the scope for voluntary re-housing. His assistant Aida
Balaeva was given the task of acquainting herself with social programmes in the Turkish capital and the good youth work carried out by the city’s social services.
For his part, Gokchek remarked on Astana’s rapid growth, and invited
the city’s officials to visit Ankara.

Tasmagambetov praised Ankara’s road-building policy and lack of traffic jams in a population of 5 million, and the need for Astana to emulate its example as a growing megapolis.

Trade turnover between Astana and Turkey was $14.4 million for the period January-February 2010, the $4.6 million exports mostly consisting of raw materials, with $9.8 million worth of imports of building materials, chemical products and textiles.