5th Astana Economic Forum opens in Kazakhstan

The 5th Astana Economic Forum with about 8,000 delegates from 90 states attending opened in the Kazakh capital today, KAZINFORM reports.

The main topics this year are financial capital and world economy, industrial and innovative development, sustainable development and global social situation. Over 300 high-ranking officials are expected to attend 55 meetings

The main talks are planned for May 23.

Talks on world economy of 2012-2013, macroeconomic policy and its regulation have started today. The Eurasian National University has started the World Economic Youth Forum.

The Second Eurasian Business Congress opened today. The Russian Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs, Director General of Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states Halil Akyndjy, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kommersant Alexander Gabuyev and others will attend. They will discuss problems of business in Europe and Asia.

The First Congress of Partnership of States and Business to discuss investments in Kazakhstan, the Vernadsky readings, a round-table conference on infrastructure will open.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev will attend the closing of the forum at 11 am tomorrow.

The Rixos President Astana Hotel will open the 25th session of the Council of Foreign Investors of the President. Nazarbayev reminded that it was formed 14 years ago.

Tomas Mirov, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, noted success of Kazakhstan, as a Middle Asian state. People’s IPO has potential, he says.

Nazarbayev proposed joint realization of the New Silk Road project. Kazakhstan is a major transit state in the Middle Asian Region. It needs to double freighting by 2020 to 50 million tons. Kazakhstan unites markets of China, Europe, Russia, CIS with Middle Asia and the Gulf, Nazarbayev said. It has the North-South, West-East, South-Western Asia, Middle Asia transit routes.

Kazakhstan plans to form the Green Corridor for investors as an oil-rich state. Nazarbayev reminded that he considers lifting the visa regime. The Foreign Ministry may lift it for 34 more states.