Kazakhstan to gain access to EU services market

The European Union and Kazakhstan have completed bilateral negotiations on access to the services market under Kazakhstan's accession to the World Trade Organization, Trend cites the press service of the Minister for Economic Integration of Kazakhstan as saying.

"A protocol on completion of bilateral negotiations on access to the services market between Kazakhstan and the European Union has been signed in Brussels within the negotiations on Kazakhstan's accession to the World Trade Organization," the press release of the minister reads.

From the Kazakh side, the protocol was signed by the Minister for Economic Integration, Zhanar Aitzhanova, from the EU - by Peter Balish, European Union Commissioner for Trade.

"During the talks, the sides agreed on terms designed to improve the investment climate in the production of oil and gas, telecommunications, construction, financial and other services," the report says.

According to the Ministry, foreign direct investments of European countries in Kazakhstan in 2010 amounted to $11 billion. Trade between the countries in the first half of 2011 totaled more than $28 billion.