The 16th Russia—Kazakhstan
Interregional Cooperation Forum focusing on Hot Topics
on the Development of Cross-Border Cooperation, organised by
the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and
the Roscongress Foundation, wrapped up on 7 November in Omsk.
«The Interregional Cooperation
Forum has once again proved to be an effective platform for interactions
between the governments and businesses of Russia and Kazakhstan. As has been
repeatedly noted on the sidelines of the Forum, our two countries are
inextricably linked, so it is extremely important for us to create a space
where we could shape the direction for further development of relations aligned
with the current global trends, and the political and economic goals of
cooperation. The success of the Forum is evidenced both by the high ratings it
received from participants on both sides, and by the agreements reached at this
platform, which will further expand our multilateral cooperation,» said Anton
Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation.
Key outcomes
The Forum brought together
1,600 representatives from 24 Russian regions and 10 Kazakhstani
regions — government ministers from both countries, governors, members of
parliament, and CEOs of major companies, as well as experts and researchers.
The event was covered by 333 members of the media, including 282 from
Russia.
During the five sessions of the
Forum’s business programme, participants discussed key aspects of cooperation
between the two countries, including the development of cross-border trade,
cooperation in industry and technology, promotion of non-commodity exports,
women’s entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. A separate, side event of
the Forum was the Russia—Kazakhstan Youth Forum, bringing together over
100 representatives of public organisations and NGOs from both
countries.
Simultaneously with the main
business programme of the Forum, the exhibition High-Tech: Opportunities in
Kazakhstani and Russian Regions was held at the Kontinent Gallery, highlighting
export opportunities of both countries. The exhibition gathered 42 Russian
and 17 Kazakhstani businesses and organisations showcasing their latest
advances in research and in manufacturing technology.
Agreement signings
Effective cooperative efforts
within the Forum and an open dialogue between its participants led to signing
of multiple major interregional and commercial agreements.
The following agreements were
signed at the 16th Russia—Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in the
presence of the two heads of state:
·
Maksim Oreshkin, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian
Federation, and Ruslan Dalenov, Minister of National Economy of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, signed the Concept of the «Russia—Kazakhstan» Cross-Border Cooperation
Programme
·
Vladimir Medinsky, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation and
Aktoty Raimkulova, Minister of Culture and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
signed the Cooperation Programme between the Ministry of Culture of the Russian
Federation and the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan
for 2020–2022
·
Nikolay Zakhryapin, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian
Federation, and Beibut Atamkulov, Minister of Industry and Infrastructure
Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, signed a Joint Action Programme
between the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of
Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the
operation of border crossings on the Russia—Kazakhstan state border
·
Alexander Bugayev, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Russia)
and Dauren Abayev, Minister of Information and Social Development of the
Republic of Kazakhstan, signed a memorandum of understanding on youth policy
between the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Information
and Social Development
·
Alexey Teksler, Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, and Arkhimed
Mukhambetov, Akim (Governor) of the Kostanay Region, signed an agreement
between the Governments of the Chelyabinsk Region and Kostanay Region on trade,
economic, R&D, social, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation
·
Vadim Shumkov, Governor of the Kurgan Region, and Bulat Bakauov, Akim
(Governor) of the Pavlodar Region, signed an agreement between the Governments
of the Kurgan Region and Pavlodar Region on trade, economic, R&D,
humanitarian, and other cooperation
·
Andrey Travnikov, Governor of the Novosibirsk Region, and Bulat Bakauov,
Akim (Governor) of the Pavlodar Region, signed the 2019–2021 Action Plan to implement
the agreement between the Governments of the Novosibirsk Region and Pavlodar
Region on trade, economic, social, R&D, and cultural cooperation
·
Dmitry Golovanov, Chairman of the Board at JSC Russian Bank for
Small and Medium Enterprises Support (SME Bank), and Gaukhar Buribayeva,
Chairwoman of the «Damu» Entrepreneurship Development Fund signed a cooperation
agreement between SME Bank and the Damu Fund
Also during the Forum, the
Government of the Omsk Region signed a cooperation agreement with Vimpelcom and
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). An agreement was
signed between the Ministry of Industry, Communications, Digital, Science and
Technology Development of the Omsk Region (Russian Federation) and the
Department of Entrepreneurship and Industry of the Akmola Region (Republic of
Kazakhstan). In addition, 14 agreements were signed between businesses and
NGOs from Russia and Kazakhstan.
A total of 25 documents
were signed at the Forum.
Side events
A number of significant events
were held in Omsk during the days of the Forum. One such major event was the
official opening of the Avangard Ice Hockey Academy, which has two ice arenas,
eight gyms, and a dormitory for out-of-town students. During the opening
ceremony, the Forum guests were also shown a model of the new Omsk Arena sports
and concert complex, seating 12,000 people and slated to become a venue
for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. During the days of the Forum,
the Hermitage Siberia museum centre was also opened in Omsk, the first branch
of the State Hermitage Museum beyond the Urals.
Plenary session
The highlight of the second day of the Forum was its plenary
session, which was attended by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The heads of ministries and agencies, regional governors
and business leaders from both countries took part in the discussions at the
plenary session. Participants of the plenary session discussed new trade and
investment projects and made proposals for further expansion of interregional
cooperation.
Vladimir Putin noted that
Russia—Kazakhstan regional forums always bring good practical results and that
Russia is the largest investor in Kazakhstan’s economy, with accumulated
Russian investment in Kazakhstan amounting to USD 13 billion, and Kazakhstan
in Russia almost USD 4 billion. Over 6,500 joint ventures operate in
our countries, including major projects such as the construction of an oil
refinery in the Orenburg Region, to be supplied with feedstock from
Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak field, and the development of the
Vesenne-Aralchinskoye copper deposit lying on the border between the two
countries.
Cooperation between the two
countries is not limited to business: Vladimir Putin highlighted the fact that
about 74,000 citizens of Kazakhstan study at Russian universities,
including more than 30,000 that receive grants from the Russian budget.
The Russian President made a specific mention of the cross-border cooperation
programme for Kazakhstan and Russia. «It is important for the regional
authorities in our countries and the federal agencies to actively join the
effort to fill this programme with specific projects, ideas and initiatives,»
said Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader also emphasised the potential to step
up joint efforts in protecting the environment and the need to develop joint
programmes in tourism.
In response, Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev thanked the Russian side for its hospitality and noted that joint
ventures with Russian businesses account for 38% of the total number of
companies with foreign capital in Kazakhstan. Russian companies actively
participate in the development and transportation of mineral resources, as well
as in petrochemical projects. He mentioned activities within the framework of
the Eurasian Economic Union, cooperation in the Caspian Basin, as well as
partnerships in agriculture, industry, and joint entry to third-country markets
as important areas of cooperation. «Most importantly, the Forum has gained more
rather than less relevance as an effective tool to strengthen and expand our
cross-border, interregional cooperation,» said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, proposing
to choose Environmental and Green Growth Cooperation as the main theme of the
next interregional forum and hold it in Kazakhstan, in Kokshetau, Akmola
Region.
The 16th Russia—Kazakhstan
Interregional Cooperation Forum took place in Omsk on 6–7 November 2019.
The event’s image gallery is available at: https://yadi.sk/d/xiZRmzM0WrdLgw
