Contacts: in Almaty - Elena Karaban (7-3272) 980-580
Email: [email protected] in Astana: Irina Galimova (7-3172) 580-555 Email: [email protected]
ALMATY, November 15, 2004—World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn arrived today in Almaty to discuss the forging of a new partnership between Kazakhstan and the World Bank. During today’s meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Mr. Wolfensohn outlined four areas - oil revenue management, health, education, and infrastructure - where Kazakhstan and the World Bank can work effectively together.
“The World Bank is ready to partner with Kazakhstan in its journey to a more competitive and diversified economy to the betterment of its people. Kazakhstan has been blessed with an endowment of oil resources that has driven the economy in recent years. However, as history has shown many times, oil is a blessing only if it is used wisely for the benefit of all a country’s citizens ,” said Mr. Wolfensohn. Earlier today, in his keynote address to the Congress of Financiers of Kazakhstan, Mr. Wolfensohn hailed the country’s economic achievements and the government’s commitment to reform. To achieve sustainable competitiveness, Wolfensohn urged, more investments are needed in infrastructure, education, and health. “In his address to the nation in March 2004, President Nazarbayev laid out a comprehensive agenda for the country’s development, which identified the right goals and focused appropriately on achieving a diversified and competitive economy. The challenge now is how to implement this vision. The World Bank is ready to help,” said Mr. Wolfensohn. Mr. Wolfensohn continued saying that “balanced development – development that creates jobs and opportunities for everyone – is the goal that we all seek. Investments are needed in people, infrastructure and institutions, both public and private. We must also look at the issues of youth and how we can provide them hope and opportunities in years ahead.” One of the main goals of the World Bank President’s visit to Kazakhstan is to discuss the new partnership between the country and the World Bank Group. The new Country Partnership Strategy offers an innovative approach to enhancing the competitiveness of the Kazakh economy and diversify away from its reliance on oil and gas. In this regard Kazakhstan is a pioneer in the development of new ways for the World Bank Group to work with Middle-Income Countries. The keystone of the new partnership is the Joint Economic Research Program (JERP), co-financed by the World Bank and the Government of Kazakhstan, which is also seen as a model for other Middle-Income Countries. The extension of the JERP for an additional 3 years will be signed in Astana on November 16, 2004.
Mr. Wolfensohn’s visit to Kazakhstan also includes a visit to the new capital Astana, where he will meet Prime-Minister Daniyal Akhmetov and selected members of the Government, and hold a lecture at the Gumyliev Eurasian University. He is accompanied by Messrs. Shigeo Katsu, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia; Dennis de Tray, World Bank Country Director for Central Asia; Khosrow Zamani, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Director for Europe and Central Asia; and Loup Brefort, Country Manager for Kazakhstan. For more information about World Bank in Kazakhstan please visit: http://www.worldbank.org.kz |
