OSCE Centre in Almaty and Eurasia Foundation announce cross-border initiative between Kazakhstan and Russia
(OSCE/Lubomir Kotek)Children in the streets of Astana, new capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, June 2001.
(OSCE/Lubomir Kotek) Photo details
ALMATY, 20 May 2003 - A new cross-border initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses was announced today. The initiative seeks to ease trade restrictions across the Kazakhstani-Russian border.
This Kazakhstan-Russia Cross-Border Initiative will focus on trade and customs issues and will be implemented by the Eurasia Foundation, with financing from the OSCE Centre in Almaty and technical assistance from Pragma Corp. The initiative will consist of a conference and a project competition. The conference is scheduled for 26-27 May 2003 in Aktobe, Kazakhstan and will discuss obstacles and opportunities for improving cross-border trade.
Following this conference, the organizers will announce a grant competition for cross-border trade projects. Projects will require co-partnership between Russian and Kazakhstani non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and should include collaboration between NGOs, local governments, and customs officials from both countries.
This initiative addresses a pressing need in both countries. According to the recent Forum on Cross-border Partnership held in Omsk, Russia on 14 April, approximately 60 percent of all imports and exports between Russia and Kazakhstan are limited to the immediate border regions, rather than between the two countries as a whole.
One formidable barrier is customs regulations and practices. Kazakhstan and Russia are both instituting reforms but there is a concern that corruption and bureaucratic mismanagement will stifle policy initiatives. The May conference and subsequent co-operative projects will seek to strengthen these reforms by increasing transparency, establishing better communication towards the private sector, identifying and working with local stakeholders, and bringing about a cultural change among customs officials and local government.
Media are invited to the opening of the conference at 9:30 on 26 May at the Cultural Complex "Tomiris", 66 Abulkhairkhan Avenue, Aktobe.
For further information please contact Dauren Ibrashev at the Eurasia foundation, [email protected] or by telephone: +7-3272-50-18-10, fax: +7-3272-50-18-11.
This Kazakhstan-Russia Cross-Border Initiative will focus on trade and customs issues and will be implemented by the Eurasia Foundation, with financing from the OSCE Centre in Almaty and technical assistance from Pragma Corp. The initiative will consist of a conference and a project competition. The conference is scheduled for 26-27 May 2003 in Aktobe, Kazakhstan and will discuss obstacles and opportunities for improving cross-border trade.
Following this conference, the organizers will announce a grant competition for cross-border trade projects. Projects will require co-partnership between Russian and Kazakhstani non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and should include collaboration between NGOs, local governments, and customs officials from both countries.
This initiative addresses a pressing need in both countries. According to the recent Forum on Cross-border Partnership held in Omsk, Russia on 14 April, approximately 60 percent of all imports and exports between Russia and Kazakhstan are limited to the immediate border regions, rather than between the two countries as a whole.
One formidable barrier is customs regulations and practices. Kazakhstan and Russia are both instituting reforms but there is a concern that corruption and bureaucratic mismanagement will stifle policy initiatives. The May conference and subsequent co-operative projects will seek to strengthen these reforms by increasing transparency, establishing better communication towards the private sector, identifying and working with local stakeholders, and bringing about a cultural change among customs officials and local government.
Media are invited to the opening of the conference at 9:30 on 26 May at the Cultural Complex "Tomiris", 66 Abulkhairkhan Avenue, Aktobe.
For further information please contact Dauren Ibrashev at the Eurasia foundation, [email protected] or by telephone: +7-3272-50-18-10, fax: +7-3272-50-18-11.