Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASTANA351
2006-10-31 02:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: NEW TRANSPORT MINISTER FOCUSED ON
how-toVZCZCXRO4612 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTA #0351 3040256 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 310256Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7472 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY
UNCLAS ASTANA 000351
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - O'MARA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAIR KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NEW TRANSPORT MINISTER FOCUSED ON
INFRASTRUCTURE
UNCLAS ASTANA 000351
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - O'MARA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAIR KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NEW TRANSPORT MINISTER FOCUSED ON
INFRASTRUCTURE
1. (SBU) On October 30, Ambassador Ordway met the new Minister of
Transport and Communications Serik Akhmetov. Akhmetov expressed an
intention to continue developing transport infrastructure to
capitalize on Kazakhstan's advantageous geographic position as a
natural land bridge between China and Europe. He said the Ministry
is seeking to bring competition to heretofore monopolistic sectors,
citing the state-owned railroad company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy as
an example. Akhmetov emphasized building additional railroad links
"to connect central and southern Kazakhstan to the west" and
mentioned inaugurating a four-lane Astana-Karagandy-Almaty highway
in 2008. Also in the works are plans for refurbishing the airports
of Aktube, Shymkent, and Pavlodar as well as building a new terminal
at the Aktau Airport.
2. (SBU) Akhmetov, 48, replaces Askar Mamin (now Akim of Astana) and
comes to the Ministry after heading the "Atameken" National Union of
Entrepreneurs and Employers. He holds a doctorate in Economics and
brings experience of working in the Presidential Administration, the
Astana City Akimat, and as the Akim of Temirtau, his native city in
the Karaganda Oblast.
ORDWAY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - O'MARA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAIR KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NEW TRANSPORT MINISTER FOCUSED ON
INFRASTRUCTURE
1. (SBU) On October 30, Ambassador Ordway met the new Minister of
Transport and Communications Serik Akhmetov. Akhmetov expressed an
intention to continue developing transport infrastructure to
capitalize on Kazakhstan's advantageous geographic position as a
natural land bridge between China and Europe. He said the Ministry
is seeking to bring competition to heretofore monopolistic sectors,
citing the state-owned railroad company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy as
an example. Akhmetov emphasized building additional railroad links
"to connect central and southern Kazakhstan to the west" and
mentioned inaugurating a four-lane Astana-Karagandy-Almaty highway
in 2008. Also in the works are plans for refurbishing the airports
of Aktube, Shymkent, and Pavlodar as well as building a new terminal
at the Aktau Airport.
2. (SBU) Akhmetov, 48, replaces Askar Mamin (now Akim of Astana) and
comes to the Ministry after heading the "Atameken" National Union of
Entrepreneurs and Employers. He holds a doctorate in Economics and
brings experience of working in the Presidential Administration, the
Astana City Akimat, and as the Akim of Temirtau, his native city in
the Karaganda Oblast.
ORDWAY