KAZAKH AMBASSADOR TO HEAD NEW KAZAKHSTAN STATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001667 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017 TAGS: PINR EMIN PREL KZ UZ SUBJECT: KAZAKH AMBASSADOR TO HEAD NEW KAZAKHSTAN STATE CORPORATION Classified By: Poloff Tim Buckley; reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Kazakh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Askar Myrzakhmetov is departing post on September 20 to head the new state-owned company Ontustik, which will be headquartered in Shimkent. Ontustik will focus on economic development projects in the the provinces of South Kazakhstan, Jambul, and Kizilorda, with a primary emphasis on the mining sector. During a farewell call with DCM and newly arrived AMB, Myrzakhmetov expressed that, as head of the new company, he would welcome further involvement with American government officials and businessmen. Myrzakhmetov has been an excellent contact and post expects him to have a bright political future. End summary. ¶2. (C) On September 20, Kazakh Ambassador Askar Myrzakhmetov is departing post less than one year after arriving in Tashkent. Myrzakhmetov told us that President Nazarbaev appointed him to head the recently created joint-stock company Ontustik, which is 100 percent state-owned. Per an April 2007 Presidential Decree establishing Ontustik, the Shimkent-based company will "consolidate government and private-sector efforts" in economic development in the districts of South Kazakhstan, Jambul, and Kizilorda. In addition to broad interests, the decree specifically notes that Ontustik will be involved in prospecting, extraction, and processing of minerals. (Note: Post received a copy of the decree from Myrzakhmetov and will fax it to Embassy Astana. End Note). ¶3. (C) Myrzakhmetov has been an excellent and reliable Embassy contact, and DCM particularly appreciated his frankness. We believe Myrzakhmetov has a bright political future. He already served as one of Kazakhstan's youngest ministers, as Minister of Agriculture, and this new position may have been tailor-made for him. ¶4. (C) During his farewell call, Myrzakhmetov noted that he would welcome further interaction with American government representatives and businessmen in his new position as the head of Ontustik. He begins his duties in Shimkent immediately, and we recommend that Embassy Astana follow up on this opportunity to expand U.S. commercial and political links. NORLAND