The UAE and Kazakhstan
share similar positions on topical issues in the Middle East
and North Africa and an agreement on non-visa trips has
given a powerful impetus to the intensification of bilateral cooperation,
according to Consul General of the Republic
of Kazakhstan in Dubai
and Northern Emirates Askar Shokybayev.
In an exclusive interview with The Gulf Today, Shokybayev mentioned that the UAE was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan. Echoing President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev’s words, he said the UAE is a key partner of Kazakhstan in the Arab and Muslim world.
He noted that there were several major UAE-Kazakhstan projects under way in his country and highlighted that a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of sports had also been signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan and the Emirati Agency of Youth and Sports.
Excerpts:
It has been 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan. President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan shares a personal bond with President N. Nazarbayev. What makes the ties so special?
Since gaining independence in 1991, our country has restored bilateral ties with the Arab World. The UAE was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The friendly relationship of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the guarantor of successful cooperation between two countries in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The basis for the development of bilateral relations was laid during the first official visit of Nazarbayev to the UAE in 1998, and a series of working visits in subsequent years – the last of which took place in February this year.
The two countries share similar positions on topical issues in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in the world in general. Having congratulated Sheikh Khalifa on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the UAE, Nazarbayev stressed the UAE is Kazakhstan’s key ally in the Arab and Muslim world.
The first official visit of Sheikh Khalifa to Kazakhstan in 2008 was an important event in the history of cooperation between the two countries. Both Presidents discussed the issues of cooperation in different spheres.
Nazarbayev expressed his satisfaction with the high level of bilateral relations. In turn, Sheikh Khalifa expressed his support for all offers of the President of Kazakhstan and drew attention to the need for developing advanced technologies in the oil and gas industry, and the joint implementation of major industrial and infrastructure facilities. The President stressed the preparedness of the UAE to cooperate in these areas.
Sheikh Khalifa presented to Nazarbayev the highest award of the UAE “The Order of Zayed”, for promoting bilateral relations. In turn, Nazarbayev also awarded the President of the UAE the highest award of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “The Order of Altyn Kyran”.
The UAE-Kazakh agreement on visa-free trips for holders of diplomatic passports had a positive impact on bilateral ties. What are the other such major agreements?
The agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and the government of the UAE on mutual non-visa trips of citizens-holders of diplomatic passports has given a powerful impetus to the intensification of bilateral cooperation.
We have signed 12 Inter-governmental Agreements with the UAE. During the recent years, five documents had been signed: Agreement on mutual extradition of criminals, mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cooperation in combating organised crime, terrorism and illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their consequences and a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Kazakhstan and the UAE.
Besides Abu Dhabi Plaza, the multifunctional complex in Astana, what are the other UAE-affiliated major projects in progress in Kazakhstan?
The launch of Abu Dhabi Plaza by Aldar Properties is a real contribution to the development of Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan, and the only project of the firm being built abroad. There are several major projects under process in the oil and gas sphere, as well as in the banking sector.
On 11 June, 2009 JSC KazMunaiGaz (Kazakhstan), ConocoPhillips (USA) and public joint-stock company Mubadala Development Company (UAE) signed an MOU for exploration and development of the Caspian Offshore “N” Oil Block. In January 2011, after successful exploration work in the “N” Block, reservoirs of oil and gas were found.
One of the important results of the official visit of Nazarbayev to Abu Dhabi in March 2009 was the agreement to open by the financial institutions of the UAE the Islamic bank in our country with a market capitalisation of at least $500 million. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the successful work of Al Hilal Bank in Kazakhstan – the only Islamic bank in the post-Soviet area. The bank has been operating in Kazakhstan’s two major cities, Almaty and Astana, since 2009 and its third branch in Shymkent opened last year.
The joint Kazakhstan-UAE Investment Fund “Al-Falah” with a registered capital of $500 million also actively works in the market of our Republic and neighbouring countries.
How many Kazakh nationals are residents of the UAE? Which sectors do they dominate?
Approximately 10,000 Kazakhstan citizens are now residents of the UAE. Most of them are working on contract in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, particularly in the trade sector and private business. Also, there are 1,000 Kazakh students studying in various universities here.
Masdar Institute had informed that it was ready to offer special privileges to Kazakhstan’s students. How has the response been?
It is noteworthy that Masdar Institute, a scientific and technological institute which is the first educational entity in research and creation of new methods in dealing with renewable sources of energy in the world, has announced its readiness to admit free-of-charge up to 15 graduate students from Kazakhstan. It’s a great opportunity for Kazakhstan’s students to study at Masdar Institute. We believe that graduates will become professionals and be useful for the realisation of the state programme of accelerated industrial-innovative development of the republic in 2010-2014.
Are there any plans for closer sports interaction between Kazakhstan and the UAE?
Kazakhstan successfully completed the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. This was the fifth appearance of our country at the Summer Olympics in the post-Soviet era. Kazakhstan left London with a total of 13 medals (7 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze), finishing twelfth in the medal standings.
On May 13, 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of sports was signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Emirati Agency of Youth and Sports. Also Kazakhstan and UAE national teams in different sports are frequently playing in international tournaments. On May 11, 2012 Kazakhstan has participated in the Asian 5-Nation International XV’s Rugby Tournament, where it played with the UAE’s national rugby team. On Oct.7, 2012, the UAE national rugby team participated in the 3rd ARFU Asian Tournament in Almaty city.
In an exclusive interview with The Gulf Today, Shokybayev mentioned that the UAE was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan. Echoing President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev’s words, he said the UAE is a key partner of Kazakhstan in the Arab and Muslim world.
He noted that there were several major UAE-Kazakhstan projects under way in his country and highlighted that a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of sports had also been signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan and the Emirati Agency of Youth and Sports.
Excerpts:
It has been 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan. President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan shares a personal bond with President N. Nazarbayev. What makes the ties so special?
Since gaining independence in 1991, our country has restored bilateral ties with the Arab World. The UAE was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The friendly relationship of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the guarantor of successful cooperation between two countries in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The basis for the development of bilateral relations was laid during the first official visit of Nazarbayev to the UAE in 1998, and a series of working visits in subsequent years – the last of which took place in February this year.
The two countries share similar positions on topical issues in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in the world in general. Having congratulated Sheikh Khalifa on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the UAE, Nazarbayev stressed the UAE is Kazakhstan’s key ally in the Arab and Muslim world.
The first official visit of Sheikh Khalifa to Kazakhstan in 2008 was an important event in the history of cooperation between the two countries. Both Presidents discussed the issues of cooperation in different spheres.
Nazarbayev expressed his satisfaction with the high level of bilateral relations. In turn, Sheikh Khalifa expressed his support for all offers of the President of Kazakhstan and drew attention to the need for developing advanced technologies in the oil and gas industry, and the joint implementation of major industrial and infrastructure facilities. The President stressed the preparedness of the UAE to cooperate in these areas.
Sheikh Khalifa presented to Nazarbayev the highest award of the UAE “The Order of Zayed”, for promoting bilateral relations. In turn, Nazarbayev also awarded the President of the UAE the highest award of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “The Order of Altyn Kyran”.
The UAE-Kazakh agreement on visa-free trips for holders of diplomatic passports had a positive impact on bilateral ties. What are the other such major agreements?
The agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and the government of the UAE on mutual non-visa trips of citizens-holders of diplomatic passports has given a powerful impetus to the intensification of bilateral cooperation.
We have signed 12 Inter-governmental Agreements with the UAE. During the recent years, five documents had been signed: Agreement on mutual extradition of criminals, mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cooperation in combating organised crime, terrorism and illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their consequences and a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Kazakhstan and the UAE.
Besides Abu Dhabi Plaza, the multifunctional complex in Astana, what are the other UAE-affiliated major projects in progress in Kazakhstan?
The launch of Abu Dhabi Plaza by Aldar Properties is a real contribution to the development of Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan, and the only project of the firm being built abroad. There are several major projects under process in the oil and gas sphere, as well as in the banking sector.
On 11 June, 2009 JSC KazMunaiGaz (Kazakhstan), ConocoPhillips (USA) and public joint-stock company Mubadala Development Company (UAE) signed an MOU for exploration and development of the Caspian Offshore “N” Oil Block. In January 2011, after successful exploration work in the “N” Block, reservoirs of oil and gas were found.
One of the important results of the official visit of Nazarbayev to Abu Dhabi in March 2009 was the agreement to open by the financial institutions of the UAE the Islamic bank in our country with a market capitalisation of at least $500 million. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the successful work of Al Hilal Bank in Kazakhstan – the only Islamic bank in the post-Soviet area. The bank has been operating in Kazakhstan’s two major cities, Almaty and Astana, since 2009 and its third branch in Shymkent opened last year.
The joint Kazakhstan-UAE Investment Fund “Al-Falah” with a registered capital of $500 million also actively works in the market of our Republic and neighbouring countries.
How many Kazakh nationals are residents of the UAE? Which sectors do they dominate?
Approximately 10,000 Kazakhstan citizens are now residents of the UAE. Most of them are working on contract in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, particularly in the trade sector and private business. Also, there are 1,000 Kazakh students studying in various universities here.
Masdar Institute had informed that it was ready to offer special privileges to Kazakhstan’s students. How has the response been?
It is noteworthy that Masdar Institute, a scientific and technological institute which is the first educational entity in research and creation of new methods in dealing with renewable sources of energy in the world, has announced its readiness to admit free-of-charge up to 15 graduate students from Kazakhstan. It’s a great opportunity for Kazakhstan’s students to study at Masdar Institute. We believe that graduates will become professionals and be useful for the realisation of the state programme of accelerated industrial-innovative development of the republic in 2010-2014.
Are there any plans for closer sports interaction between Kazakhstan and the UAE?
Kazakhstan successfully completed the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. This was the fifth appearance of our country at the Summer Olympics in the post-Soviet era. Kazakhstan left London with a total of 13 medals (7 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze), finishing twelfth in the medal standings.
On May 13, 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of sports was signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Emirati Agency of Youth and Sports. Also Kazakhstan and UAE national teams in different sports are frequently playing in international tournaments. On May 11, 2012 Kazakhstan has participated in the Asian 5-Nation International XV’s Rugby Tournament, where it played with the UAE’s national rugby team. On Oct.7, 2012, the UAE national rugby team participated in the 3rd ARFU Asian Tournament in Almaty city.
I wish and hope the relations between the countries grow more stronger
ReplyDeleteBikram's
Interesting reading, thanks.
ReplyDeleteKallakaringa...
ReplyDeleteGood to see you working Ramesh :)
ReplyDeleteQuite interesting and informative
ReplyDeleteI got informed. Thank you.
ReplyDelete