General information
January 19, 1992 – establishment of diplomatic relations
October 1992 – opening of the Kazakhstan Embassy to the UK
February 1996 – opening of the UK Embassy to the RK
Since January 2006 – HE Mr.Paul Brummell is accredited as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the RK
January 2008 – HE Mr. Kairat Abusseitov was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UK.
Political relations
Since the independence, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have established and are consequently developing the sustainable political dialogue. The official stances, concerning numerous issues of international politics, of both, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom are somewhat similar.
Mostly, political and economical bilateral cooperation is covered primarily by high-level visits between the two countries. For example, during all the period of Kazakh-British cooperation, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev paid in general six visits to the UK (October 1991, January 1992, March 1994, June 1994, November 2000 and November 2006).
In its turn, Kazakhstan was visited by HRH. The Prince of Wales, 1996; HRH. the Princess Royal, 1993; HRH the Duke of Gloucester, 2000; HRH. the Duke of York, who is also functioning as the UK's Special Representative on Trade and Investment.
The issues such as expansion the bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Great Britain and regional and international security are being discussed on a permanent basis on a high-level with the President of RK and Prime-Minister of the UK, and with the heads of Agencies of both countries.
Kazakhstan President N.Nazarbayev had held meetings with HRM, the Queen Elizabeth II, Prime-Minister T.Blair, and with a wide range of Great Britain political and business circles’ remarkable representatives within his official visit to Great Britain on 20-23 November 2006.
Also Head of State attended the opening ceremony of trading at London stock exchange, business-conference “Kazakhstan – the way forward”, where the new possibilities of investment cooperation were raised.
As a result of the abovementioned visit the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on International Road Transport alongside with the Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and The Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs on co-operation in combating organized crime, international terrorism, people trafficking, illicit traffic in drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors as well as other serious crimes was signed.
On 28 February-5 March, 2008 the State Secretary of Kazakhstan, Kanat Saudabayev came with the visit to London. He held meetings with the senior officials of the Foreign Office and British-Kazakh Society, delivered the speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs and took part in presentation ceremony of the President N.Nazarbayev’s book “Kazakhstan way” in English.
Saudabayev participated in the Dialogue of Statesmen, aimed at facilitating the nuclear disarmament, met with its initiators –outstanding US officials, and with the UN Under-Secretary-General (High Representative for Disarmament Affairs) Sergio de Queiroz Duarte.
Inter-parliamentary relations
In 2001, the UK Parliament registered Britain-Kazakhstan All-Party Parliamentary Group under the chairmanship of John Mann, eminent member of the House of Commons. There have been five proceedings held by this group since 2002-2005.
In 2007 the development of inter-parliamentary relations has flourished further. On 18-21 March 2007, the delegation headed by lower chamber of Kazakhstan Parliament, Majilis Chairman Mr. O.Mukhamedjanov paid a call on Great Britain, which efficiently secured the positive tend of bilateral ties, and encouraged the affirmative image of our country in the UK after last year visit of the Head of State.
On the 5th of April, 2007 the member of the House of Lords A.Haworth and Labour Party representative R.Cowburn paid a call on Astana within the framework of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. They held meeting with the Chairman of Parliament’s Senate K.Tokayev, Chairman of Parliament’s Majilis O.Mukhamedjanov, the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Chairperson of the National Commission on Family Affairs and Gender Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Samakova, MPs S.Abdrakhmanov, A.Baimenov and T.Berdongarov, discussing the democratical development and Kazakhstan’s gender policy.
On 26-29th of November 2007 the delegation of the Assembly of Nations of Kazakhstan came with visit to UK. The Assembly was represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Assembly Zh.Aliev, and Deputy Chairman of Parliament’s Majilis, Deputy Chairman of the Assembly S.Diachenko, the members of Majilis E.Kapel and V.Tsoi, members of the Assembly, High mufti of Kazakhstan’s muslims A.Derbisali, the representatives of the national cultural centres of Kazakhstan. The delegation met with the British MPs and All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Trade and Investment
Kazakh-British trade and investment cooperation is mainly focused on such sectors as energy, exploration and mining of mineral resources, construction, social infrastructure, health care, transport and communication, consulting. The cooperation in banking and financial sector has also been activated.
For the period of January-February 2007, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the UK amounted up to 593,1 million of US dollars (export -303,8 million of US dollars, import – 289,3 million of US dollars).
In 2006, it was 1650 million US dollars, (export – 1144 million US dollars, import – 506 million US dollars). In 2005 - 743,8 million US dollars (export – 320,5 million US dollars, import – 423,3 million US dollars). In 2004 – 541,1 million US dollars (export – 240 million US dollars, import – 301,1 million US dollars). In 2003 – 395 million US dollars (export – 142,9 million US dollars, import – 252,1 million US dollars).
Dominant items of Kazakhstan’s export are mineral production, ferrochrome, steel, copper, wool, rawhide, fertilizers, precious and semi-precious metals. From the UK Kazakhstan imports technical equipment, transport means, optical instruments, chemical, alcoholic and tobacco production, textile, food industry and other.
128 companies with British investors’ participation are registered in Kazakhstan, 57 of them are joint ventures and 71 are representative offices of British companies.
Kazakhstan is looking forward towards the investment cooperation with Great Britain, putting it among its top long-term priorities. Since the beginning of diplomatic relationships the general amount of Kazakhstan’s capital investment to British economy comprised up to 1,7 billion US dollars.
According to the statistics of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the UK is the third largest investor into Kazakhstan’s economy by amounts of gross inflow of direct investments after Netherlands and the US - 851,1 million US dollars. The amount of gross inflow of direct British investments from 1994 until the first quarter of 2007 comprised more than 5,4 billion US dollars (without outflow of direct capital investments). In the first quarter of 2007 the gross inflow of British investments made up to 7,6 million US dollars (the inflow of direct investments – 214,5 million US dollars).
British investments are mainly directed to the following sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy – mining 903,9, manufacturing industry 546,6 power, water and gas generation and its distribution 27,2, trade, transport and household use products repairing (664 million US dollars., financial activities (10942,8 млн.долл.).
In 2005 the Head of State declared about joining Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), launched by Tony Blair. The signing of intergovernmental Memorandum on Energy Cooperation in June 2005 played an active role of the political dialogue between both countries.
In the context of investment policy and economic ties, the presence of such companies as “BG Group” and “Shell”, and holding the international conference “Oil, Gas and mineral resources of Kazakhstan” (28-30 June 2006, London) are indeed significant.
In metallurgical industry sector of Kazakhstan market actively functions “Ispat-Karmet”, which is considered to be the biggest private employer – more than 56 thousand of Kazakhstan workers.
There’s vigorous cooperation in the sphere of transportation, in particular with the “BAE Systems”. The joint Kazakhstan-British Company “Air Astana” was founded in August 2001, which is currently doing internal and external flights in and from Kazakhstan. The first Almaty-London air service was carried out 13 December 2001.
The very first banknotes of the Kazakhstan currency – Tenge, have been printed in the UK, 1992. The National Bank of Kazakhstan with other leading RK banks maintains the direct correspondent contacts with Bank of England, National Westminster Bank and other UK banks. Kazakhstan has been successful to attract six non-governmental loans for 264,7 million US dollars, of which 176 million was adopted. (67%).
Since 2005, major Kazakhstan banks and companies, such as “Kazakhmys”, “Kazakhgold”, “KazMunaiGaz”, “Shagala”, “Kazcommertsbank”, “Bank Turan Alem”, “Halyk Bank”, and “Alliance Bank” allocated their equities on London Stock Exchange. “Kazakhmys” and “Kazakhgold” entered the list of FTSE-100 among one hundred biggest companies.
The President of RK, during his visit to London in November 2006, presented Kazakhstan’s development institutes, such as Samruk, Kazyna and the Almaty City Regional Financial Centre (RFCA) to London City. The Cooperation Agreement was signed between RFCA and London Stock Exchange PLC.
The Kazakh-Britain Trade and Industrial Council remains to be one of the most efficient economical dialogue instruments. Kazakhstan is represented by the Minister of Trade and Industry V.Shcolnik, the Britain – by Executive Vice-President of “BG Group” Ch.Bland.
There were 11 sessions been held since 1993. The last session of the Council took place on 24th of November 2006 in London, the topics of discussion were fuel and energy complex, logistics, agriculture, investment and innovative cooperation, small business and education. Both partners firmly acknowledged the positive trends of bilateral economical development and agreed on having the next session of the Council in the second half of 2008.
In 2007 the wide range of high-level officials and businessmen of the UK came with visit to Kazakhstan – such as the visit of British business delegation headed by John Stattard, Lord-Mayor of London-City, the visit of David Lewis, who served as Sheriff of the City, the visit of the Chairman of London Stock Exchange Board of Directors Chris Gibson-Smith (28-30 March 2007), the visit of Special Councillor of the “HSBC Bank” and BP Mr. - Mr.R.Laing (10-15 June, 2007), the visit of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development President Jean Lemierre, the visit of BG Group President F.Chapman, the visit of Chairman and President of Mittal Steel Co L.Mittal, the visit of Air Astana President P.Foster, the visit of Deputy Chairman on investment banking of JP Morgan Lord R.Renvick to Ust-Kamenogorsk for 17th plenar session of the Foreign Inverstors Council (15 June, 2007), the visit of the owner and head of “Harrods” M.Al-Fayed (18-20 June 2007)
In 27-29 June 2007 Kazakhstan has held 'Kazakhstan Growth Forum', with more than 600 representatives of private and state holdings, international organisations and mass-media. The conference encouraged the world community as well as foreign investors and businessmen to get better acquainted with the social-economic situation in the country, its investing climate, legal and tax basis, the last trends of all industrial sectors development, such as oil and gas, financial sector, construction and real property, metallurgy, electric power, transport and infrastructure, innovative technologies and communication, agriculture and retail sales.
Cultural-humanitarian cooperation.
British Council, as an independent body, actively functions in Kazakhstan since 1993, being at the same time sort of cultural department for the British Embassy in RK.
Its activities are mostly aimed at spreading English, culture, art and education areas. BC also holds English courses for state and private companies. Council coordinates tuition of Kazakhstani youth in Great Britain.
On 15-17 November 2000, during the President’s visit to the UK the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the RK Ministry of education and science and British Council, establishing the Kazakh-British Technical University. It was officially founded in 2001 by the Government decree and opened in October 2001. It educates high-skilled experts for modern industry with the involvement of leading foreign educational technologies and experts. In January 2005, the Agreement on Bachelor's programme of the London School of Economics and Political Science was signed.
During the visit to Astana of Lord-Mayor of London-City, John Stattard on 30 March 2007, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Agency for Civil Service Affairs of Kazakhstan and the London School of Economics and Political Science concerning the professional training of Kazakhstani civil servicemen at BC seminars on education and management in financial sector.
In 2003 the British-Kazakh Society was established under the patronage of HRH, the Duke of York and the President N.Nazarbayev.
Wide range of cultural projects is being accomplished in Great Britain each year.
In May 2007, the renowned Kazakhstani violinist M. Bisengaliev performed in Saint James Picadilly, within whose concert the world premier of the national music composition “Zere” by Erran Baron Kohen (Sacha Baron Kohen’s brother) was presented.
“Kazakh music – the songs and melodies of steppe” concert was arranged within the conference “Kazakhstan: New Growth Horizons”, 27-29 June 2007 in Cadogan Hall.
On 15-14 July, Kazakhstan took part in the first international festival of falconry in the vicinity of Redding, near London. The participants were pleased to have a sort of Kazakh “mini-village” with yurt and its decoration, reflecting national folk art and traditions of birds breeding.
On 18-19 July Kazakh ballet group headed by B.Ayukhanov performed in Cadogan Hall.
Kazakh performer Gabit Sagatov attended the Beatles Week in Liverpool on 24-27 August, he performed six live shows in the presence of 200 artists and bands from all over the world.
17-24 September golf players of Europe took part in international golf tournament «Kazakhstan Open» in Almaty. In 23-30 September, Kazakh team “Snow leopard” among which were the sportsmen of Almaty and Talgar for the first time participated in the international junior rugby tournament in the UK, where they won 3rd place.
On 10 November, Central Military Orchestre of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the first time performed within “Lord-Mayor Show” in London. The Orchestre also appeared on other London stages, as well as abroad.
On 26 November State Ensemble “Kazakhstan chamber musicians” headed by national artist G.Murzabekova held its musical performance in one of the most renowned concert halls - Saint James Hall.
9 December was celebrated by the traditional gala-concert in Cadogan Hall, dedicated to the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Regional cooperation
Lord Provost of the City Aberdeen (Scotland) in October 2003 visited Atyrau, Western-Kazakhstan and Mangistau oblasts to reinforce the cooperation between two oil-rich regions of both countries, which led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
3-5 November 2004, Akim of Atyrau A.Musin and Akim of Mangistau B.Palimbetov came with visit to Aberdeen in purpose of further enhancing the ties of state and commercial structures of the oil-rich regions of both countries. Akims took part in business forum, presented the economical potentials of their respective regions, supplied a report about relevant cooperation spheres between British and Kazakh companies, including oil and gas sectors within the framework of the Strategy of Innovative Industrial Development.
Kazakhstan has acquired its consular post in Aberdeen, which immensely facilitates the procedures of granting visas to British nationals living in the North.
In February 2008, former Australian Ambassador Duglas Townsend, who is now a permanent resident of the UK, was appointed as Honorary Consul to Wales. His main functions involves the enhancement of interparliamentary relations, cooperation in agriculture, education, economics and trade fields.
