Astana Economic Forum-2015 took place on May 21-22. 6,400 delegates took part in the event. Among them were leading politicians, world experts in the field of economy, the Nobel Prize winners, executives of international organizations, representatives of leading Media and opinion leaders.
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister of RK Karim Massimov, Chairman of the National Bank of RK Kairat Kelimbetov, Minister of National Economy of RK Erbolat Dosayev, Minister for Investments and Development of RK and others addressed the forum.
The Harvard University Professor Kenneth Rogoff, Professor of Economics of the New York University Nouriel Roubini, the Nobel Prize winners Fin Kinland and Eric Maskin, Prime Minister of Luxemburg Xavier Bettel, former Premier of Italy Romano Prody, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank Jang Venchay, Chairman of the Board of Sberbank of Russia German Gref, Editor of the American journal Forbes Steve Forbes and others were Among VIP guests of the forum.
Flagship topic of AEF-2015 – “Infrastructure: driver of sustainable economic growth”.
The future of the global economy, securing of stability and new growth drivers were discussed within the framework of the forum.
Prime Minister of Luxemburg Xavier Bettel noted that the Astana Economic Forum – 2015 helps not only to figure out future economic trends but also strengthen trade relations between the states. Xavier Bettel stated: “Luxemburg will preside in the EU starting from July 1. We plan to support Kazakhstan as it is a priority state both for the European Union and Central Asia”.
“The economy of Kazakhstan operates splendidly. It demonstrates impressive stability despite the price decline for raw materials”, General Secretary of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Angel Gurria said.
“The world is currently in need of the dialogue which is broadly propagandized by Kazakhstan”, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program Helen Elizabeth said.
Economic, financial and monetary changes in the global economy were discussed at the Forum.
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz noted: “The world currently needs deep structural reforms”.
Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank Jung Venchay stated: “I don’t see particular economic risks that Asia can face in near future”.
A number of sessions were dedicated to the international project of the continental importance, revival of the Great Silk Road. The potential of the new Silk Road was considered from the economic and geopolitical standpoint.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau for Economic and Business Affairs of the State Department of the USA Kurt Tong noted that the concept of revival of the Great Silk Road is a valuable idea. According to a respectful expert, Central Asia can become an engine of development.
General Secretary of the Caspian Strategy Institute Haldun Yavas noted: “The purpose of the project is to improve mutually beneficial cooperation. It is not only an economy and policy, but also a social and cultural aspect”.
Head of the Corporation JPMorgan Chase International Jakob Frenkel: “Development of the infrastructure of roads, capital and human capital will lead to the sustainable growth”.
The investment forum “Invest in Kazakhstan” aimed at attracting new scalable investments into the Republic of Kazakhstan has been one of the key events of AIF-2015. The investment climate and opportunities of attraction of direct foreign investments into the industrially-innovative development of Kazakhstan were discussed by experts on a high level.
General Director of Luxemburg for Finance Nicolas Mackel noted: “Kazakhstan has already realized lots of economic programs. The country has all chances to become not only a regional trade but also a financial hub where big trade deals and payments will be sealed.
Addressing the event, Director of McKinsey Global Institute Richard Dobbs stated: “According to the researches of McKinsey Global Institute, Kazakhstan is becoming a center of investment attraction. It is a country that is worth investing”.
Delivering a concluding speech at the “Invest in Kazakhstan” Forum, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov thanked experts for recommendations in the field of monetary reforms and noted how important it is to show Kazakhstan’s openness for cooperation, especially in the situation when prices for raw materials have considerably fallen and the world economy still trying to overcome the crisis.
Economic and joint cooperation to lower economic risks were addressed at the Europe and Asia Forum. Besides, a role of financial instruments and state institutions in stimulation of innovations and new investment projects was discussed. Speaking at the forum were such experts as Roman Prodi, Former Prime Minister of Italy and Ex-Chairman of the European Commission; Alexander Kvasnevski, Former President of the Polish Republic; Herman Gref, Chairman of the Board of Sberbank of Russia; Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel; Jao Ksao, Vice President of the State Bank of Development of China; Aset Isekeshev, Minister of Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Signing of big contracts and agreements, memoranda and recommendation documents concerning the global economy were the traditional results of the forum.
Year by year the Astana Economic Forum is demonstrating its significance as the Eurasia’s first dialogue ground in the field of global economy.
