Kazakhstan hosts EBRD annual meeting

ASTANA, May 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Kazakh capital of Astana will host the
annual meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD) on Friday whose Board of Governors will meet alongside the
established Business Forum program launched this year under the theme
"Supporting Markets - Asia Meets Europe".
"Kazakhstan - bridging Asia and Europe - offers trade and investment
opportunities for companies seeking new openings in one of the most
dynamic emerging markets. The capital city, Astana, which is evolving
rapidly as an administrative and business centre, will host two days of
informed discussion and debate on investment prospects and the state of
the global economy," EBRD said.
Kazakh Finance Minister Bolat Zhamishev said the EBRD meeting 'will
analyze the latest changes in political, economic and financial spheres
and business prospects in the country and the region of EBRD
member-states. We hope the meeting will encourage European investments
into Central Asia."
He estimated the meeting will cost Kazakhstan close to seven million
dollars, but said expenses will quickly repay.
"The holding of the meeting and all accompanying events will promote
foreign investments into our country to support the implementation of the
state program of innovative development," the minister said.
At present the EBRD is providing 2.8 billion euro to finance projects
in various industries of Kazakh economy which allowed to attract
additional investment worth over 7 billion euro.
The event will bring together close to 2500 investors, policy-makers,
bankers, journalists, NGO representatives and government officials.