During that visit, I had an opportunity to sit down with the president of Kazakhstan. We had an excellent discussion about a wide range of topics, but one of the things that we talked about was the opportunity for investment by United States companies in the economy of Kazakhstan.

Your president made a very strong and excellent case that Kazakhstan would be a very, very positive location for companies to invest, build plants in the area of agri-business. He requested that I consider leading a trade and investment mission of United States business enterprises back to Kazakhstan. I promised him right there during the course of that meeting that not only would there be such a trade and investment meeting, but that I would personally lead it.

We returned to the United States, and we put the word out that we were going to do a trade and investment mission to Kazakhstan, and we had over 300 companies indicate interest in that mission. That indicates to me that those businesses are convinced that there is opportunity here in your country.

Today we launched that mission. We have companies that are here from the whole spectrum of agri-business. We have a very intense schedule for me and for them over the next three days.

Let me stress something that is very very important, and then I’d be happy to take a few questions.

We believe very, very strongly in the United States that for opportunities of investment and trade to really flourish, it must be a two-way street. It cannot be one-sided. Therefore, we are encouraging these companies to not only look at trade opportunities but to look at investment opportunities. The opportunity to do business right here in Kazakhstan. They are here because they believe in your country, they believe in the economic reforms that have occurred, they believe that this is a good place and a good opportunity to do business.

With that, let me just wrap up where I began and just say it is great to be back in Kazakhstan. I think the last time I was here, it was very very cold because it was winter, so it’s nice to see another season in Kazakhstan. It is very very beautiful.

I’d be happy to take a few questions.

Kazakhstan TV: Just to follow up on what you’ve just said, what are your ideas about the future of trade and economic relations between the United States and Kazakhstan?

Secretary Johanns: The United States and Kazakhstan are very much partners. We have a strategic partnership. We believe that Kazakhstan with your president can be a leader in this region. We already see signs of that leadership that I believe are promising not only for this country but for this entire region.

Our relationship from the standpoint of the United States is that we see Kazakhstan as a partner. As you know, Kazakhstan and your president have been very supportive in dealing with terrorist activity. We support Kazakhstan’s accession into the World Trade Organization. The economic reforms that have occurred in Kazakhstan, as I’ve said, are also very promising.

So we find all of this encouraging, but most importantly it’s encouraging to others. That’s why you have over 300 U.S. companies that expressed interest in coming on this trade mission. Because of this number, this trade and investment mission was able to select a very broad range of agri-businesses that have the potential to invest here in Kazakhstan.

Secretary Johanns: Thank you everyone.

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