Johanns To Lead Trade and Investment Mission to Kazakhstan
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns announced plans for his travel to Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, July 24–28, during which he will lead representatives of 18 participating U.S. companies and associations on a U.S. trade and investment mission and meet with top government officials of the largest Central Asian economy. (07/20/06)
— Detailed Summary of the Trade and Investment Mission (Printable version)

U.S. Promotes Integration of South and Central Asia (U.S. Department of State; 06/13/06)

U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Launches Central Asian Infrastructure Integration Initiative (10/14/05)

U.S.–Central Asian Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [.pdf; USTR; June 1, 2004])

• Recent USDA Reports
  • FAS:  U.S. Trade Reports
  • FAS:  Kazakhstan: Current Remote Imaging for Weather and Crop Data
  • FSIS: Export Requirements for Kazakhstan
     
• Trade How-To's for U.S. Exporters
  • USDA Exporter Assistance
  • Export.gov: Kazakhstan
    • Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States
    • Food Sector and Agribusiness Reports
    • Register for market information and leads (e-mails)
  • BuyUSA.gov: Kazakhstan
    • Business Customs and Traveling to Kazakhstan
    • Business Service Providers in Kazakhstan
    • Doing Business in Kazakhstan: A Country Commercial Guide
    • Leading Sectors in Kazakhstan
    • Products and Services for U.S. Companies
  • American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan
  • U.S.–Kazakhstan Business Association
  • Export–Import Bank: Central Asia and Caucasus Regions
  • World Bank's Mission in Kazakhstan
    • Country Brief 2006
    • Agricultural Competitiveness Project 
       
• Country Analysis
  • U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics:
    • U.S. Exports to Kazakhstan (2001–2005)
    • U.S. Trade (Imports, Exports and Trade Balance) with Kazakhstan (1992–Present)
  • FAO: General Information about Kazakhstan
    • Kazakhstan: Agriculture Sector
    • Kazakhstan's Water and Agriculture
    • FAO News
  • CIA Fact Book
  • U.S. Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration
    • Kazakhstan Country Analysis Brief
  • Library of Congress
    • Country Study: Kazakhstan
    • Portals to the World: Kazakhstan
    • Law Library of Congress: Kazakhstan
       
• Background on Foreign Policy With Kazakhstan
  • White House: Vice President's Visit to Kazakhstan (May 2006)
    • Vice President's Remarks in a Press Availability with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan (05/05/06)
  • U.S. Department of State: Kazakhstan
    • Background Note
    • Consular Information Sheet
    • U.S. Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan
    • Fact Sheets
    • Press Releases
    • Human Rights Practices (2005; issued 03/08/06)
    • South and Central Asia Update (International Information Service)
  • United Nations Mission: Kazakhstan

Recruitment Summary of the Trade and Investment Mission

Secretary Mike Johanns will lead the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Trade and Investment Mission to the cities of Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, July 23–28, 2006.  The primary goal of the USDA mission is to promote trade and investment, particularly in agricultural commodities, processed food products, agricultural inputs, livestock genetics, and food processing and agricultural equipment.

The USDA is recruiting approximately 15 U.S. agribusinesses to participate in this mission.  In Kazakhstan, ground transportation, domestic flights, translation services, and meeting facilities will be covered by the U.S. Government.    

Representatives from the Kazakhstani private agribusiness sector, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, federal investment agencies, and local governmental organizations will participate in the Trade and Investment Mission.

Kazakhstan Offers U.S. Partners:

• Approximately four times the size of Texas, Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia.
   

• Kazakhstan has Central Asia’s largest economy with double-digit growth in 2000-01, and growth over 9 percent annually in 2002-2005. 
   

• A strong agricultural sector, featuring grain and livestock production in the north and fruit and vegetable production in the south.  Roughly 20 percent of Kazakhstan’s labor force works in agriculture.  Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s largest grain exporter. 
   

• Increasing agricultural exports is a key part of Kazakhstan’s economic diversification strategy away from its overdependence on the oil sector.
   

• Strong economic ties to the United States.  Kazakhstan is the largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central Asia, and the United States is the largest foreign investor.  There are well over 100 American companies doing business in Kazakhstan today. 
   

• Notable progress in transforming from a centrally-planned economy to a more transparent, less regulated, more market driven business environment.  
   

• Continued effective fiscal and monetary policy has maintained macro-economic stability and limited inflation to 6-8 percent over the last three years. 
   

• Kazakhstan has made significant steps towards accession to the WTO, and hopes to join in 2007.  
   

• Tax laws are considered to be among the most comprehensive in the former Soviet Union. The latest Tax Code, which entered into effect on January 1, 2002, applies taxes universally and allows only a limited set of exemptions.
   

• The best banking system in the former Soviet Union according to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

During the visit, U.S. agribusiness will be provided:

• Unique opportunities to dialogue with potential business partners.
   

• Meetings with and presentations by key Kazakhstani federal and local officials.
   

• Briefings on the macroeconomic situation, legal and regulatory environment, banking sector, privatization process, land code, and investment climate.
   

• Information on U.S. government programs to facilitate commercial relations.
   

• Logistical support, translation services, one-on-one meetings, and site visits.

For more information, please contact:

Darrell A. Upshaw
USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service
Tel.: 202-690-1786

Email: Darrell.upshaw@fas.usda.gov

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