This note summarises the analytical work carried out by the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme (ECP) as part of the OECD Central Asia Initiative. The work was funded by the government of Kazakhstan, and co-ordinated on behalf of Kazakhstan by Mr Kairat Torebayev, Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration, whose support and involvement were particularly appreciated.
This report was prepared under the guidance of Mr Andreas Schaal, Director of OECD Global Relations and Co-operation, and Mr William Tompson, Head of the OECD Eurasia Division. The project was managed by Mr Grégory Lecomte, Head of the Central Asia Unit, and Ms Amélie Schurich-Rey, Economist and Policy Analyst, OECD Eurasia Division.
The lead authors of this report are Ms Amélie Schurich-Rey and Mr Dylan van de Ven, Policy Analyst in the OECD Eurasia Division. Valuable analytical support was provided by QazTrade, Ms Céleste Laporte Talamon, Policy Analyst, as well as Ms Shamima Oshurbekova, Mr Hugo Brisebard, and Mr Daniel Poloyko, Junior Policy Analysts in the same division. Ms Anna Chahtahtinsky and Ms Elisa Larrakoetxea, Programme Administrators in the OECD Eurasia Division, provided unfailing administrative and logistical support.
The project would not have been possible without the continuous support and dialogue with representatives of ministries and state agencies. In particular, the OECD would like to express its gratitude to Mr Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration, Mr Kairat Torebayev, Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration, Mr Nurlan Kulbatyr and Ms Assel Yegemberdiyeva, Deputy Directors of QazTrade, for their continued support throughout the project. Thanks are also due to Ms Mira Zhanabergenova, Director of the Department for Export Promotion of QazTrade, Ms Assem Yasheva, Senior Manager of the Department for Export Promotion of QazTrade, Ms Ainur Amirbekova, Director of the Department for Relations with the World Trade Organization and Trade and Economic Cooperation of QazTrade, Mr. Yerzhan Shakargaliyev, Chief Expert at QazTrade, Ms Assel Baibolova, Chief Manager of the Export Department of QazTrade, and Mr Ozhet Shegirbayev, Deputy Head of the Information and Analytical Department of the Senate Apparatus.
The OECD is also grateful to representatives of the public and private sectors, business associations, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders who provided valuable inputs during numerous discussions, including representatives of KazakhExport, Atameken, the Chamber of Commerce, Baiterek, Kazakh Invest, QazIndustry, Mangystau Oblast Akimat, Port of Aktau, and Semurg Invest. A number of representatives of the international and development community provided further support to the work, including representatives of the European Union, the International Trade Centre, the World Bank, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ).
Finally, the OECD conveys its appreciation to the QazTrade team, and Ms Madina Nurakisheva for their dedication in organising the country-specific working-groups and study visits.