Tatarstan and Kazakhstan Much in Common

For all-round expansion and deepening bilateral cooperation voiced Presidents of Tatarstan and Kazakhstan during negotiations at held at the Kazan Kremlin.

Tatarstan values understanding and support which Kazakhstan at all times manifested to our republic, Mintimer Shaimiev said. The two republics are united not only by cultural relations which always have been very close, they enriched and supported each other, and today these relations are in constant dynamics. Common ground between leaders of Tatarstan and Kazakhstan is that they have their own point of view, their own vision of resolving the problems. These solutions which have been justified by life, certainly, in interests of the peoples residing both republics. Due to such vision and own strategy Kazakhstan for rather a short period of time has obtained its statehood - not declarative, but filled with real contents.

Growth of total domestic product of Kazakhstan in 2003 reached 9,2 percent, and since 2000 this growth has made already 53 percent that enabled the republic to become one of world leaders by rates of economy development. Only for last two years the volume of direct foreign investments into republic have made 8,6 billion dollars. Due to the accepted law on foreign investments ( investors for first five years investors are not liable to taxation, and the next five years pay only 50 percent) today Kazakhstan counting per one resident has attracted investments 30 percent more, than Russia. For last years 80 percent of investments to the Central Asia have been directed to this country. Without it, in opinion of Noursultan Nazarbaeva, it is impossible to reach the growth. To a word, general capitalization of banks of the second level in republic makes today 8 billion dollars, and interest rate of National bank of Kazakhstan - only six percent. Average per capita income in 2003 exceeded 2 thousand dollars, having increased for 10 years almost three times.

Head of Kazakhstan explains economic successes of the republic, first of all, that its industry today by 80 percent has been privatized - " we pursue the policy according to which the Government should less and less interfere the economy ". In state property there are only main railways, gas and oil pipelines, electrolines and defensive enterprises. Last year, the republic adopted the law on private property for land. The role of state is reduced to creating the laws supporting private property, and granting people opportunity to work. Municipal sphere (starting from power stations, heat sources, water-fences which presently offer services in market conditions and due to what cost of these services considerably has turned down ) has been completely privatized. Problems of housing and communal services reforming for Kazakhstanians already have been settled. One more "hobby –horse" of the economy - small business which today makes 25 percent of the output. The nearest task for this sector is to achieve 50 percent of Kazakhstan's output.

Tatarstan can in many respects learn much from Kazakhstan, to adopt its experience in order more effectively to provide its own development. Today you have appeared before Russian and the world community as the head of independent state who, moving along unknown way and finding successful decisions, is leading out the country, people to a level of world civilization, Mintimer Shaimiev said.

Today, when cooperation at regional level which already has become a component of world economic policy is being encouraged in every possible way, it is necessary to expand interaction, to find various forms of co-operation and to provide on this basis interosculation. Especially, because Tatarstan and Kazakhstan have much in common, President of Tatarstan is sure.