Erkanat ABENI
ASTANA, Oct 29
(THE GLOBE)
�The National Bank of Kazakhstan does not need US$ 400 million to be allotted by the International Monetary Fund to replenish the gold and hard currency reserves of NB,� the head of the country�s leading bank announced on Friday in Astana.
According to Grigory Marchenko, National Bank possesses sufficient gold and hard currency reserves. It may sell foreign state securities for US$ 530 million in the international market, if necessary.
�The hard currency exchanges of Kazakhstan are surfeited with the American currency. At present the National Bank has to purchase the excess of currency to keep the dollar�s rate over 135 tenge,� Mr. Marchenko said.
In his opinion, the republican budget�2000 approved by the Kazakhstani Parliament is the key moment of the negotiations between IMF and Kazakhstan. Mr. Marchenko said that the bill would be given its second reading had been appointed on November 5, 1999.
Grigory Marchenko said if the main financial document of the country was approved, Kazakhstan would be able to receive World Bank�s credits of US$ 175 million in the mid December 1999. Including US$ 100 million will be used to support the pension reform.
�All parameters of the new three-years program have been agreed with IMF,� Mr. Marchenko emphasised. According to him, IMF has no claims to the National Bank.
Erkanat ABENI
ASTANA, Oct 29 (THE GLOBE)
�It is projected to build new oil transit ways via Russia and Ukraine to Polish ports,� the President of Kazakhstan announced on Friday in Astana.
The Presidents of the two countries emphasised they were going to co-operate in light industry, pharmaceutical industry, small business, construction, as well as in the field of oil and gas prospecting and production. Nursultan Nazarbaev and Alexander Kvasnevsky announced they had signed basic documents forming the legal basis between our states. According to the Kazakhstan President, during the negotiations the Kazakhstan side offered Poland a big project (to produce grade rolled metal in Temirtau). Possibly, Polish companies will participate in production of Kazakhstan combines in Kzyl-Orda.
The Polish President stated it was necessary to stir up the co-operation between our countries. In addition he said that Poland was eager to participate in construction of our new capital.
In his own turn Mr. Nazarbaev said, he was going to ask Kazakhstan and Polish businessmen to settle the issue regarding the construction of the Polish Trade House.
According to the Kazakhstan President, during his first official visit to Poland in November 1997 they established a joint economic commission, which held a number of meetings and considered eleven important projects to be realised.
The diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Poland were established in March 1992. Our countries signed 9 inter-governmental and 2 inter-departmental documents. At present twenty Polish companies work in Kazakhstan. The turnover between these two countries is about US$ 100 million. �Of course, this is a small volume. But taking into consideration that we started from zero, it is not bad,� Nursultan Nazarbaev emphasised.
ALMATY, Nov 1
(THE GLOBE)
The administration of �Tengizchevroil� illegally dismissed 66 workers, the chairman of the trade union announced on November 1 in Almaty.
According to Togzhan Kizatova, the scandal is connected with the liquidation of the transport shop in the late 1997, as its functions were transferred to the contractor �ALLIED SUPPORT�. In May 1998 66 workers of Tengizchevroil were dismissed, including 21 persons were not offered to work at ALLIED SUPPORT, as the administration considered them �thieves and drinkers�. The chairman of the TCO trade union states they are not drinkers, but they were seen drunk though after the working time. The rest 45 workers refused to sign offered contracts. According to Mrs. Kizatova, 10 of 19 points of the contracts contradict to the Kazakhstan legislation.
Dismissed workers institute a case against the company. Initially resolutions of both the district and regional courts were positive. However, in 4 months courts abandoned their own resolutions. Members of the trade union believe this was done under the pressure of persons lobbying foreign investors� interests. Togzhan Kizatova thinks TCO a �shadowy cabinet� of the government.
Previously the chairman of the trade union demands to return the dismissed workers to the company, as the foreign investor is to observe the Kazakhstani legislation and provisions of the Charter of the Partnership Union.
There are some other problems in relations between the company�s administration and trade unions. According to Togzhan Kizatova, in the last year the TCO administration conducted an expertise and determined working places at the enterprise safety, despite the content of sulphur in Tengiz oil comes to 36% (the safety standard is not less than 0.5%). (THE GLOBE # 91, 25.11.98).
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