Kazakhstan declared its independence in September 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In its quest for foreign aid to develop its natural resources and expand its international trade, this Central Asian republic turned to Israel. In the course of an official visit to Israel, Prime Minister Sergei Tereschenko and Prime Minister Rabin agreed to establish a joint Israel- Kazakhstan committee to formulate economic projects. In their meeting, the guests explained their needs while Mr. Rabin expressed Israel's readiness to assist Kazakhstan. Text of the summary of the meeting follows:
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin met today (Monday), 7.9.92, with an official delegation from Kazakhstan, headed by Prime Minister Sergei Tereschenko.
During the discussion, which lasted an hour, the two discussed opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade, industry, science, agriculture, and aviation.
Rabin told his guest that Israel is interested in basing the ties between the two countries on mutual understanding, the conducting of joint projects, as well as scientific and economic ties that will benefit both nations. He detailed the Government's plans to decrease the budget deficit, stimulate economic development, and create new places of employment.
Sergei Tereschenko told his host that Kazakhstan, which declared its independence a year ago, wishes to become an established secular state founded on law and order. It aspires to achieve, within a few years, an economy able to cultivate its natural resources on its own and trade its products on the international market. The Kazakhstan prime minister spoke of his country's potential in the areas of oil production, gas, metals, and quarries. He said that Kazakhstan also engages in agriculture but outmoded storage methods cause a loss of 15% of the harvest. He expressed interest in Israeli irrigation methods and said that Israeli technology could be of assistance to Kazakhstan in reducing its water consumption by two or threefold, and in improving the fertility of its agricultural lands. For its part, Kazakhstan could assist Israel in its desalination efforts. He also proposed a series of joint projects in the spheres of communications, science and chemistry, and displayed interest in Israel's pharmaceutical industry. During the visit, the guest suggested Kazakhstan serve as a port for Israeli civil aviation ties to Asia.
In response, Prime Minister Rabin said that Israel is interested in El Al maintaining aviation ties with Kazakhstan on a mutual basis. In addition Israel is prepared to broaden its current ties with Kazakhstan in the fields of communications and banking.
At the conclusion of the meeting the two agreed to establish a joint committee of economists, industrialists and business people to formulate joint economic projects. The prime minister appointed Professor Shimon Shetreet, Minister of Economics and Planning, and Yosef Guvrin, deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry, to coordinate the establishment of the committee on Israel's side.