Astrakhan delegation took part in the XIII Forum of Interregional Cooperation of Russia and Kazakhstan

The XIII Forum of Interregional Cooperation of Russia and Kazakhstan was held in Astana- the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on October 4, 2016.
This annual forum under the leading of Presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan was attended by Astrakhan delegation headed by the Governor of Astrakhan Region Alexander Zhilkin as well as more than 1,300 representatives of government agencies, quasi-public sector and business circles of the two countries.
During the forum, Astrakhan representatives took part in B2B meetings and panel sessions to discuss issues of transport and logistics potential development, tourism industry, trade restrictions removing and other relevant issues of bilateral cooperation.
The memorandum on cooperation between the Government of Astrakhan region and joint-stock company “National Company” Astana EXPO-2017” was signed by the Governor of the Astrakhan Region Alexander Zhilkin during the Forum. The Memorandum main provisions include tourist infrastructure development, attraction of Astrakhan region participants in “Astana EXPO-2017”, study and development of investment projects, renewable sources of energy, “green” technologies, and many others.
Further Astrakhan delegation participated in the Russian-Kazakh business forum, attended by Presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan. Nursultan Nazarbaev noted in his speech that Russia was an important partner for Kazakhstan and the development of bilateral economic cooperation was necessary to give new impetus. Vladimir Putin informed that trade relations between Russia and Kazakhstan were hampered due to customs barriers but Russia fully strived to cooperate with Kazakhstan for sustainable development of national economies.
The XIII Forum of Interregional Cooperation of Russia and Kazakhstan was closed by the plenary meeting of the heads of States and regions where the following documents were signed on the results of the event:
- Joint Action Plan of Kazakhstan and Russia for 2016-2018 years;
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Government of the Russian Federation to preserve ecosystem of transboundary river Zhaiyk (The Ural);
- Protocol amending the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Government of the Russian Federation on the peculiarities of the legal regulation of activity of enterprises, institutions and organizations of railway transport from October18, 1996;
- Memorandum of understanding and expansion of strategic cooperation in nuclear fuel cycle between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, JSC “NAC” Kazatomprom”  and State Corporation “Rosatom”.