Estonian ports to help Kazakhstan access global markets

Estonian ports will help Kazakhstan to access global markets, Estonia’s President Toomas Hendrik Ilves believes. Today he met with Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbyaev. Mr. Ilves reminded that Estonia and Kazakhstan are located at the crossroads of the two major trade ways - Hanseatic and Silk Roads. “We need to revive these historic ties (…) oil and gas move westwards along the modern Silk Road, with innovation technology moving eastwards. Estonian ports are ready to facilitate Kazkahstan’s access to the global trade”, Mr. Ilves said. Head of Estonia lauded work of the intergovernmental committee, within which respective working groups were created focusing on transport, transit, energy and IT. “I am confident that the agreement signed today at Kadriorg Palace in Tallin [to facilitate investments] will activate the economic ties between Kazkahstan and Estonia”, RIA NOVOSTI quoted Mr. Ilves as saying. He expressed support of his nation to Kazkahstan’s bid to access the WTO. “We also support soonest negotiations with the EU to sign a new agreement on partnership and cooperation”, Mr. Ilves said. “We welcome the decision of Estonia’s leadership to open an Embassy in Astana”, President Nazarbayev said following the talks. The talks resulted in signing of a number of docuemnts, including a joint communiqué on expanded cooperation between the two nations. On Wednesday President Nazarbayev met Parliament Speaker Ene Egma, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. On Thursday Head of Kazakhstan is expected to meet ex-President Arnold Ruutel and Edgar Savisaar, Mayor of Tallinn.