Kazakhstan among Top 20 countries by inflow of FDI

Kazakhstan has entered the top 20 nations worldwide by the inflow of foreign investments, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing Kairat Karmanov, Vice Chairman of the Kaznex Invest [National Agency for Exports and Investments] Board. According to the data announced at a recent UN conference on trade and development, Kazakhstan is ranked 19th by the inflow of FDI in 2012. The top three destinations of foreign investments are the USA, China and Hong Kong. “In the first H1 2013 the gross inflow of FDI into processing industries made up $1.6 billion, 5.2% up against the like period of 2012”, he said at a press-conference. According to him, in 2012 the gross inflow of FDI to Kazakhstan reached the record high of $28.8 billion. The inflow to the country's metallurgy and production of finished metal products grew by 16%, making up $1.3 billion. $234 million was invested into production of foodstuffs, drinks and tobacco products. Mr. Karmanov noted that Timur Bekmambetov, a Kazakhstan-born well-known film director, contributed to strengthening the country’s investment image abroad. His production company made a promotion video that went on air on CNN, Euronews, Bloomberg.