Kazakhstan and EU agreed on access to services market upon entering WTO

Kazakhstan and the European Union agreed on access to services market after entering the WTO, Tengrinews.kz reports citing secretariat of Kazakhstan Ministry of Economic Integration. “Negotiations on the access to services market upon Kazakhstan's entering into the WTO completed between Kazakhstan and the European Union on October 12 in Brussels as part of the general negotiations process on Kazakhstan's entering the WTO. The protocol on completion of negotiations on access to the services market between Kazakhstan and the European Union was signed,” the Ministry's message states. The protocol was signed by Kazakhstan Minister of Economic Integration Zhanar Aitzhanova and Peter Balish, European Union Trade Commissioner. According to the Ministry's secretariat, the parties agreed on conditions aimed at improving the investment climate in oil and gas production sector, telecommunication, construction, financial and many other services. Inflow of direct investments from the European countries to Kazakhstan in 2010 made $11 billion. Commodities turnover between Kazakhstan and the EU in H1 2011 made over $28 billion.