Kazakhstan and Russia to sign contracts worth $1.8 billion

Kazakhstan and Russia expect to sign contracts worth $1.8 billion, Kazakhstan Government’s spokesman Erzhan Ashikbayev told a briefing, a Tengrinews.kz journalist reports. “A Kazakh-Russian business forum to be held September 18 is to expand economic ties between the two nations. 8 agreements totally worth $1.8 billion are expected to be signed, including an agreement to assemble and sell LADA cars in Kazakhstan jointly by Kazakhstan’s Asia Auto and Russia’s AvtoVAZ; besides Samruk – Energo and Inter RAO of Russia are to sign a memorandum of cooperation to construct the 4th power generating unit of the Ekibastuz hydropower plant”, Mr. Ashikbayev said. According to him, the business forum will be held on the eve of the 9th forum of transborder cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia to be held in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, September 19. “The two heads of state will discuss cooperation to support entrepreneurs and launch new joint ventures as well as to develop trade”, he elaborated.