Perhaps not surprising to those in the know.
India has been increasing its political and military capital in Central Asia for some time. And though it may not mean much, there’s something to be said for the cultural influence decades of poorly-dubbed Bollywood films that have graced the small screens of the former Soviet Republics. Kazakhs and Uzbeks, in my experience at least, are often as familiar with Bollywood superstars as they are with Hollywood stars. Shah Rukh Khan vs. Tom Cruise, if you will.
In any event, I have a couple links to fill you in on the story – and the story is, in short, Uranium. India needs it, Kazakhstan is a leading supplier in their neighborhood, and they are willing to trade with India’s support for their WTO bid. Eurasianet carries the news that India’s demand and others will push Kazakhstan to be the world’s foremost Uranium supplier by 2010 – which, is, like, next year, already!
Kazakhstan wants to be in the WTO. It’s a long process, on par with getting into the EU, NATO, or Peace Corps. [Bad joke - but it was a lot of paperwork!] Membership calls for changes on Kazakhstan’s part, but the benefit to gross export/import is not to be underestimated. At least, Kazakhstan’s government is sticking to the plan; namely, that democracy comes after a healthy economy, free market, and healthy profit margins. Көреміз, Нұр-әке. Сәттілік тілеймін.
This post was written by...
Michael Hancock-Parmer – author of 153 posts on Registan.net.
Michael earned an MA in Central Eurasian Studies in 2011 and remains a student at Indiana University pursuing a dual PhD in Russian History and Central Eurasian Studies. He served 6 months in the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan in 2005. After the events in Andijan and the subsequent closure of the program, he served 2 years in southern Kazakhstan, returning to the Midwest in 2007. His general area of interest is on post-Timur Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, centered on the Syr Darya river valley.
{ 3 comments }
in my opinion, Kazakh economy is too weak for wto, it’s debatable whether it will benefit KZ at all (not for ICs). Its ‘middle class’ is finally forming but these people are mostly small entrepreneurs, will they survive competition?
btw, nice kazakh line
Also, Industry and Trade Minister Vladimir Shkolnik warning that the government plans to impose import tariffs on a range of goods sets a protectionist tone (see link below) that hardly sits well with a run for the WTO.
Rumroma is absolutely spot-on, but it is disheartening that Kazakh government is content with waffling endlessly about promoting small and medium enterprise while in real terms promoting the interests of big business. The economy remains beholden to the resource sector and tragically hobbled by shocking levels of corruption.
That said, there are hell of lot of talented and well-educated young Kazakhs out there, which could presage a much-needed seismic shift in the way the country does business.
http://eurasianet.org/departments/briefs/eav011209d.shtml
Well, if India is in WTO why Kazakhstan can be? Kazakhstan has stronger economy and better potential in terms of resources, education, political stability, quality of the resources than India and a bigger part of the current WTO countries.
As far as I understand the main objective with regards to WTO membership is to get there not far later than Russia, otherwise there will be disaster is Russia will enter WTO much earlier. Because then Kazakhstan will not be able to freely trade with other WTO countries but will have all the import good flooding the economy since the borders with Russia will open soon.