Within two days three agreements on cooperation and expansion of inter-regional links have been signed by Nurgali Ashimov, South-Kazakhstan oblast governor and leaders of Akmola, Kostanai and North-Kazakhstan oblasts. Northern regions promise to provide milling businesses with about 300 000 tons of grain and flour.

 

Saturation of consumers’ market with cheap bread and flour are priorities of local executive power’s activity. The state leader instructed the oblast akims to create stabilization funds in the regions.

 

South Kazakhstan receives grain from northern regions. Price for basic product must be affordable for low-income social groups (about 200 000 local residents).

 

SKO authorities regularly control grain and flour supplies. Permanent grain reserve in the region is about 30 000 tons. Heads of milling businesses realizing responsibility in the area, signed memorandums with the oblast akimat on provision of local residents with bread first and only after that exporting the remaining products.

 

Southern businessmen working in the area have partnership relations with many producers.

 

They are interested in delivery and processing of grains, selling of flour at internal market and its consignments to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan. For example in 2007 over 400 000 tons of grain were delivered from Akmola oblast to SKO. This is a mutually profitable business, which must be expanded.

 

By the way an official delegation of SKO businessmen went to southern regions to sign corresponding contracts. The talk will concern social grain, price of which is established by Gosprodcorporation.

 

Meetings with producers themselves are rare, Bakaram Abdukarimov, president of LLP “Altyn dan” complained. They often meet with dealers instead, re-selling grains to derive personal revenues from that. He said direct contacts with producers would be much more beneficial, naturally.

 

In compliance with the memorandum, signed by SKO governor N.Ashimov and A.Rau, Akmola oblast governor 50 000 tons of grain (not lower than 3rd class) and 30 000 tons of flour will be delivered to SKO. Kostanai oblast is to deliver 150 000 tons of grain. The deliveries start in October. The signed memoranda are registered in the Government.

 

Delivery schedules will be defined for all the three oblasts, SKO governor said. Businessmen’s interests must be taken into account too.

 

The visit and meeting with businessmen and producers will stimulate mutually profitable partnership relations, the governor hopes. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan are interested in Kazakhstan grain too.

 

Lubov Dobrota

 

Shymkent-Kokshetau-Petropavlovsk-Kostanai-Shymkent