I Astana Economic Forum

The 27th of June, 2008, the Astana Economic Forum was held by Ministry of economy and budget planning in Astana on the theme “Modern Aspects of Economic Development under the Conditions of Globalization” within the bounds of establishing Eurasian Economic club, on which was taking part about one hundred leading economic-scientists, officials and representatives of business community more 40 abroad countries. The Astana Economic Forum is a prime event of the “Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists” Association (EECSA), Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev ,The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan was elected as the Honorary President of the Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists. The Forum traditionally will be held in Astana. In this dialogue platform the key issues of modern economy, perspectives of economic development, maintaining economic stability and security of the state as well as strengthening of integration processes were discussed. Over 400 participants took part in the forum, also about 100 represents of mass media. Altogether came: four delegation of international organization (UN European Economic Commission, International Union of Economists, EurAsEC, USAID). In addition, over 100 international participants from 45 countries and 25 representatives of 18 foreign embassies in Kazakhstan have participated in the Forum. Over 170 Kazakhstan participants have taken part in the Forum, including representatives of governmental authorities (executive and legislative branches), ministers, agency and committee heads, national companies senior executives, Senate and Mazhilis Parliament deputies, science organizations heads, scientists-economists, and Kazakhstan business leaders.

Work of the Forum began with plenary session at 10.00 a.m. at the «Rixos President Hotel Astana», where welcoming speech of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Nursultan Nazarbaev was presented by the President Assistant on Economy Mr. Aset Isekeshev.
At welcome speech was noticed the Astana economic forum will help to assist the further strengthening of integration processes in the Eurasian territory.

“I am confident that this forum will become widely known and useful dialogue place for sharing the views on the wide range of issues of modern economy. The Astana economic forum will help to assist the further strengthening of integration processes in the Eurasian territory, discuss key questions of economic development, gather world group of leading scholars for the formation of adequate answers for existing challenges in the world” speaking at welcome speech of the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

the President Assistant on Economy Mr. Aset Isekeshev

“I suppose, the discussion of specific issues within the framework of the forum will strengthen the role of Eurasian region in solving the topical problems of economy and safety. I hope that holding this forum in Kazakhstan will be a foundation for long-term cooperation. I wish all the participants luck and fruitful work» - as mentioned at the document.

Mr. B.Sultanov, Minister of economy and budget planning of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Coordination Council of the Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists Chairman was a moderator at the session.

Petrakov N. Y. , Director of Institute for Market Problems of Russian Academy Sciences was elected as chairman of supervisory board EECS, and so Russian scholar of authority opened forum session. He delivered a speech on the theme: «Economic integration of Russia and Kazakhstan: trends and perspectives».

Also Mrs. Reitchel Mayandja, special council of secretary general UN on gender issue, began with welcome speech addressing to organizers and participants. Mrs. Reitchel Mayandja considered the issue of globalization on gender aspect.

Mrs. Mahani Zainal Abidin, Director General of the Institute for Strategic and International Studies of Malaysia, PhD, Professor made a presentation on the theme: «Globalization and its Impact on Oil-exporting countries: Malaysia and Kazakhstan”.

The nuance of Ukraine economy was discussed by Heyets Valeriy Mikhailovich, Director of Institute of Economy and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of NASU, Professor, Dr. of econ. Sciences made a speech on the theme «Economic policy of Ukraine under the conditions of globalization».

The Representative of Switzerland, Professor, Mr. Paolo Garonna, who is the Deputy Executive Secretary of ECE, UN made a speech on the theme: «Eurasian Economic Integration: Lessons from Pan-European Experience». In his speech he called the Central Asia as the heart of economy integration. During his speech presentation he considered the role of Kazakhstan at the region.

A guest form Philippines , Professor of the Department for Central and West Asia of ADB, PhD Norio Usui made a presentation on the theme: «Managing Oil Windfalls and Strategic Economic Diversification».

Head of the European Department of the Academy of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China, PhD, Professor Liu Huaqin made a presentation on the theme: “China: Regional Economic Cooperation in under the Conditions of Globalization”.

After plenary session, there was held press conference with taking part guests and mass media journalists where journalists were received answers for all interested questions during acting discussion.

The prime sponsors of the measurement within The Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists Foundation during the 26th -28th of June 2008: “Kazakhstan Holding for governmental assets management “Samruk”, official sponsors: JSC “Eurasian Development Bank”, “International Professional Academy “Turan-Profi”, JSC “KEGOS”, “Air Astana ” Airline, Astana-Finance, Rixos President Hotel Astana

Information support provided by: JSC “Khabar” Agency, “ERA TV Telecompany” and “Business KZ”, juridical support provided by consulting company “Business Expert-M”, and technical support by JSC “Kazakhtelecom”

The section work was held at the House of Ministries at 3 p.m. in the framework of Astana Economic Forum, by following directions:
1.Economic integration of countries under the conditions of globalization.
2.Macroeconomic management of economy under the conditions of globalization.
3.Global competitiveness of Eurasian countries.

Work of the first Section on theme: «Economic integration of countries under the conditions of globalization» consisted of two session.

1.S. Glazyev Moderator of the First session, Research Manager of the National Development Institute , Professor, PhD, Academician of RAS, on the theme “Economic development perspective of the CIS during he various integration types”
2. Bolshakov, moderator of the second session, Department Director of Nature, Society and Human International University “Dubna”, Professor, Academician of RAS on the theme “Advanced ideas and technology as the integration factor of Eurasian continent countries under the condition of global crises”
The second section work on the theme: “Macroeconomic regulations under the conditions of globalization” consisted of two session.

G.R. Mladenov, moderator of the first session, Vice-President of International Union of Economists, Academician of MAM, professor (Republic of Bulgaria) on the theme “Macroeconomic regulation of economical process”.

Dr. Gabdygapar Seitkassimov, moderator of the Second session, Rector of Kazakh University of Economy, Finance and International Trade, professor, Academician of National Academy of Sciences of RK (Republic of Kazakhstan) on the theme “Macroeconomic regulations and its consequences under the conditions of globalization”

The work of the third section on the theme: “Global competitiveness of Eurasian states» consisted of two session.
Nuriddin Kayumov, moderator of the first session, Director of Economic Research Institute of Ministry of economic development and trade of Tajikistan, PhD, Professor, of Science Academy of Tajikistan on the theme “Competitive recovery of national economy”
I. Kruchkova, moderator of the second session, vice-minister of economy of Ukraine, PhD, Professor (Ukraine) on the theme: “Competitive factors of national economy”

According the results of forum was held conclusion session, where moderators of third section voiced resolution session and established the date of the Second Astana Economic Forum.
Participants of the first section session at the Astana Economic Forum after discussions of reports and exchanging views regarding the economic integration issues under the conditions of globalizations made following conclusions:
The integration strengthening based on various economic coalitions and unions is becoming a principal tendency of modern geopolitical and geoeconomical processes. At the present time the Eurasian economic community is established as an united economic area under the conditions of world globalization of economy. Customs and economic union creation within EuroAsian Economic Community is a significant commitment to form united Eurasian economic space.
The European Union has experience in integration sphere: they have developed the ways of further European integration development, which might be helpful for creation the Eurasian economic integration institutes. The Chinese economy is a key factor for integration processes development in the Eurasian space. One of the conditions of the Eurasian countries during the present world crises is efforts combination for practical implementation of leading ideas and technologies. Eurasian countries integration is similar to human evaluation rules, according to those rules the human being is tent to bring into potential for more effective governmental management.
The globalization process, lead by formed world center powers , includes, firstly, redistribution the planet recourses in favor of those powers, secondly, transition levers of power from national levels to transnational corporations. The “Big area” must be formed to preserve national sovereignty and ability to develop independently to provide economic competitiveness. Economic integration in Eurasian is the factor of sustainable Eurasian development .
It is important to create united educational area, including mutual admission of High School Certificates and other qualification documents, common educational standards development, providing students and teachers exchange. The legal labor migration terms, that considered as main factor for social and economic development should be created.

Participants made the following recommendations:
1.To implement plans regarding the establishment of united economic area within Eurasian Economic Community in partnership with CIS, including formation of Customs Union and free trade zone.
2.To support initiation for realization of the XXI century global project to create “Peace area” in Kazakhstan, where industrial and technical achievement of world civilization would be presented to provide development of contemporary, knowledge-intensive technologies and their transfer into development countries.
3.General index, that is suggested to be built on the basis of all-purpose measures, of Eurasian states integration should be used to provide sustainable states development. It is efficient to develop research program for logically formed system of cooperation between leading projects and nature, aimed at improvement of government management efficiency
4.To create conditions for creation united educational scientific and information area by mutual admission of High School Certificates and other qualification documents, common educational standards development, providing national system for foreign students, and students, teachers exchange development.
5.The regional integration is a a multi-aspect process, which includes economic integration, trade cooperation plans as well as policy issues, security, social and cultural interaction. Theoretical basis development researches, methodology for common economic area formation, Eurasian integration development issues, qualitative and quantitative system indicators development, which allow to evaluate integration processes, all these measures are topical. Indicators system development of regional integration should be carry out. Systematic evaluation of integration processes impacts on CIS development and integration processes monitoring would be important for integration development in Eurasia.

The forum participants within the second session work discussed the reports by two directions: “Macroeconomic regulation of economic processes under the conditions of globalization” and “World financial crisis and its impacts under the condition of globalization”. The participants made proposals regarding the macroeconomic cooperation development and regulation under the condition of globalization to overcome financial crisis consequences, started in 2006-2007. Therefore participants of the first Astana Economic Forum, 2 sections agreed that the major direction of the Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists work should be focused on creation complete control system over macroeconomic and regional risks of certain Eurasian states, and also on improvement of monetary, credit and fiscal policies in the region.

Participants of the 3-rd section session at the Astana Economic Forum discussed reports and exchanged opinions on problems of global competitiveness of economy of the Eurasia states and made following statements. It is necessary to generate the special mechanism of innovative activity development by tax remissions and preference, state-private partnership development in innovative processes. It is necessary to develop mechanism of innovation development by “Education through all life”, which helps to solve professional and life problems, gives the opportunity to improve quality of knowledge and skills during all life. To focus reforms and investments on creation “smart economy” based on knowledge. Investments into human resources should be more effective. It is important to direct efforts on creation of united educational and training area in Eurasia. Transition to innovative model of development requires further development of small and medium businesses: provide access for entrepreneurs to leasing services (new technological equipments, industrial buildings, office equipment, etc.); target financial market expansion for development small business; development a network of centers for professional development of businessmen for competent business conducting; development of noncommercial consulting and other centers for small business support; development of necessary infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

Program

List of Participants