Moscow (Dec. 11) – Gowling WLG has served as the legal adviser on one of the largest new-build nuclear power construction projects in the world: the El Dabaa project in Egypt, worth more than US$30 billion.

Gowling WLG acted for Rosatom State Corporation and its subsidiaries in successfully concluding the negotiation of the transaction. The project was formally announced in Egypt today at a ceremony attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.

The El Dabaa project involves the construction of a 4,800MW nuclear power station in Egypt, consisting of four 1,200MW nuclear reactors, along with nuclear fuel, spent fuel, and operations and maintenance related goods and services. The reactors will be owned and operated by Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority, part of Egypt’s Ministry of Energy.

As one of the world’s leading nuclear vendors, Rosatom has one of the largest portfolios of international nuclear construction projects, with 34 nuclear power plants in 12 countries. It is also one of the top uranium mining and fuel manufacturing companies in the world.

“El Dabaa is truly a monumental project for Rosatom, the Republic of Egypt, and for the global nuclear industry as a whole,” said Ahab Abdel-Aziz, Gowling WLG partner, global director of nuclear power generation and Rosatom project director. “It marks the first nuclear power project in a ‘new entrant’ economy since the UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant in 2009, and entails the most significant vendor financing of its kind at US$25 billion.” 

Since November 2015, Gowling WLG’s Nuclear Energy Group has played a key role in the transaction, including negotiating the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Operations Support and Maintenance (OS&M), Nuclear Fuel Supply (NFS), and Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNFT) contracts. Gowling WLG’s team also provided strategic advice on risk management, project delivery, regulatory and licensing requirements, and nuclear liability.

“We were delighted to contribute to the success of this highly complex nuclear mandate, and to work alongside other industry-leading experts on the world stage,” added Abdel-Aziz. “We’re confident that this transaction will serve as an important precedent for similarly situated economies, and we hope that it will pave the way for the future development of nuclear power capacity in countries that have the greatest need for such capacity.”

In addition to Abdel-Aziz, Gowling WLG’s Canada-based Rosatom team included Ted Betts, Paul Harricks, Ian Palm, Paul Murphy, Paul Armitage, Aubrey Lasky and Magda Hanebach.

The professionals in Gowling WLG’s Nuclear Energy Group have been delivering legal and strategic counsel to leading members of the Canadian and global nuclear industry and governments. They are currently advising on nuclear mandates in Canada, the U.K., Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, South Africa and Finland. They have advised on nuclear mandates in other countries around the world, including the United Arab Emirates, Germany, South Korea, Australia, China, Russia, Jordan, Romania, and the United States.   

Eleven agreements and memorandum worth more than $3 billion were signed at the Dec. 5 Kazakhstan Global Investment Round-table, which gathered investors from more than 30 countries in advance of Industrialization Day in the Kazakh capital. 

In particular, agreements were reached on the Big Almaty Ring Motor Road and public-private partnership (PPP) project establishing the Nur Zholy motor vehicle crossing point within a section of the Western Europe – Western China highway. Memorandum were also signed on constructing an agribusiness complex and fruit processing facility, ceramic tile production and plant protection products. 

Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev discussed economic trends, investment possibilities and measures to promote foreign direct investments (FDI) with representatives of more than 100 major international companies.

“The government aims at forming a large-scale and sustainable strategy to stimulate a new generation of investments in Kazakhstan. Today’s meeting is one of the important steps in this direction and we are open to your suggestions and new ideas,” he said to welcome the participants. 

He outlined measures taken in the country to improve the investment climate and expand investment opportunities. 

“First, after the difficulties of 2014-2016 linked with world changes, the economy of Kazakhstan has stabilized. Thanks to the adopted measures, the GDP grew 4 percent in the first 10 months of this year. For the first time [since the slowdown], private investments exceeded state ones,” he said. 

Sagintayev added implementing major new reforms, including constitutional reform, modernization of Kazakhstan’s identity and a strategy on a new model for economic growth implies the country’s entry into a new stage of development and facilitates its ambition to enter the top 30 developed countries of the world. 

Foreign investors can benefit from the nation’s policy on developing science-intensive production, renewing the basic branches of the economy and the agro-industrial complex, he said. The third stage of modernization opens new opportunities for investors in various sectors of the economy, such as metallurgy, machine building, agro-industrial complex, processing and the food industry, Sagintayev said. 

“Today, Kazakhstan is one of the world leaders in the production of wheat and flour. We are strengthening this advantage, but we are also carrying out structural reform of the agricultural sector, diversifying crop areas in line with market demand,” he noted. 

Investors gain access to the largest markets through Kazakhstan’s integration policy within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Sagintayev believes it is important to establish effective trade relations with neighbors to raise the country’s attractiveness, especially with China.

“The remaining trade barriers with China will be regulated and removed as early as 2018. This will open a very large market. Agricultural and organic products manufactured in Kazakhstan are in high demand in China,” he said. 

According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank, Kazakhstan is 18th of 189 countries in terms of investment climate favourability, he noted. 

The nation is also ranked 36th of 190 countries in the World Bank’s 2018 Doing Business ranking. In that same ranking, Kazakhstan was rated first among the 190 countries considered in Protecting Minority Investors. In addition to protecting minority investors, the country ranked sixth in enforcing contracts. 

“Nevertheless, the government is focused to further promote Kazakhstan in the Doing Business rating. Thus, the new seventh package of legislative amendments has been prepared to improve the business environment at national and sub-national levels,” said Sagintayev. 

“Over the last 10 years, approximately $250 billion of FDI was attracted in various sectors of the economy. We are grateful to every investor who came to Kazakhstan and implements projects here. We hope their example and today’s conversation will inspire you to conquer new business heights in Kazakhstan,” he added.

Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) Commissioner said that the move would also help in internationalizing the International North-South Transport Corridor, which has been languishing for years. 

Having acceded to the United Nations' convention on international transport of goods, India will ship its first consignment to Russia or Turkey via Iran on January 15, cutting down the transport cost and time by half. "There is a lot of hope in the industry that this will be quite a game changer as far as Indian exports are concerned particularly to Russia and Central Asia," Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) Commissioner Sandeep Kumar told reporter in New Delhi. He added that the move would also help in internationalizing the International North-South Transport Corridor, which has been languishing for years.

India acceded to the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) convention, the global customs transit system for moving goods across international borders, on June 15 this year. The convention would formally come into effect for India six months after the date of accession, on December 16.

"Maybe around January 15 or 16, given cooperation from some trading intermediaries and logistics partners, we will actually be able to use this convention to export goods to Russia or Turkey via Iran," the CBEC Commissioner (Customs and Export Promotion) said. Mr. Kumar added that as per a dry-run conducted as a proof of concept, exporters would save around 50 per cent in terms of cost of transport as well as in terms of time.

 https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shipping-goods-to-central-asia-via-iran-to-be-possible-byjanuary-1783955

 ESL presents its 2018 Dates and Fees (CAD)

July Session Options - July 2-27, 2018
4 weeks incl. Cultural Trip to Ottawa & Montreal: $6150
4 weeks on campus: $5700

August Session Options - July 30-August 24, 2018
4 weeks including Temagami Camping Trip: $6150
4 weeks on campus: $5700

Ottawa Cultural Trip VIDEO

Our ESL Brochure and application forms will be available shortly. Please request brochures here 

If you have any questions or inquiries in the meantime, please contact us

Kazakhstan exports more than 800 manufactured products to 113 countries, ranking 52nd among the largest exporting countries, said Minister for Investment and Development Zhenis Kassymbek. The government plans to increase the nation’s non-oil exports by 50 percent by 2025.

“Today, Kazakhstan ranks 52nd among the largest exporting countries; in total, we export over 800 manufactured products to 113 countries of the world. We are world leaders in the supply of uranium, copper, titanium, ferroalloys, yellow phosphorus, flour, cottonseed oil, wheat and flax seeds. For the last five years, the quality structure of exports has improved substantially; one-third of the supplied products are exported to the non-primary sector of the economy,” he said.

“In the first nine months of the year, exports of processed goods grew by 22 percent and amounted to $11.1 billion, with increased supplies of ferroalloys, petroleum products, copper, rolled metal, propane, butane and zinc. The share of processed goods in total exports is 32 percent, which is 7 percent higher than in 2012,” he added.

Trade volume increased by 26 percent, totalling $55.4 billion. Exports increased 31 percent to $34.5 billion due to the hike in prices for energy and metallurgical products. Exports by tonnage increased 4 percent.

“For the first time, Kazakhstan exports electric locomotives and diesel locomotives to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine and cars assembled in Kazakhstan are exported to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. Work is being carried out to promote passenger cars, rails and products from the military-industrial complex of Kazakh production for export,” noted Kassymbek.

The Nov. 30 Kazakhstan – United States Strategic Partnership Commission meeting, co-chaired by Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashykbayev and U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells, was mainly dedicated to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s official visit to the United States in January.

The United States was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan independence back in 1991. Secretary of State James Baker visited Almaty on December 17, 1991, one day after the declaration of Kazakhstan’s independence, to hold talks with President Nazarbayev. 

The meeting in Astana underscored the importance of bilateral relations for both countries. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegations discussed a broad agenda of cooperation issues, including interaction within the U.N. Security Council, implementing the U.S. strategy for the South Asia region and collaboration prospects to help stabilize Afghanistan. 

In her remarks, Wells noted the sides addressed a number of important topics including how to best resolve the conflict situation in Afghanistan and ensure ISIS is defeated. She underscored the United States values the strategic partnership with Kazakhstan and intends to maintain strong and stable relations with Astana and Central Asia as a whole. 

“Washington views Astana as a leader not only in Central Asia, but on the world arena. We look forward to President Nazarbayev’s visit to the United States and certainly it will be a successful and constructive one. In Washington, Kazakhstan has a well-deserved reputation as a country that confidently looks to the future, welcoming the whole world to the stunning EXPO 2017, teaching people trilingualism and holding important forums to discuss issues of religion and peacemaking,” said Wells. 

Ashykbayev noted the meeting focused on cooperation opportunities in trade and establishing contacts between businesses in the countries, in addition to security issues and challenges at regional and international levels.

“This meeting is an important element of the strategic partnership between the two countries and all the agreements reached today will serve as a basis for the preparation of President Nazarbayev’s trip to the United States,” he added. 

The delegations considered interaction in regional and international priority cooperation such as developing the C5+1 dialogue and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Particular attention was paid to economic partnership, further developing Kazakhstan’s investment climate, diversifying the economy and energy efficiency. 

Within the cultural and humanitarian partnership, the sides considered consular issues, freedom of religion and cooperation in education, including educational and cultural exchange programmes. 

The Strategic Partnership Commission is one of the main mechanisms for reviewing bilateral cooperation and developing new partnership prospects. It is held on an annual basis, meeting previously in March 2016 in Washington.

Since 2012, December 1 is officially marked in Kazakhstan’s calendar as the Day of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

December 1 is the anniversary of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s election by a popular vote as the first President of Kazakhstan in 1991, which was followed by the Declaration of Independence on December 16.

In many countries of the world, the first leaders and founding fathers play a crucial role in development of a country, in uniting a nation and positioning it on the international arena as a responsible member of the global community. The United States, for example, has been celebrating George Washington’s birthday – which is now called Presidents’ Day – as an official holiday since 1885. 

Since the first days of independence of Kazakhstan, President Nazarbayev’s strategic vision and forward looking policy helped to shape Kazakhstan’s modern multiethnic society, making diversity and inclusiveness one of its biggest strengths. Promotion of the inter-religious dialogue through President’s initiative of hosting Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is another testament to the commitment of Kazakhstan to strengthen human rights and universal freedoms around the world. The 6th Congress of Religion is scheduled to be held in Astana in October 2018. 

Economic reforms and the ambitious infrastructure and industrial programs make Kazakhstan today one of the most favorable countries for foreign investment and trade. According to the World Bank, GDP per capita has grown from about USD 1,500 to over USD 13,000 by 2013. Kazakhstan has reached a 12-fold growth of foreign trade turnover and a 20-fold increase in industrial output. In 2015, Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organization and has set a goal to be among the 30 most developed countries by 2050.

On the global arena, Kazakhstan is a well-known advocate of nuclear non-proliferation, regional integration and peaceful negotiations on international disputes. In the last decade, Kazakhstan has chaired, among others, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Shanghai Cooperation Organization. 

Wide international recognition of its constructive role in promoting peace and security has led to the election of Kazakhstan, as the first ever Central Asian country, to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018. From June to September 2017, Astana hosted the World EXPO-2017 on the theme of Future Energy. 

The impressive achievements of independent Kazakhstan in many spheres are the result of tireless work and strong political will of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. 

On this important occasion, Embassy of Kazakhstan to Canada would like to join in celebration of the Day of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s capital is a fascinating city, but its severe winters tend to limit its year-round tourism potential. In an effort to attract visitors in every season, President Nursultan Nazarbayev met Nov. 27 with Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to discuss constructing a downtown dome.

The head of state noted the city is famous not only for its distinctive architecture and comfortable living conditions, but also for its unusual atmosphere. Calatrava thanked him for the chance to visit the country and become acquainted with its urban style.

“More and more people are striving to live in the capital. Its population is approaching one million people. Next year, we will celebrate Astana’s 20th anniversary,” said Nazarbayev.

The project will focus on Water Green Boulevard, the closed avenue under construction in the city centre, where residents will be able to leave their homes without outdoor clothing, walk and chat with neighbours. The domed area could also cover shops and possibly schools and serve as the host spot for cultural events, similar to Toronto and other cities.

Calatrava, a sculptor who has designed a number of futuristic-styled buildings in different countries, expressed his desire to participate in the project. The plan is currently under development.

“We are now waiting for proposals from Calatrava. We understand that he is a well-known architect who is known all over the world. Now, he is developing the concept,” said capital architecture and urban development department head Baktybai Taitaliyev.

He envisions the boulevard as eventually becoming a three-level roadway.

“Our Water Green Boulevard is not finished yet, by the way. It was supposed to be constructed on three levels and the first one is under construction. The third floor will connect the adjacent objects with glass sleeves and corridors,” he added.

The city administration is currently working to reduce administrative barriers for investors, said investment and development department head Alisher Abdikadirov. He noted the Calatrava project will be coordinated with foreign investors.

The architect, whose aesthetics are sometimes defined as bio-tech, designed String Bridge in Jerusalem, Israel and Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz, Spain. His firm Calatrava Grace, which may participate in the project, has invested nearly $100 million in global real estate projects. To date, the company’s portfolio includes 340 projects in 32 countries with a total area of 1.9 million square meters.

Galina Vishnevskaya and Maxim Braun of Kazakhstan made history when they claimed Kazakhstan’s first third place in the single mixed relay at the International Biathlon Union’s (IBU) World Cup stage in Ostersund, Sweden on Nov. 26.

First place went to the Austrian national team of Lisa Theresa Hauser and Simon Eder, followed by Germany’s Vanessa Hinz and Erik Lesser. Kazakhstan’s biathletes beat award-winning French athletes Marie Doren Aber and Martin Fourcade, who came in fourth.

“Before the race, my coach Valery Polkhovsky told me to stay in the crowd and not try to get out of it. But everyone went not too fast in the first round, and I thought I could take the lead. The skiing was very smooth, so I decided I could try to set the pace for my opponents. But I skipped a beat at the shooting stage. It turned out I was not used to coming first to shooting. I was very nervous and struggled to lay down and hold the first shot, to at least calm down a bit,” Vishnevskaya said after their victory.

“It was a fantastic start of the season. Kazakhstan has achieved such great success for the first time in history. We are very happy. We did a great job this summer. I cannot say we were ready to enter the top three, but we did a lot for this and fought until the very end. Luck was on our side. Thanks to everyone who supported and cheered for us,” Braun added. General Secretary of the Kazakhstan Biathlon Union Manas Ussenov commented on the historical achievement of the country’s athletes.

“This is the first medal in the relay race at the World Cup stages in the history of Kazakhstan’s biathlon. Our athletes beat the team of France, which was represented by two-time Olympic champions and medalists. We are very happy for our biathletes and for the whole team,” he said.

Onstage in Ostersund, the national team of Kazakhstan was represented by Olga Poltoranina, Alina Raikova, Galina Vishnevskaya, Darya Klimina, Anastasiya Kondratyeva, Yelizaveta Belchenko, Vladislav Vitenko, Maxim Braun, Timur Khamitgatin, Anton Pantov, Vasily Podkorytov, Roman Yeremin and Timur Kuts.

The Kazakh government approved Nov. 28 a national 2025 Strategic Development Plan designed to ensure long-term growth at the level of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.

The plan includes seven major reforms in human capital, technological modernization and digitalization, business competitiveness, rule of law, strong regions, urbanization, modernization of public consciousness and public sector efficiency.

The project envisions annual economic growth in a 4.5-5 percent corridor eventually bringing Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita up to $46,100 by 2025.

Kazakhstan maintained 4.3 percent economic growth between January and September, while its GDP per capita was estimated at $7,510 in 2016, according to a World Bank report. Kazakh Minister for National Economy Timur Suleimenov stressed three key drivers stimulating future economic growth.

First is productivity growth in existing industries, which, according to the minister, can be fostered through an increase in operation efficiency, reduction in costs for production, transportation and sale, investment in technological modernization and digitalization and transition to green economy.

Strengthening and expanding export-oriented production is the second driver, said Suleimenov. That driver includes a focus on goods and services with high added value as well as integration in global supply chains.

Development of new highly efficient industries, which has already been on the nation’s agenda, includes the creation of new supply chains and services around the existing industries, transfer and localization of technology and commercialization of innovations.

The Strategic Development Plan is a very important document, according to Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, developed in line with this year’s state-of-the-nation address of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

“The document entails the creation of a new economic growth model and improving well-being of people. It is also meant to foster the implementation of the country’s key strategic document,  Kazakhstan 2050, with a goal to enter the world’s 30 most competitive countries. Therefore, we need to properly explain the essence of the document to the public,” he said addressing the government.

The new model will require changes both in the economy and society, according to Suleimenov, which include a focus on production and industry, technology-oriented population, companies and industries, fair competition and prevailing role of private sector.

Head of Talap Centre for Applied Research and former vice minister for investment and development Rakhim Oshakbayev noted it was the first time the document of such strategic importance involved the expert community.

“As I remember, it is the first time the document of such great importance was developed with broad expertise support. Nearly 80 experts attended the discussions and were involved in the development of the document. In general, it raises no questions,” added Oshakbayev.