Almaty / Kazakhstan

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a young country that gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in December 1991. Although its population is only about 15 million, Kazakhstan's total land area amounts to 27 million square kilometers - approximately seven times larger than Japan. Almaty, situated at the southeastern tip of the country, was the capital until December 9, 1997, when it was transferred to Astana, near the center. The large landmass is presumed to have abundant underground natural resources including oil and gas, making Kazakhstan a promising country in the energy field. Under the former Soviet Union, the country's basic industries included agriculture and textiles, and the Kazakhstan government is eager to revitalize these traditional activities while encouraging the utilization of energy and attracting new capital. Marubeni's Almaty office was established in April 1993 and covers Kazakhstan and neighboring Kyrgyzstan. At present, two Japanese employees and ten national staff handle a variety of business negotiations, focusing on economic cooperation projects including those for medical care and infrastructure improvement. We are also conducting transactions centered on natural resources, such as nonferrous products, and are promoting projects such as the construction of facilities pertinent to energy-supply bases. Last year, we also established a new base in the capital, Astana. In this vast country, our staff frequently visits regional base cities such as Atyrau, Semipalatinsk, Shymkent, Pavlodar and Aktau, as well as neighboring Kyrgyzstan, and find it rewarding to cooperate in the growth of these young countries. Immediately prior to Kazakhstan's independence, Eric Kuzembayev was a research fellow at the University of Tokyo, supported by the Ministry of Education of Japan, for a year beginning in June 1991. Mr. Kuzembayev was eagerly engaged in in-surface science experiments for the research of new material development at the University of Tokyo and gained extensive knowledge of Japanese customs and culture as well as oil, gas and nonferrous metals. When Mr. Kuzembayev returned to Kazakhstan in 1992, he found a country in considerable turmoil following its independence. At that time, he began importing such items as medical equipment and electrical appliances. In June 1998, Mr. Kuzembayev approached our company hoping to use the valuable experience that he gained in Japan. He has been working with us since then. Mr. Kuzembayev has participated in Japan's economic cooperation activities, processing order agreements and installing equipment, including a medical-care improvement project in Almaty and the delivery of Japanese language laboratory equipment for Kazakhstan National University. Mr. Kuzembayev is now engaged in the promotion of a government-prioritized textile industry project and is keen to conduct transactions in relation to nonferrous metal products, his primary area of expertise. In April 2000, Mr. Kuzembayev brought two customers from Kyrgyzstan to Japan to promote the sale of nonferrous metal-related products, and they visited several related factories. The two guests from Kyrgyzstan experienced their first contact with Japanese culture, and their Japanese hosts were somewhat surprised by their willingness to drink until the early morning hours. Mr. Kuzembayev's insight and knowledge of Japanese culture was instrumental in helping people from both countries understand each other. It is our sincere hope that Mr. Kuzembayev will continue not only in his important business contribution to the Marubeni group, but also in his pursuit to shorten the cultural distance between Japan and Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The Almaty Office is located in this building. The Altau Ranges which form part of the Tien Shan mountain range on the outskirts of Almaty. The name Almaty means village of apple trees. The Central Square of Almaty