Mr Alik Aidarbayev, Head of Mangystau region, noted the success of the partnership with the European Union and described how the regional administration would progress further to develop the region. Ambassador Mr Trian Hristea, Head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, welcomed strong cooperation between the EU and the Mangystau regional administration and expressed his satisfaction of the concrete assistance that the EU had been able to provide to the region in important areas of its development.

Representatives from various regional organisations that have worked closely with the Project Team since 2013 highlighted their achievements. Mr Amirbek Tulegenov, Chairman of “Aktau Seaport” Special Economic Zone (SEZ), stated: “With the Project assistance and support provided by the regional administration the quality of management, marketing and investment attraction of the Zone have improved. The number of enterprises in the zone has increased from five to twelve".

In order to diversify the non-oil sectors of the regional economy several actions have been undertaken. Ms Gulzhan Baizhaunova, Head of the Tourism Division of Mangystau administration, indicated that tourism projects worth more than KZT 7,8 billion have been developed and will be submitted to “DAMU” Entrepreneurship Development Fund" JSC and to the region administration. Several more tourism projects are already in the pipeline. In addition, a Regional Tourism Association (RTA) has been established and will be the main institution to lead the development of tourism in the region in coming years. Seven innovation projects have also been developed for funding under the “Science Fund” JSC.

Ms Sholpan Ilmukhanbetova, the Deputy Head of Mangystau region, highlighted the importance of reform in Local Self-Government (LSG) and partnerships with the district and rural administrations in its development and implementation. Much of the discussion during the event was focused on how the region will build on these achievements in the future. The Deputy Head of the region indicated that the administration would continue the development of LSG with its own budgetary resources, thus, implementing the Step №98 of National Plan. She also indicated that the Regional Consultative Council (RCC), established with the Project assistance and composed of civil society representatives would actively monitor the implementation of Territorial Development Programmes (PRT) for 2016-2020.

Project experts in specific fields trained significant number of specialists and managers from the regional administrations and public and non-public organisations over four years and over 100 of graduates were awarded certificates. The materials and discussion documents, as well as knowledge tools, aimed to disseminate good practice are developed and available on the Project website: www.kzregdev.kz.

"Building on success: The closure of Kazakhstan Regional Development project in Mangystau region" event is organized within the framework of the Kazakhstan Regional Development project. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by a consortium led by GDSI Limited, Ireland. Total budget of the four-year-project project (2013-2017) is EUR 6,288,000.

For more information please contact Ms Zerip Kossym, Project's Visibility Expert, at mobile: +7 701 577 35 37; email: zerip.kossym@kzregdev.kz, or Ms Elnara Bainazarova, Press and Information Officer of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, at tel.:

+7 (7172) 97-45-67; email: Elnara.BAINAZAROVA@eeas.europa.eu