[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 213 (Thursday, December 9, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF KAZAKHSTAN'S INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE CHABOT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 9, 2021

  Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the U.S.-Kazakhstan 
Congressional Caucus, I rise today to celebrate 30 years of 
Kazakhstan's independence and three decades of the U.S.-Kazakhstan 
bilateral relationship. In 1991, the United States was the first 
country to recognize Kazakhstan's independence, and the relationship 
remains as important today as it was 30 years ago.
  In 2010, the United States and Kazakhstan entered into a Strategic 
Partnership and launched the Annual Bilateral Consultations on a 
variety of issues including but not limited to regional cooperation and 
security, rule of law and economic development, and human rights and 
civil society. In 2018, the two countries elevated their cooperation to 
establish an Enhanced Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century, and 
agreed to heightened cooperation on a multitude of policy issues.
  One of the strongest areas of cooperation between the United States 
and Kazakhstan has been in the economic arena. Since independence, U.S. 
companies have been a significant source of foreign direct investment 
for Kazakhstan, and over the past 30 years, U.S. investment in 
Kazakhstan has totaled an estimated $370 billion. Kazakhstan has worked 
hard to create a strong market economy, and the country has focused 
significant resources on rule of law issues to create a welcoming 
environment for all foreign investment.
  Kazakhstan became a member of the World Bank's International Center 
for Settlement of Investment Disputes (``ICSID'') in 1992, a member of 
the World Trade Association (WTO) in 2015, and in 2017, Kazakhstan 
became a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD). In 2018, the government officially launched the 
Astana International Finance Center (AIFC), which among other things, 
provides foreign investors with the opportunity to seek out an 
alternative jurisdiction for dispute resolution. Such investments in 
the rule of law in Kazakhstan have been an important step to grow 
Kazakhstan's market economy and continue to attract investment from the 
United States.
  As we continue to grow our strong economic ties, I urge Congress to 
establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations for Kazakhstan as soon as 
possible. I was honored to recently join in the bipartisan effort to 
introduce H.R. 5544, which lifts Kazakhstan from the existing 
constraints of the outdated Jackson-Yanik Amendment. This graduation 
for Kazakhstan is long overdue. As Ranking Member of the House Foreign 
Affairs Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over U.S. foreign policy 
issues affecting Central Asia, I understand what an important regional 
partner Kazakhstan has been to the United States during the past 30 
years. But I also understand what an important role Kazakhstan will 
continue to play in the region moving forward, and any efforts to 
strengthen our economic ties will strengthen the bilateral relationship 
across the board.
  So I would like to congratulate all the people of Kazakhstan as well 
as Kazakh-Americans taking part in the 30th anniversary celebrations 
this month.

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