BRITISH KAZAKH SOCIETY
AGRIBUSINESS GROUP
OBJECTIVES
The Agribusiness Group has the objective of facilitating communication and networking for members and interested parties in the agribusiness sector in Kazakhstan and the UK. In particular; help industry players formulate their position and discuss and communicate, as appropriate, industry issues.
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THE COMMITTEE
​The Committee is composed of specialists with deep knowledge in the industry agribusiness representing: UK Department for International Trade, International Tax and Investment Center,
GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT ACTIVITIES & PLANS
​The Group plans to have a number of webinar and seminar events during the year. The Group's main aim is to promote bilateral relations between Kazakhstan's and the UK's agribusiness industries, facilitating possible investment and development opportunities for the benefit of both our countries. The agribusiness group of the BKS has had a number of events with high-level officials and specialists with deep knowledge in the subject of agribusiness this year and plans to even increase its activity year to year.
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IMPORTANT COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING AGRIBUSINESS IN KAZAKHSTAN
Kazakhstan introduces a new code of administrative procedures and proceedings
Kazakhstan's rare antelope makes baby steps towards revival
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COMMITTEE MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES
David Skeels - is currently a Director of Eurasian Energy Ventures Limited a consultancy for upstream oil and gas in the Eurasia area. His career has included over 20 years with Conoco in technical and managerial positions in exploration and field development. This was followed by a 10-year career with BG Group as General Manager BG Kazakhstan. More recent years have included working with DEA as a Representative in Azerbaijan and Advisor for Central Asia based in Kazakhstan. He was the founding Chairman of the Kazakhstan Petroleum Association and founding Chairman of the Kazakhstan Foreign Investors Council Association.
Douglas Townsend - is a UK-based business consultant with a particular focus on the markets of the CEEC and CCA countries. He is the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Kazakhstan in Wales. A Fellow of the British-Kazakh Society, he is Senior Advisor to the International Tax and Investment Center, a partner of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan and of the Eurasian Economic Commission. Previously, Townsend served as Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Hungary, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, and the Republic of Senegal. He had served also as Australian Investment Commissioner Europe, and Australian nuclear industry negotiator, following earlier diplomatic appointments in Austria, Vietnam, Ireland, and Pakistan. Douglas Townsend worked in the Australian iron and steel industry and in Australian newspapers before his government career.
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