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Participants on EADA’s International MBA were given the chance to meet the consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Barcelona, Danat Mussayev. His visit was motivated by his interest in the joint programme run by EADA and PriceWaterhouseCoopers Academy, an Executive Development Programme targeted at executives from Kazakhstan energy companies who wish to broaden their expertise in managerial skills and leadership. But the consul also showed an interest in the EADA International MBA’s path of development in finance and energy, which comprises a one-week business trip to Kazakhstan.

The success of the Kazakhstan model

Mr Mussayev outlined the developments in his country following its Independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991. Since then Kazakhstan has focused on developing its hydrocarbon industry, primarily in order to address growing demand for energy from emerging economies such as China and India.  What’s more, Kazakhstan has forged important strategic international alliances which have brought in foreign investment and infrastructure development. In this respect, one of its most outstanding milestones was its entry in the Eurasian Economic Union just two years ago, alongside Russia and Byelorussia.  

Another key accomplishment according to Danat Mussayev is “the political and economic stability that the government has achieved over this period by passing a new constitution that respects the country’s ethnic diversity –with 130 nationalities– as well as opening up the country to international investment, which has boosted sectors such as the food, automotion, biotechnology and agricultural sectors”. As a result of all this, “Kazakhstan at the beginning of the second millennium enjoyed an economic growth rate of around 10%, and became one of the chief economies in Central Asia”.

Counselling for EADA students

What’s more, the consul announced his intention to set up various lines of collaboration with EADA. One of these entails counselling participants on EADA master and MBA programmes who are thinking of starting up a business or working in a company in Kazakhstan. “Today more and more agreements are being signed between organisations in Kazakhstan and European companies, especially Spanish firms” he pointed out. To which he went on to add, “This is because European entrepreneurs have identified the business opportunities in this market, with a current population of 17 million. Furthermore, the government has introduced many tax incentives for foreign investors and streamlined administrative procedures for setting up business projects”.

Finally, the consul was very pleased about the fact that EADA students are familiar with Kazakhstan’s growth story, “because it is a country that has grown from zero in very little time to become an emerging country that is very attractive to foreign investors”.