ASTANA, Kazakhstan, 21 January 2003 -- more than 50 local companies including current and potential contractors with the Karachaganak Integrated Organisation took part in a commercial awareness seminar organised by KIO in Astana. Also, attending were the representatives of KazMunaiGaz and the Akimats of Akmola Oblast and the city of Astana. This is the fourth in a countrywide series of seminars aimed at increasing the level of awareness of Kazakh companies of KIO's vendor qualification and procurement processes.

KIO vendor development and procurement specialists the representatives were on hand to provide details of the vendor pre-qualification system, procurement methods and tender proposals.

Special attention was paid to the contract process - from bid submission to payment of invoices. Attendees found this part of the presentation particularly interesting.

KIO Vendor Development & Qualification Manager Howard Burrows said, "This seminar is a part of KIO’s Vendor Assistance Programme aimed at increasing the Kazakh content in the Karachaganak project. This is in line with the RoK Government's stated intention to develop national industrial production.

So far, more than 500 Kazakh companies have already been awarded contracts to provide goods and services to the Karachaganak project. During 2002, two-thirds of KIO contracts for new works were placed with Kazakh companies and had a total value of $160 million.