U.S. to lease land in Kazakhstan for 49 years: Senate ratifies agreement
Tengrinews.kz - The Senate has ratified an agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and the United States to lease land for the construction of a U.S. consulate in Almaty.
Terms of the agreement
Under the agreement, the United States will lease a plot of land in Almaty measuring approximately seven hectares (70,593 square meters) for a period of 49 years to build a new consulate compound. The U.S. will pay $25.3 million as a one-time payment within 30 days of the agreement’s entry into force.
According to the terms, the U.S. will be exempt from taxes and customs duties. All expenses related to construction, maintenance, repairs, and utilities will be covered by the American side.
In addition to the consulate, the site will also house offices of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Commercial Service.
Lawmakers note that the new consulate is expected to become the largest U.S. visa center in Central Asia. It is projected to enhance Kazakhstan’s international image, attract investment, create jobs, and support the development of local business and service sectors.
It is expected to boost trust among international partners and strengthen U.S.-Kazakhstan relations.
According to First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin, once the new building is complete, the current U.S. consulate staff in Almaty will relocate there.
“They are currently renting two buildings in Almaty privately. So, once the new U.S. consulate is constructed and opened, of course, all consulate employees will move to the new facility. As for expanding the staff, I don’t have exact information. But since it will be a full-fledged facility with all the infrastructure, some expansion is likely—though not certain—as it will depend on further discussions with the U.S. side,” Rakhmetullin said on the sidelines of the Senate session.
After the President signs the agreement, the Almaty akimat (city administration) and the U.S. consulate will sign an additional accord to begin construction, which will be carried out by an American developer, Rakhmetullin added.
Earlier, a Tengrinews.kz correspondent visited the plot of land in Almaty.
US leases the most expensive land plot in Almaty