An IMF delegation led by the IMF managing director, Horst Köhler, is expected to visit Kazakhstan on 14-15 November 2003, according to the IMF mission in Kazakhstan

An IMF delegation led by the IMF managing director, Horst Köhler, is expected to visit Kazakhstan on 14-15 November 2003, according to the IMF mission in Kazakhstan, which has noted that this will be the first visit to Kazakhstan paid by the IMF managing director. Köhler's visit is connected with the 10th anniversary of the Kazakh national currency, the tenge, which was introduced on 15 November 1993. The IMF mission has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1995. Kazakh media reported on Thursday that President Nursultan Nazarbayev had signed two laws ratifying a loan agreement for the implementation of a project on water supply in the capital, Astana. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is expected to provide a loan worth US $161 million on favourable conditions. The funds will be used to build a water-intake station and change obsolete conduits, thereby to improve the quality of the water consumed in the city. The project is planned to be completed in 2008.