The United States will construct the largest diplomatic mission in Central Asia in Almaty. The allocated land for the new U.S. Consulate General exceeds 70,000 square meters. The agreement was ratified by Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament.
The lease payment for the land is set at $25,301,016, to be paid in a single installment within 30 days of the agreement’s enactment. The U.S. government is exempt from taxes and other fees related to the land and the consulate building.
The new consulate will enhance consular services, boost business, improve urban infrastructure, and create local job opportunities. U.S. staff and their families will contribute to the city’s economy and cultural life.
The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan stated that the new consulate complex will strengthen security, stability, and prosperity in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and the U.S.
Once completed, the Almaty diplomatic mission will be the largest in Central Asia and the second-largest U.S. diplomatic facility in the former Soviet Union, after the embassy in Armenia.
Source: eadaily.com