Tag Archives: GoGUN

Kazakhstan Bank Boss for IMF?

24 May

Lord Venal is back with this contribution on the head of the National Bank of Kazakhstan being put forward for the top spot at the IMF recently vacated by Dominique Strauss-Kahn in controversial circumstances. 

It is no surprise that Grigoriy Marchenko,  a name that is highly respected in international banking circles, has been chosen by that august body the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as its man for the top job at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Under his skillful stewardship as head of Kazakhstan’s central bank, this oil-rich nation has successfully rode the choppy waves of the global financial crisis to emerge as a real contender to join the elite GoGUN club.

In the light of the sex scandal that has engulfed the former head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, many observers feel that a wholesome family guy is needed to fill this key post and who better than Mr Marchenko, who according to this site has already got the job.

Mr Marchenko  has told reporters that he does not plan to bother any maids if he makes it to the hot seat.  I can personally vouch for his good character – last summer I was pottering about the Med in the Venal family pedalo when I spotted some familiar faces on board a splendid-looking yacht.  Some Kazakh bigwigs invited me to join them and we all had a great time partying until the wee small hours. I cannot recall seeing Mr Marchenko on the yacht, in fact I cannot recall much of anything.

Back in the UK, it seems Dave and Nick are backing France’s Christine Lagarde for the post – I really must have a word with them about Grigoriy as I feel he is definitely the right man at the right time.


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Kazakhstan: Going for BROKE?

5 May

With Kazakhstan being touted as a future member of GoGUN, as revealed exclusively on Kazaxia by Lord Venal last week, rumours are rife as to which other international groupings the country could be aspiring to.

It has been quite a ride to go from the Group of Babyish States (GoBS) to GoGUN in just 20 years. Admittedly, there were some tough times as the country languished in the limbo of the Group of States Transitioning Internationally (GoSTI), but fortunately those days are now receding rapidly into the dim and distant past.

A few years ago analysts were speculating that Kazakhstan would provide the ‘K’ to turn BRIC (the informal grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China) into a real word. This never materialised, but now an exciting new bloc is on the agenda – BROKE – which could see Kazakhstan joining forces with the emerging economies of Belarus, Rwanda, Oman and Egypt.

On a similar note, Lord Venal reports overhearing interested parties at a recent diplomatic shindig denying plans for Kazakhstan to join up with Cambodia, Oman and Chad. They also denied that links were being forged with Djibouti, Iran and Columbia. It was suggested by diplomatic insiders that these groupings were more up Kyrgyzstan’s street.