PELHAM PRESENTATION THE UK JOURNALISTS VIEW OF KAZAKH COMPANIESSEPTEMBER 2008

INTRODUCTION

JAMES MOORE

MORE THAN 10 YEARS IN THE UK MEDIA

SENIOR BUSINESS JOURNALIST ON THE TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH

PROFILE WRITER FOR THE INDEPENDENT, INTERVIEWING DIVERSE RANGE OF CEOS FROM THE UK AND BEYOND

KEEN INTEREST IN THE CIS

NOW WORKING FOR PELHAM

THE UK MEDIA

1. A UNIQUE COMBINATION – TEN NATIONAL DAILIES. ELEVEN SUNDAYS. A PLETHORA OF

OTHER TITLES

2. COMPETITION IS CUT-THROAT, JOURNALISTS UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE TO PRODUCE

EXCLUSIVE STORIES

3. HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL, AGGRESSIVE AND IRREVERENT

4. WILLING TO TAKE CHANCES “DON’T LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD

STORY”

5. CAN BE INSULAR AND VERY FOCUSSED ON THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD

ENERGY IS HUGE ISSUE IN BRITAIN – THESE ARE THE ISSUES

SECURITY OF SUPPLY STABILITY OF ENERGY PRODUCING COUNTRIESS – ARE THEY SAFE PLACES TO INVEST, ARE THEIR

COUNTRACTS SECURE STABILITY OF ENERGY PRODUCING COMPANIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES (DITTO) RELIABILITY BRITONS ARE NERVIOUS – THEY FEAR THE LIGHTS GOING OUT, THEY FEAR BEING AT THE MERCY

OF FOREIGN NATIONS – TRUST NEEDS TO BE BUILT THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES OTHERS THEREFORE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT REASSURANCE

REPUTATION OF KAZAKHSTAN COMPANIES

PLENTY OF LISTED ENTITIES – SO SOME FAMILIARITY WITH THE REGION

ALIVE TO THE RESOURCES PLAY – ENERGY AND SUPPLY OF ENERGY ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IN TODAY’S BRITAIN

ASIA SEEN AS A BIG GROWTH AREA AND THE COUNTRY’S PROXIMITY TO CHINA AND ROLE AS THE BOOMING ECONOMY OF POST-SOVIET CENTRAL ASIA BEING RECOGNISED

BUT THERE IS A DOWNSIDE

CONCERNS ABOUT CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

A TENDENCY TO JUDGE BY UK STANDARDS (APPLIES TO ALL NON UK COMPANIES LISTED IN

LONDON)

EAST WEST TENSIONS RISING

KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS ECONOMY REMAINS SKIN DEEP

LESS AND LESS TIME TO RESEARCH PROPERLY AND SO A TENDENCY TO FALL BACK ON

CLICHE

THERE HAVE BEEN MISCONCEPTIONS – AND IT’S BEST TO ACT QUICKY

THE LONGER THEY LINGER THE MORE INGRAINED THEY BECOME

WITH KAZAKHSTAN BEING A RELATIVELY NEW PLAYER THERE IS TIME TO REDRESS THE BALANCE

COMPANIES NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES AND SAY WHY THEY ARE BREAK THE MOULD

THEY NEED TO WORK TO TURN AROUND THE DIFFICULT IMAGE CIS COMPANIES CAN HAVE

THERE IS A NEED FOR EDUCATION

THE KAZAKH STORY NEEDS SELLING

KAZAKH COMPANIES HAVE A GOOD STORY TO SELL

BRITISH JOURNALISTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE ANYONE A FAIR HEARING

A WILLINGNESS TO BE OPEN WILL BE RESPECTED

COMPANIES WILL BE RESPECTED IF

THEY ARE PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE TOUGH ISSUES HEAD ON

THEY REACT QUICKLY

THEY ARE FRIENDLY

THEY PUT THEIR SENIOR PEOPLE FORWARD

COMPANIES WILL BE DISLIKED IF

THEY ARE ARROGANT

THEY ARE POMPOUS

THEY FAIL TO RETURN PHONE CALLS

THIS HAS SOMETIMES HAPPENED – AND IF ONE COMOANY DOES IT, IT REFLECTS BADLY ON ALL

AND CAN HURT THE COUNTRY TOO

TREAT JOURNALISTS LIKE CUSTOMERS - CHALLENGING CUSTOMERS

WHAT WE ARE BUYING IS YOU

THE PROFIT IS CLEAR – YOUR STORY IS TOLD IN A POSITIVE MANNER

AND LIKE ANY CUSTOMER – WE WILL TELL YOUR STORY TO OTHERS AND REFER THEM TO YOU

BUT RETAINING US AND KEEING US HAPPY NEEDS EFFORT

RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY – AND WE NEED EACH OTHER

IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF BUT SO MANY COMPANIES FORGET THIS

WE DON’T BITE

TREAT US WELL AND WE WILL RESPOND IN KIND