/IRBIS, Apr 25, 01/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to general director of CIS office of DHL, Garry Kemp, that Kazpost, postal monopoly, and DHL, worldwide express mail service, signed partnership agreement. DHL has already started rendering services through post offices in three major cities of Kazakhstan.

"We signed agreement with Kazpost that would grant access for Kazakhstan to world network, while DHL would gain because of wider access to services in Kazakhstan" reported Mr. Kemp.

DHL representatives opened in six post-offices of Almaty, one in Astana and one in Shymkent. Other six cities would gain access to DHL services during this year. Later, all industrial centers will be covered by DHL network.

The head of Kazpost, Arken Arystanov, said that main advantage of the agreement is development of world quality services in Kazakhstan.

"First of all, this would increase quality of services. Thus allowing Kazpost to receive and send documents and parcels to any country of the world using DHL network."

DHL set its services in Kazakhstan in 1991. For last three years postal turnover increased 40%.

Mr. Kemp reported that DHL has signed similar agreements with postal authorities of Byelorussia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Kazpost is a state company that includes 575 post-offices in cities and 2,863 in rural areas. The company has adopted Japanese style postal saving system. Besides postal services, it renders broker and deposit services.

In last year, company, for the first time, has received profit mainly because of its financial services.

In this year, Kazpost expects to receive a loan of Islamic Development Bank ($9.0 mln) for purchase of postal equipment. It also holds negotiations with domestic institutions on $10.0 mln of investments into saving system.