ASTANA. August 18. KAZINFORM /Kanat Kulshmanov/ "The Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Trade intensifies work on promotion of the investment opportunities of Kazakhstan and attraction of foreign investors to the priority investment projects", Head of the Ministry Asset Issekeshev has sad today at the telephone conference of the Kazakh Government. "USD 3.3 bln of direct investments was attracted to Kazakhstan during the first quarter that is 24% less than in the analogous period of the last year. The fact is explained by the slowdown in the world markets of capital and global tendencies of recession in direct foreign investments", A.Issekeshev said. Besides, he noted that in the world financial crisis the attraction of direct foreign investment becomes a top-priority goal and main source of financing of the forced industrial-innovative development of the country.