Kazakhstan Jumps 15 Spots on IMD World
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
+31° / +17°C WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2017 No 11 (125) www.astanatimes.com Major events such as AEF Astana EXPO 2017 kicks off with and EAMF are coming up in June. Reports, opinions dazzling show, concert and fireworks on pages A6, A8. The most anticipated event of the year launches on June 9. Nur Alem, the centerpiece pavilion of EXPO 2017 and the world’s largest ball of glass with a diametre of 80 metres, is lit up by spectacular fireworks. For in-depth coverage please check Section C. India, Pakistan join SCO; anti-extremism convention tops agenda at Astana summit the heads of state who arrived in By Dmitry Lee the run up to the summit. During the meeting of the Coun- ASTANA – The Kazakh capital cil of the SCO Heads of State, he hosted the 17th Shanghai Coopera- noted the accession of India and tion Organisation (SCO) summit Pakistan would give new impetus June 8-9, with the accession of In- to the growing-in-numbers organi- dia and Pakistan and anti-extrem- sation and raise its international ism convention topping the agenda status. Nazarbayev added this was amid hopes of bolstering the or- the last time the heads of only the ganisation’s presence in Eurasia. six states – China, Kazakhstan, While the world had its collec- Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajik- tive eyes on the Kazakh capital as istan and Uzbekistan – would be it held the summit and launched seated at the negotiating table, as EXPO 2017 June 9, President Nur- the next summit will include the sultan Nazarbayev conducted a two new member nations. Leaders of nations from around the world, from China and India to Russia and Spain as well as the UN Secretary General, attend the official launch number of bilateral meetings with Continued on Page A3 of EXPO 2017 on June 9. By Dmitry Lee kicked off June 10 with numerous operation in Europe (OSCE) sum- Nursultan Nazarbayev greeted his pavilions open for public view. mit in 2010 and the Asian Winter guests June 9 – 17 heads of state ASTANA – Visiting more than For the 25-year-old country, the Games in 2011, but the expo su- and government who arrived for a hundred countries in one day is exhibition has become the most persedes all the others by its mag- the show. They witnessed the daz- AIFC well on track now possible thanks to world ex- important event in its history. Ka- nitude. zling opening celebration, concert positions such as the one happen- zakhstan has had the experience of Right after hosting the 17th and fireworks that went late into ing this year in the Kazakh capi- hosting large-scale events like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisa- the night. tal. The long-awaited EXPO 2017 Organisation for Security and Co- tion summit, Kazakh President Continued on Page С1 for successful launch, says governor Astana International Financial Kazakhstan jumps 15 spots on IMD By Arsen Nurzhanov Centre (AIFC). In an exclusive interview with ASTANA – One of the issues this newspaper, AIFC Governor always facing organisers of major Kairat Kelimbetov, spoke about World Competitiveness ranking international events such as the the preparations for the launch creased in the business efficiency are in second and third place. The tries, regions and companies man- Olympics or EXPOs is the use of of the centre in the near future, By Yerbolat Uatkhanov category in all positions,” said Al- U.S. fell from third to fourth posi- age their competencies to achieve new and large-scale purposefully its main principles and priorities. exander Zemlyanichenko, expert tion, receiving the worst result in long-term growth, generate jobs built facilities afterwards. It is an ASTANA – Kazakhstan climbed of RBK Russian media company. the last five years. The Netherlands and increase welfare. issue Kazakhstan has been well What are the main goals of from 47th to 32th place in the IMD Kazakhstan improved its posi- rose in the latest ranking to fifth The ranking assesses competi- aware of in the run-up to EXPO establishing a new financial World Competitiveness ranking, tions for the year, rising 15 spots place from the eighth. tiveness using 20 indicators, divid- 2017, resulting in President Nur- centre in Astana. Will it cover evaluating business efficiency, with an index of 76 points out of The IMD World Competitiveness ed into four categories. There are sultan Nazarbayev’s proposals to any specific areas and how will public finance and domestic econ- 100. Thirty-second place also was Centre has also published a sepa- economic indicators, infrastruc- establish not one, not two, but it be different from the rest of omy. The new ranking shows Ka- achieved by Kazakhstan in 2014 as rate report ranking countries’ digi- ture, government and business ef- three new institutions on expo the local financial market? zakhstan surpassing states such reported the IMD World Competi- tal competitiveness for the first time ficiency categories. The indexes premises. One is the Future En- There are several aspects of as Spain, Saudi Arabia, Poland, tiveness ranking 2014 yearbook, this year. Kazakhstan took 38th consist of 323 variables, such as ergy international centre for the this project. First of all, AIFC Portugal, Italy, Russia, Turkey and according to www.imd.org. place, improving from 43th place the contribution to world GDP, development of green technol- is an important part of country- Ukraine. The World Competitiveness last year. The new Digital Competi- gasoline prices, tax rates and the ogy and investment projects to be wide economic and institutional “Kazakhstan has demonstrated ranking evaluates 63 countries. tiveness Ranking introduces several state policy transparency. supported by the United Nations, reforms. In fact, AIFC is the part the greatest progress on public This year Cyprus and Saudi Arabia new criteria to measure countries’ The IMD World Competitive- another one is the international of the “100 Concrete Steps” pro- finances and domestic economy were evaluated for the first time, ability to adopt and explore digital ness Centre has been a pioneer in hub of IT start-ups. Last but not gramme aimed at delivering five indicators. The public finances according to the IMD Swiss busi- technologies leading to transforma- the field of the competitiveness of least, there’s the proposal, argu- institutional reforms for the coun- indicator jumped from 51st place ness school’s annual research. tion in government practices, busi- nations and the World Economy ably the most ambitious out of try. We are establishing brand new to 4th, the domestic economy im- Hong Kong took first place in ness models and society. Ranking. The IMD Centre has the three, to turn Astana into a institutions to strengthen further proved from 51st to 40th place. the ranking for the second year in The World Competitiveness published the rankings every year major financial hub in the heart the rule of law and governance. The country also significantly in- a row. Switzerland and Singapore ranking determines how coun- since 1989. of Eurasia by establishing the Continued on Page C2 INSIDE NATION ECONOMY&BUSINESS EDITORIALS OPINIONS NATION&CAPITAL Nazarbayev attends ALZHIR memorial NB: inflation remains stable, base interest rate Astana Economic Forum puts Kazakhstan at AL NAHYAN: Kazakhstan – UAE: together for New terminal officially opened at capital’s site, Almaty unveils monument to famine to decrease A4 the heart of global debate A6 a quarter of a century A7 airport B1 victims A2 AIFC, NASDAQ ink technology agreement for Eurasian Media Forum to focus on today’s SARSENBAYEV: New Astana-Delhi flight New Nurly Zhol railway station is open for Solar resources map introduced AIFC Exchange A5 most pressing issues A6 will assist Astana’s development as transit hub business B8 in Kazakhstan A2 in centre of Eurasia A7 US$ 1 = 316.39 KZT € 1 = 354.89 KZT 1 = 5.54 KZT A2 NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2017 NATIONAL Nazarbayev attends ALZHIR memorial site, NEWS IN BRIEF Kazpost has launched tickets.post. kz, an online service for railway and flight ticket booking, according to Almaty unveils monument to famine victims the company’s June 7 press release. million people died in 1918-1933 “Over 180,000 tickets were pur- in Kazakhstan, including approxi- chased through the company’s of- mately 1.7 million dead from star- fices since the launch of the railway vation in 1931-1933. and air ticket sales service. We are “Today, on the Day of National launching a pilot project for railway Remembrance and Sorrow for the and air ticket booking online to create Victims of Political Repressions, more comfortable conditions for our we are opening a monument for customers. Our company is changing the victims of 1931-1933 fam- and our customers are changing ac- ine, in order to perpetuate this cordingly. They prefer to get instant lasting pain of our people. On information and services online. Our behalf of the head of state, last service allows finding the best deals year we announced a competi- and cheap fares,” said the press ser- tion to create a draft of the future vice representative. monument. By the decision of the state commission, the project Professional management compa- of Dulat Usenbayev, Aidos Bur- nies will be attracted for the effective kitbaev and Kanat Beguliev, the development of special economic sculpture named “Ana” (Mother) zones (SEZ), said Vice Minister for was selected from more than 20 Investments and Development Yerlan proposed works. The image of a Khairov at a June 5 briefing. “There mother holding her child exhaust- are special economic zones focused ed from hunger reveals all the sor- on petrochemicals, metallurgy, logis- row of the Kazakh people. Mother tics development and tourism.