+26°C / +18°C Wednesday, may 14, 2014 No 9 (52) www.astanatimes.com President Touts Benefits of Eurasian Nazarbayev Announces Plans for New Major Integration During Moscow Visit Incentives for Foreign Investors By Meruert Nemerbayeva ADB member countries, President Nazarbayev said the country will ASTANA – Kazakhstan will accelerate progress in the area of make a major move to attract more attracting investments as a key foreign investors this year when component of the country’s efforts it passes a new law to create bet- to ensure sustainable economic ter conditions for them, President growth. “The basis of our economy Nursultan Nazarbayev announced is active work aimed at attraction at the official opening session of of investments, both foreign and the Asian Development Bank’s domestic. 47th annual board of governors We are eager to create favour- meeting here on May 4. able an investment climate as pos- Addressing the more than 2,000 sible,” he noted. delegates to the meeting from 64 Continued on Page A6 ADB, Kazakhstan Sign President Nazarbayev delivered his hallmark speech on the soon-to-be-established Eurasian Economic Union and the long-term vision of Eurasian integration at the Moscow State University on April 28. By Meruert Nemerbayeva Agreement to Support Common Economic Space (CES). unique Treaty on Good-Neighbour- gion and the Arab world. As Naz- ASTANA – President Nursultan In its own turn, the EEU will cre- liness and Alliance, said President arbayev put it, in the conditions of Nazarbayev delivered his hallmark ate a common market of more than Nazarbayev. In addition, at the end all-encompassing globalisation, Industry, Banking, speech devoted to Eurasian inte- 170 million people and common of the last year the two countries regional integration is a key factor gration at Moscow State Univer- economy valued at $2.2 trillion. concluded a bilateral agreement on for economic and civilisational de- sity on April 28. Symbolically, the Integration is expected to in- military cooperation. Kazakhstan velopment and raising global com- Small Business idea of creating a Eurasian Union crease the cumulative gross domes- and Russia cooperate successfully petitiveness of any nation. By Rufiya Ospanova Governors in Astana. According was initially proposed by President tic product of the three countries by in all spheres, including energy, The ambitious Eurasian ini- to the agreement, signed in the Nazarbayev slightly more than 20 nearly $900 billion by 2030. space, defence, culture and trade. tiative has faced considerable and ASTANA – President of presence of Kazakh President years ago in a lecture at the same President Nazarbayev stressed The leaders of Kazakhstan, Rus- often unjustifiable criticism from the Asian Development Bank Nursultan Nazarbayev, the ADB university. that Eurasian integration provide sia and Belarus are confident in pundits, the Kazakh leader said. (ADB) Takehiko Nakao signed will help Kazakhstan effective- In his recent speech, Nazarbayev its participating states a “common the unique capabilities of the inte- Many have accused member states a new framework agreement on ly use $5.5 billion from its Na- noted that the soon-to-be-estab- strategic advantage on the eve of gration to resist and help alleviate of creating regulations and policies co-financing with Prime Minis- tional Fund to support industrial lished Eurasian Economic Union the Third Industrial Revolution.” global risks, including the financial that would benefit one member ter of Kazakhstan Karim Mas- policy, small and medium-sized (EEU) between Belarus, Kazakh- The year 2013 was marked as a crisis that is still not overcome in state while impairing the interests simov on May 4 at the opening enterprises and the banking sec- stan and Russia builds on the work breakthrough in Kazakhstan-Rus- North and South Americas, South- of other members of the union. ceremony of the 47th Annual tor. of the Customs Union (CU) and sia relations: the countries signed a East Asia, in the Persian Gulf re- Continued on Page A3 Meeting of the ADB Board of Continued on Page A4 Five Nuclear Weapon One Company’s IT Solutions Generate Positive States Recognise Change, Prosperity and Access to Progress What is your company’s philoso- tivity, we have gained a solid inter- in education were shortlisted in the By Jan Furst phy and function? What makes national reputation, receiving more final stage of the competition – and SIVECO stand out? than 180 recognitions and prizes. they both came from SIVECO! We Central Asia Ranked as one of the ‘50 most We believe our global IT solu- This year we received the ‘Win- received the Golden Medal for the influential women in Romania’ by tions can and should generate posi- ner’ title in the European IT & Soft- ‘Educational process optimized from Forbes Romania magazine, Irina tive change, prosperity and compet- ware Excellence Awards competi- the perspective of knowledge society Socol is the president and CEO itiveness for all our clients, ensuring tion for the “IT system of Electronic competences,’ implemented by the as Nuke-Free Zone of SIVECO Romania, the leader them access to progress. Prescription” project developed Romanian Ministry of Education. And we also won a medal for the ‘De- of the signing states to enter into of the Romanian IT market. She Nowadays, SIVECO develops for the National Health Insurance By Altair Nurbekov effect. founded the company in 1992 and exports software products and velopment of interactive multimedia House in Romania. We are also very educational content for the educa- According to a May 6 press re- and has led it to become one of high value added consultancy pro- proud of the World Summit Award tional system in Kazakhstan’ project. ASTANA – Representatives of lease from the U.S. Department the major European players in e- jects to 27 countries within the Eu- Winner 2013 title, the highest award the five recognised nuclear weap- of State, the CANWFZ Treaty Learning, e-Health, e-Agriculture, ropean Community, Middle East, ever granted to an IT project, for the You seem focused on e-Learn- on states signed the Protocol to complements the NPT and en- e-Customs, e-Government and e- North Africa and the Common- Romanian project which developed ing, why is that? the Central Asian Nuclear-Weap- hances the international nonpro- Business solutions. wealth of Independent States area. interactive multimedia educational on-Free-Zone (CANWFZ) Treaty Indeed, our company’s flagship is liferation regime by prohibiting, She spoke to The Astana Times We are specialised in developing content for children with special AeL, a complete suite of eLearning in New York on May 6, signify- among other things, the devel- about what her company stands for large and complex IT projects, ad- educational needs. ing a major positive development solutions. We are proud to be in the opment and testing of nuclear and why software development is dressing large companies and public In 2013, within the International world’s Top 10 companies provid- in the global nonproliferation ef- weapons within Central Asia. key for any future success for any agencies. Project Management Association ing educational content. forts. Under the CANWFZ Treaty, the company or country. During more than 22 years of ac- competition, only two IT projects Continued on Page A8 Diplomats from China, France, five Central Asian zone states Russia, the United Kingdom and may not allow the stationing of the United States signed the docu- nuclear weapons within their ment on the margins of the Nuclear territories. The Central Asian Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) states are also required to adopt Preparatory Committee Meeting at the International Atomic Energy Celebrating Victory in the World War II the United Nations. Agency (IAEA) Additional pro- The CANWFZ Treaty was tocol, which provides the IAEA signed on September 8, 2006 in with expanded access and au- Means Celebrating Peace Semipalatinsk by the five Central thorities to ensure that all nu- Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyr- clear activities are used only for gyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan peaceful purposes. and Uzbekistan. It entered into “The United States is not eligi- force on March 21, 2009. ble to be a party to the CANWFZ Since 2012, as chair of the CAN- Treaty itself, but as an NPT nucle- WFZ Treaty, Kazakhstan has led ar weapons state is eligible to join the negotiations with the nuclear the Treaty’s Protocol,” the U.S. “five” on behalf of its Central Department of State said. “The Asian neighbours. The signing of Protocol provides legally-binding the protocol is seen as a significant assurances not to use or threaten to achievement of multilateral diplo- use nuclear weapons against CAN- macy. WFZ Treaty parties. The United For the nuclear-weapon free States understands the importance zone to be recognised interna- of such negative security assur- tionally, it also has to receive the ances to states that have fores- so-called negative guarantees worn nuclear weapons and abide from the five nuclear weapon by their nuclear non-proliferation states, meaning guarantees not obligations.” to use nuclear weapons against There are four other nuclear- the parties to the treaty and not weapons free zones in the world to use the threat of the use of today, other than the one in Cen- nuclear weapons against them. tral Asia, including in Africa, The protocol signed on May 6 Latin America and the Caribbean, in New York provides just such South-East Asia and the South guarantees. The protocol still has Pacific. to be ratified by the parliaments Continued on Page A12

Inside Nation Economy & Business editorial opinions NATION & CAPITAL New Satellites Expand Kazakh Broadcasting Op- ADB President: Learn From Past Financial Cri- G-Global Development Continues As Platform Idrissov: A New Step Forward to Greater New Kabanbai Batyr Memorial Opened in East portunities A2 ses to Strengthen Economic Fundamentals A4 Enhances Dialogue on International Issues A10 Regional and Global Security A11 Kazakhstan B1

First Kazakh Earth Remote Sensing Satellite EU Committee Lifts Restrictions on Air Astana Mirow: A Timely Call for Action: Re-shaping Kazakh Delegation Attends 77th AIPS Con- Launched A2 Flights to Europe, Flights to Prague and Paris World after Financial Crisis A11 gress B1 Expected Soon A6

US$ 1 = 182.04 KZT 1 Euro = 250.60 KZT 1 Rouble = 5.19 KZT A2 NATION

Wednesday, may 14, 2014

which will last for three months. NATIONAL When all details and characteris- news in brief tics of the satellite are confirmed, New Satellites Expand Kazakh the Russian developer will pass it to Kazakhstan specialists and the Military machines made in Ka- spacecraft will be put into opera- zakhstan were highlighted in the tion. KazSat-3 will reach its control May 7 Defender of the Homeland Broadcasting Opportunities point – 58,5º of the east longitude Day parade in Astana. Command- in mid-May. er in Chief of the Land Forces Two satellites in orbit give Ka- of Kazakhstan Murat Maikeyev zakhstan autonomy and independ- said, “The interesting aspect of ence from external sources in the military parade this year was the field of communications and the demonstration of our military broadcasting. In addition to the machines produced and modern- ground control complex in the Ak- ised in our country. We also dem- kol district near Astana, another onstrated unmanned aircraft in such control complex was put into Astana.” According to Maikeyev, operation in June 2013 in the Al- special units of the Ministry of De- maty region. Mutual backup of the fence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, satellites provides favourable con- Ministry of Emergency Situations, ditions for the transition of Kazakh Border Guard of the Committee operators to the satellite system of National Security and National KazSat. In addition, the commis- Guard were involved in parade ac- sioning of KazSat-3 will ensure tivities. More than 2,500 service- the orbital position of 58,5º of the men, about 250 units of military east longitude for Kazakhstan in machines and 75 aircraft were in- the International Telecommunica- volved in the event. tion Union. No less important is the financial aspect, as the use of Twenty-two new healthcare fa- KazSat-3 will reduce imports of cilities will be commissioned in services saving more than 4 billion the Zhambyl region this year, a tenge (US$21.9 million) per year representative of the press service and will increase tax payments to of the regional administration re- the state budget. ported. This year, 25 healthcare The creation and launch of the facilities are being constructed spacecraft KazSat-3 is one of a in the Zhambyl region and 22 of number of major space projects in- them are planned to be commis- cluded in the Industrialisation Map sioned. The rest will be commis- of Kazakhstan. sioned next year. The total cost The national system of satellite of the project is 4.6 billion tenge communication and broadcast- (US$25.2 million). In particular, ing of KazSat will help meet the a multidisciplinary hospital with demands of Kazakh operators for 300 beds will be opened through satellite capacity in the near fu- the 100 Schools, 100 Hospitals ture. The group of satellites in the Programme in Taraz this year at a KazSat series opens up new op- cost of 2.6 billion tenge (US$14.2 The launch of a booster Proton-M with the upper stage Breeze-M, a cluster of KazSat-3 and the Russian relay satellite Luch-5B from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. portunities for technical services million). Another 16 healthcare fa- in such promising areas as direct cilities will be opened outside of broadcasting, high-definition tel- the programme at a cost of more This telecommunication satellite ther developed. The creation of Ka- Each communication satellite evision broadcasting and direct than 630 million tenge (US$3.4 By Dulat Moldabayev will be a reserve for its predeces- zSat-4 is being discussed currently, placed into orbit differs from the access to broadband internet, the million). In total, 20 healthcare fa- sor, KazSat-2. including issues related to orbital po- previous one because of scientific multimedia satellite broadcasting cilities were opened last year and A booster Proton-M with the up- Meanwhile, the two apparatuses, sition and technical characteristics. advances. transmission of TV signals, inter- 44 facilities opened in the period per stage Breeze–M, a cluster of according to President of the Re- KazSat-3 has two beams, 28 “KazSat-3 is managed exclu- net traffic and sound broadcasting from 2009 till 2012. KazSat-3 and the Russian relay publican Centre of Space Commu- transponders (transceivers); its sively by Kazakh specialists, we to mobile terminals for subscrib- satellite Luch-5B were launched nications of Kazakhstan NSA Viktor coverage area includes the terri- can proudly say,” Lefter noted. ers. Meanwhile, the domestic mar- The government and the Samruk on April 28 from the Baikonur Lefter, will be supplemented in the tory of Kazakhstan and proximate The satellite will be commis- ket of these segments has a huge Kazyna Fund have analysed the Cosmodrome. future as the programme will be fur- regions of neighbouring countries. sioned after the scoring tests, untapped potential. 599 companies that form the struc- ture of the fund and determined which will be privatised. On April 29, the final list of these companies was approved and the majority of companies will be fully or partial- First Kazakh ly sold in 2014. The private sector will be offered shares in 106 com- panies of the fund. In 2014-2016, different packages of shares in 94 Earth Remote subsidiary companies of Samruk Kazyna will be available on the market: 28 companies within Ka- zakhstan Temir Zholy are subject Sensing Satellite to full or partial privatisation, 23 of KazMunayGas, 21 of Kazakhstan Engineering, 10 of Samruk Energy, seven of KazAtomProm and two Launched of the Kazakhstan Electric Grid By Julia Rutz are also above-ground target and Operating Company (KEGOC). space vehicle administration com- After 2016, it is planned to fully or ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first plexes in Astana. partially sell shares of eight com- Earth remote sensing satellite was A second satellite, of medium panies of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy launched from the Kuru Spaceport spatial resolution (KazEOSat-2), and four of KazMunayGas. “The in Guiana on April 28 at 22:35 lo- was constructed by the same work on privatisation will be as cal time, the press service of Ka- French company in coopera- transparent as possible. We also zcosmos reported. tion with British Surrey Satellite plan to regularly publish materials According to a press release, the Technology, Ltd. (SSTL). The on the progress of selling these as- satellite, KazEOSat-1 (Kazakhstan launch of the above-ground com- sets to the private sector,” Nurlan Earth Observation Satellite 1), was plex in Astana is scheduled for Rakhmetov, financial director and constructed, as per Kazcosmos July 2014. member of the board of Samruk specifications, by the French com- Within the framework of the Kazyna, said. pany Airbus Defence and Space Kazakh-French contract for sat- (formerly called EADS Astrium). ellite construction, 50 engineers The Ministry of Internal Affairs KazEOSat-1 is meant to offer the from Kazakhstan took internships of Kazakhstan will open opera- whole spectrum of Earth remote in France and the U.K., learning tions control centres in 35 towns of the country by 2020, Minister KazEOSat-1 was put into sun-synchronous of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan Kalmukhanbet Kassymov told an orbit (about 700 kilometres from Earth) April 28 Central Communications Service media briefing. “Pres- by the European missile carrier Vega. The ently, the main task of the minis- satellite consists of two space vehicles, one of try is to organise the work of the institution so no one would be left high and one of medium spatial resolution. without attention. This is what the head of state wants from us. There are also above-ground target and Therefore, we have been seriously space vehicle administration complexes in working in the sphere of registra- tion of crimes. We also introduced Astana. a system of electronic registra- tion of incident reports. In 2013, we registered more than 2 million sensing services, including trans- about satellite management and reports,” Kassymov said. In total, mitting pictures of Kazakhstan and space photo processing, skills they according to information provided other territories taken from space will use at the new Astana com- by the ministry, the number of seri- in order to predict and prevent plex. ous crimes has dropped by 22 per- natural hazards, carry out land A Kazakh delegation headed by cent over the last three years and surveys, support map-making ac- Chairman of the National Space robberies shrunk by half. “We also tivities and generally monitor the Agency Talgat Mussabayev took plan to open special operations country’s landmass. part in the launch in Guiana. control centres for controlling the KazEOSat-1 was put into sun- Kuru Spaceport is on the coast work we do to ensure safety in the synchronous orbit (about 700 of the Atlantic Ocean, 60 km from streets. They already exist in all kilometres from Earth) by the Guiana’s capital, Cayenne. The regional centres and later will be European missile carrier Vega. spaceport’s location was chosen in opened in smaller towns. By 2020, The satellite consists of two space 1964 by the French government. we will open operations control vehicles, one of high and one of The spaceport launched its first centres in 35 towns of the coun- medium spatial resolution. There satellite in April 1968. try,” he noted. A3 eurasia&world

Wednesday, may 14, 2014

external news in brief In Astana, Top U.S. Diplomat Reaffirms America’s Deputy Prime Minster and Min- ister of Finance of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov held a meeting with Minister of Finance of China “Enduring” Commitment to Kazakhstan Lou Jiwei within the 47th Annual Meeting of the Board of Gover- By Malika Rustem nors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The sides discussed ASTANA – Visiting U.S. Dep- bilateral cooperation. “China is uty Secretary of State William one of the biggest trade partners of Burns met with Kazakhstan’s top Kazakhstan,” Sultanov noted, add- leadership on May 8 in Astana to ing that the trade turnover between discuss a range of bilateral and the countries had increased by 15 regional cooperation issues, in- times over recent years. They also cluding events in Ukraine and the discussed the ADB’s activity. Lou situation in Afghanistan as well as noted the increasing role of the Kazakhstan’s upcoming accession ADB as a source of investment for to the World Trade Organisation infrastructure projects. “It is espe- (WTO). The key message coming cially important now because the out from Burns’s meetings with complicated economic situation President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in the world dictates the necessity Prime Minister Karim Massimov of investments globally,” he said. and Foreign Minister Erlan Idriss- Ending the meeting, Sultanov in- ov was that both Washington and vited his Chinese colleague to take Astana are strongly interested in part in the work of the seventh further expanding their strategic Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns (l) to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation issues on May 8. Astana Economic Forum on May partnership in the long term. 21-24 this year. “I have come to Kazakhstan to sised the importance of imple- all stakeholders to meet commit- between financial and tax authori- At the media briefing, Burns underscore a simple but important mentation of the agreements ments reached in Geneva on April ties of the two countries. was also asked to comment on State Secretary of Russia Grego- message: America’s commitment reached by the President of Ka- 17 this year, and expressed hope “Our meetings today also fo- the recent nomination of George ry Rapota avowed that cooperation to Kazakhstan and Central Asia zakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev that the parties involved in the cused on some of the top priori- Krol, currently the U.S. ambas- with the Skolkovo Fund conducted is enduring because America’s and US President Barack Obama conflict will show restraint and ties in our bilateral relationship, sador in Tashkent, as the new top within the Common Economic interests in Kazakhstan and Cen- during the Nuclear Security Sum- avoid further bloodshed. including our cooperation in the U.S. diplomat in Astana, and on Space (CES) gives scientists ac- tral Asia are enduring,” Burns mit held in The Hague in March. The sides also talked about the security, commercial, legal, and whether this would signify any cess to grants for conducting said at a media briefing at the “The parties noted with satis- next steps in Afghanistan’s transi- education sectors, and our support change in U.S. policies towards research and other opportuni- U.S. Embassy in Astana follow- faction the cooperation between tion and how to continue to work for Kazakhstan’s efforts to join the Kazakhstan. “George Krol is an extremely ties. “Without doubt, this experi- ing his meetings. “The crisis in the two countries on global secu- together to preserve and sustain World Trade Organisation. And capable diplomat. I would add ence can be used also for settling Ukraine and the ongoing transi- rity issues, primarily in the field security there and that country’s we had a candid and constructive tion in Afghanistan underscore conversation about how to ensure that we are very fortunate to have some problems particular to the of non-proliferation of weapons efforts towards peace. what’s at stake and reinforce the “We remain ready to sign a bi- that the country’s political pro- Ambassador John Ordway here development of some spheres. I of mass destruction,” the Kazakh importance of building a stronger lateral security agreement to al- gress keeps pace with its econom- now, who is a well-known figure think that thanks to the tools cre- foreign ministry’s press service and deeper relationship between reported. One fresh example of low a number of U.S. troops to ic development. Both are essential in Kazakhstan, and also an ex- ated and now available within the our governments and between our such cooperation came on May remain in Afghanistan in a train, not only for Kazakhstan’s future tremely capable diplomat,” Burns various programmes, we can cre- peoples.” 6 in New York when the U.S., advise, and assist capacity. And but also to realising the full prom- said. “I can say with certainty that ate innovative products now,” he During the meeting with Burns along with four other recognised we look forward to Kazakh- ise of our partnership,” Burns said the United States will continue to said. According to him, currently, in the Akorda presidential resi- nuclear weapon states, signed a stan’s continued partnership, at a media briefing. attach very high priority to our federal target programmes are be- dence, President Nazarbayev em- protocol to the treaty on a Cen- whether through its support for “In my meetings today, I had strategic partnership with Ka- ing implemented. “We have many phasised that Kazakhstan, too, is tral Asian nuclear weapons free the Northern Distribution Net- the opportunity to emphasise our zakhstan. We attach a great deal of talented scientists. Our weakness ready to actively develop bilateral zone, thereby giving guarantees work or its efforts to accelerate support for the independence, value to the leadership that Presi- is commercialisation of scientific ties with the United States. not to use nuclear weapons or the Afghanistan’s economic devel- sovereignty, and territorial integ- dent Nazarbayev and Kazakhstan and technical products; the promo- “Recently in The Hague, I met threat of the use of such weapons opment. Kazakhstan is working rity of all the countries in Cen- have demonstrated on many is- tion of a product to the market. It with the U.S. president. We dis- against five members of the zone. to build its own international aid tral Asia, including Kazakhstan,” sues. And, as I said in my opening would be good to know what is cussed in detail the development Kazakhstan, as chair of the nu- agency and we look forward to Burns told the media briefing. remarks, the United States will done in this sphere in the CES and of relations between our coun- clear weapons free zone for two working closely together in Af- “We are deeply appreciative of remain engaged in and committed the CIS [Commonwealth of Inde- tries, and the situation that is years, has worked to advance this ghanistan and beyond,” Burns Kazakhstan’s constructive state- to Central Asia for many years to pendent States]. I have no doubts emerging in the world today. Be- issue, achieving the significant said at a media briefing after his ments on the very combustible come.” that the issue of innovation will be sides we issued a joint statement. strengthening of security in the meetings. situation in Ukraine and its ef- “This partnership began in the raised more and more often in the We should continue our bilateral Central Asian region, and mak- According to Kazakhstan’s For- forts to encourage de-escalation. very first year of Kazakhstan’s in- CES,” he added. cooperation at a high level,” the ing a solid contribution to the eign Ministry, Idrissov and Burns As we’ve made clear, we do not dependence and it has withstood Kazakh President said. global non-proliferation. also touched on progress in har- seek a confrontation with Russia the tests of time. I am convinced In late April, the aviation author- In turn, Burns reiterated Wash- According to Kazakhstan’s for- monising the agreement on im- – we believe that it is deeply in that this relationship is as strong ities of Kazakhstan and Turkey ington’s long-term commitment eign ministry, Idrissov and Burns proving international tax control the interests of Ukraine and Rus- and as resilient as ever and that reached an agreement to perform to the strategic partnership with also exchanged views on topical and implementation of the U.S. sia to have a healthy relationship, there is much more we can ac- eight flights each between Antalya Kazakhstan. issues on the international and law on tax control of foreign ac- born of their centuries of cultural, complish together, as partners, in and Almaty, Antalya and Astana Welcoming Burns at Kazakh- regional security agendas, in- counts. This document offers new economic, and social ties. The the years ahead,” Burns said at the and Antalya and Karaganda, the stan’s Foreign Ministry for their cluding the situation in Ukraine. opportunities for effective coop- same holds true for Russia’s other conclusion of his visit. One day press service of the Ministry of own meeting, Idrissov empha- Both officials noted the need for eration and information exchange neighbours.” prior, he also visited Uzbekistan. Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan reported. The decision was made based on the results of monitoring of tourist transporta- tion from Kazakhstan to Turkey conducted by the ministry and President Touts Benefits of Eurasian Kazakh tourism companies, the National Chamber of Entrepre- neurs, the Kazakhstan Tourism As- sociation and the Committee of the Integration During Moscow Visit Tourism Industry of Kazakhstan. Continued from Page A1 According to the Kazakh leader, novation Council that would be in accepted common tariffs. It is es- ganisation as well as more than “We have discussed the opportuni- all negative assessments of the charge of developing innovations sential to develop a common pro- 40 specialised intergovernmental ties for performing flights between This criticism has no basis. EEU stem from concerns over the across the three member states in ject called “Eurasian Energy” for institutions of the CIS already ben- the countries with our Turkish Firstly, the structure of the EEU substantial potential of the Eura- a wide range of spheres: advanced deeper integration within the en- efit from the dynamic processes of colleagues many times. Taking Commission and its ruling coun- sian Economic Union, its capabil- processing of raw materials, space, ergy sector, including construction Eurasian Integration. into consideration the popularity cil means that no single state can ity to become a serious competitor chemical industry, machinery, ag- of a nuclear energy plant in Ka- of these flights with our people, Additionally, the EEU experience dominate the decision making pro- to other centres of the “global eco- riculture, energy and transport. zakhstan by joint Kazakh-Russian could be helpful for stronger ties in the decision to open 16 additional cess. nomic gravity.” “Concrete projects [in the innova- entities, he said. flights per week for the summer the Shanghai Cooperation Organisa- Resolutions are based on the President Nazarbayev stated tion spheres] must become a driv- Besides, Nazarbayev proposed tion, the Conference on Interaction season was made. The flights will decision of the majority of the that the main mission of the EEU ing force of the economic integra- a number of initiatives for the co- and Confidence Building Measures be performed on a regular basis,” council, but each state has a veto in the first half of the 21st cen- tion by producing competitive operation in the financial sector, in Asia and for an initiative to create Chairman of the Civil Aviation on the process. In this case, the is- tury is based on two main pillars. goods, creating working places small and medium businesses de- the Common Continental Security Committee of Kazakhstan Beken sue is brought up to the level of the First, the union aims to become a and boosting national revenues,” velopment and agriculture. As he Seidakhmetov said. heads of states where the decision key economic macroregion of the said Nazarbayev. put it, it is absolutely essential to Programme proposed by President is made by consensus. world. Against the backdrop of Another important task for the establish information-analytical Nazarbayev at the Organisaton for On April 28, the Bolashak Secondly, the EEU will create shifting “economic gravity” east- EEU is to create a trans-Eurasia centres for the Eurasian integra- Security and Cooperation in Europe Alumni Relations Office (BARO) a system of clear indicators that wards, the EEU located between infrastructure. In order to achieve tion. As such, he proposed to uti- summit in Astana. of the Centre of International Pro- would assess the influence of Eur- the largest industrial massives of this, Nazarbayev proposed to cre- lise the resources of the Eurasian Currently, the G8 and G20 are grammes organised a meeting of asian integration on life standards the European Union and Asia- ate a Common Eurasian Com- Bank of Development as well as to unable to tackle, with needed effec- Bolashak Programme alumni with of the population, productivity and Pacific region is destined to serve munications Network, construct a establish a Eurasian Agricultural tiveness, crises in the world econo- representatives of Hewlett Packard competitiveness of each member as a geo-economic bridge between railway along the Minsk – Moscow Academy. my, global politics and international Kazakhstan to help the alumni to state. East and West. In doing so, the – Astana – Almaty route, modern- Speaking of the benefits the law, Nazarbayev said. The Presi- find jobs. Over 50 graduates of the Lastly, according to President Eurasian Economic Union will not ise existing roads and railways, Eurasian integration processes dent reiterated that his G-Global in- programme who had studied in en- Nazarbayev, “the creation of our be a mere intermediary between and construct the “Eurasia” chan- have already brought Kazakhstan, itiative, which allows all countries gineering took part in the meeting. economic union is not a frozen Europe and Asia, but rather devel- nel connecting the Caspian Sea Nazarbayev said the country’s to participate in a scholarly and At the meeting, Hewlett Packard tenet. We are to face many chal- op as a new centre of global inno- and the Black Sea. The President trade within the Customs Union political way in proposing solutions Kazakhstan representatives pre- lenges in the future. The choice vations and favourable destination emphasised the importance of the has grown 60 percent, including in for global problems, is based on the sented 10 vacancies for IT special- to integrate is not a magic wand for multinational businesses. The transportation corridor “Western high-value added products being fundamental principles of the 21st ists, project managers, economists, that guarantees miracles.” Thus, second important element of the Europe – Western China,” which traded both ways. Cumulative in- century: evolution, justice, equal- masters of business administra- the Eurasian integration process Eurasian Economic Union mis- goes through Kazakhstan, Russia ternational reserves of Kazakhstan ity, consensus, global tolerance and tion managers and graduates with is subject to further advancement, sion is to help each member state and Belarus. A new railroad allow- have reached $100 billion. Over trust, global transparency and con- technical backgrounds. They also including collaboration on devis- achieving the goal of entering the ing access to China and Southeast the last four years, 780 new enter- structive multi-polarity. told meeting participants about the ing a formula for equal benefits to group of the most developed coun- Asia has been constructed while prises have been established and The Eurasian Economic Union company’s activities and oppor- each member state. tries. another one, joining Kazakhstan 250 new kinds of products have tunities available for prospective Similarly, the myths about re- In order to achieve such an am- and other EEU countries with Iran been produced. is created on the same principles employees. The BARO organises incarnation of the Soviet Union bitious goal, Nazarbayev proposed and other Persian Gulf counties is According to the Kazakh leader, and is aimed at making a solid meetings and job fairs with the have no basis, the Kazakh leader a number of concrete priorities and under construction. the experience of the Eurasian contribution to tackling global participation of employers to help stressed. There is no institutional actions. First, it is essential to the Cooperation in the energy sector Economic Union has provided challenges. “Trust, equality, ben- them recruit professional person- basis for the reconstruction of the EEU to develop and adopt a Pro- has a primary role in ensuring the and will continue to provide fur- eficial cooperation and allied rela- nel and help Bolashak graduates Soviet Union. Moreover, over gramme of Eurasian Innovation successful functioning of the EEU. ther impetus to other organisations tions, these are common values of find jobs. At the end of the meet- more than two decades of inde- Technology Cooperation for the President Nazarbayev suggested working with Russia, Kazakhstan Kazakh and Russian people, which ing, BARO and Hewlett Packard pendence, all republics of the for- period until 2025. To implement establishing a Common Internal and Belarus. As such, the Com- we must hand down from genera- Kazakhstan reached an agreement mer Soviet Union have built on the Programme, the President sug- Gas Network that would supply monwealth of Independent States, tion to generation,” Nazarbayev on further cooperation. their national state institutions. gested establishing a Eurasian In- gas to all member states at jointly the Collective Security Treaty Or- stressed. A4 economy

Wednesday, may 14, 2014

economy ADB, Kazakhstan Sign Agreement to Support news in brief Mazhilis (lower chamber of Par- liament) hearings to be held on Industry, Banking, Small Business May 16 will focus on the quality and prospects of preparing tech- Continued from Page A1 and integration. The ADB comple- nical, vocational and higher edu- ments this programme by invest- cation specialists. The hearings President Nazarbayev recently ing in private sector operations were initiated by the Committee announced a programme allo- through participation in equity and of Social and Cultural Develop- cating 1 trillion tenge ($5.5 bil- debt instruments for debt regula- ment of the Mazhilis. As head of lion) from the National Fund of tion and provision of guarantees. the committee Gulnar Iksanova Kazakhstan to support industrial Kazakhstan hosted the ADB’s An- noted, the relevance of the theme policy, small and medium-sized nual Meeting of the Board of Gov- is conditioned by the need to ad- businesses and the banking sector. ernors in its capital for the first time dress a number of issues hamper- Under the new framework agree- from May 2-5. This meeting’s theme ing the development of several ment on co-financing, the ADB was, “The Silk Road: Connecting sectors of the economy. One of will support the government in the Asia with a Changing World.” The those issues is the level of prepa- implementation of development meeting brought together more than ration of specialists in agriculture programmes by providing efficient 3,000 delegates, including leading and industry in particular, as well and effective use of these funds. politicians, prominent businessmen, as overcoming market imbalances, “This framework agreement media representatives, academics, a lack of required educational pro- is built on the successful 20-year grammes, low employer involve- partnership between ADB and civil society and representatives of ment in preparing specialists for Kazakhstan, with an emphasis on development institutions. diversification of the economy, The aim of the ADB, the head- their enterprises and more. Heads sustainable development and in- quarters of which is in Manila, is of ministries, national companies clusive growth,” said Nakao. “We to reduce poverty in the Asia and and associations and rectors of look forward to further strength- the Pacific region through inclu- universities are invited to take part ening our cooperation to promote sive economic growth, environ- in the discussion, which is intend- economic diversification and com- mentally sustainable development ed to lead to recommendations. petitiveness.” and regional integration. The ADB Currently, the ADB is a leading was established in 1966 and con- President Nursultan Nazarbayev development institution in Kazakh- President of the ADB Takehiko Nakao (l) and Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov (r) sign a new framework sists of 67 member countries, with held a meeting with top World Bank stan. Since 1994, it has provided a agreement on co-financing. 48 countries from this region. In officials in the Akorda on May 1. total of $3.2 billion for 25 public billion for six private sector projects. investment programme allocated small and medium-sized enterpris- 2013, the ADB’s portfolio amount- A framework partnership agree- sector loans, $31 million for 68 tech- Under the current Partnership $1.6 billion to the public sector for es, infrastructure, private sector ed to $21 billion, including co-fi- ment on strengthening cooperation nical assistance projects and $455 Strategy with the country, the ADB addressing financial sector issues, development, regional cooperation nancing amounting to $6.6 billion. aimed at supporting sustainable development in Kazakhstan was signed at the meeting between the government of Kazakhstan, the In- ternational Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the IFC and the ADB President: Learn From Past Financial Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency of the World Bank. In ac- cordance with the agreement, the World Bank Group will allocate Crises to Strengthen Economic Fundamentals $2.5 billion to Kazakhstan to help By Jan Furst protect their gains in poverty re- that the region remains vulnerable have taken the right steps in strength- Yerbolat Dossayev, Kazakhstan’s the country diversify its economy duction, Asian countries must learn to external shocks. Asia needs to ening their financial systems, banks minister of economy and budget and improve its competitiveness ASTANA – High-level poli- from past crises and continue their continue to grow strongly if many and corporate governance since the planning; Marisa Lago, assistant by attracting investment to non- cymakers and market experts at efforts to strengthen economic fun- of its low-income countries are to 1997 Asian financial crisis. “The re- secretary for international markets primary sectors of the economy, the governor’s seminar, “Reduc- damentals and financial systems.” graduate to middle income status; gion is now in a much better position to and development at the U.S. De- developing entrepreneurship and ing Vulnerability: Learning From Panelists discussed the impor- if middle-income countries are weather external shocks,” Nakao said. partment of the Treasury; Arvind innovation, promoting small and Past Crises,” during the Asian tance of good economic fundamen- to avoid the middle-income trap; Several of the panelists said that Mayaram, India’s finance secretary medium-sized business, develop- Development Bank’s (ADB) tals, better cross-border coordination and if the region is to continue to countries heavily dependent on and Yoshiki Takeuchi, deputy direc- ing institutional and human capi- 47th annual meeting in Astana’s of macroeconomic policies, sound make gains in reducing extreme natural resources must work hard- tor general of the international bu- tal and improving the quality and Palace of Independence on May financial regulation, speedy respons- poverty. To achieve these goals it er to diversify their economies in reau in Japan’s Ministry of Finance. affordability of public services 3 addressed the importance of a es at times of crisis and the role of is critical that financial crises do order to become more resilient. Kazakhstan’s capital hosted the for sustainable regional develop- fundamentally sound economy in regional financial and monetary co- not reoccur,” read an ADB press Panelists at the seminar included Annual Meeting of the ADB Board ment. The Kazakh President said a crisis. operation in reducing vulnerability. release. Nakao; Muhamad Chatib Basri, of Governors for the first time from the sides would cooperate in seven “Regardless of the level of de- “Since the 1997 financial crisis, Many countries in developing Asia Indonesia’s minister of finance; May 2-5. directions and special programmes velopment, a country risks being developing Asia has strengthened would be drafted for each of these destabilised by a financial shock its financial systems and corpo- directions. He also said a coordi- when its financial system is not rate governance. However, the nation council consisting of repre- well-regulated and when effective financial turbulence that affected macro-prudential measures are some Asian economies last year, sentatives of the interested parties absent,” said ADB President Take- following the U.S. signal of a pos- would be established to coordinate hiko Nakao in the seminar. sible tapering of its quantitative the realisation of the framework “To prevent future crises, and to easing programme, reminds us agreement. Massimov was entrust- ed with coordinating the project.

Within the 47th meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Kazakh Meat May 2-5, Minister of Economy and Budget Planning of Kazakh- stan Yerbolat Dossayev held a bi- lateral meeting with Minister of Producers to Have Finance of China Lou Jiwei. The sides discussed issues of coopera- tion and the establishment of the Asian Development Bank of Infra- Easy Access to structure. According to Lou, China put forward the initiative to pro- mote economic integration in the EEU Markets region. “I think the new bank will serve to strengthen cooperation be- stan, Belarus and Russia may con- By Aliya Akhmetzhanova tween the countries of the region,” duct inspections, and their ver- he said. He also noted that the idea dicts will be recognised by their ASTANA – Under the terms of the bank arose from the unbal- colleagues from EEU countries,” anced development of China, as of the Eurasian Economic Union he said. (EEU) treaty, Kazakh meat will well as to strengthen northern and According to him, veterinary western cooperation areas. China be exported to the countries of certificates issued in any of the the EEU without unnecessary for- is now intensively developing regions of Kazakhstan are now transport infrastructure. “We pro- malities and complex veterinary valid both in Russia and in Be- ceed from the fact that transport and sanitary barriers at the bor- larus, and the documents would infrastructure is the basis for eco- der, said Deputy Chairman of the preclude re-analysis. nomic development. With the de- Committee of Veterinary Control Taytubayev also discussed ad- velopment of infrastructure, trans- and Supervision Mereke Taytu- vantages Eurasian integration bayev at an April 21 Central Com- processes have already created port integration, we can strengthen munications Service briefing. for the Kazakh domestic veteri- the economy,” he added. Accord- The treaty establishing the EEU nary service. He recalled the Cus- ing to him, the new bank should is expected to be signed next toms Union agreement on veteri- serve as a supplement to the func- month, opening the Russian and nary and sanitary measures signed tion of the World Bank and the Belarusian markets to Kazakh five years ago, which reduced the ADB in the field of infrastructure meat. Working on the contract, number of mandatory procedures investments. Dossayev noted Ka- Kazakh negotiators made sugges- required for the trade of meat be- zakhstan’s surplus of electricity in tions that significantly eased the tween the member countries. In- the northeast of the country. “We process of exporting domestic an- tegration processes over the past can consider issues of electricity imal products, livestock and raw five years also allowed experts flow to China through the east of materials of animal origin. from the three countries to work the country. Kazakhstan today ex- “This document can further fa- out uniform rules for the use of ports the excess electricity to Rus- cilitate trade between our coun- veterinary drugs within the Cus- sia, but the potential of our country tries. We have an opportunity for toms Union. allows for exporting a much larger the free movement of livestock As the country develops its ag- quantity. Initiatives such as the products within the territory of ricultural sector, meat production creation of the Asian Development the member states of the EEU,” and export is a focus, and there Bank of Infrastructure will allow said Taytubayev. is hope that high quality Kazakh implementing such projects so that “According to the document, meat can become part of the coun- the economies begin to work more the veterinary services of Kazakh- try’s new national image. closely,” he concluded. A5 Business

Wednesday, may 14, 2014

investors who produce goods in Business News in Brief Kazakhstan, it is worth noting that the tax regime in Kazakhstan is Customs Union Benefits Kazakh much more favourable than in Rus- At the seventh Astana Economic sia and Belarus. This creates a com- Forum (AEF) on May 21, the fifth fortable environment for attracting international investment forum new investors. For example, the Astana Invest 2014 will be held. The Producers and Trade, Official Says German company Funke invested Astana Invest Forum works to attract By Doszhan Nurgaliyev ing 70 percent of all products are duced by the Stepnogorsk bearing in the production of window pro- investment to Astana, to involve all exported, and the share of CU coun- plant for railway transport are in files in Astana about $33 million. participants in the discussion of cur- ASTANA – Foreign trade has be- tries is 90 percent. And there are a lot high demand on the Russian mar- The factory’s capacity is up to one rent issues of the city’s investment come not only a determining con- of such examples which, in essence, ket. The annual production capacity million square metres per year. And development, as well as to estab- dition for the growth of national says that the integration of business of the factory is more than $120 mil- about 60 percent of output of the lish international cooperation and to economies, but also the factor that has more benefits than risks. lion. Actually, all products are ex- capital’s enterprise is exported to promote Astana’s image. The forum characterises the production capac- ported to Russia with a small share the Russian Federation. demonstrates investment opportu- ity of the state. Vice Minister of Please share some of the statis- of exports going to other countries. nities in Astana and aims to further Industry and New Technologies Al- tics on mutual trade. And if the market for bearing prod- How intense is the cross-border stimulate domestic and foreign in- bert Rau said in a recent interview In 2013, total exports from ucts in Russia is estimated at about cooperation between Kazakhstan vestment flow to the city’s economy. about the dynamics for Kazakh- Kazakhstan to the CU countries $800 million, it is easy to imagine and Russia? About 400 participants from differ- stan centred onto components of amounted to $5.9 billion. Com- the share of the Stepnogorsk plant The largest strategic partner of ent government agencies, national growth, namely the Customs Union pared with 2010, the level of ex- in consumption of these products. Kazakhstan in the field of cross- companies, development and finan- (CU) and the Common Economic ports fell by 3.3 percent because The Ust-Kamenogorsk valve border cooperation is the Orenburg cial institutions, international invest- Space (CES). of the reduction of supply of raw plant, which manufactures and sup- region. There are 38 enterprises ment companies and foreign and The development and prospects commodities by 12.9 percent and plies pipe fittings, is also increas- backed by Kazakh investment on domestic business structures are to of regional integration are largely intermediate processed goods by ing production volumes to the CES its territory. The West Kazakhstan, attend the forum. In addition to the dependent on effective coopera- 13 percent. At the same time, there market. The main customers for its Aktobe and Kostanay oblasts are capital’s investment potential, Asta- tion between Kazakhstan and its Albert Rau was an increase in deliveries of fin- products are dozens of Russian and among its priority partners. Jointly na’s inclusion as one of the world’s partners in the CU in the trade and ished goods by 1.5 times. Belarussian companies, including they implement projects such as the top smart cities and preparations for economic spheres. What are the ad- and chocolate of domestic enter- Today, the largest share of Ka- Transneft, Surgutneftegas, Neft- Orenburg gas processing plant with- EXPO 2017 will be discussed. vantages to Kazakh business to be prises Rakhat and Bayan-Sulu grew zakhstan’s exports (53 percent) is egazstroy, Atommashexport and in the intergovernmental agreement, gained from Eurasian integration? almost threefold to $35.4 million. directed to the EU, 17 percent to Minsk Belarmahim. a joint venture on the processing of The government of Kazakhstan The main advantage is a single In the structure of the external sup- China, 8 percent to CU countries One of the new businesses, natural gas from the Karachaganak has recently prepared a compre- large market, and our business, ply of confectionery, the CU share and 16 percent to the rest of the AstEtalonCrown, today occupies field, construction of a plant for hensive package of incentives for which has specific products, ob- is 53 percent. An 11-fold increase world. In general, the geographi- a leading position in Central Asia the production of polyethylene and foreign investors. Deputy Prime tained huge opportunities for sales in transformers also became possi- cal structure of processed exports and the eastern part of the Russian polypropylene with a capacity of Minister and Minister of Industry and mutually beneficial cooperation ble due to the potential of the single has changed slightly. In 2013, pro- Federation in the field of the pack- 1.1 million tonnes per year. and New Technologies Asset Is- with its partners. Of course, each market. Thus, the CU accounts for cessed products were supplied to aging of metal products. By the end More than 40 joint ventures are sekeshev said the government en- side seeks to deliver its products to about 27 percent or 30 percent of 105 foreign countries. The lion’s of 2013, the company manufac- working in the Omsk region and visions a two-part plan. The first the markets of other countries, in- exports of these products. The same share of processed exports amount- tured more than 500 million units currently an agro-industrial clus- part includes general issues such as creasing export-import operations. picture has been observed with the ing to 69 percent was also sent to of crown caps, a third of which is tre combining a number of petro- removing barriers, including visas And business cooperation in such batteries of the enterprises Kainar the EU, China and the CU coun- exported to Russia. Domestic heavy chemical and agriculture industries and similar issues, and other incen- schemes results in the creation of AKB and ZHERSUPOWER. Their tries. Meanwhile, with further de- engineering, construction and the and companies for deep processing tives for attracting top companies. joint ventures and implementation consumption in the partner-coun- velopment of regional integration petrochemicals industry, to say noth- of waste, renewable raw materials, The second part of the plan is what of interesting projects. In short, the tries today is 79 percent. and the growth of production ca- ing of the mineral resources and the biomass and agricultural waste are Issekeshev called “a definite plan of integration space is not just the mar- Kazakhstan produces light trucks pacity in Kazakhstan, in the coming food industry, also began to capture under construction in this zone. The attracting investors” that sets a list ket for products, but also a limitless for Hyundai and other brands. And years, the CU share of our exports a strong position in this market. third most important border part- of priorities, including sectors of set of points of contact between if these industries are oriented only can only increase. Much of that ner of Kazakhstan is the Astrakhan Kazakhstan’s economy and a list of businesses of the partner countries. to the internal market, then, of growth can be expected to come Sometimes Russian experts region. There are 31 enterprises transnational companies of particu- Liberalisation of mutual trade course, their prospects for increas- from China. commenting on the situation with involved with domestic investors lar interest. Minister of Economy within the CU in the crisis period ing production volumes would be the integration talk about the pos- there and a large proportion of joint and Budget Planning Yerbolat Dos- allowed Kazakhstan not only to much less than now. Thereby, the What are the trading positions of sibility of creating in Kazakhstan projects are implemented in the sayev said that a list of 10 countries maintain but also to increase the total market of Russia and Belarus Kazakhstan today that have com- production for third countries with transport sector. Such interaction of identified as the biggest investors in supply of finished goods, includ- allows the domestic auto industry to petitive advantages in the markets the aim to enter the market of Rus- business in border areas today is ex- Kazakhstan had been put together. ing those manufactured by small look ahead confidently. Over recent of CU? sia and CU. What do you think panding and is becoming a very im- “The list is needed to ‘improve the and medium-sized businesses. For years the external supply of Hyundai There are many such products. about this? portant factor of economic growth nature of negotiations,’” he said. It example, exports of confectionery trucks reached $10.5 million, mean- For example, bearing bushes pro- Actually, if we are talking about in these regions. now includes Organisation for Eco- nomic Cooperation and Develop- ment countries, but Dossayev prom- ised that the list would be expanded later. Dossayev, speaking about the first part of the package, said that New Small Aircraft Could Be Boon a visa-free regime would be put in place for citizens of the most devel- oped countries, letting them enter Kazakhstan for 90 days without a for Farmers, Entrepreneurs visa. Special investor visas would meters. Domestic specialists In addition to crop dusting, the nologies in the economy gives a actively pursued by President be issued to top management of By Uak Manbeteyev made 30 changes to the compo- plane can be used to transport huge economic multiplier effect Nursultan Nazarbayev,” Am- structural units of foreign compa- nents and design of the plane in passengers and freight and con- with a ratio of 1:80; the ratio of bassador of Canada to Kazakh- nies. Establishing an investment ALMATY – Foreign experts order to adapt it for Kazakhstan’s trol power transmission lines and technical innovation in SMEs stan Stephen Millar noted in his ombudsman to guarantee investors’ are calling Arai Agro, Kazakh- climate and A-95 gasoline. The oil and gas pipelines, as well as with respect to the larger compa- speech. rights was also highlighted. On the stan’s first domestic light aircraft, small, maneuverable jet does not to patrol borders. It can also be nies is 1:16. Today, Kazakh aircraft are ex- second part of the plan, Dossayev a “flying SUV” for its size and require hangar storage or pre- used for the airborne geophysi- In the U.S., it is estimated that said that the government was will- agility. The plane was demon- pared runways. Floats give it the cal exploration of minerals, in each year more than 1,600 small ported to Russia. Other countries ing to subsidise a portion of inves- strated for domestic and interna- ability to land on water and it also anti-poaching operations and to and medium-sized businesses in the region, including Mongo- tors’ costs, which would include the tional experts on April 27, show- has skis for operation in snow- evacuate patients from remote (operating 3,260 aircraft and hel- lia, have expressed an interest in costs of hydrocarbons and transpor- ing off its acrobatic capabilities covered areas or over water. and inaccessible places. icopters) and more than 10,000 them. tation expenses. Additional meas- for more than an hour against the “The cost of the plane is Manufacturing aircraft may be private farmer-owned aircraft are Ninety-five percent of Ka- ures of governmental support of- background of the snow-capped $198,000, and working over an a way for Kazakhstan’s small and used in air-chemical crop protec- fered to investors include amending zakhstan’s 200,000 farms and peaks of the Zaili Alatau Moun- area of 200,000 hectares, it pays medium-sized businesses to de- tion alone. agro-formations are small acre- mechanisms for awarding contracts, tains near Almaty. for itself in 2.5 years. Our com- velop. In the United States and “The result of Kazakh-Cana- compensating 30 percent of capital age, from 50-1,000 hectares, and The plane, designed for the ap- pany is involved in the produc- Canada, 562 small businesses dian cooperation in the field of expenses after the beginning of pro- using larger agricultural planes plication of pesticides, was built tion of aircraft, but not in their as- built the lion’s share (80 percent) such high-tech manufacturing as duction and ten years of exemption by Almaty’s Aviamaster Aircraft semblage. Our Canadian partners of more than 250,000 light jets aircraft engineering for the needs like the standard AN-2 is not eco- from corporate income tax. in cooperation with Canadian supply us with rolled sheets and for various purposes. Small avia- of the countryside corresponds to nomically feasible for them. The developing company Zenair Ltd. we cut parts, wings and fuselages tion in the United States gener- the policy of industrial-innova- agile Arai Agro could fill this gap, “We confirm that no agency or The plane can fly up to 1,200 from it,” said Director of Avia- ates $150 billion per year. The tive development and agricultural providing small-scale domestic any state body can make a decision kilometres at an altitude of 4,200 master Aircraft Dauren Valiyev. widespread use of aviation tech- industrialisation of Kazakhstan infringing upon the interests of busi- farmers with high-tech options. ness within the Customs Union. If such a thing takes place the govern- ment of the country can issue a veto. This mechanism is well developed now,” First Deputy Minister of In- dustry and New Technologies Albert Rau said at a May 5 Central Com- munications Service (CCS) brief- ing. Rau noted that there were some issues in the construction sphere, but a formula accepted by all sides had been found. “Technical regula- tion is a very important mechanism for reducing barriers, meaning that when we have common technical regulations and a common accred- ited laboratory with its test base, nothing will stop Kazakh products from going to the markets of partner countries. The technical regulation should help this,” Rau said. Creat- ing a common energy market is not critical for Kazakhstan. “By 2019, we will reach a point where we can create the common energy market. In my opinion, it will be of great concern for us. If we have any addi- tional energy power, we could even sell some,” he noted. However, Rau said there are some reasons why the market cannot be created now. Ac- cording to him, Belarus is a 100 per- cent state-vertical company, Russia has an altered type of the market and Kazakhstan is also different. Kazakhstan’s first domestic light aircraft Arai Agro, a ‘flying SUV,’ designed for application of pesticides. A6 BUSINESS

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Kazakh Grain Exports Nazarbayev Announces Growing, New Markets Sought Plans for New Major in China and Southeast Asia Incentives for Foreign By Sergey Obolenskiy

ASTANA – Kazakh grain ex- Investors ports for the 2013-2014 marketing year will reach 9 million tonnes, Continued from Page A1 Speaking of Kazakhstan’s at- According to Nazarbayev, Ka- the country’s Ministry of Agricul- tractiveness to foreign investors, zakhstan, bordering the region ture has said. Kazakhstan’s grain The President further added that Nazarbayev emphasised “a con- with such enormous growth po- exports are still heading to tradi- a new law fostering foreign invest- secutive phase of the Silk Way re- tential, may well be considered by tional markets, but efforts are un- ments will be adopted in Kazakh- naissance, which will definitely be investors as a hub for creating new derway to reach new markets in stan this year. Under the bill, inves- heralded as the new era of Asian chains of value added productions, China and Southeast Asia and to tors will be exempt from corporate development.” Kazakhstan is stra- integration of financial markets, income tax for ten years, which modernise grain holding and trans- tegically positioned to become a and strengthening of cultural ties would be a significant relief for in- port technologies to make the in- bridge between East and West, he vesting businesses. Besides, the law and multilateral cooperation. This dustry more profitable. explained. will also bring about the payment of Due to a significant inflow of investment subsidies and ease in the investment and technology to the processes of bringing foreign labour A new law fostering foreign investments grain industry, Kazakhstan has into the country. The new legal act created a steady foundation for Kazakhstan’s grain exports are to reach new markets in China and Southeast will be adopted in Kazakhstan this year. will also provide for further stability the production of grain over the Asia. and predictability of business-relat- Under the bill, investors will be exempt from last 10 years. Despite occasional for Kazakh wheat. In general, ac- gramme of financial recovery. The ed legislation in Kazakhstan. lean years, grain production prof- With regard to administrative corporate income tax for ten years, which itability in the past has remained cording to experts at the country’s growth of free monetary resources KazAgro Holding, Kazakhstan’s in grain companies will stimulate procedures, Nazarbayev proposed would be a significant relief for investing around 52-65 percent at a cost of a “one stop shop” investment 15,000-18,000 tenge (US$82.39 grain industry is stable. investment in modernising pro- businesses. The Chinese market is also very duction and, consequently, will mechanism and said the institute to 19.87) per hectare, making the of Investment Ombudsman for co- promising for domestic grain pro- contribute to the growth of la- potential presents new and major grain industry attractive over the operation with investors has been “Our country actively partici- long term. ducers. In 2013, according to sta- bour productivity. Thus, KazAgro opportunities for businesses oper- tistics, 124,000 tonnes of grain Holding’s experts advise compa- established. pates in the Central Asian Re- The high quality of Kazakh gional Economic Cooperation ating in Kazakhstan. was exported there, including nies to invest in the construction In his remarks, noting the 20th wheat has contributed to the coun- (CAREC) programme. Under the The Kazakh President also un- 10,000 tonnes by the Food Corpo- and modernisation of granaries. anniversary of cooperation be- try’s positioning as one of the lead- tween Kazakhstan and ADB, the programme, jointly with the bank, derscored that joint activities by ration National Company. In 2014, This will allow them to sell grain ing exporters of grain and flour. President said the bank had invest- we implement a crucial project on Kazakhstan and ABD are aimed at exports to China are expected to during periods of higher prices and Kazakhstan is among the world’s ed around $3.5 billion during the the reconstruction of the Western facilitating economic growth in the increase to up to 30,000 tonnes. thereby increase their profitability. top 10 suppliers of wheat and is a period. Last year, Kazakhstan be- Europe – Western China transport entire Asian region. Kazakhstan plans to build a grain In addition, the programme of leader in flour exports. From 2008- gan acting as a donor to the Bank. corridor,” the President said. “Kazakhstan is among the most terminal at the Kazakh-Chinese investment subsidies launched in 2012, the average annual export “Kazakhstan has signed agree- “The world’s most dynamically attractive investment destinations border, which will increase ex- 2014 will allow them to compen- of grain, including flour in grain ments on mutual protection of developing region, including Chi- in the CIS,” ADB President Take- port capacity and help provide an sate part of the costs of creating equivalent, amounted to 8.2 mil- investments with 14 Asian coun- na, India, Japan, South Korea and hiko Nakao said earlier at the same uninterrupted supply of Kazakh grain storage capacities and there- lion tonnes, an increase compared tries. The share of investments many other countries, is also the ADB board of governors gather- to the previous five-year period of grain to China and Southeast Asian by accelerate returns on these pro- from Asia reached 17 percent of most heavily populated one, which ing, which lasted from May 2-5. 2.5 million tonnes or 42.6 percent. countries. Currently, grain is deliv- jects. Separately, it should be noted the total investments [in Kazakh- is a basis of the growing market According to the World Bank’s Aggregate currency earnings from ered mostly by railway. The Aktau that the devaluation of the national demand,” the Kazakh leader said. stan] in 2013,” the President said. Doing Business Index, Kazakhstan grain and flour exports totalled seaport in the west of the country currency in February this year has “The ADB is a major source of “According to experts, by 2050 is among the top 50 countries with more than $8.8 billion, more than can handle only 500,000-600,000 also had a positive impact on the long-term investments to the coun- more than half of the world trade, doubling the 2003-2007 amount. tonnes of grain per year. export-oriented grain industry. tries of Central Asia, Middle East investments and GDP will accu- the easiest markets to do business in, Traditional importers of Kazakh According to the International According to a report by the and South East Asia. Moreover, mulate in Asia. This trend will be making it a good choice for interna- grain are Russia, Azerbaijan, Uz- Grains Council, China’s annual U.S. Department of Agriculture, the credibility of the bank spreads reinforced by growing urbanisa- tional businesses. This helps attract bekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Kyr- grain import varies from 3 to 8 forecasts of wheat exports to Ka- beyond the Asia-Pacific region, tion, formation of large agglom- foreign businesses and diversify Ka- gyzstan, Turkey, Georgia, China, million tonnes. In connection with zakhstan in the 2013-2014 market- which is proved by participation in erations, and increasing manufac- zakhstan’s economy. Already, more Sweden and Afghanistan. They this, the increase of supply of Ka- ing year, adjusted as of March 10, Bank’s activities by such leading turing capacities. This scenario than $190 billion has been invested as account for more than 98.8 percent zakh grain to China and transit showed an increase of 0.2 million countries as the U.S., Canada, and leads to the rise of the region and foreign direct investment in the coun- of exports. through its territory to Southeast tonnes (to 7 million tonnes) com- Germany.” the beginning of the ‘age of Asia.’” try since its independence in 1991. Most of these traditional import- Asia is a strategic expansion of ex- pared with the previous market- ers of Kazakh grain can’t produce port markets for Kazakh grain. ing year (6.8 million tonnes). A it themselves in needed quantities, In addition to reaching for new significant increase was marked meaning the demand for Kazakh markets, efforts are being made in Russia, where exports grew by wheat there will remain high. In to modernise the grain industry at 6.22 million tonnes to 17.5 million addition, the steady population home. The current problem of re- tonnes and Ukraine, with a growth growth in the countries of Central financing agricultural enterprises of 2.8 million tonnes to 10 million Asia will also stimulate demand will be reduced through the pro- tonnes. EU Committee Lifts Restrictions on Air Astana Flights to Europe, Flights to Prague and Paris Expected Soon A press release on the subject operates flights from Almaty and By Michelle Witte from the EU Delegation in Kazakh- Astana to London Heathrow three stan noted that the decision was times a week, flights between Restrictions on Air Astana “based on safety progress which Atyrau and Amsterdam six times flights to Europe have been lifted, both the company has made, as well a week and daily flights between following the European Commis- as the Kazakhstan aviation authori- Astana and Frankfurt. sion’s early April updating of its ties, which are responsible for the “Now, when our passengers can list of air carriers banned or sub- safety oversight of Air Astana.” enjoy more direct flight service ject to restrictions. All other Kazakhstan carriers to Europe, we expect to make a Since 2009, Air Astana had been will remain on the EU safety list, contribution to the development restricted from commencing any however, “until the authorities will of international tourism,” Abirova new European flights. Now, based have established a safety oversight said. “Besides, we expect that the on the unanimous decision of the system which is fully compliant introduction of new international EU Air Safety Committee, the with international standards and services will significantly increase company will be able to increase will have demonstrated that they the growth in flight connections the number of flights it operates to are able to maintain such a safety and transit passengers. For exam- Europe. The decision also lifted re- system in a sustainable way.” ple, in 2013, the number of inter- strictions on all airlines from Swa- Priorities among new European national tourists to Kazakhstan ziland, as well as Cebu Pacific Air destinations are Paris and Prague, grew by 113 percent compared to from the Philippines. Air Astana Abirova said. “During the official the previous year.” President Peter Foster said in a visit of President Nazarbayev to Par- Kazakhstan is in the process company press release that he was is in June 2011, transport authorities of developing its tourism sector “delighted” by the decision. of Kazakhstan and France signed a and has a number of international “Recent lifting of the restriction protocol on launching a new direct events on the horizon that are ex- on Air Astana’s flights to Europe service between Astana and Paris pected to draw major international by the European Union Air Safety three times a week. A similar agree- attention, including the world ex- Committee was a result of the hard ment was concluded between the position EXPO 2017, to be held in work that Air Astana staff have put Czech Republic and Kazakhstan.” Astana in 2017. into ensuring that flights are oper- New flights are expected to be The updated EU air safety list ated safely and in accordance with put into operation in late 2014 or includes 296 airlines fully banned best international practices,” Aida early 2015. from EU skies. Ten additional air- Abirova, Air Astana’s internation- The frequencies of some ex- lines, including Air Astana, may al public relations coordinator, told isting flights are also expected operate flights to Europe under The Astana Times. to increase. Air Astana currently some restrictions. A7 BUSINESS

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Agreement Will Produce High-Quality Russian Bitumen for Kazakh Roads cludes the supply of road bitu- bitumen producers in Central By Lyubov Dobrota men to Gazpromneft-Bitumen Asia. Last year, it produced Kazakhstan for its use in road over 50,000 tonnes of output SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN construction and repair. It is while this year it will make REGION – Gazprom Neft and also aimed at information ex- about 135,000 tonnes. Since the Committee of Roads of the change about the needs of the 2013, the owner of the plant Kazakhstan Ministry of Trans- industry in high-quality bitu- has been Gazprom Neft. The port and Communications re- minous materials, joint work company intends to invest 160 cently signed a memorandum on improvement of product million tenge (US$880,000) for of cooperation to facilitate the quality and the system of pro- further modernisation of the en- production of quality bitumi- duction and transportation of terprise and to increase produc- nous materials using advanced bituminous materials for the tion capacity to 285,000 tonnes. technologies. The new produc- road sector of Kazakhstan. General Director of tion will meet modern Kazakh, The memorandum was Gazpromneft-Bitumen Ka- Russian and international in- signed at the plant in the Tolebi zakhstan Viktor Pavlichev said dustry, industrial safety and en- district of South Kazakhstan the plant is a new technologi- vironmental standards. oblast. At the opening ceremo- cal complex, commissioned in The memorandum opened ny, Vice Minister of Transport 2011 and designed to produce Gazpromneft-Bitumen Ka- and Communications Mereke a wide range of materials for zakhstan LLP and was signed Pshembayev noted that Ka- road construction, meeting by Director of Commercial zakhstan is implementing a Kazakh and Russian quality Department of Gazprom Neft number of major road construc- standards. The plant employs Levan Kadagidze and Deputy tion projects, which means that 85 specialists and most of them Chairman of the Committee of bitumen consumption is grow- are locals. Roads Amangeldy Bekov. ing annually. In the near future, the LLP is “It is an important strategic The opening of the enterprise planning to supply bituminous step for us. We want to sup- will change the competitive materials to the remote regions ply products required for Ka- requirements for the quality of of the country in packaged zakh roads. This is the begin- bitumen and introduce modern form and in 200-litre drums. ning of further cooperation,” technologies for its production. It is expected that this will in- Kadagidze said. Gaspromneft-Bitumen Ka- crease the demand for the prod- The memorandum also in- zakhstan is one of the largest ucts. The opening ceremony of Gazpromneft-Bitumen Kazakhstan LLP. AEF Session to Consider Public and Elite Perception of Integration the Seventh Astana Economic Fo- and other countries are expected to tions and prospects for accession Independent States (CIS) region By Alina Usmanova rum (AEF) on May 21. take the floor. of new countries. to reveal public attitude to various The session will focus on prob- One of the focal points is the CIS The session will also consider the aspects of the Eurasian integration ASTANA – The panel session lems of public and elite perception public and elite support voiced to results of the Integration Barometre and cooperation dynamics. “Public Perception of the Eura- of integration and cooperation of the Customs Union (CU), Com- of the Eurasian Development Bank Experts, researchers of integration sian Integration,” organised by the the CIS member countries in eco- mon Economic Space (CES) and (EDB), one of the key resident pro- processes, heads of large research Centre of Integration Research of nomic, political and sociocultural Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) jects of the EDB Integration Re- agencies of Kazakhstan and Russia, bodies, international organisations, the Eurasian Development Bank spheres. Leading experts engaged currently being formed both in the search Centre. The project conducts scholars from a number of univer- embassies and consulates of coun- and the Public Opinion Research in studying the CIS integration ori- context of assessment and partici- annual opinion poll surveys in 12 sities, research structures, analyti- tries, accredited in Kazakhstan, are Institute will take place as part of entations from Kazakhstan, Russia pation in these integration associa- counties of the Commonwealth of cal centres, representatives of state expected to attend the discussions. A8 BUSINESS

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Kazakh Senate Leader Expresses ADB Helps Concern About Ukraine During Kazakhstan St. Petersburg Forum Introduce Green By Token Aryn Principles ST. PETERSBURG – A delega- tion of Kazakh parliamentarians recently participated in a series for Sustainable of events held by the inter-parlia- mentary assemblies of the Com- monwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Economic Com- Development munity (EEC) and the Collec- lution control and preservation of tive Security Treaty Organization By Rufiya Ospanova natural resources. The ADB is ex- (CSTO) in St. Petersburg, Russia. perienced in implementing similar Chairman of the Kazakh Sen- ASTANA – The Asian Devel- projects in the sphere of natural mo- ate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev con- opment Bank (ADB) is providing nopolies and urban infrastructure ducted bilateral meetings with the assistance to Kazakhstan to imple- through public private partnerships. heads of parliamentary delega- ment resource-saving technologies Kazakhstan can use this experience tions from Russia and Belarus. At and the principles of green econ- in order to attract private invest- a meeting with Valentina Matvi- omy through technical assistance ment to this sector, making the util- yenko, chairperson of the Council for project preparation for the re- ity sphere an attractive investment of the Federation of the Federal habilitation of heating networks in while providing cost effective en- Assembly of Russia, the parties Karaganda. ergy for the people of the country. discussed issues, including inter- This assistance was provided for Environmentally friendly tech- actions between the upper houses in the Country Strategy Partner- nologies and resource preservation of their legislative bodies and the ship between Kazakhstan and the measures are also among the pri- situation in Ukraine. The speakers ADB for 2012-2016. This project orities of the ADB. The bank pays pointed out that the strategic nature Chairman of Senate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (l) and Chairman of Mazhilis (r) Kabibula Dzhakupov at a St. Petersburg supports the Comprehensive Plan forum. particular attention to this area and of Kazakh-Russian relations serve for Increasing Energy Efficiency both funds projects in numerous as a solid platform for strength- of Kazakhstan for 2012-2015, countries and demonstrates by ex- which is consistent with the State ening parliamentary cooperation. Cooperation established last ion, the United States and Russia. Lawmaking, preparations for the ample the use of green technologies. They emphasised the importance Programme of Accelerated Indus- year. The resolution of the Ukrainian 70th Anniversary of Victory in the The upcoming 47th Annual of the upcoming meeting of the At meetings with Russian and crisis must be conducted through Great Patriotic War and a number trial and Innovative Development Meeting of the ADB Board of Kazakhstan-Russia Inter-Parlia- Belarusian colleagues, Tokayev a dialogue between all parties of joint events within the Common- for 2010-2014 and will contribute Governors in Astana from May mentary Cooperation Commis- stressed Kazakhstan’s serious concerned in accordance with the wealth. The parliamentarians took to the objectives of the govern- 2-5 will be held using the princi- sion to be held in May in Astana. concerns about the situation in norms of international law,” To- note of the results of the Assem- ment of Kazakhstan to reduce en- ples of the green economy. This Tokayev and Matviyenko stressed Ukraine. The escalation of events kayev said. bly’s activities for the year 2013. ergy and carbon intensity. the importance of the forthcoming may lead to extremely negative The CSTO Parliamentary As- Last year, the Assembly adopted The purpose of the project is to includes the use of environmental- signing of the Treaty on the Crea- consequences for the international sembly heard a report by Nikolai 28 model legal acts and other doc- modernise the district heating net- ly friendly materials, conducting tion of the Eurasian Economic Un- situation on a global scale, he said. Bordyuzha, the CSTO Secretary uments aimed at rapprochement work of Karaganda, including the green activities and reducing the ion. Negotiations and consultations en- General, who discussed the or- between the Commonwealth’s renewal of seven pumping stations, use of various resources. The Pal- Issues pertaining to the agenda tered into by Kazakhstan President ganisation’s activities under the national legal systems. Overall, replacement of up to 127 kilome- ace of Independence – the venue of of the CSTO and the CIS, the ad- Nursultan Nazarbayev, including chairmanship of Russia. Tokayev since its establishment, the Assem- tres of underground, over ground the meeting, will be equipped with vancement of Eurasian economic those conducted at the Nuclear Se- emphasised that the CSTO had bly has adopted 413 model laws, and transit pipeline networks and recycling bins while participants integration, as well as Kazakh- curity Summit at The Hague, dem- come about as an important inter- codes, recommendations, ancillary the modernisation of control and will be provided with environmen- Russian inter-parliamentary co- onstrate Kazakhstan’s active and national structure having acquired legal acts and law-making propos- accounting systems, including the tally friendly conference packs. An operation were discussed during positive position aimed at solving serious political weight in recent als, with more than 90 percent of introduction of supervisory control exhibition of domestic enterprises a meeting between Tokayev and the crisis in Ukraine. De-escala- years. Meanwhile, the CSTO model legal acts being implement- and data acquisition (SCADA) as and investment opportunities in Sergey Naryshkin, chairman of the tion of the internal conflict must be should not be viewed as a confron- ed by national parliaments. well as advanced training in finan- Kazakhstan and an exhibition of Russian State Duma. a primary objective of Ukrainian tational organisation. According to During the forum, the open- cial management, procurement pro- Kazakh art and culture will also be At the meeting with Anatoly authorities. the Senate Speaker, it is necessary ing ceremony of an exhibition cedures, social protection, access to held as part of the event. Rubinov, chairman of the Coun- The way out of the crisis should to continue the improvement of the dedicated to the 200th anniver- financing including carbon financ- Marking the event, ADB Presi- cil of the Republic of the National be found through peaceful nego- mechanisms of its activities. sary of Taras Shevchenko, a great ing and trading mechanisms gov- dent Takehiko Nakao and the Assembly of Belarus, both sides tiations and with the assistance of At a meeting of the CIS Inter- Ukrainian poet, took place at the erning greenhouse gases. Minister of Economy and Budget exchanged views on the develop- such authoritative organisations as Parliamentary Assembly Council, CIS Interparliamentary Assembly The ADB participation in this Planning of Kazakhstan Yerbolat ment of ties between the two par- the United Nations and the OSCE. the heads of parliaments of partici- Headquarters in St. Petersburg. project is part of the bank’s overall Dossayev will take part in a cer- liaments, including development “We put our hopes on the negotia- pating states reviewed dozens of Shevchenko spent ten years in ex- strategy and is aimed at reducing emony involving the planting of through the Kazakhstan-Belarus tions in Geneva with the participa- issues on the agenda, including the ile in Kazakhstan, serving as a pri- poverty and improving the quality 47 trees to commemorate the 47th Commission on Parliamentary tion of Ukraine, the European Un- amendments to the Plan of Model vate in the Russian army. of life and energy efficiency, pol- annual meeting of the bank.

We developed and provided educational content for various subjects, such as physics, math, One company’s IT solutions generate positive algebra, geometry and professional subjects, reaching a collection of 2,100 interactive lessons in Rus- change, prosperity and access to progress sian and 2,100 in Kazakh language. Since 2012, SIVECO eLearning Continued from Page A1 integration of software that we tional Project Management Asso- systems have been introduced in have accumulated during thou- ciation (IPMA) for ‘excellence in almost 600 Kazakhstan schools. Thus, we successfully develop sands of projects and hundreds of medium-sized projects’ category. I am fully convinced that the and export IT-based educational thousands of working hours. The project aimed to integrate the spectacular evolution of technol- projects in over 20 countries. For In the last two decades, our team educational system in Kazakhstan ogy will enable major transforma- us, it is very important to be in- has built over 3,500 complex, na- into the modern pedagogic trends by tion in all national education sys- volved and to consistently con- tionwide IT projects, with a high using IT in schools, updating the tra- tribute to the educational strategy tems. Thus, the future belongs to social impact. ditional teaching methods while re- those who invest in innovation, in of many countries bringing know- Among the most valuable pro- how and our eLearning cutting- specting the educational principles. software development. jects carried out by SIVECO, it edge technology. is worth to mention more than 20 SIVECO SEI Key Figures Why would you say we need to SIVECO AeL Key Figures: projects developed for organisa- • 15,000 IT-based labs in all invest in software development? • AeL is successfully imple- tions of the European Commis- 13,500 public schools in Roma- Because software will soon mented in over 30,000 schools sion, facing a very tough compe- nia become as important as electric- worldwide tition and extremely demanding • 5 million beneficiaries ity. We can’t imagine life without • 18 million people use AeL in requests in terms of performance. • Over 192,000 computers electrical power anymore and it’s a 20 countries from Europe, Mid- • Multimedia educational con- question of time until software as a dle East, North Africa and the Do you have projects in Ka- tent covering 75% curricula with service will be an essential part of CIS area zakhstan as well? Interactive Leaning Objects any household. The refrigerator will • 21 subjects, including Mathe- • AeL eContent is one of the Irina Socol (c) shared interactive educational content with pupils at a Romanian We started our first presentations send the grocery list directly to the richest and most attractive col- rural school at the beginning of 2014. in Kazakhstan in 2010. matics & Science, Human Devel- store and our health will be screened opment and Society, Language & lections of educational content in I believe the market opportuni- just by looking into a smart mirror. domains: eHealth, eAgriculture, now we are over 1,000 people, Communication, Technology the world, with 45,000 individ- ties and the ambitious develop- This is why we like to believe eCustoms and eBusiness. working in the Bucharest head- • More than 140,000 teachers ual Reusable Learning Objects, ment strategy of your country fit we are a small wheel in the mecha- All our solutions aim to reduce quarter office, other 7 Romanian trained for all domains very well with our capabilities nism of those building the future. the digital gap and improve the ac- local offices and 5 international • SEI was rewarded with: and mentality. We have exhaustive In this respect, I want to express In Romania, we have designed tivity of the public systems and in- subsidiaries (located in Brussels, Golden Medal within eLearning expertise in managing complex, congratulations to the Ministry of and implemented the first na- stitutions, including the Ministries Sofia, Dubai, Ankara and Astana). Awards competition 2010; Best nationwide projects. During these Education and Science from Ka- tional educational project, one Our team skills and know-how eLearning Solution within ‘eL- of Agriculture; National Education; years we’ve proved that large IT zakhstan for being one step ahead of the largest ever developed in allowed us to become an important earning in Praxis’ 2009; Best Health; the Ministry for the Informa- projects might be challenging, but and using educational software in our country. The Romanian IT tion Society; the Ministry of Labour, player on the international market, Practice at European eGovern- Based Education System (SEI) there are no impossible tasks. The schools already. Family, Social Protection and Elder- winning, in partnership with the IT ment Awards 2009; ‘Winner’ ti- was developed for the National bigger the difficulties are, the most ly, and the Ministry of Finance. global leaders (Oracle, Microsoft, tle at the European IT Excellence Ministry of Education between rewarding their overcoming is. What other projects are you Intel, HP, IBM, Bull, etc.), large Awards 2008; Finalist at IPMA 2001-2008. We decided to open our local 2007. preparing for Kazakhstan? I strongly believe that the spec- What strategies do you use in international contracts. office in Astana in 2012, proving We would like to continue the tacular future evolution of tech- running a company with 1,000 SIVECO expertise includes commitment to work here in the Interactivity is the core element positive experience started in nology will enable major transfor- employees? know-how on using various plat- long-term. of the program, with modules de- 2012 and bring a significant con- mation in the national education The foundation for our long- form tools and components, as Since then, we developed in- signed to fill knowledge gaps with tribution to the development of systems and that will lead to the term successful evolution lies in well as competencies centers for teractive multimedia educational teachers while encouraging them the digital educational resources overall development of the knowl- our team. We have the best experts Java, Oracle, and Microsoft. content for the educational sys- to shift from chalk and talk to a in Kazakhstan. In this respect, we edge-based society. not only in IT but also in business The international expansion of tem in Kazakhstan. And we had variety of team- and task-oriented would be honoured to participate We are equally proud of our nu- consultancy, quality assurance, our business is based on the ex- an amazing feedback! In 2013, teaching methods. Moreover, the to the Project of eLearning devel- merous successfully implemented project management. We started pertise and good practices in the the project was awarded with program is designed to keep stu- opment for the secondary educa- major projects in all high-end IT the company with 2 persons and development, implementation and the Bronze medal by the Interna- dents informed and engaged. tion in Kazakhstan for 2014-2020. A9 expo 2017

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Construction of EXPO Complex Launched with President’s Participation harnessing and using wind, solar the complex will provide a lot of various administrative parties are Staff Report and other alternative energy. jobs to Kazakh builders and devel- able to handle this important task The complex will be a research opers, who should demonstrate a and stand before the world in an ASTANA – The construction of base for Nazarbayev University high level of professionalism and entirely new light. Astana’s EXPO 2017 facilities was students and scholars to develop high-quality work,” the President Major construction and installa- officially launched in a ceremony new technologies, he said. The said. tion work is scheduled to run from on April 24, when Kazakh Presi- university is located next to the According to Nazarbayev, May 2014 to December 2016. The dent Nursultan Nazarbayev laid a future EXPO site. Within the com- EXPO 2017 is also an opportunity total area of the Astana EXPO 2017 capsule on the site in the capital plex 4,000 apartments, a new ho- to present the achievements of the exhibition complex is 174 hectares. that will house the exhibition com- tel, a Congress Hall and a 500-me- capital and the country as a whole The exhibition area will house Ka- plex. The President also examined tre covered street will be built. to the world community. the schedule for the complex’s “The covered street will have “Apart from the exhibition itself, zakhstan’s national pavilion; in- construction. recreation and shopping facilities we must also showcase our most ternational, corporate and themed Addressing the ceremony, Naz- and the main, spherical pavilion, versatile culture, history and art. pavilions; shopping and recreation arbayev said that the country had 80 metres in diameter and 100 me- This necessitates well-coordinated facilities and, outside the main not attempted such a large-scale tres high, will have international teamwork between the govern- buildings, a conference centre and facility before. He noted the inno- pavilions around it. A walkway ment, akimat (city administration), press centre, a covered street, resi- vative properties of the new com- will be laid with all the necessary ministries and departments,” he dential houses and hotels, accord- plex, including mechanisms for facilities, too. The construction of said. The President believes the ing to the Akorda press service.

directing it to the General Assem- bly of the BIE, who at the meeting on June 11 this year will make a Astana Growing Sustainably, President Says resolution and give the flag upon foreign capital and to more ration- systemic changes in the economy gic priority. In 2013, 1.1 million open and in 2016, the Abu Dhabi endorsement,” Yermegiayev said. By Yulia Mager ally use Astana’s valuable land. of the city. Astana accounts for 9.4 square metres of housing were Plaza complex, Zhastar Palace, the The master plan for the exhibi- The President also pointed out percent of Kazakhstan’s gross do- commissioned in the capital, in- National Research Oncology Cen- tion grounds was endorsed, the ASTANA – At a recent meeting an imbalance in the architecture mestic product, 12 percent of total cluding through the relevant state tre and Four Seasons and St. Regis Astana EXPO 2017 came to a on Astana’s ongoing development, and infrastructure development budget revenues and 9 percent of programme. Eight kindergartens hotels. In 2017, the city will see positive conclusion in its feasibil- President Nursultan Nazarbayev of different quarters of the city, all investment in the fixed capital were commissioned, and another a new student campus, Olympic ity study and design and estima- said the capital was growing into some of which are very unattrac- of the country. Its GRP in 2013 17 preschools are still under con- Training Centre and Academy of tion documentation has begun an economic force, but still had tive. Astana’s outskirts need be de- was 2.7 trillion tenge (US$14.8 struction. This year, a vocational Choreography (Dance Palace). to be developed, he said. Adrian some work to do in developing veloped on par with the centre of billion). In the last year alone, the school on construction is opening, Particular attention is being paid Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, evenly and rationally. the capital city. Outlying districts city’s industrial output rose by with another to train energy pro- to landscaping and the placement the expo complex designers, have Speaking on April 25 to a gath- and marketplaces should not be 6.7 percent, reaching 263.2 bil- fessionals coming soon. of parks. The feasibility study for done space-planning. ering of national government and in deplorable and unsanitary con- lion tenge (US$1.44 billion). The Over 2012-2013, two hospitals the Botanical Gardens is ready. Construction of the exhibition city officials, he noted the im- ditions, he said. “We have built a high-tech manufacturing sector in- and two clinics were built, and in More buses will be acquired, the complex has just begun. The bulk provement of some of the capital’s new capital and are now raising the creased its share to 55 percent. 2014 a new clinic will open on mayor said, and a new railway and of the work will be done in 2015 economic indicators; in particular, bar for it – it has to be among the The number of active small and the left bank as well as two health two bus terminals will be built. and is to be finished by December the growth of industrial produc- cities most convenient to live in,” medium-sized businesses has grown facilities in Ilyinka Town and on The short-term focus is prepar- 2016. In early 2017, participating tion by 7 percent, up to 260 billion the President said. to more than 56,000. They account Dosmukhamedov Street. By 2016, ing for EXPO 2017, Tasmagambe- countries will begin building and tenge (US$1.4 billion). Small and President Nazarbayev also for about 60 percent of the city’s the capital will have three more tov said. installing their pavilions. Domestic medium-sized businesses are de- called attention to the poor qual- GRP and constitute its economic specialised healthcare facilities. Yermegiayev Reports on Prepa- developers will be involved in the veloping and account for 40 per- ity of some road construction and foundation. Astana leads the coun- New cultural features will also rations for EXPO 2017 construction of the expo facilities, cent of the gross regional product the need to develop parking sys- try in terms of output per worker. open, Tasmagambetov said, in- The EXPO 2017 registration as per the President’s order to give (GRP). tems and bring down crime rates. Tasmagambetov also reported cluding the Foundation and Li- dossier has been submitted to the precedence to local companies. The city has also developed into Astana must be a safe city, he said, on steps taken to bring down ad- brary of the First President, the Bureau of International Exposi- The exposition will run from a major cultural, athletic, shop- and given the target of the Kazakh- ministrative barriers, to privatise National History Museum, the tions (BIE) Talgat Yermegiayev, June 10 to September 10, 2017, and ping and tourist centre. A million stan 2050 Strategy of joining the communal property and to estab- Palace of Martial Arts, the second CEO of the Astana EXPO 2017 is expected to attract more than 2 tourists have visited it, 100,000 of world’s 30 most advanced states, it lish modern trade and logistics fa- line of the Scientific and Educa- National Company, reported at million visitors. The Astana EXPO them foreign nationals, the Presi- should become one of the 10 most cilities. He described the work of tional Complex of the Nazarbayev the meeting on Astana’s develop- 2017 company is working with dent said. He also reported that successful cities in the world by the Industrial Park, currently im- University, the Nazarbayev Intel- ment and preparations for the 2017 foreign and domestic tour agencies income from Astana to the state 2050. plementing 49 projects with a to- lectual School, the Rehabilita- event. to develop tour routes and sights to budget over the last five years Astana Mayor Says Capital is tal investment of 180 billion tenge tion Medical Centre, Marriott and “On April 23-24, at the meeting visit around the country. Attracting has doubled, exceeding 60 billion Sustainable (US$988.7 million). Hilton hotels and the Kazakhstan of the Executive Committee of the foreign investment is expected to tenge (US$329.5 million). Speaking at the same event, By 2017, he said, new projects Electricity Grid Operating Com- International Exhibitions Bureau be one of the long-term results of “Starting next year, the capital Akim (Mayor) of Astana Iman- in the Industrial Park will create pany’s administrative building. In in Paris, the Kazakhstan delegation EXPO 2017, which is why work is will become a donor to the coun- gali Tasmagambetov said that the over 7,500 new jobs and quadruple 2015, the Space Research Centre, presented the report on the EXPO ongoing with foreign investors to try’s budget,” he said, pointing to city has reached sustainability in the tax revenues. a multipurpose ice palace and the 2017 registration dossier that the seek out alternative funding sourc- the need to step up work to attract its development, as evidenced by Construction remains a strate- National Defence University will Executive Committee approved, es, Yermegiayev said.

for issuing permits, registration of electronic visas, consular fees, etc. Today, we are also considering EXPO 2017 Preparations Are Proceeding Well issues related to changing proce- mally launch full-scale efforts to expo will have a positive impact on working group on foreign partici- dures for issuing visas to Kazakh- By Klara Tishkambayeva attract participants to the exhibi- the quality of life for all citizens. pation in EXPO 2017 is acting un- stan electronically, which will sig- tion and promotion of EXPO 2017 Also, Mr. Loscertales shared der my chairmanship. We consider nificantly simplify the procedure EXPO-2017 Commissioner and in the international arena. This is his vision on the content of Ka- the preparations for the exhibition of entry and exit of foreigners in First Deputy Foreign Minister of precisely one of the main objec- zakhstan’s pavilion, focusing not in Astana, an image accompani- our country and bring government Kazakhstan Rapil Zhoshybayev tives of my work as commissioner. only on “Future Energy” topics, ment, attracting domestic and for- services to a new level. spoke to The Astana Times about The letters of invitation on be- but also to show the culture, art, eign visitors as well as organising the ongoing and wide-ranging pro- half of the President and the Prime past and future of Kazakhstan. All their stay in Kazakhstan. Recently, at the meeting on the cess of preparations for biggest Minister will be sent through dip- recommendations of the secretary Our President has a strong focus further development of Astana, international events the country’s lomatic channels. We have already were taken into account. on tourism development and ad- the President reiterated the impor- capital has ever seen. developed a work plan and travel We are truly grateful for all guid- equate infrastructure. tance of post-exhibition use. As A Kazakh delegation led by you schedule to attract participants. ance the secretary general has given Recently, at a meeting on the known, after large international recently defended the registration The exhibition will be attended so far. Such visits contribute greatly further development of the capital, projects like EXPO, the Olympics, dossier of EXPO 2017 in Paris. by more than 100 countries, more to the preparation for EXPO 2017. the head of state announced that some facilities built specifically Please tell us about that process than 10 international organisations We will continue to be in constant the infrastructure of the city would for these events sit idle and even and why that was necessary. and various leading companies. communication with the BIE to en- be significantly strengthened, in- fall apart because of the high cost Yes, indeed, on April 24, we de- The individual Participation Agree- sure we are moving in the right di- cluding the construction of 4,000 to maintain them. What do you fended the registration dossier at Rapil Zhoshybayev ment will be signed in each country. rection to successfully host EXPO. apartments, new hotels, a Congress think? Won’t we face these prob- the meeting of the Executive Com- Hall, an “indoor city” as well as a lems in the future? mittee of the International Bureau istration dossier was qualitatively It is evident that you have es- The commissioner of EXPO complex of entertainment outlets. Yes, the question of post-exhibi- of Exhibitions. prepared by the EXPO 2017 Na- tablished close working relations 2017 is also tasked with attract- Recently, our national air compa- tion use is under special control of Probably many are wondering tional Company and related gov- with the BIE. In March, BIE Sec- ing foreign visitors and tourists to ny Air Astana [was removed from the President. The President tasked why, having won the right to host ernment bodies. retary-General Vicente Loscer- Kazakhstan. With the exhibition, a list of airlines that were restruc- the Astana EXPO 2017 National the expo in Astana, we are still go- As a result, we can say that tales visited Astana. Please tell us the importance of the tourism in- tured in flights to European Union Company to provide workload ob- ing through procedures, such as we have successfully passed the about the results of his visit? dustry in the country is increased. countries]. This event will increase jects after the great event. defending the registration dossier exam. Members of executive com- Visits by the secretary general What is being done to attract the number of international flights Given international experience, all and getting the [International Ex- mittee unanimously supported our are a tradition and are held twice tourists and tourism industry de- and expand their geography. the EXPO 2017 pavilions, cultural hibitions Bureau] BIE flag. registration dossier and decided to a year before the executive com- velopment to Kazakhstan? As for the high prices, we have and residential development and Any host country must strictly submit it for approval by the 155th mittee meeting and the general as- Undoubtedly, on the eve of plans to develop special packages related buildings must take into ac- follow the procedures and regula- BIE General Assembly. sembly. EXPO 2017, the development of for participation in EXPO 2017 count the most efficient use after the tions of the BIE. After all, respon- Symbolically, at the moment During his visit, Mr. Loscer- the tourism sector is of particular with preferential prices for trans- expo. This is noted in the registration sibility for the timely and qualita- of defending the registration dos- tales had meetings with the heads importance. The exhibition should portation and hotels. dossier, which we defended in Paris. tive preparation for EXPO 2017 sier, in Astana, [Kazakh President of state bodies and departments, become a locomotive for the de- We hope that after 2017, the ex- lies not only on Kazakhstan, but Nursultan Nazarbayev] launched made a presentation at the Astana velopment of tourism. In this di- Many foreign tourists complain hibition area will be the new centre also on the BIE. Therefore, the the construction of EXPO 2017 EXPO 2017 National Company rection, we work closely with the about the difficulty of obtaining of Astana with unique, innovative host country must provide the reg- by laying a capsule at the opening and held a press conference at the Committee of the Tourism Indus- Kazakhstan visas. What steps are buildings. The majority of objects istration dossier and defend it. ceremony. Then, April 24, 2014 Office of Central Communica- try and the Astana EXPO 2017 Na- you taking to address this issue? will use green energy, including The registration dossier is the was marked as the start of a spe- tions, where he answered ques- tional Company. We are actively working on it. wind power, solar and other sourc- final plan on carrying out the ex- cial stage in preparation for EXPO tions from the media. We all know that today we are This year, we plan to gradually in- es. Part of the complex will be the hibition, including the technical 2017. He noted the importance of the facing problems of infrastructure troduce a visa-free regime for the basis for Nazarbayev University, documents of exhibition facilities, project for innovative energy de- development, the level of service, summer period for the citizens of its students and scholars who will blueprints, construction and engi- You mentioned the 155th BIE velopment, not only in the region high prices for transport and ac- some countries in Europe and Asia. develop new technologies. neering works schedule, etc. General Assembly. What is ex- but also in the world. Kazakhstan is commodation. All these issues On an expected significant in- It is planned that the post-exhi- pected at this event? building a city that is an example of must be addressed in advance. crease in flows of foreigners during bition complex will have a positive Was the defense of the regis- On June 11, 2014 the official sustainable development, and we Currently, a draft of the Concept EXPO 2017, [we are examining] impact on the economy of Astana tration dossier difficult and what recognition of EXPO 2017 will need to consider projects as long- of Tourist Industry Development the issues related to the introduc- and the whole country by attract- questions were asked? take place in Paris. We will have term investments. Therefore, eve- in the Republic of Kazakhstan un- tion of a single electronic system. ing tourists, domestic and foreign It should be noted that the reg- the BIE flag and the right to- for rything which will be done at the til 2020 is being developed. Also, a This system will integrate services investment. A10 EDITORIAL&opinionS

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 G-Global Development Continues Economic Roadmap Focuses As Platform Enhances Dialogue on Improving Business Environment the allocated 500 billion tenge government programmes like By Maksat Mukhanov (US$2.7 billion) of budgetary the Business Road Map 2020 funds, will also contribute to and Employment 2020, and the on International Issues Kazakhstan’s government that. State Programme of Acceler- has developed a road map he programme of the upcom- heard by world policymakers. At the recent meeting of the ated Industrial and Innovative aimed at ensuring the stability ing Seventh Astana Economic G-GLOBAL has been visited by more National Investors Council, Development. of the domestic economy. Forum to be held under the than a million people. The G-GLOBAL the President spoke about the In addition, the mechanisms Private companies and overarching G-GLOBAL dialogue seeks to elaborate, improve and relatively small role of small of public-private partnership businesses are the main play- megaproject is comprehensive evaluate the measures on such issues as and medium-sized enterprises and cluster development, sub- ers in developed economies, and addresses major challenges facing the stabilisation of the international monetary (SMEs) in economic growth, contracting, as well as various T and prosperity and economic world. system and regulation of financial markets; especially in the production of forms of cooperation between growth depend on them to a Alongside an extensive and diverse list of introduction of supranational payment unit finished products and advanced small and large businesses, great extent. Therefore, it seems urgent topics to be discussed at the Astana of a fundamentally new class; creation of a services. In the coming period, have great potential for eco- quite logical and relevant that Economic Forum are e-commerce, big the diversification of SME nomic growth. Full and active nuclear-weapons-free world, promotion of the road map pays special atten- data, green technologies, risk management, structures, types and areas of global security; expansion of cultures and tion to enhancing the business use of these tools, along with monetary policies, unconventional energy civilisations dialogue, implementation of sector and searching for new activity will become an urgent an effective competition policy, resources, customs regulations, continental global energy and environmental develop- task of public policy. will have an additional effect on factors of growth. road map is expected to give a transportation development, food security ment concepts, including Kazakhstan’s In general, the develop- Today, domestic SMEs are the growth of business activity and internationalisation of higher education. Green Bridge initiative. new impetus to the growth of mainly represented in sectors and the dynamics of economic ment of entrepreneurship and private initiatives and the im- The range of issues to be discussed is In his recent speech dedicated to Eurasian improving the business envi- that do not require high tech- development. incredibly diverse and in many ways it integration President Nazarbayev noted that provement of the business cli- nologies or complex forms of No less important a role in ronment are priorities of the mate, which, in turn, will have crystallises the year-long activities of the “the current global instability is not only Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy and cooperation, with relatively improving the business envi- participants of the G-GLOBAL platform. the crisis of economy, but also the crisis of a positive impact on economic low added value: trade, real ronment belongs to the regula- the Concept of Kazakhstan’s growth. A review of the Astana Economic Forum’s international law and global politics.” He joining the 30 most-developed estate, consumer services and tory standards used by the state programmes for the past two years reflects added: “G-8 and G-20 cannot deal with it. According to experts, in- agriculture. The road map’s in the Organisation for Eco- countries of the world. vestments and technologies a gradual development of the G-GLOBAL Therefore, I initiated G-GLOBAL in 2012. International experience steps to promote the process- nomic Cooperation and Devel- follow an attractive market platform, its capability to accelerate an [Representatives from] one-hundred-sixty suggests that great success in ing of agricultural products, the opment. and favourable business envi- international discussion on various topics countries take an interactive part in it. G- increasing business activity is manufacturing sector and the Recently, the government has ronment. That is, the dynamics and produce practical recommendations for GLOBAL includes fundamental principles provided by developing mod- transport and logistical capacity done much work to optimise of investment depends largely international organisations and governments. of the world in the 21st century: evolution, ern infrastructure, promoting of the country will undoubtedly business regulation. In particu- G-GLOBAL was created under the initia- justice, equality, consensus, global tolerance transparent competition, creat- on the quality of a favourable contribute on one hand to the lar, an inventory of permitting tive of Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan and trust, global transparency and construc- ing a friendly environment for business environment and is a diversification of the economy documents was carried out and Nazarbayev as a multifaceted platform to tive multipolarity.” investment, as well as reducing consequence of it. Therefore, and, on the other hand, to the the draft law “On permissions build conditions for the international expert President Nazarbayev firmly believes that the cost of doing business. The the road map’s measures to development of SMEs in more and notifications,” aimed at im- community to have interactive, open and pub- current global challenges will be overcome government’s new road map introduce principles of long- productive sectors of the econo- proving the licensing system, lic discussions and debates concerning global through profound changes in international reflects this. Among the meas- term legislative stability in the my, with high added value. This was developed. issues. The project was initially focused on law, foreign policy practice and methods of ures to be taken are stimulating sphere of investment and tariff will allow SME operators and Switching to the best inter- discussion and elaboration of mechanisms to interstate relations. Therefore, he said, Ka- investment activity, increasing policy, to develop a new for- employees to increase their in- national standards in the sphere overcome the global financial crisis and was zakhstan’s proposals on G-GLOBAL princi- financial support for business, mat for investment contracts comes and create new products of regulation, investment and aimed at radically expanding the number of ples are useful for the world community and optimising the public sector and and introduce the institute of and services that can be offered business administration will participants in search of anti-crisis solutions. are able to provide constructive measures for developing sectors of the real an investment ombudsman for export. allow Kazakhstan to create a Nowadays, G-GLOBAL connects a wide world development. economy. should be considered sys- This task will require from competitive business environ- range of representatives of government, In a rapidly changing world environment, Together with practical steps temic, important steps by the business an active search for ment and to gain momentum for public, information and business structures be it the sovereignty of governments or already taken to implement the government to welcome in- new market niches and the in- sustainable economic growth in in a single and equal dialogue. The platform global energy security, women’s participa- Business Road Map 2020 pro- vestors. troduction of modern business the country. has become an influential, if virtual, gather- tion in world issues or youth development, gramme, including the mora- The planned measures to de- solutions and innovations, and ing of renowned economists, politicians, G- GLOBAL has provided a useful resource torium on inspections of small velop the country’s financial will enhance the skills and pro- The author is Chairman of media and international business leaders. The for tackling the most urgent challenges. and medium-sized businesses, system as a whole, to rehabili- fessional competence of busi- the Institute of Economic Re- uniqueness of this dialogue platform rests There is hope that this instrument will serve reducing administrative barri- tate the banking sector and to ness personnel. Appropriate search under the Ministry of on its ability to connect not only renowned as an effective tool in solving problems in ers and improving regulatory introduce new financing tools mechanisms of state support are Economy and Business Plan- activists, but ordinary people, whose voice is this multipolar world. and licensing procedures, the for business projects within also provided in other existing ning.

Kazakhstan as a Sovereign State” (1992), President Nazarbayev notes that present-day Kazakhstan Defining The New State Borders in 1990-2005 was historically a territory con- trolled completely by many ethnic tribes and that these tribes later As Key Foundation of Statehood composed the Kazakh nation. The independent state in its cur- have no territorial claims to any state zakhstan and Almaty oblasts. After The government of Kazakhstan By Burkitbai Ayagan of the world,” announced President exploring all possible options to utilised several legal documents to rent form, therefore, is not some- Nursultan Nazarbayev when defin- address this issue, the disputed ter- recognise the administrative-terri- one’s gift to the Kazakhs, but is With the collapse of the Soviet ing Kazakhstan’s initial foreign pol- ritory was divided and Kazakhstan torial division of the former Soviet the historic and indigenous land Union, defining the borders of Cen- icy direction. From the beginning, received most of the disputed 537 Union, including the Alma-Ata Dec- of Kazakhs, and the authorities tral Asia’s newly independent na- Kazakhstan has adhered to the prin- square km. laration of December 21, 1991; the will use all constitutional means to tions became an urgent task across ciples of the inviolability of existing The treaty between China and Ka- Declaration on Compliance with the ensure the integrity of the unitary the region. For young Kazakhstan, borders and non-interference in the zakhstan recognised a border 1,782 Principles of Cooperation within state and the unity and inviolabil- establishing borders with China, internal affairs of other states. km long. The final protocol between the Commonwealth of Independ- ity of its territory. This was an im- Russia and other nations was a for- Upon independence, Kazakh- the governments of Kazakhstan and ent States of February 14, 1992; the portant statement and laid impor- eign policy priority. Kazakhstan’s stan’s diplomatic service declared China on the demarcation of their Declaration of Sovereignty, Terri- tant principles for Kazakhstan’s land border is 13,400 kilometres that the foreign policy priority shared border was signed on May torial Integrity and Inviolability of foreign policy. long (its Caspian Sea borders would would be the demarcation of state 10, 2002. State Borders Among Members of However, at the initial stage be defined later, after determining succession. (This principle was also borders with all neighbouring states. Both sides entered the nego- the Commonwealth of Independent in 1992, according to Kassym- the legal status of the sea) and the used in the delimitation of borders The process of legally defining the tiations with their own interests in States of April 15, 1994, and various Jomart Tokayev, now chairman of process of delimiting the new na- between states in South America.) interstate borders with all neigh- mind, and both made compromises other bilateral treaties. Kazakhstan’s Senate, the Russian Such an approach assumes that all tion’s borders was one of the most bouring states was completed within to see the border finally established. government “insisted on the ‘light’ contentious issues arising between important steps it took in establish- a relatively short period, between This long-negotiated political com- version of the treaty [defining the states will be resolved in the future A contested border with ing a lasting, sovereign state protect- 1992 and 2005. The delimitation promise contributed to the establish- countries’ borders],” suggesting ed by international law. through interstate peace agreements. of the borders was completed in ment of a strategic partnership with Kazakhstan applied the law of his- Uzbekistan Kazakhstan exclude the paragraph The delimitation of the borders of three stages: with China, the Central China. Kazakh diplomats often cite From the standpoint of compli- toric succession to define its inherit- on recognising the territorial in- sovereign Kazakhstan, like the other Asian states and Russia. a phrase attributed to Chinese phi- ance with the constitution of the ed territory and borders after the dis- tegrity of states. In this situation, countries of the Commonwealth of losopher Confucius: “Politics is the USSR, the administrative border solution of the USSR. Article Three “it took considerable effort” and Independent States (CIS), was based daughter of history, and history is between the Kazakh SSR and Uz- of the Declaration of Sovereignty the personal intervention of Naz- on the real administrative boundaries Establishing the border the daughter of geography.” bek SSR was clearly regulated. Two of the Kazakh SSR in 1990 said, arbayev, who spent more than one of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Re- hundred kilometres of the 2,351 km “The territory of the Kazakh Soviet with China round of talks with then-Russian public (SSR) with the Russian State border, however, ran through heav- Socialist Republic within the exist- The delimitation of the Kazakh- President Boris Yeltsin, “to per- Federative SSR, the Uzbek SSR, the Establishing borders ily populated areas of the two coun- ing boundaries is indivisible and in- stan-Chinese border has a long his- suade the Russians to change [their Kirghiz SSR, the Turkmen SSR, and tries. Negotiations to determine this violable and cannot be used without tory. Territorial disputes from the within Central Asia included part of the USSR’s state border were not easy. approach].” As a result of these her consent.” The subsequent law Soviet era complicated the situation. The borders between what are border with China. However, not In February 2000, Tashkent hosted negotiations, an agreement on the on the country’s borders clearly ar- The Sino-Russian treaty of the 19th now the independent nations of having been independent states sub- the first round of negotiations be- foundation for all following Ka- ticulated that the border can only be century formed a foundation for re- Central Asia were defined as inter- ject to international law until after tween the official delegations of Ka- zakh-Russian relations was signed. determined by international treaties solving border issues, but some sec- nal administrative-territorial borders the fall of the USSR, legally estab- zakhstan and Uzbekistan to harmo- After more than a decade of in- ratified by Kazakhstan’s Parliament. tors of the border still had two lines, during the Soviet era. Those borders lishing the new borders was of vital nise the borders. The second round tensive negotiations, the important The proclamation, of course, cre- one negotiated according to the trea- were designated only on maps, how- importance to future relations in the of talks, in Astana in May 2000, led process of delimiting state borders ated a pressing need to map and le- ty, the other the de facto border on ever, and not clearly marked on the neighbourhood and the world. to the delimitation on the ground. was completed and the sovereign gally define those “existing bounda- the ground. ground. In the late 1980s and early Despite the challenging negotiations, ries” at the state level and create Kazakhstan began the negotia- 1990s, some radical groups in the Republic of Kazakhstan estab- controversial issues have since been mechanisms to resolve any disputes. tion process on border issues with region called for the revision of ex- lished internationally recognised Legitimising existing resolved through compromises. Since the first days of its existence China in 1992. Within a few years, isting borders. borders and settled all disputes borders as an independent state, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan and China had signed In September 1999, the govern- with neighbouring states. The CIS countries agreed to ap- has declared its firm commitment to five international treaties, clearly de- ments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Establishing the border ply the international legal concept the norms and principles of interna- fining the boundary between the two Republic, Russia, Turkmenistan The author is head of Institute of “uti possidetis,” or “as you pos- tional law. “First of all, we declare countries. At the conclusion of the and Uzbekistan established a com- with Russia of State History under the Min- sess,” which recognises the consist- the peaceful orientation of [Kazakh- 1994 treaty, some disputes remained mission for delimiting their shared In his book “Strategies for the istry of Education and Science of ency of borders in the process of stan’s] policies and declare that we regarding the areas in the East Ka- borders. Formation and Development of Kazakhstan.

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Wednesday, may 14, 2014 A New Step Forward to Greater Regional and Global Security By Erlan Idrissov commitment to sign with the IAEA an agreement on negative security Strengthening international se- guarantees in accordance with the curity is one of the top priorities Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. (NPT) and its Additional Protocol The Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as to take measures on the of Kazakhstan pursues its primary physical protection of nuclear ma- mission – strengthening the sov- terial and equipment. ereignty, territorial integrity, na- On June 12, 2012, Kazakhstan tional security and defense of the accepted the Chair of the CANWFZ nation – through consistent efforts Treaty and the authority to hold ne- to strengthen regional and global gotiations on behalf of all Central security, by making a substantial Asian states on the signing of the contribution to the establishment of Protocol of negative security guar- a fair and democratic world order antees with the nuclear states. Over and by promoting the peace-build- the past two years, Kazakhstan has ing initiatives of President Nursul- held intensive consultations and ne- tan Nazarbayev. gotiations with representatives of A new step in this direction has tions on Iran’s nuclear programme. the P5 to agree on the signing the been the signing on May 6, 2014 at By signing the Protocol to the Protocol and the undertaking of ob- the UN headquarters in New York Treaty on the Central Asian Nucle- ligations to provide negative secu- by representatives of the five per- ar-Weapon-Free Zone, the region – rity assurances. manent members of the Security located in the very heart of the Eur- During 2012-2014, the Ministry Council (P5) – China, France, Rus- asian continent – will considerably of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan sia, the UK and the USA – of the strengthen stability in a vast geopo- has held more than 20 meetings Protocol to the Treaty on the Cen- litical space. Taking into account and negotiations with representa- tral Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free that the region faces instability and tives of the P5 and member states Zone (CANWFZ). The signing of threats from terrorist organizations, of the Treaty, in both bilateral and the Protocol became a significant this act is of vital importance. Fur- multilateral formats and on differ- step in the legal process of estab- thermore, the Central Asian states ent levels. lishing the zone, whereby the five neighbour the two recognised nu- Drawing on Kazakhstan’s pro- nuclear powers provided guaran- clear powers – the Russian Federa- posals to provide negative security clear weapons against the nuclear ban and the destruction of nuclear tiations on its location on our terri- tees not to use nuclear weapons tion and China, – as well as India assurances to the Treaty parties, a weapon-free zone members in the weapons and the member states’ tory”. against the five Treaty participants. and Pakistan, both known to pos- joint position document was de- event of an aggression committed commitment to ensuring security in The signing of the Protocol to the This event is a considerable sess nuclear weapons. veloped entitled “On the position by a Party to the Treaty supported the region. Treaty, actively facilitated by Ka- achievement of multilateral diplo- The establishment of the Nuclear of the signatories of the Treaty on by a nuclear weapon state, involv- It is essential to underscore the zakhstan, constitutes clear proof of macy in nuclear disarmament and Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in ing the use by such a state of the role of the UN in both the fram- our country’s successful efforts in will have a substantial impact on has become possible due to the Central Asia on providing negative territory and defence system of the ing of the Treaty and the efforts nuclear disarmament and its grow- regional and global security. common constructive efforts of assurances to the Treaty”. parties and their allies. to promote its institutionalisation. ing reputation on the global stage. Being a recognized leader in nu- all five Central Asian states – Ka- On October 9, 2013, during the Interpretative statements by the In this vein, the UN General As- Indeed, UN General Secretary clear disarmament on a global scale, zakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, UN General Assembly in New P5 apply to all Treaties on Nuclear sembly adopted a number of reso- Ban Ki-moon has praised Kazakh- Kazakhstan has made a meaningful Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – to York, a principal agreement on the Weapon-Free Zones: the Treaty for lutions to support the Treaty. The stan’s actions in the area of nuclear contribution into signing the Pro- ensure security, stability and peace signing of the Protocol was reached the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons resolutions emphasised that creat- disarmament and non-proliferation. tocol. Delivering his speech at the in the region. by representatives of the P5, ac- in Latin America and the Caribbean ing the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone During a visit to the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Security Summit in The The initial political impetus for companied by interpretative state- (Treaty of Tlatelolco), the South in Central Asia is an important Test Site in April 2010, he com- Hague in March this year, President these efforts was the summit of the ments from the states. By signing Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone step towards the strengthening the mented: “In 1991, soon after the Nazarbayev called on all countries heads of the Central Asian states in the Protocol on May 6, 2014, the Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga), the nuclear non-proliferation regime, independence of Kazakhstan, to pursue comprehensive nuclear Almaty on February 28, 1997. At nuclear weapon states undertook Treaty on the South-East Asia Nu- the encouragement of cooperation President Nazarbayev showed an disarmament which is the only war- this summit, the region’s leaders obligations not to use or threaten clear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok in the process of the peaceful use extraordinary leadership by clos- ranty for the nuclear security. The agreed on the Almaty Declaration, to use nuclear weapons against the Treaty), the African Nuclear-Weap- of nuclear energy, the ecological ing the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test President stated: “We expect the a document pledging support for states participating in the Treaty. on-Free Zone (Treaty of Pelinda- rehabilitation of the territories af- Site and banishing nuclear weapons early signing by the ‘nuclear five’ the idea of creating a nuclear weap- ba) and the Treaty on a Nuclear- fected by radioactive contamina- from Kazakhstan. It was a visionary of the Protocol on negative guar- on-free zone in Central Asia. The signing of the Weapon-Free Zone (Semipalatinsk tion, the strengthening of regional step, a true declaration of independ- antees to the countries-signatories It is symbolic that the Agreement Treaty). peace and security, as well as an ence … I call on all nuclear weapon of the Treaty on the Central Asian on creating the Nuclear Weapon- Protocol to the All Central Asian states parties effective contribution to the fight states to follow suit of Kazakhstan.” Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.” Free Zone was signed on Septem- Nuclear-Weapon- to the CANWFZ Treaty have ac- against international terrorism and We expect the recently signed Our ministry has been consistent- ber 8, 2006, in Semipalatinsk where knowledged the right of the P5 to the prevention of the acquisition of Protocol to be ratified by all nu- ly pursuing the so-called negative in 1991, by a decree of President Free Zone Treaty reserve the interpretative statements nuclear materials and technologies clear states before the 2015 NPT security assurances from the nucle- Nazarbayev, the nuclear test site to the Protocol in accordance with by non-governmental subjects, pri- Review Conference. This will for- ar weapon states (i.e. the guarantees was shut down. The agreement in Central Asia their national legal systems and marily by terrorists. mally institutionalise the Nuclear- not to use or threaten to use nuclear came into force on March 21, 2009, is an important established international practice. Kazakhstan continues to make Weapon-Free Zone and become our weapons) by holding negotiations heralding an important step on the When making the decision on sign- a considerable contribution to common solid contribution to the on behalf of all Central Asian states way to creating the Central Asian contribution to ing the Protocol with the interpreta- strengthening peace and security, strengthening of the NPT regime with the nuclear powers. Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. non-proliferation tive declarations, the Treaty mem- including important work on se- and the success of the 2015 NPT Among the sizeable list of Ka- Under the Treaty, the member ber states prioritised the importance curing nuclear materials. As high- Review Conference. zakhstan’s practical contributions states of CANWFZ committed and regional and of the speedy institutionalization of lighted by President Nazarbayev at Kazakhstan will continue to pro- to nuclear non-proliferation and themselves to obligations to ban the Treaty and the strengthening of the recent Nuclear Security Sum- mote the ideals of a world free from disarmament to date are renouncing the production, acquisition and global security by the international security. This im- mit in The Hague, “After closing nuclear weapons and actively par- the world’s fourth largest nuclear development of nuclear weapons the region and the perative was announced at the cere- the Semipalatinsk test site and re- ticipate in international events and arsenal, closing the Semipalatinsk and their components, and other mony of the signing of the Protocol nouncing the world’s fourth larg- initiatives to reach this goal. This is nuclear test site and the elimination nuclear explosive devices on their nuclear weapon to the Treaty in New York. est nuclear arsenal, Kazakhstan, an absolute priority of the foreign of its infrastructure, the creation of territories. They also committed With regards to the Treaty on jointly with the USA and Russia, policy of the President of Kazakh- the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in themselves to a total ban on nuclear states. the Central Asian Nuclear-Weap- eliminated the infrastructure of the stan. If Kazakhstan is elected as a Central Asia, the President’s initia- tests and the burying of radioactive on-Free Zone, all nuclear weapon testing site. The works on ensuring non-permanent member of the UN tives on the Universal Declaration waste on the territory of CANWFZ. The interpretative statements are states, excluding China, made in- security on the site are still under- Security Council in 2017-2018, we on Achieving a Nuclear Weapons The parties of the Treaty also conditions under which a nuclear terpretative statements on different way. Kazakhstan’s nuclear activi- will actively promote nuclear dis- Free World under the aegis of the agreed to facilitate efforts on the weapon state may cancel the nega- provisions of the Treaty. I would ties are under the comprehensive armament and non-proliferation in United Nations, offer to host the ecological rehabilitation of the re- tive security assurances. The inter- like to emphasize the firm position IAEA safeguards. We supported this important UN body. IAEA low-enriched uranium bank, gion and to closely collaborate with pretative statements allow nuclear taken by China, which signed the the IAEA initiative to establish the and the ATOM Project, as well as the International Atomic Energy weapon states to free themselves Protocol without any reservations international low enriched uranium The author is the Minister of providing a platform for negotia- Agency (IAEA). This included a of their commitment not to use nu- and supported a comprehensive bank and are about to finalise nego- Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. A Timely Call for Action: Re-shaping World after Financial Crisis and inclusive global governance mate change, each and every coun- – Cleansing, wherever neces- sustainable development. Where Dr. Thomas Mirow institutions, capable of designing try should, sooner rather than later, sary, commercial bank balance the rule of law is beyond doubt, and implementing an adequate le- do its very best to reach progress in sheets and building up efficient foreign investors will feel com- Six years after the outbreak of gal and regulatory framework, is terms of what it can achieve within complementary public financial fortable to allocate scarce and the global financial crisis, the eco- lagging behind dramatically. And its own means. Any “World-Anti- institutions in order to secure a therefore precious long term capi- nomic, political and social conse- as long as emerging and develop- Crisis-Plan” will only bear fruits if healthy credit activity. tal and to share valuable intellec- quences can still be felt in most ing countries are not fairly repre- a healthy balance can be established – Designing joint public-private tual property. Talented people will parts of the world. sented in international institutions between a cohesive set of initiatives action plans to focus on complete find it rewarding to invest into It is true that much has been done and platforms, these will lack the on an international scale and good value-chains of strategically im- start-ups and local entrepreneurs to mitigate the impact of what has legitimacy to act with the neces- governance on a national level. portant industries, for instance, in will feel encouraged to grow their started as a “subprime crisis” in sary authority. Whoever studies carefully suc- the field of agri-business where the companies. Where corruption and the United States: the global bank- At the same time, the authors cess stories of countries that have ongoing growth of world popula- bribery are consistently fought, ing system has been stabilized, the of the Anti-Crisis-Plan underline reached, often within a genera- tion provides for an ever rising the business-climate will flourish. imminent collapse of the European convincingly the importance of tion, a comprehensive re-shuffling demand. If and when at the same time reli- Monetary Union has been pre- fostering global trade – not at least of their economies, be it Canada, – Reducing waste of energy and able, efficient and fair tax systems vented and the latest forecasts now by finally getting to grips with the Australia, Singapore, South Korea resources of all kinds, including and well designed pension sys- signal for many parts of the world Doha Round of the World Trade or Israel, will identify a set of good water, so as to create huge cost tems are established, then public a return to higher growth. But the Organization – and forcefully call recipes to successfully embark on gains in the economy, spare mon- authorities will be provided with costs of the crisis are not to be un- tional experts have been asked by upon the U.S., China and Europe such an avenue. And much of it ey for households and contribute necessary means to invest into derestimated: sovereign debts of the Astana Forum to design a com- to address the respective sources can easily be applied to a country to mitigating the risks of climate public goods like universities, most industrialized countries have prehensive Anti-Crisis-Plan, draw- of dangerous global imbalances. like Kazakhstan. change and other imminent dan- schools or a state of the art infra- reached dangerous levels, mil- ing the lessons from the recent It would, however, be illusive to To start with, the following can gerous environmental phenomena. structure, and stable, deep local lions and millions of people, par- past and paving the way to more solely rely on any quick progress apply for commodity-rich coun- – Consequently investing into capital markets can be developed, ticularly in the young generation, sustainable and equitable growth. in these areas. Vested interests and tries: the skills and education of people offering sufficient equity for the have lost their jobs, the necessary, At the heart of the recommenda- the complexity of global govern- – Reducing the dependence on as these represent the most pre- private sector to grow. strong interventions of leading tions stand the plea for reforms ance reforms will take their time natural resources through diversi- cious resource of the developing To me, this is the key challenge central banks with the aim to re-ig- of the international institutions, toll. A “wait and see” attitude, ex- fication and modernising the econ- global knowledge economy. of our times: relentlessly working nite commercial lending and spur foremost of the International Mon- clusively looking for progress on omy by constantly raising public Finally, past and current crises on multi-lateral and international growth have shown unintended, etary Fund (IMF) and the World an international scale, would be a as well as private investments into teach us very clearly one par- however, relevant repercussions in Bank. And it is, indeed, obvious: dangerous waste of time. research and development. ticular lesson: that of the crucial The author is the former Pres- emerging countries. whereas globalisation of products, Therefore, with all due consider- – Fostering growth and export importance of good governance ident of the European Bank for It is, therefore, highly com- industries and markets is progress- ation of the global character of key capacity of small and medium- and well functioning public in- Reconstruction and Develop- mendable that leading interna- ing quickly, the set up of efficient challenges like, for instance, cli- sized companies. stitutions for steady growth and ment. A12 NATION

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Five Nuclear Weapon States Belgian Embassy Active in Recognise Central Asia as Cultural Events in Kazakhstan By Jan Furst the achievement of different infra- structure projects. ASTANA – Belgium and Kazakh- “I was in Paris when the expo bid Nuke-Free Zone stan have been publicly matched results were announced; I also at- a few times recently – at the Davis tended the presentation by Astana Cup world group match in February city Akim (Mayor) Imangali Tas- of this year, when Kazakhstan oust- magambetov, and I was very in- ed Belgium in the first round only terested of course,” Ambassador to be knocked out by Switzerland, Peetermans said. and in the bidding for EXPO 2017 Other international venues will be in 2012, when Astana won the hon- organised in Liège, like the second our of hosting the event. The recent French Language World Forum that friendly competition hasn’t cooled the city of Liege will host July 20- the two countries’ warm, longstand- 23, 2015.” ing relationship, however. Belgium in a nutshell Belgium has opened an embassy in Astana in 2006 and Kazakh Presi- Michel Peetermans Belgium is located in Western dent Nursultan Nazarbayev has paid Europe and has a population of 11 Brussels two working visits in less the exhibition “Living in a Palace” million. Despite its relatively small than a decade, in 2006 and 2010, to organised very recently by Bel- dimension (30,000 square kilome- showcase the will to strengthen the gian art galleries, on April 17-27, tres), it plays a significant role in bilateral relationship between the where many various art creations the world economy. It is a federal two countries and to attract Belgian were shown to a large public in the state with three official languages investors. (Dutch, French and German). Kasteyev Museum in Almaty. There Brussels hosts the main EU insti- “Our embassy’s priorities in Ka- are other events that we would tutions, including the EU Council, zakhstan are for people in Kazakh- like to emphasise, such as the cel- as well as the NATO headquarters. stan to learn more about Belgium, ebration of Antoine-Joseph a.k.a. Belgium is a member of many oth- its people, its cultural heritage and ‘Adolphe’ Sax, the Belgian musi- er multilateral organisations, like its place in the world economy” cian and instrument designer, who OSCE (Organization for Security The signing ceremony of the Protocol to the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty by five nuclear weapon Ambassador of Belgium to Ka- was born two hundred years ago, and Cooperation in Europe), Coun- states took place in New York on May 6. zakhstan Michel Peetermans told on November 6, 1814. He played cil of Europe and OECD (Organi- The Astana Times. The priorities the clarinet and flute and invented zation for Economic Co-operation Continued from Page A1 Meanwhile, the U.S. Depart- security arrangements or military also are “to promote the economic the saxophone. We would like to and Development). Belgium will ment of State said in a press re- operations, installations, or activi- trade and political ties between the celebrate this event throughout the chair the Committee of Ministers The difference of the Central lease, that “the Administration is ties.” two countries and our citizens. We year in Astana and in Almaty,” the of the Council of Europe from No- Asian zone from the other four is satisfied that the CANWFZ Treaty “The CANWFZ Treaty and its are working in close cooperation ambassador explained. So far there vember 2014 till May 2015. The that it is the only such zone fully is consistent with U.S. and interna- Protocol will also promote re- with the EU delegation in different are no definite dates, but the em- Belgian universities have a reputa- located in the northern hemi- tional criteria for such zones. The gional cooperation, security, and fields. For commercial questions, it bassy will later on announce events tion of excellence. They are open is possible to contact our trade atta- in conjunction with the anniversary. to foreign students wishing to com- sphere, the only zone border- United States believes that such stability and provide a vehicle for plete their curricula or to receive a ing two nuclear weapon states, zones, when fully and rigorously the extension of legally-binding ché in Almaty, where Belgium also In 2015, different events will be or- has a honourary consul, Mr. Daniel ganised to mark the 200th anniver- specialisation. Russia and China, and the only implemented, contribute to our negative security assurances, Parisse”. sary of the Battle of Waterloo, near one that had on its territory nu- nonproliferation goals and to in- consistent with the strengthened In 2011, the Belgian exports to Brussels. “A number of Belgian compa- clear weapons, until Kazakhstan ternational peace and security. The negative security assurance an- Kazakhstan amounted to 160 mil- The Belgian community in Ka- nies are willing to take part at pro- renounced the weapons it inher- United States has concluded that nounced in the 2010 U.S. Nuclear lion euros, in 2012 to 210 million zakhstan isn’t very large, but is very jects linked directly and indirectly ited from the Soviet Union in the the CANWFZ Treaty and its Pro- Posture Review,” the press re- euros and in 2013 to 280 million active in various walks of life, the with the expo participate in EXPO early 1990s. tocol will not disturb existing U.S. lease said. euros. These figures show the ambassador said. 2017 in Astana,” ambassador said. growing interest of the companies “There are, for example, Belgian “The participation of Belgium to the of our countries to develop their bi- teachers at the Nazarbayev Universi- EXPO itself has to be formally de- lateral relations. ty [and in] schools, in private and in- cided after the federal and regional “There are several spheres in ternational companies and organisa- elections on May 25, and the forma- which the enterprises of our countries tions like the NCOC [North Caspian tion of a new federal government.” FM Meets with OSCE may develop a fruitful cooperation, Operating Company] for instance, Ambassador Peetermans has lived like agriculture, environment, new or in Shymkent Pivo, a Shymkent- in Astana with his family since as- technologies, water treatment and based brewery established back in suming office in August 2013. He management” the ambassador said. the USSR in 1976,” he said, which and his family enjoy walks and bike Secretary General, Both In recent years, the most active works with Belgian equipment and rides in the capital. trade between the two countries has produces specialty beers, with fruits “As a diplomat, I am not only liv- been in machines and tools, chemi- like cherries and even raspberries. It ing in Kazakhstan but my work is also cal products, plastics and applica- is not available in Astana so far, only closely linked to Kazakhstan. I think Highlight Need for United tions, pharmaceutical products, iron in the Shymkent region.” that I am lucky to be here: Astana is a and steel and minerals. Although Liege didn’t win the new and fascinating city. Sometimes, “Belgium has also a rich cultural bid for EXPO 2017, the campaign people complain about the cold in the heritage, as well as a long musi- for Liège’s candidacy has been very winter, but, to be honest, I did not feel cal tradition. The embassy will try useful, because it has helped pro- it very often this year. What strikes Security Community mote worldwide Liège’s numerous to raise awareness about it. In this me, on the contrary, is the sunny dacy for non-permanent member- neighbouring countries,”Idrissov context, I am pleased to mention assets and has given an impetus to weather, which is really pleasant.” By Malika Rustem ship in the UN Security Council said at the meeting, according to a for 2017-2018, including the in- Ministry of Foreign Affairs press ASTANA – The need for an un- tention to achieve the creation of release. divided European and Eurasian se- a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian se- The sides also discussed inter- curity community and the role of curity community – the strategic religious and interethnic tolerance the Organisation for Security and goal set forth in the Astana Decla- in the context of the slow recovery Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in ration,” the Kazakh foreign minis- of the world economy out of re- building it were the main topics try’s press service reported. cession and the impact of adverse of the April 28 meeting between Zannier stressed that the pri- economic factors on the growth Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan ority of the OSCE’s work is to of intolerance and discrimination. Idrissov and Secretary General ensure comprehensive security The sides expressed concern over of the OSCE Lamberto Zannierin from Vancouver to Vladivostok, increased hostile speech and hate Astana. a reference to the vast expanse of The two also discussed a wide crimes, xenophobia and Islamo- land from North America across range of issues in developing bi- phobia in the OSCE region, in- lateral cooperation between Ka- Europe to easternmost Russia that cluding the on the Internet. zakhstan and the OSCE, includ- encompasses the 57 participating Another important item on the ing current international issues states of the organisation. Accord- agenda was the functioning of the and prospects for cooperation in ing to Zannier, in light of today’s OSCE in Kazakhstan. Idrissov various joint projects. They as- realities, security issues cannot be spoke about the need for consistent sessed the situation in and around viewed as exclusively regional and and systematic work on re-assess- Ukraine and the role of the OSCE require the involvement of new ing the status of the organisation. in international efforts to defuse members. “Kazakhstan has made signifi- tensions. Idrissov and Zannier also dis- cant progress in economic devel- The overriding message from cussed the development of the opment, the country has created the meeting was that the OSCE political situation in Ukraine. “We mature political and civil institu- is an organisation uniquely po- stand for the peaceful resolution of tions, has experience in all three sitioned to comprehensively ad- the crisis in Ukraine and overcom- dimensions of security. We believe dress the range of security issues ing it through the negotiation pro- it is time to adjust the interac- in its area of responsibility and cess under the auspices of the UN tion between Kazakhstan and the that the OSCE summit in Astana and other international organisa- OSCE to new realities and new in December 2010 gave a clear di- tions,” Idrissov said. Against this collaborative arrangements. The rection for its future development. backdrop, Zannier noted, there is a year 2015, the anniversary year for It was also stressed that the OSCE growing need to continue building the OSCE, will give us a good rea- can play a larger role in interna- a common space and indivisible son to evaluate our membership in tional efforts to prevent the situ- security community that covers the organisation within the Helsin- ation in Ukraine from escalating Europe and Eurasia. ki+ 40 process. But even now I can further and that the key idea of Idrissov and Zannier discussed already say that for Kazakhstan, the Astana Declaration of 2010, security issues and transnational it was an impressive and valuable of theneed to build an undivided threats as one of the most crucial experience of cooperation in mak- security community in both Eu- fields of cooperation. In particular, ing an active contribution to the rope and Eurasia, was made more the parties discussed the potential strengthening of peace and stabil- relevant in light of the Ukrainian challenges and threats coming ity in the OSCE area,” the Kazakh crisis. from Afghanistan. foreign minister noted. “Both sides confirmed that the “We believe the OSCE, hav- “We want to update the method joint promotion of the legacy of ing much experience, jointly with of our work with Kazakhstan. We the OSCE Astana Summit is an the UN and other international want to modernise our work here. important direction of work, which organisations, could contribute to We consider the Kazakhstan 2050 will be the main priority of Ka- strengthening the effectiveness Strategy as an important set of zakhstan in its activities within the of the border services of Central priorities. We will encourage the organisation in the coming years. Asian countries and participate role of Kazakhstan in the region, As a stable and reliable partner in in the implementation of pro- as well as the OSCE’s role here,” promoting peace and cooperation, grammes to support efforts in com- Zannier said at a media briefing af- Kazakhstan announced its candi- bating drugs in Afghanistan and ter the meeting. B Nation&Capital

Wednesday, may 14, 2014

People Culture Sports Determination Leads Actress to Success St. Petersburg to Host Days Arlans Defeat Baku Fires in Almaty, in Her Dream Profession B2 of Astana Culture B3 Lose in Baku in Controversial Clash B7 Triple Celebrations Start the Month of May in Kazakhstan young country’s identity and state- By Jan Furst hood. “There are many different ethnic ASTANA – The beginning of groups living in Kazakhstan and the month of May in Kazakhstan the unity of us all is the founda- is, perhaps, some of the most an- tion of peace in our country. When ticipated period in the country as people live in peace and harmony, it brings together three celebra- it is real happiness. It is impossible tions, each being important and to be happy alone; well-being de- carrying special meaning in their pends on the condition of the whole own right. nation. That is why we have to On May 1, Kazakhstan cele- cherish the unity and harmony that brates the Day of the Unity of the we have reached in Kazakhstan and People. On May 7, it is the Defend- pass it to our children,” he said. He er of the Fatherland Day, complete also urged Kazakhstan’s citizens to with a military parade, air show work for their own happiness. and fireworks in Astana. And On On May 6, the day before De- May 9, Kazakhstan, along with fender of the Fatherland Day, the many other countries in the Com- President bestowed military hon- monwealth of Independent States, ours and special ranks to some marks Victory Day, with mass cel- of the nation’s soldiers and com- ebrations throughout the country manders. Nazarbayev is also su- feting the generation of World War preme commander of Kazakh- II veterans. stan’s armed forces. On May 1, President Nursultan Presenting the awards, the Presi- Nazarbayev met Astana residents dent noted the role the armed forc- in the main square in front of the es play in setting a positive exam- Kazakh Eli Monument. He visited ple for the nation’s youth. He also the ethnic village and the tents that drew attention to the importance of displayed works of art and the tra- The celebration of three May holidays in Kazakhstan. the officers who protect the coun- ditional clothing, musical instru- try’s borders and help maintain a ments and handicrafts of Kazakh- “If a family is united, it will be it will not prosper. And if a country the President said in his congrtula- the unity of Kazakhstan’s many peaceful nation. stan’s many ethnic groups. strong. If a company is not united, is not united, it will just crumble,” tory speech. He emphasised that peoples was at the core of the Continued on Page B4 New Kabanbai Batyr Memorial Kazakh Delegation Opened in East Kazakhstan Attends 77th AIPS coincide with Defenders of the Journalism Academy and Kurmet ple for Kazakhstan’s young gen- By Julia Rutz Homeland Day. Order honouree Ulikbek Esdau- eration. Congress A dramatic performance was or- letov, singer Seken Turisbekov, Special bus routes were organ- The congress was opened by UST-KAMENOGORSK – The ganised to celebrate the opening of Secretary of the Almaty Maslikhat ised to ferry members of the pub- By Rufiya Ospanova Azerbaijani President Ilkham Ali- opening of a new memorial to the memorial and Executive Sec- Ermek Kelimseit and Kamal Ab- lic to the ceremony, as the me- yev, who noted that his country noted 18th Century commander retary of the Ministry of Culture drakhmanov, author of four books morial was erected along the exit The upcoming FIFA World Cup conducts many major world com- Kabanbai Batyr took place in this of Kazakhstan Kuatzhan Ualiyev, dedicated to Kabanbai Batyr’s life, road of the city. The celebrations in Brazil and the future of “sport petitions and will aggressively city in East Kazakhstan on May poet and honoured art worker were distinguished guests at the continued with traditional Kazakh diplomacy” were among the main pursue its dream of holding a 7. The ceremony was arranged to Nesipbek Aitauli, member of the event. sport competitions, Kazakh kuresi topics of the 77th Congress of the Summer Olympics in Baku. The “Kabanbai Batyr is a symbol (wrestling) and baiga (horse rac- International Sports Press Associa- world’s largest sports federations, of the Kazakh nation. Today’s ar- ing). A new car was announced as tion (AIPS), held from April 28-30 including the International Foot- rangement is a tribute to offer the prize for the winners in these in Baku, Azerbaijan. ball Federation (FIFA), the Union reverence to our ancestors, peo- competitions. A delegation from the Kazakh- of European Football Associations ple who created the history of our The bronze memorial, made stan Sports Press Association (UEFA), the International Swim- country and who fought for the in- by Nurlan Dalbay, is 13 metres (KSPA) headed by KSPA President ming Federation (FINA), the In- dependence of our state. As I can tall. About 150 million tenge Ilyas Omarov, Vice President Pav- ternational Association of Athlet- see, a lot of people have come to (US$823,858) was allocated from el Tsybulin and Secretary General ics Federations (IAAF) and others watch the opening ceremony to- the national budget for the memo- Stanislav Filippov attended the made presentations about world day; there is an honourable attitude rial and about 30 million tenge event, where 270 sports journal- and European sport championships that our people have toward Ka- (US$164,760) from the municipal ists from 110 countries discussed and responded to such questions as zakh heroes,” said Ualiyev at the budget for land improvement. the development of sport and its “What changes are occurring in the ceremony. During the military parade in press coverage around the world. coverage of the world’s largest fora Aitauli noted that several years Astana on the same day, President The Baku meeting also marked the for sports journalists?” ago, in the East Kazakhstan re- of Kazakhstan Nursultan Naz- organisation’s 90th anniversary. Continued on Page B7 gion, a memorial dedicated to one arbayev noted the importance of of Kazakhstan’s most renowned raising the young generation to be poets, Abai, was opened. He also patriotic and esteem the memory said that the heroism of Kabanbai of Kazakh batyrs, or heroes, who The opening ceremony of Kabanbai Batyr memorial in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Batyr should be a dramatic exam- fought to protect their homeland. Things to Watch may

Artist Yermolenko’s Jubilee AStana Opera May 19 at 19:00 Chamber Music Concert May 21 at 19:00 “The Sleeping Beauty” Ballet Exhibiton Held in Almaty May 27 at 19:00 Evening of Piano Music May 28 at 19:00 “La Boheme” Opera By Natalya Valuiskaya

ALMATY – A jubilee exhibi- Kazakhstan Central Concert hall tion of Alexander Yermolenko was May 18 at 19:00 Vakhtang Kikabidze Concert held recently at the State Abilkhan Kasteyev Museum, in which the May 19 at 19:00 Saule Zhanpeissova Concert artist presented about a hundred of May 21 at 19:00 “Drugoy” Philipp Kirkorov Concert his works. May 27 at 19:00 “Erisioni” Georgian Treasure His classmates, teachers, col- leagues who came to congratulate the artist on the jubilee event ap- congress hall preciated his works and stressed May 16 at 19:00 “Alpamys” Opera that the best traditions of artistic graphics continued. May 23 at 19:00 Vladimir Kuzmin Concert His landscape paintings “Gar- dens of Talgar,” “Old Street in Maxim Gorky State Theatre Verny,” “River Ili” and “Suinshi” are deep, bright and clean, and the May 17 at 11:00 “Thumbelina” Tale still life pictures are filled with a May 17 at 18:00 “Mixed Emotions” Drama breath of antiquity. May 24 at 11:00 “Little Red Riding Hood” Tale “I tell about the Seven Rivers and many other corners of our May 24 at 18:00 “Toth, Major and Others” Comedy nature, which the artists seldom painted. Many artists work with the landscape, but they spend lit- Aviation Base of Military tle time in the open air, that’s why Air Forces of Kazakhstan sometimes it looks superficial. The work in the open air educates and May 22-25 at 10:00 KADEX-2014 Exhibition gives positive energy for the whole winter. Continued on Page B3 Visitors of the jubilee Alexander Yermolenko’s exhibition. B2 Nation&Capital People

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Determination Leads Actress to Success in Her Dream Profession English language tests without any starred in low budget films that By Alex Lee preparations. During the university brought her recognition but not years I was active in different cast- fame. In 2010, she starred in “Iro- ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s film ings besides the studies, I tried not ny of Love” that skyrocketed her industry is still burgeoning on the to miss the opportunity to work on career in Kazakh cinema where steppe’s horizons. Almost every the side,” she recollected. she is among the most wanted year Kazakh movie makers en- The actress believed cinema was leading actresses today. tertain the 17 million nation with eventually her destiny in spite all “To be honest, neither my par- new features. The award winning the casting failures in all those ents not I thought that my hobby features like The Mongol: The years. “Before getting the positive would turn serious and become Rise of Genghis Khan (2007) answer: ‘Yes, this role is yours,’ my favourite job. We considered it and Myn Bala: Warriors of the I had faced a lot of refusals. But more of a hobby for a long time. Steppe (2011) drew not only local probably because of my stubborn attention but also global recogni- But my relatives and close ones nature, the refusals even motivated tion. Among the more recent suc- are glad to hear about my progress cesses Kazakhstan enjoyed were me to attain new victories.” and they watch every project I am Shal (The Old Man) (2012), and The 28-year-old actress was a part of. I am eternally grateful Harmony Lessons (2013). These born in Semipalatinsk that she still to them for their support and I am are only a few to mention among cherishes with good old memories. happy that my family is always other different genre features re- “I had a contrast and happy child- close to me.” leased in the past decade. The hood,” the actress remembered. Being one of the most sought- Hollywood acclaimed Kazakh- The apartment building we lived after actresses is not easy. It re- born director Timur Bekmam- in had a lot of stairwell entrances, quires a lot of self-improvement, betov (Day Watch, Night Watch, as [many locals] probably remem- good time management skills, Wanted, etc.) has also contributed ber, in Soviet times all neighbours hard work. Sagatova ably manages to the development of the Kazakh were friendly and amicable. I am all the projects she is involved in, cinema. very glad that I got the chance to according to her manager. With the growing movie indus- experience that,” she said. “It is no surprise that Assel try there is a new emerging niche: Then Sagatova moved to Al- graduated with honours from each acting. maty from her hometown to en- educational institution she has at- Assel Sagatova One of the rising stars is an ac- roll at the university, the fate that tended,” her friend and manager awaits thousands of students who Arai Amankulova said. “Her self- tress and TV host Assel Sagatova. a make-up company, ID Net and Depp, Penelope Cruz, Meryl Streep toons, family soap operas… Our pursue better higher education discipline, concentration and fan- Sagatova is a talented, modest, Kira Plastinina. on the big screen thinks Kazakh cin- films are actively participating in from regions of Kazakhstan. Her tastic memory really impress. But down to earth star as she is usu- Sagatova has plenty of plans for ematography is actively burgeoning. international cinema festivals and ally described by her fans, who desire to be on television arose most importantly she manages her the future, however. She believes Among some of her favourites receive awards. I am acquainted despite graduating from the uni- then in Almaty. And she started time well. Probably this is why she that time will sort all her plans out she also mentioned Russian actors with many directors, cameramen, versity with honors, majoring in taking the TV host classes that succeeds at everything she does,” international relations, has become eventually took her to classes Amankulova said. and if she gets an opportunity to Yevgeny Mironov and Vladimir screenwriters who have tremen- a movie star. for models. That time, according In the early 2014, Sagatova par- conquer Hollywood she wouldn’t Mashkov, and Zhanna Baizhan- dous faith in their projects,” the “As I enrolled to the faculty of to Assel, her future, successful ticipated in the long awaited pre- miss it. bayeva and Farkhat Abdraimov actress underscored. international relations I was shap- show business career saw the first miere of a new feature, Hunting “To be honest I never aimed among Kazakh stars. “I sincerely wish all my fans an ing my future as contrast and dy- glimpses. the Phantom, where she played the [for Hollywood],” she said, “but “You have probably noticed interesting vivid life full of posi- namic, where I would be working “Undoubtedly, my break through lead female role. if an opportunity arrives or an in- that every season film directors tive emotions, to be healthy and at an embassy constantly travelling role was in perhaps not the most On Sundays, she plays host of teresting proposal or even a little from Kazakhstan release new fea- kind and to love from the heart, to abroad on business trips,” she said successful – Mother’s Cry over the Good Evening Kazakhstan chance, I will try my best to ex- tures. More and more features are dream and treasure every moment! in an interview. “Additionally, I re- Mankurt (2004). My story in cin- entertainment show on the First ploit that chance.” filmed on the film sets of different And if your life surprises you with ally wanted to qualify for the schol- ema starts with this film.” channel Eurasia. She also con- The actress who admires watch- genres, action, children’s features, lemons, squeeze them into lemon- arship, at the time I could pass the Year after another Sagatova tinues cooperation with AVON, ing Leonardo Di Caprio, Johnny drama, musical comedies, car- ade!” she said. B3 Nation&Capital Culture

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Semey Festival Highlights Traditional, Modern Kazakh Crafts ject and is the deputy director of By Aigul Bidanova the Nevzorovs Museum of Fine Arts, said, “The main objective SEMEY – The second “Festival of the project is saving Kazakh of Kazakh Folk Crafts: Traditions art and crafts in traditional forms and Modernity,” organised by the as well as the development and Nevzorovs Museum of Fine Arts rethinking of national traditions. in collaboration with the United Therefore, the young creators Nations Development Programme who found inspiration for the cre- (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, was held ation of contemporary works in on May 10. the Kazakh crafts that came to us More than 60 artists and crafts- through the ages were of particu- men of different nationalities pre- lar interest.” sented 260 creative works, which Compared to 2013, the pro- formed the basis of the exposition, gramme of the festival was which occupied two large halls of more diverse. Master classes on the museum. The works included embroidery, leather work and the products of craft masters from carpet weaving were held. The Semey and the East Kazakhstan cognitive game “My Land” and regions, as well as works of in- the intellectual drill “Myths and vited guests from other cities of Legends of the Kazakh Steppe,” Kazakhstan. were conducted for children and Rakhat Saparaliyeva, chief set adults. designer of Abai Museum Thea- Performances by the team from tre, came from Taraz and Gulnara Mukan Tulebayev Music Col- Tabanova, designer of the State lege, folk orchestra Baige from Academic Opera and Ballet Thea- Abai Theatre and the national tre, came from Almaty. Kalibek staff of the urban culture house Aynazharov from Ayagoz, a par- Gulsymbat helped set the tone for ticipant of the Moscow exhibition the festival. Festival participants “Peace Through Art” and laureate and winners received trophies, of the Samgau prize in Astana, certificates and letters of appreci- also took part. ation made possible by the finan- Svetlana Kilyaoglova, who is cial and organisational support of working on a multi-year art pro- the UNDP in Kazakhstan. Kazakh Folk Crafts Festival’s goal was saving Kazakh art and crafts in traditional forms, the development and rethinking of national traditions. Young Vocalists Bring Artist Yermolenko’s Jubilee Home Gold Exhibiton Held in Almaty By Alina Usmanova His older brother Rustem Zhugu- the international jury and their Continued from Page B1 “First of all, we teach others to These are the three giants for me standing ovation on the very first nussov is a finalist on the show X- see the world differently. Speaking in landscape painting,” continued Ten-year-old Mukhammedali Factor. day. The young vocalist has suc- Zhugunussov won the professional Paintings drawn in nature con- of the Russian landscape painting Yermolenko. Aiym Samekeyeva, 13, won cessfully performed at various vey the fragrance of the grass, school, I want to remember Alex- The artist works with various vocalist award at the 2014 Paradise another gold for Kazakhstan. She music competitions. She was the Holiday international competition earth, wind, the whisper of trees, ey Savrasov who made a great techniques of painting and draw- won first prize at the Spring Voices winner of the international festival held in late April. The best vocal- streams and bird song. That’s why contribution to the rise of realis- ing, creating, along with portraits international vocal competition in Jizerské Beads 2008 in Macedo- ists from 10 countries participated. I love the steppe, mountains, de- tic full-scale landscape painting. and still-life pictures, nude com- Zhugunussov grew up in a crea- China, which was held from April nia and won first prize at the 2009 sert and fields,” Yermolenko said. I admire the genius Fyodor Vasi- positions and abstract works. His tive environment. His mother is an 30 to May 5. The competition was Silver Dolphin international chil- The artist is not inspired by the lyev who lived a short but bright paintings are in the museums of actress who works for the Kalibek attended by children from more dren’s competition in Greece. “very green” summer but prefers life and, of course, Isaac Levitan. more than 20 countries. Kuanyshbayev Kazakh Drama than 30 countries. Selection stand- Zhugunussov and Samekeyeva the fall with its poetic multicolour Theatre, and his father is a pro- ards were very stringent; many are winners of the second Almaly. maturity of nature, flying gossa- ducer. Zhugunussov started study- participants were eliminated be- kz International Children’s Art mers and the spicy heat are much ing music at the age of six. His fore the finals. Festival, which was held in Al- closer to him. first vocal teacher was his mother. Samekeyeva won the hearts of maty from March 20 to 24. After graduation from the Ka- zakh Abai Pedagogical Institute and military service he worked as a designer at the Department of Culture in Talgar town. In 1987, he founded an art studio and was St. Petersburg to Host Days involved in design and advertis- ing. Then he took up painting professionally and taught aca- demic drawing at the institute he of Astana Culture graduated from, then painting and drawing at the Hanshan Pedagogi- cal University (China), where he was awarded the title “Professor of Painting.” Yermolenko is a par- ticipant in various exhibitions and a member of the Artists’ Union of Kazakhstan. Alexander Yermolenko’s pictures show the beauty of nature.

Astana and St. Petersburg are twin towns pursuing wide-ranging cooperation in town planning, communal services, entre- preneurship, tourism and other fields.

By Julia Rutz and other fields. After the creation of vestment cooperation was signed the Custom Union, there is a grow- between Kazakhstan, the Russian ASTANA – Days of Astana Cul- ing business development between Medical University and the di- ture will be held in the Kazakh Kazakhstan and Russia. At the mo- agnostic and treatment centre of capital’s twin city, St. Petersburg, ment, there are more than 4,000 the Sergey Berezin International Russia, on May 17-18. The cel- Russian enterprises in Kazakhstan Institute of Biological Systems, ebration is being organised as part and Kazakhstan is Russia’s third- giving Kazakh students the oppor- of the cooperation agreement con- largest trade partner among the tunity to study in Russian medical cluded between the two states. countries of the Commonwealth of institutions. Nine medical workers According to the mayor of Asta- Independent States (CIS). from Astana completed intern- na’s press service, because Astana Cultural and social ties between ships in St. Petersburg in 2012; in and St. Petersburg are twin towns, the two cities are strong. During 2013, the number grew to 27. In they conduct large-scale coopera- the Astana-St. Petersburg Busi- the first quarter of this year, four tion in town planning, communal ness Forum in November 2013, a medical workers were trained in services, entrepreneurship, tourism memorandum on strategic and in- Russia. B4 Nation&Capital Country

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Triple Celebrations Soviet Soldiers’ Graffiti on Start the Month of Reichstag Open to Public May in Kazakhstan

Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov during a 2013 trip to Berlin visited Reichstag. viet soldiers’ markings from view. On one of the restored walls is the By Ilyas Omarov “Everything that was built after name Dzhilkibayev, and under it the war, in the then-fashionable Alma-Ata, his hometown. The his- BERLIN – After seizing the style of the Bauhaus, has been re- torical inscription was visited by Reichstag in May 1945 and rais- moved, and thus we found the in- representatives of the Kazakh del- ing their flag on its roof, Soviet scriptions left by Soviet soldiers,” egation headed by Foreign Minis- Celebration of the Day of the Unity of the People, Defender of the Fatherland Day and Victory Day is one of the most soldiers left their marks in other Felix said. The inscriptions were ter Erlan Idrissov during his visit anticipated periods in a year. ways, writing their names, feel- later preserved with a special solu- to Berlin last year. ings, thoughts and hometowns – Continued from Page B1 main square to celebrate those who Finally, on May 9, Kazakhstan tion, walls that had blackened with British architect Norman Foster, including Almaty – on the walls of time were cleaned with dry, com- renowned in Kazakhstan for his fought to defend their home soil. commemorated Victory Day. It is the famous building. The flag has “The notion of the officer’s “The parade is a demonstration one of the most touching holiday in pressed air and the original sol- buildings in Astana, led the recon- long since changed, but many of diers’ sentiments made available struction of the German Parliament honour has never been forgotten, of our power, a patriotic education the country, which sent 1,500,000 the inscriptions remain, including and its value has never been belit- for our youth and an uplifting of our of its men and women to fight the for visitors to see. building. In 1999, a new grand some in the meeting room of the “These inscriptions will stay dome of glass and steel with a dia- tled. The true courage of a warrior spirit,” Commander of the Army of Nazis in 1941-1945, of whom only German Parliament. is to be ready for self-sacrifice Kazakhstan Murat Maikeyev said. half returned home. And it is liter- here forever, as it is very important metre of 40 metres and a height of In 1947, by order of the Soviet for us,” Felix said. In her opinion, 23.5 metres was unveiled. Foster for the country and the people. Servicemen and commanders ally touching, as there is almost no commandant, the inscriptions were Setting an example of service to awarded new ranks or high hon- single family in Kazakhstan today “the inscriptions on the Reichstag managed to maintain the historic censored. Obscene graffiti was re- are a part of our common history. look of the Reichstag and simulta- the fatherland, you educate the ours include the following: Deputy that was not affected by that war in moved and several ‘ideologically younger generation and strength- Minister of Defence of Kazakh- one way or another. As they say, the one who does not neously create room for a modern moderate’ expressions were in- know the past does not have a fu- Parliament, open to the outside en the moral foundations of our stan Okas Saparov, Commander On May 9, President Nazarbayev scribed. society. The state expects you to of Air Defence Forces Nurzhan laid flowers to the Defenders of the ture.” world. In 2002, the Bundestag raised Felix has created a small bro- The top of the Reichstag, where actively participate in the forma- Mukanov, Deputy Commander in Fatherland memorial on the right the issue of removing the inscrip- tion of patriotism in Kazakhstan. Chief of Air Defence Forces Marat bank of the Ishim River near the chure, “When history comes to 69 years ago the Soviet flag was tions, but a majority vote rejected life...,” which tells the story of the raised, is now open for visits by I am sure that you will cope with Uashpayev, First Deputy Com- Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the proposal. Most of the surviv- these problems,” President Naz- mander of Regional Command spent time with the veterans of the confluence of history and geogra- appointment through the German ing inscriptions by Soviet soldiers phy through the inscriptions on the Parliament’s website. After the arbayev said. Marat Khusainov, Deputy Chair- bloodiest conflict in the human are in the inner rooms of the Re- walls of the Reichstag. Parliament’s return to Berlin in “To be a general is a great hon- man of the National Security Com- history. ichstag, accessible only to guided Among the numerous inscrip- 1999, the Reichstag building has our and you should carry this rank mittee Samat Abish, head of the Such a day traditionally sees tours. In addition to the graffiti, tions on the Reichstag are traces been visited by more than 13 mil- with dignity. I wish you good Astana Department of the National people of all walks of life and bullet marks on the inside of the left by Kazakh Soviet soldiers. lion people from around the world. health and success in your ser- Security Committee Kurman Ely- age congratulate the veterans and left gable have also been pre- vice,” he told honourees. ubayev, head of the Aktobe De- those who showed heroism work- served. On Defender of the Fatherland partment of the National Security ing deep inside the Soviet Union. Guide Karin Felix, who worked Day, May 7, more than 35 tanks, Committee Nurlan Kydyrbayev, People present them with flowers, on the restoration that uncovered 40 infantry vehicles, 110 armoured Commander of the National Guard gifts, sing them war-time songs the inscriptions, is passionate transporters, 250 other types of of the Interior Ministry Ruslan and generally try to create a festive about sharing these fragments of military vehicles, 56 helicopters Zhaksylykov, First Deputy Com- mood. There are fewer and fewer World War II history. According and military airplanes and over mander in Chief of the National veterans of that war today among to her, after the war, thin plaster 4,000 personnel of various infan- Guard of the Interior Ministry us, as the living ones are in their walls were erected in front of the try units marched through Astana’s Beibit Ashkarov and others. late eighties. old Reichstag walls, hiding the So- Kazakh Youth Optimistic About Economic Future Richard Hoagland, principal dep- their parents’ generation to wish Nurbek, director of the Nur Otan Kazakhstan had an idea or plans to bring Internet access to the en- By Michelle Witte uty assistant secretary at the Bu- for government intervention to Institute of Public Policy, dis- to open a business in the next tire country in 2016-2017. As that reau of South and Central Asian solve problems. cussed the evolution and effect two years, he said, with most happens, “the money will fol- Washington, DC – Kazakh Affairs of the U.S. State Depart- Reflecting the shift to market of the country’s Bolashak schol- young, potential entrepreneurs in low,” he said. Alash Media Hold- youth are optimistic about their ment, called Kazakhstan “already economy policies enacted over arship programme is having on the country interested in retail, e- ing owns such news media outlets economic future and less interest- a regional leader,” with ambitious their lifetimes, young Kazakhs creating the interconnected world commerce, franchising, services as Channel 7 and Tengrinews.kz, ed in politics, despite their increas- goals supported by the United were more likely than their parents mentioned by previous speakers. or agriculture as possible avenues among others. ingly interconnected world, said States. to say that the number of poor peo- Bolashak scholars are returning, for a startup business. Such a list Rauan Kenzhekhanuly, chair- speakers at a panel held at George “Our two countries share a com- ple in Kazakhstan would decrease globally connected. “Kazakhstan reflects the government’s focus on man of the WikiBilim Foundation, Washington University here on mon vision of a more connected in the future and that their intelli- is a young country. We do need developing the agriculture sector, has been fashioning the tools to April 21. Central Asia,” said Hoagland, who gence, skill and hard work would lots of friends, we do need lots of Koktyshev said, adding that agri- create some of that content. Ken- “Youth in Kazakhstan: Soci- had served as the U.S. ambassa- be rewarded. They are more likely relations and connections … All culture didn’t make the same list zhekhanuly has been working etal Changes, Challenges and dor to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. to say that income gaps were good these young people are studying in two years ago. through the challenges of creating Opportunities,” a series of panel He noted that the world could no motivators for people to work hard some top universities in the world, Young entrepreneurs in Ka- a Kazakh language Wikipedia page discussions held by the George longer be divided into blocs and and that it was fair for affluent so they are studying with the future zakhstan face a number of hur- and a Kazakh version of Google’s Washington University’s Central spheres of influence. “A more con- populations to have access to bet- leaders of the world,” Nurbek said. dles, he reported, including an translation service. Creating Ka- Asia Program of its Institute for nected and interdependent world is ter healthcare and housing, he said. They are also running into prob- image problem. In small cities, he zakh language media and Kazakh European, Russian and Eurasian also a more secure, free and pros- They were less likely than their lems back home, including corrup- said, the image of an entrepreneur options is only natural in a culture Studies (IERES), featured pan- perous world, and no country in parents’ and grandparents’ gen- tion, he said. Asked about the clash is still the stereotypical, amoral that is moving toward trilingual- els discussing the confidence of fat cat, especially among ethnic Central Asia stands to gain more erations to resist welfare cuts or to between old styles of getting ahead ism, he said. As for the struggles young Kazakhs in their public and from that vision or is better posi- want government action to correct and a young, educated generation, Kazakhs. A content analysis of over scripts and spellings in the political systems, their preferences tioned to help make it a reality than income inequality. Nurbek said, “[About] whether the Kazakh-language newspapers and Kazakh language, he called it part for their country’s trajectory, their Kazakhstan.” Young people just aren’t that in- local, shrewd public servant, who websites found that they contained of the nation’s long identity crisis. use of language and music in cre- Azamat Junisbai of Pitzer Col- terested in politics, Beysembayev knows the ins and outs of the sys- three times less material about the “This is the identity crisis that we ating identities, the significance of lege and Serik Beysembayev of the reported. Only one in five, his tem is more competitive or the Bo- economy generally and entrepre- overseas study, the development Sociological Centre Strategy in Al- research found, regularly checks lashak graduate – I think in the long neurship, than discussing historical are experiencing right now. We are of young entrepreneurs and the maty, speakers on the panel, “Youth into political processes, primarily term or even in the midterm, he’s [events]. “And 48 percent of those experiencing it quietly, quite calm, growth of Kazakh language media. Identities, National Trends and the urban Kazakh youth. Most of the not competitive. Because inevi- materials drew a negative picture because it’s already been going for Kairat Umarov, Ambassador of Globalisation Process,” found that youth polled believed the country tably, we will come to a situation of an entrepreneur,” he explained, 20 years. There’s no rush. Prob- Kazakhstan to the United States, Kazakhstan’s youth are more in- was moving slowly toward greater … where we will focus on skills, which he said contributes to a chal- ably, we will discuss it for another commented on the contrast of to- terested in economics than policy. participatory democracy, he re- real skills, competencies, the rule lenging entrepreneurial environ- 10 or 20 years. No problem with day’s Kazakh youth to previous Presenting, for the first time, data ported, though many also believed of law, and that’s where the Bolas- ment. However, the Damu fund, that. I just want to see people in generations in his opening re- collected in public opinion surveys democracy in Kazakhstan was hak [and any young citizen] who is the emergence of angel investors Kazakhstan call themselves prop- marks. held in 2007 and 2012-2013 in Ka- “only talk.” Democracy, however, bound to be ethical, who is bound and venture capitalists are support- erly and speak whatever language “When we are talking about zakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Junisbai was not as highly rated a value as to focus on his knowledge and his ing the growth of entrepreneurship, they wish, without any tension,” young people, I think they are ab- highlighted some of the contrasts independence, justice, personal se- skills, he’ll be more competitive in as is the new path of dual education he said. solutely different from those who between Kazakhstan’s youth and curity and freedom. However, his the long run.” the country plans to follow. Other speakers included Olena were brought up during the So- their elders. He painted a picture research found young Kazakhs feel Panellist Pavel Koktyshev, CEO Kazakh language media options Nikolayenko of Fordham Univer- viet Union, because they are more of a young generation more opti- the country should forge its own and cofounder of the Young En- are expanding and poised to be- sity, Megan Rancier of Bowling pragmatic, more ambitious. They mistic about their future and more path. Forty percent of those polled trepreneurs Club, begun in 2011, come profitable, reported Aibek Green State University, Erik Aas- don’t care about some political is- trusting of government and other said Kazakhstan should look up to reviewed the initiatives and limits Aldabergenov of the Alash Me- land of Biola University, Douglas sues, they’re thinking more about large public institutions, including no one, but go its own way. of youth entrepreneurship in Ka- dia Holding, in the panel “Media Blum of Providence University economic prosperity.” banks, higher education and the ju- During the “Youth Empower- zakhstan. A recent survey showed as the Sounding Board of Youth.” and Stefan B. Kirmse of Humbolt Keynote speaker Ambassador dicial system – but less likely than ment Strategies” panel, Sayasat that 82 percent of respondents in The audience will grow with plans University, Berlin. B5 Nation&Capital Society

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 A Major and a Doctor Find Love on the Frontlines we approached the frontline, I gether with Rakhima, they ironed saw broken electrical wires, rails, her tunic, polished her boots. She deep craters on the railway, freight worried a lot, and the girls said, (beautiful cars) were lying upside ‘Maybe he is your fate. If someone down on the road,” she wrote in would want to introduce us to our her diary. countrymen, we would have run to Rakhima and Shakar met each the meeting.’,” Rimma said. other for the first time on a dance The dance floor was crowded. floor. He was an officer, she was a Tango. First, a colonel invited her doctor. And they met on that dance to dance. Then she saw the officer floor at the insistence of a general. whom the general wanted to intro- The general had decided to intro- duce. A tall man with curly hair duce the two fellow Kazakhs to wearing a military officer’s uni- each other, and to make this hap- form did not impress Rakhima. pen as soon as possible, he ordered From the personal diary of Ra- them both to come to the club on khima: Dec. 20, 1944. “We were invited to the offic- From the personal diary of Ra- ers’ club. I danced tango with the khima: colonel. In this club, I met Major “In the camp Paulissa, General Shakar T. Koshkumbayev. When Suleimanov, a Tartar man, intro- I saw him, I thought he had been duced me to my future husband, already married and had five chil- Veterans Shakar and Rakhima Koshkumbayevs met each other on the front- lines. Major Shakar Koshkumbayev. The dren at home.” general got to our hospital before “The first impression was mis- bayeva told in an interview. “In my shift. When I was on duty, he leading. After spending the whole By Yelena Bratukhina 1942, my mother graduated from came to us wearing a uniform with evening together, they started dat- the Almaty Medical Institute. She a general’s epaulets and stripes. ing. Of course, they did not meet KARAGANDA – War. Death. It was called up for military service He said he had left his field bag in consistently. He was an acting of- would seem that it was impossible on June 17, 1943. She was first the waiting room and asked me to ficer. They always met in front of to fall in love in such circumstanc- sent to the Moscow Sanitary Ser- bring it to him. the hospital. He came to see her proposed to the doctor. The doctor ahead with the soldiers and she es. However, people of the war vice Department, where she passed A week passed, Rakhima was when he had time. But she could accepted the proposal. was behind with the doctors. Af- generation lived, loved and held a three-month basic training. Then asked to go to the officers’ ward. not always see him. The head of the hospital, howev- ter the war, they returned to Naro- out hope that they would meet the she got to the surgical hospital of When she came back, she saw this She writes, ‘We slept only two er, was aware of Kazakh traditions Fominsk in the Kantemirovskaya love of their lives under extraor- the First Voronezh Front and then Tartar again. He said he wanted or three hours a day, we were tired. and said to the major, “We will not division, where they got officially dinary circumstances. And here is to the evacuation hospital.” to introduce her to a countryman. Wounded soldiers were arriving. give our doctor to you. Bring the married. The marriage certificate the story of two of them. Rakhima did not know at the She replied that she does not want Doctors ate, had some sleep and bride-price.” says, ‘Officially married in Decem- The touching story of love on time what the new post would to get acquainted with her country- again people were arriving ...’ He It is still a mystery where the ber 1944.’ The marriage certificate the frontlines was told recently bring her. She described her expe- men during the war. would stand at the window, she major in 1944 found several kilo- itself was issued on Feb. 8, 1946. by Rimma Koshkumbayeva from rience in a personal diary, which But the general persisted. He wouldn’t go out and he would grammes of chocolate, fruit and They got married right away when Karaganda, the daughter of the she started after the war. On the decided to use his official position leave. The soldiers knew that he vegetables. But as soon as he they came back. Koshkumbayeva main protagonists of the story. It pages of the notebook, she de- and ordered Rakhima to come to came to see her and always said, brought the promised bride-price, was pregnant at that time and her was not fate that brought her par- scribed everything that happened the officers’ club. Orders are not ‘Comrade lieutenant, your major they got married in the hospital. grandfather took her to Karaganda. ents together, but a general. to her during the war. discussed. And that evening the was waiting and left.’ He always They modestly decorated one of Koshkumbayev stayed until June “My father Shakar Koshkum- “First impressions: my con- doctor’s friends helped prepare her brought chocolate or perfume to the rooms of the hospital and in- 1946. He could not immediately bayev was born in the Karaganda sciousness did not realise what war for her first date. her. He always had something to vited the hospital staff and fellow leave because he was an officer. region, Yegindybulak district, and was, although I had seen wounded She could not disobey an order. bring,” Rimma said. soldiers to the wedding. Then he returned to the family. my mother Rakhima came from warriors in practice when I stud- “He was a general, but she was first He did not wait for a long time “That’s how they were together They lived together for a lifetime Orenburg,” Rimma Koshkum- ied in the medical institute. When lieutenant. Russian girls served to- and a short time after they met, he until the end of the war. He went and gave birth to five children. InterNations Unites Astana Expats Almaty Marathon tendees shows much more variety and includes ambassadors, lecturers, teachers, company owners, general managers, engineers, lawyers, ho- Reaches International teliers, architects, musicians, etc. We are so happy to see this because the more the variety, the more colourful Standards, Attracts the gatherings are. To be honest, one of the biggest issues that we have to deal with is choosing a venue. We organise 7,000 Racers events twice a month and every time, organisation of this year’s event, we have to find different venues in Yuri Lifintsev which to gather. There are many including the track, catering and criteria, but some of them are more healthcare facilities, but some ALMATY – The recent third in- complained about the lack of dif- important than others. The venue ternational Almaty Marathon drew fering age groups that are found in must be large enough to welcome all about 7,000 runners from 25 coun- races in other countries. of our attendees. Then, service, food tries. The men’s winner was Almat and beverages, music and the sound Over the last year, the Almaty and light system quality are consid- Marathon has been brought up to Imashev, who finished in two ered. The venue price also must be international standards, including hours, 36 minutes and 21 sec- reasonable because we don’t want an exact distance of 42 kilometres onds. Imashev also won last year our members to face outlandish fees. and 195 metres, and is now seen and says his goal is to reach the Most attendees are expats that don’t Olympic Games in Rio de Janei- Regulars and newcomers of the InterNations event. as on par with major runs in Paris, know the city as well as local peo- New York, Boston and Amster- ro. Gulzhanat Zhanabek won the ple, so transportation is another key dam. women’s race. By Jan Furst should know. Every month, Inter- posed that he join the ambassador criterion. Our members must be able Another novelty at the marathon The event also included a phil- Nations events take place in numer- team with me. When he accepted, to easily reach the venue. For that this year was the use of electronic anthropic element. Astana Motors ASTANA – Regulars and new- ous communities worldwide, giving we started working together. reason, pictures and location maps chips that attached to the racers’ President Nurlan Smagulov, an ac- comers had a chance to test their sal- expatriates the chance to meet each of venues are placed in all of our an- number and automatically tracked tive participant in sporting events sa moves recently thanks to the ex- other in an exclusive and interna- What is the average attendance nouncements. Owners of new ven- their participation. Chips used in in Almaty, donated an ambulance per event? patriates organisation InterNations’ tional environment. InterNations ues reach out to us about organising the past required runners to stop to the Institute of Oncology and Although we don’t do much ad- Salsa event at the RBG restaurant at provides a unique platform for expa- events at their facility. We evaluate and manually register them during money was raised to provide medi- vertising while preparing for an the Park Inn Hotel. triates to network and interact within these requests against our above the race. cal care for two children in South event, our events quickly become InterNations Astana ambassador a cosmopolitan community geared mentioned criteria, too. Racers seemed pleased with the Korea. Anara Zhabaginova recently told towards their unique needs.” very anticipated because of the vari- ous shows and music performances The Astana Times what InterNations “InterNations came to Almaty How do people find out about we put on and the chance to taste dif- stands for and why it is important to four-five years ago and it was the your upcoming events? ferent foods and beverages and meet have such organisations in Astana. first organisation of its type inKa- Our members register on our web- other guests. InterNations’ events in “InterNations is an expatriate zakhstan. The ambassadors were site: www.internations.org. Every community for people living and Natasha Kurkchi and Denis Van Astana gather about 150-200 profes- sionals once every two weeks and time we have a new event, we send working abroad, but it also wel- Den Weghe. Since then, many things invitations to their profiles and mail- comes those with a global mindset. have changed and the organisation this number increases each month. Participants come from different ing address. Expats in Kazakhstan are welcome has started to explore new cities InterNations Astana offers not to join our network of like-minded like Astana and Atyrau. The Astana countries, cultures, ages, business fields and walks of life. Gatherings only these “Get Togethers,” but also people that is characterised by trust chapter opened in February 2013,” of that many global minds and the local activity groups, such as City and confidence,” Zhabaginova said. Zhabaginova said. resulting community that is built up Trotters and those for health, tennis, “We connect expatriates with their must be special for our members. arts, karaoke, etc. Our members can peers in their new country of resi- How did you become involved easily meet with other members who dence. We are in touch with over in it? Who are the attendees in regards have similar interests or hobbies in 250 local expatriate communities I became involved even before to profession and country of ori- these local activity groups. If these around the world and are uniting I lived in Almaty. Two years ago, I gin? groups do not attract people, they members of 180 nationalities who moved to Astana and met my friend, According to official reports dated can easily create their own local work for international companies, who was an InterNations ambassa- March 31, 2014, Astana currently groups. political and non-governmental dor in Almaty. He gave me the idea hosts 62 embassies and three con- As InterNations Astana Ambas- organisations and diplomatic mis- to be an InterNations ambassador sulates. We know that InterNations sadors, we wish to expand our com- sions. Through InterNations, expa- here. Then, I made contact with the Astana has registered members from munity in the name of globalism, triates can find advice on the expa- head office located in Munich and around 55 different countries. The peace, friendship and last but not triate life as well as support all over after a few interviews, they decided average variation in countries repre- least, fun. We are very grateful for the world. Our expat guide and our to make me an ambassador of the sented at each InterNations event is our current globally minded mem- local forums offer helpful tips on Astana community. I then contacted about 25-30. bers and the future we will have to- Philanthropic Almaty marathon runners overcome 42 kilometres places to see and things that expats my friend Alex Carpanini and pro- The list of professions of our at- gether with them. and 195 metres. B6 Nation&Capital Tourism

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Archaeological Park to be Opened on Moroccan Delegation Taraz Medieval Citadel Site Discusses Cooperation By Rufiya Ospanova in Tourism, Governance, ASTANA – An archeological park will be opened by 2017 in Inter-religious Dialogue Taraz on the site of the medieval By Julia Rutz promote successful inter-religious citadel, Deputy Akim (Governor) dialogue within the state. That is of the Zhambyl region Gali Iskali- ASTANA – A delegation of Mo- why our countries could act to- yev announced recently. roccan parliamentarians headed gether, bringing new initiatives to “We have a unique opportunity by Speaker of Morocco’s House the world to bring peace and toler- to demonstrate Taraz’s 2000 years of Councillors Mohamed Cheikh ance between Muslim and Western of history. During the excavations, Biadillah visited Astana on April communities,” Tokayev explained. which have been ongoing for two 23. The visit came at the invitation During the briefing, Biadillah years, archaeologists have discov- of Kazakh Senate Speaker Kasym- noted the significant contribution ered the citadel, a mosque from the Jomart Tokayev. This is the first vis- made by Kazakhstan to improve 8th or 9th century, a well and much it Moroccan representatives have cooperation between Asia and more. After the excavation of 10 paid Kazakhstan since establishing Europe. The parliamentarian also hectares, the idea for an archaeo- diplomatic relations in 1992. mentioned Kazakhstan’s stable de- logical park was presented. We The Senate press service stressed velopment over recent years. will strive to accommodate and “Both the President of Kazakh- Future archeological park in Taraz is expected to also attract tourists who will come to visit EXPO 2017. Morocco’s importance to Kazakh- draw tourists here during EXPO stan as an example of tourism de- stan … and King of Morocco Mo- 2017,” Iskaliyev said. velopment. Morocco’s stability, hammed VI put great emphasis on According to him, there will tourists how the city appeared in are able to experience the Middle senger terminal with modern cus- geographical position and highly international and regional stability. be about 15 projects, including a ancient times. Ages,” the deputy akim continued. tomer service technology will be developed infrastructure draw Apart from that, they also promote hammam, a Turkish-style bath, “The park will be surrounded by The authorities also plan to com- put into operation. There are plans more than 10 million tourists to the dialogue between civilisations and and a madrasah, a traditional Is- a historically accurate high wall pletely remodel Taraz’s Aulie-Ata to launch new international flights country each year. Europeans make world religions on the international lamic school. The intent is to show so that tourists who visit the park Airport. Later in 2014, a new pas- from Russia, China and Turkey. up the largest chunk of visitors. scene. Such dialogue promotes in- “We also have renewable energy Tokayev expressed confidence ternational security,” Biadillah said. sources, both solar and wind. Inves- that this visit would boost further During the visit, the Moroccan tors are willing to invest more in a mutually beneficial Kazakh-Mo- delegation met students from the number of projects,” Iskaliyev said. roccan cooperation. The speakers Eurasian National University and The total cost of the archaeo- agreed to promote the develop- visited the Museum of the First logical park project, according ment of interparliamentary coop- President in Astana. to preliminary data, is estimated eration. Tokayev also explained According to Kazakhstan’s Na- at 80 billion tenge (US$439 mil- the new Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy tional Statistics Agency, the total lion). Most of this amount is in and invited his Moroccan counter- volume of commodity circulation the form of private investments. parts to take part in the upcoming between Kazakhstan and Morocco President of Kazakhstan Nursultan exhibition, EXPO 2017, in Astana. comprised $86 million in the past Nazarbayev observed the excava- Inter-religious dialogue is an- year. Total exports were $73 mil- tion in 2013. For archaeological other promising field for mutual lion; imports, $13 million. Kazakh- works, a total of 100 million tenge cooperation. Tokayev, who heads stan exported chemical products (US$549,000) was allocated from the Secretariat of the Congresses and sulphur to Morocco, among the Zhambyl regional budget. The of Leaders of World and Tradition- other goods. Morocco exported President also visited the Tole bi al Religions, said he hoped to see citrus fruits to Kazakhstan. High- Alibekuly monument, which was King Mohammed VI of Morocco priority sectors including alterna- erected in honour of the historical at the next session in 2015. tive energy sources and agriculture figure’s 350th birthday; the height “Kazakhstan highly values ef- were among those named as possi- of the monument is 10.5 metres. forts made by the Moroccan king to ble areas of expanded cooperation. Golden Woman Burial in West Kazakhstan Recognised Unique and headdress. Next to her, about By Alina Usmanova 80 gold ornaments were found: a mirror, a knife, a bronze cauldron Remains of the Golden Woman and an altar. The wooden comb, in the West Kazakhstan region which was also found in the burial were recently recognised by sci- mound and which depicts the bat- entists as the most ancient burial tle scenes in the war of Sakas and found in Kazakhstan. Persians, is considered by scien- “Based on the results of labora- tists a unique artifact. tory studies, it was found that the According to Batyrkhanov, sci- burial relates to the 6th-5th cen- entists from Japan, Germany and tury BC and is the oldest of the Russia were involved in the study, ‘golden’ burials found in Kazakh- research and restoration of the re- stan,” Aidar Batyrkhanov, head of mains of the Golden Woman and the department of culture, archives discovered artifacts. Currently, and documentation of the West works on design of the Golden Kazakhstan region said at a May 6 woman exhibition are underway. press conference. In order to promote the historical The Golden Woman burial was and cultural heritage, two sculp- discovered in 2012 at the Taksay 1 tures of the Golden Woman were complex of the West Kazakhstan made, the catalogue “Early No- region. The burial dates back to the mads of Western Kazakhstan” (on Sarmatian period. the example of Taksay complex)” This is the burial of a noble fe- and the booklet “The Crest of Tak- male priestess in appropriate attire say” were published.

Excavation of the Golden Woman remains in the West Kazakhstan region. B7 Nation&Capital Sports

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Kazakhstan’s Women’s Football Team Advances in World Cup Qualifier captain Begaim Kirgizbayeva the national anthem of his native By Ilyas Omarov scored during the 21st and 34th country and enjoy the defeat of minutes. At the end of the first Bulgaria. ASTANA – In the qualify- half, Borislava Kireva upped the In turn, the captain of the Ka- ing match for the 2015 Women’s match’s high level of suspense zakh team, Begaim Kirgizbayeva, World Cup, Kazakhstan defeated by scoring for Bulgaria in the said she hoped the match will be Bulgaria 4-1 here on May 7. 43rd minute. But in the second the beginning of a series of future From the very beginning of half, Maria Yalova finalised the the match, the visiting team score during minute 70, leav- wins. was kept on the defensive and ing the Bulgarian team with no This win elevated the Kazakh during the ninth minute, Ma- chance of winning. team from seventh to fifth place in dina Zhanatayeva opened the Ironically, the Kazakh squad is the standings with four points. scoring table with a spectacu- coached by Bulgarian Kaloyan The next game is scheduled lar free kick that penetrated the Petkov, who admitted after the for June 14; the team will play at Bulgarian defence. Then, team match that it was very hard to hear home against Hungary. Women’s World Cup qualifier game between Kazakhstan and Bulgaria. Kazakh Delegation Attends Kazakh Wrestler Wins 77th AIPS Congress Gold at Asian Wrestling Continued from Page B1 The FIFA World Cup, to be held Championships in Brazil this June-July, was a sub- medal in the Asian Champion- gramme) won bronze on the sec- ject of particular attention. By Michelle Witte ships; she also won in 2010, 2011 ond day of competition. Three Kazakh channels, Ka- and 2012. She won the bronze The Japanese women’s team was zakhstan, KAZSport and First Kazakh wrestler Gyuzel Many- medal for Kazakhstan in the 72 the overall winner of the competi- Channel Eurasia, will broadcast urova won gold at the Asian Wres- kilogramme weight class at the tion, with three gold medals and the event. It is for such broadcast- tling Championships held in Asta- London Olympics in 2012 and 66 points. China and Kazakhstan ers like that that head of media at na from April 23-27. The victory is took silver at the 2004 Olympics followed with two gold medals the World Cup 2014 Alan LeBlanc her fourth top finish in five years. in Athens, then competing for Rus- each. Kazakhstan’s women came explained the intricacies of cover- Competing in the 75 kilo- sia. in fourth in points, with 54 overall. age for several groups of the sports gramme weight category, Many- The Kazakh women’s team of The combined men’s and wom- press. urova, who is also the head coach eight wrestlers won two gold and en’s teams won a total of 14 med- AIPS representatives took of the women’s wrestling team, three bronze medals at this year’s als at the championships, more part in the forum along with the defeated Gulmira Ismatova of Asian Wrestling Championships. than any other team. world-renowned sports news Uzbekistan and the Dalit wres- Tatyana Amanzhol took home The men’s Asian Wrestling agencies, in particular Agence tler Jyoti from India to reach the gold on the first day in the 48 Championships have been held France-Presse, L’Equipe, Gazetta final round. In a closely fought fi- kilogramme category, and Yekat- since 1979; women have partici- dello Sport and other representa- nal match, Manyurova beat Zhou erina Larionova (63 kilogramme), pated since 1996. Athletes from 19 tives of various printed media, ra- Aiym Abdildina (55 kilogramme) countries across the Asian continent dio and TV. Feng of China, 7-6. Kazakhstan drew a lot of atten- AIPS President Gianni Merlo (l) and Ilyas Omarov (r) at the 77th congress of This is Manyurova’s fourth gold and Elmira Syzdykova (69 kilo- participated in this year’s event. tion: many attendees, including sports journalists in Baku. AIPS President Gianni Merlo, journalists, the Olympics would Press Association, which unites remembered the Asian Games in not exist today. Bach invited par- nearly one hundred and fifty na- 2011 and talked about the upcom- ticipants to contribute to the road tional unions. ing Winter Universiade 2017 in map of the future of the Olympic Since 1995, at the AIPS’s ini- Journalists Can Play Football Too Almaty and Almaty’s bid to host movement. This goes in the same tiative, the International Day of the Winter Olympics in 2022. In assistance of the Astana-1964 gained immense popularity among By Arsen Dilim this regard, they expect Kazakh vein as an updated motto of the Sports Journalists has been cel- football club, the Football Feder- employees of Internet portals, sport journalism to be active, Sports Press Association of Ka- ebrated on July 2. The AIPS me- ation of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh- newspapers, magazines, radio and particularly in organising semi- zakhstan, which was terms by its diates between the international ASTANA – A traditional mini- stan Sports Press Association, television. nars for reporters, participating president Ilyas Omarov as “sports press, athletes and sponsors and football tournament among Ka- the Astana-Arena stadium and Traditionally, the tournament in training programmes for young diplomacy.” organises meetings and seminars zakhstan media representatives the management of the national was held in Almaty on Berdiku- correspondents and communicat- AIPS is an international profes- for young journalists. dedicated to the memory of a teams and sports reserve. Twelve lov’s birthday – on May 9. From ing and working with the most sional organisation of journalists Today, the AIPS numbers more prominent public figure, publicist, teams from different regions of this year on, it was decided to important international sport fed- founded in 1924. On July 2, 2013, than 9,500 sports journalists from writer and sports journalist Sei- Kazakhstan took part at the tour- hold this tournament in Astana, erations. at the international congress of more than 150 countries. Ka- dakhmet Berdikulov took place on nament. because most of the national International Olympic Commit- representatives of the sports press zakhstan has been a member of May 9-10. This tournament, with its media are based and work in the tee (IOC) President Thomas Bach in Paris, it was decided to create the AIPS since 1992, and today The Agency for Sports and tongue-in-cheek motto “Journal- capital. At the same time, geogra- paid tribute to AIPS in a video ad- an international professional or- it counts 43 domestic journalists Physical Education of Kazakh- ists can play football too,” has phy of participants expands every dress. He said that without sports ganisation, the International Sports among its members. stan organised the event with the been held since 1995 and has year. Arlans Defeat Baku Fires in Almaty, Lose in Baku in Controversial Clash reporters wittily concluded, the mashkevich of the Baku Fires and despite his young age has been in By Almir Iskakov Astana Arlans-Baku Fires fight the win was given to the Azeri WSB since the first season, faced “was won by the referees.” fighter once again. Haji Murtazaliev (4WP/3TKO). ASTANA – Kazakh boxing The first bout in the 52 kg cate- The welterweight fight had Murtazaliev took a good punching club Astana Arlans beat the Baku gory pitted Ilyas Suleimenov from some controversy for the Astana from Croatian for four rounds and Fires from Azerbaijan 3:2 in the Arlans against Elvin Mamishzada. Arlans as the captain of the Na- eventually Murtuzaliev was given first semifinal round match of the The Fire’s fighter seemed to be tional Team and World Champion an 8 count in round four but even World Series of Boxing (WSB) overwhelmed by his fatigue in the Daniyar Yeleussinov who was then in the end, despite Hrgovic’s held on April 26 in Almaty, before 4th and 5th rounds had thrown chosen to represent Kazakhstan dominance and a knock down the losing in Baku in a controversial back a few punches, but the Ka- in Azerbaijan decided not to fight. referee lifted Murtuzaliev’s hand. match, 2:3 on May 3. zakh boxer outclassed him with The management of the Arlans had Sports.kz wrote: “Hrgovic-Mur- The first leg of the semifinals his technique and precision. The already sent another welterweight tuzaliev fight barely started when was held at the Almaty Sport Pal- The controversial fight between Astana Arlans and Baku Fires. ace, giving the Kazakh team the referees still preferred Azeri boxer boxer Meirim Nursultanov home the live score on the official web- home advantage, a privilege the and gave him the win. and they had only three days to site disappeared and (…) then sud- “Fine, perhaps in round one was a big mistake on behalf of the Baku Fires enjoyed in the second In the 60 kg category, the bout prepare Manat Omerzakov to fight denly Filip lost before coming to Azeri boxer could punch back, the referees: in a round where Hrgovic leg in Azerbaijan. was quick. The captain of the Asta- Ramashkevich. the ring”. The Astana Arlans fans bout was somewhat equal but in won by knock down, the points The results were: Temirtas Zhu- na Arlans Samat Bashenov, who “Manat is similar in boxing were outraged and the posts with the last three rounds he was clue- were counted incorrectly. As far as supov (49 kg) defeated Khamza had previously lost to his opponent manner to Ramashkevich and he the scoring screen shot went viral less as to what to do and sought I know, according to the rules of Nametov — 3:0 (49:46, 49:46, Albert Selimov, in the first round had some successful moments, but on social media. shelter from the Kazakh boxer. the WSB, the points are counted as 50:45), Madi Shulakov (56 kg) had a good number of precise jabs. overall Ramashkevich outclassed “New rules state that you can ap- Additionally, he was given a warn- in professional boxing – the win- lost to Gairbek Germakhanov — In the first round, Bashenov lost to him,” Korchinsky said. peal against referee decision only. ing, knocked down and still won,” ner receives 10 points, the loser 1:2 (46:49, 47:48, 49:46), Askhat Selimov with 9:10, 9:10, 9:10. On In light heavyweight 81 kg cat- (…) Everyone knew that Cuba was Sapiyev commented. “This is box- – nine. If the knockdown was re- Ualikhanov (64 kg) was beaten the 34th second of the 2nd round, egory, Hrvoje Sep fought against going into the finals. The Cuba- ing, anything could happen, and it corded, the score should not have by Gaibatulla Gadzhialiyev — Bashenov got a split eyebrow. the Baku Fires’ Mikhail Daukalia- Russia fight was not as important has happened to me too, and I am been 10:9, but 10:8. Also, the score 1:2 (50:45, 46:49, 47:48), Sergey The WSB doctor surprisingly an- vets from Bulgaria. The Baku Fires as ours, but all the WSB represent- outraged by this,” he added. is counted like that if one of the Derevyanchenko (75 kg) won with nounced a technical knock-out and boxer kept clinching Sep from the atives were there and none came PR Director of the Samruk Ka- boxers gets a warning. I would say a technical knockout against Sol- the score was 0:2. first round. Sep managed to con- to our fight. That says a lot. And zyna Fund, Board Member of the that Hrgovic should have won this tan Migitinov, and Vasily Levyt “We have our own doctor and nect a number of uppercuts while the computer broke right before Presidential Professional Sports round from all three judges 10:8. (91 kg) was victorious over Ab- we would have continued the fight in clinch. In the fourth round, Dau- the deciding fight. As always,” the Club Astana Aidar Makhmetov And what did we see? Two judges dulkadir Abdullayev — 3:0 (49:46, even though the eyebrow split was kaliavets had some impressive mo- head coach of the Astana Arlans also commented on the most con- gave 10:9 to Philip, and the third 50:45, 50:45). serious and [Bashenov] got stiches ments, but Sep beat Daukaliavets commented. troverial match: “First, everybody and all saw the victory of Azerbai- In Baku, Astana Arlans faced afterwards,” the coach of the Asta- as a result to get the first point for The Kazakh London 2012 saw that Hrgovic drove his op- jani - 9:10. We witnessed a huge off against tough decisions from na Arlans Sergei Korchinsky com- Astana 1:3. Olympic Champion, Val Barker ponent around the ring, who was mistake that cost us a victory in the referees. The match left many mented on the TKO. In the 91 kg fight the 21-year- Trophy holder Serik Sapiyev also looking for the fifth corner. These the end. Given the bias of referees, boxing experts puzzled about the In the 69 kg category, Manat old heavyweight Astana’s Croatian commented on the referees’ deci- were two boxers of completely Azerbaijani boxer in this fight had result and as one of the Kazakh Omerzakov faced Yauheni Ra- Filip Hrgovic (13WP / 5TKO), who sion in the last fight: different classes. Secondly, there to remain standing.” B8 Nation&Capital Capital

Wednesday, may 14, 2014 Charity Lunch Honours World War II Veterans generation, are grateful to you. “Allow me to wish you good By Rufiya Ospanova Only thanks to you could we have health, happiness and peace on achieved the success we enjoy to- behalf of the sponsor, Tengizshev- ASTANA – A charity luncheon day. Your blood, which was shed roil,” Artygaliyev said in conclu- for Astana World War II veterans during this war, is unforgettable to sion. sponsored by Tengizshevroil was us. My father served in World War Rysty Atygaeva, chair of the held on May 6 at the Rixos Hotel. II, unfortunately he is no longer board of veterans of Astana’s “I would like to thank all of you with us, but he always had one Yessil district, also welcomed the for coming to our event to com- memorate [Victory Day of] May answer when I asked him what he guests. 9. I hope you enjoy the event and would wish for on May 9. He said, The purpose of the event was to hope to see you next year,” Luc- ‘Ensure that our country will never provide veterans with an opportu- ciano Sozzo, director general of see war again.’ I wish for peace, nity to socialise. Rixos Astana, said in his opening stability and progress. Therefore, Guests at the event made toasts remarks before handing over the today’s event, which we have or- and thanked everyone for their part floor to Rzabek Artygaliyev, direc- ganised jointly with Rixos Hotel, in organising the luncheon. Every tor general of Tengizshevroil. is a small contribution for that big May, events dedicated to Victory “Dear veterans, we, the younger deed,” Artygaliyev said. Day are held at the Rixos. Veterans at the charity lunch organised to thank them for restoring peace in 1945. Fryday Astana Professional Community Celebrates Second Anniversary Fryday Astana representative the business cards and some inter- Merey Mustafina, who manages esting prizes,” Surdeanu said. the networking organisation’s “[It was] well organised and events in Astana. Each month, promoted, attracted quite a big Fryday invites young profession- number of people. I would have als to meet at different venues, appreciated a Russian and English including restaurants, clubs and speech, but that’s because my Rus- lounge bars. The events are de- sian is still terrible,” he said. The signed to be opportunities to both party was a good mix of business relax with friends as well as to and networking, he added, and do a bit of after-hours network- more relaxed than typical Fryday ing, making contacts and sharing events. ideas. Fryday Astana’s guests are “Congratulations Fryday Asta- Merey Mustafina mostly local entrepreneurial Ka- na! Thank you [Fryday Astana] for something like Fryday brings the zakhs, but the event is increas- uniting Astana’s young profession- ingly popular with the capital’s als [and] becoming the centre of needed flavour to it; networking expatriates. vivacious energy, enthusiasm and for young professionals is exactly The Fryday concept, originally certainly networking!” Gulnara what Astana lacked for years,” founded in Ukraine, has today Zhakupova, executive MBA pro- Raushan Makhmutova, a project spread across Europe, Central gramme manager at Nazarbayev coordinator for a construction Asia and the countries of the Com- University’s business school and company, said. “On a personal monwealth of Independent States. co-chair of the Astana Lady’s note, these events are always Fryday Astana has grown quickly Club, said in a speech. well thought-out; kudos to Merey from the original dozen or so cu- “I remember how difficult it was Mustafina. I have become a regu- rious people the group began with at first to gather the conservative lar at Fryday for quite some time two years ago. public of Astana,” she continued. and I always encourage my friends “[There were] a lot more people “I myself missed a couple of the to come.” than usually come at Fryday Asta- first events and look at it now: over Fryday has also branched out na, with a good mix of expats and 300 young professionals gather into Fryday W, a focused weekday locals,” said Edward Surdeanu, an on a monthly basis to share news, meeting for experts from specific By Jan Furst and Gareth Stamp social networking group for young RBG Restaurant with mingling English teacher working for Inter- contacts and look for networking sectors. The most recent Fryday W professionals in Astana, celebrated and music on April 25. press Astana. “[I] liked the prize ideas.” targeted the future IT opportunities ASTANA – Fryday Astana, the its second birthday at the capital’s The event was organised by and the idea of participating with “Astana is a young capital and in Kazakhstan. Role of Women in New Economy to be Discussed at Astana Economic Forum of Kazakhstan in Ukraine Halyna Maslyuk. Held annually since 2008, the AEF gathers world leaders, experts and public and business represent- atives to find solutions to current economic and social challenges. Since 2012, the Association of Businesswomen of Kazakhstan has held women’s forums within the larger AEF to discuss women’s issues and important public issues relating to quality of life. The women’s forums were in- spired by Kazakh President Nur- sultan Nazarbayev’s state-of-the- nation addresses, which emphasise the role of women in the develop- ment of society, the importance of small and medium-sized enterpris- training sessions by recognised es and the importance of women’s By Rufiya Ospanova business coaches. entrepreneurship for successful Confirmed forum participants economic development. ASTANA – The international include Afghan Minister of Wom- The World Economic Forum’s women’s forum, “G-Global – the en’s Affairs Husn Banu Ghazanfar, Global Gender Gap Report of Role of Women in the New Econo- Member of the Zhogorgy Kenesh 2013 ranked Kazakhstan 32nd out my,” will be held within the Astana (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Repub- of 136 countries in terms of gen- Economic Forum (AEF) on May lic and Chair of the Committee on der equality. Recently, legislative 21-22. Parliamentary Procedure and Eth- and social initiatives have been The programme of the forum ics Ainuru Altybayeva, Member of put into place to increase wom- includes two sessions: “Leader- Legislative Chamber of the Oliy en’s representation in decision- ship of Women in Political and Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan making processes. The country is Economic Life” and “The Role of Dzhamiliya Niyazova, Member in the midst of a 10-year plan to Central Asian and Afghan Women of the Majlis Namoyandogan of see women hold 30 percent of all in the Development of the New Tajikistan Sabokhat Mukumova, decision-making positions in gov- Economy.” Within the forum, the Member of the Mejlis of Turkmen- ernment by 2016. The country has Association of Businesswomen of istan Geren Kazakova, President already achieved most of its Mil- Kazakhstan will organise master of the World Women Inventors and lennium Development Goals with classes by world experts and lead- Entrepreneur’s Association Mi- regard to gender equality, particu- ers of the women’s movement and Young Han and Honourary Consul larly in access to education.