+33° / +20°C WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 No 14 (176) www.astanatimes.com Nationwide clean-up effort nets more Tokayev establishes National than 15,000 tonnes of garbage Council to strengthen public’s

By Aidana Yergaliyeva

NUR-SULTAN – A one-day, engagement in reform agenda nation-wide volunteer effort to Ashimbaev, Andrei Chebotarev clean parks, ponds, riverbanks and By Aidana Yergaliyeva and Rasul Zhumaly, among others. coastal regions on July 27 collect- The National Council also in- ed 15,044 tonnes of garbage across NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Presi- cludes commissioners for human 4,071 hectares of land, Minister of dent Kassym-Jomart Tokayev rights in Kazakhstan, for chil- Ecology, Geology and Natural Re- established July 17 the National dren’s rights and the ombudsman sources Magzum Mirzagaliyev an- Council of Public Trust to make for the protection of entrepreneurs. nounced July 28 via Twitter. government more responsive to A full list of members can be found Approximately 197,000 people the people. on the Akorda (presidential resi- participated in the clean-up that The National Council is an advi- dence) website. rallied under the Twitter hashtags sory body to the President and will “We can say (they are) leaders of #Birge #TazaQazaqstan (#Togeth- make public policy recommenda- public opinion. That is, according er #CleanKazakhstan). tions after broad discussion with to the composition of the National “I sincerely thank everyone representatives of the public, po- Council, we see that these are all who participated in the #Birge litical parties and civil society. the people that have been very #TazaQazaqstan environmental The council includes 44 public active in Kazakh platforms in re- clean-up campaign! The action figures, civil society activists, hu- cent years. It can be in social net- should not be a one-off. I urge man rights activists and journal- works, platforms for dialogue, ex- everyone to follow this tradition ists. pert communities. That is, people further to inculcate a culture of Tokayev will chair the council. with a very active civic stand. The separate garbage collection to their Presidential Administration Head National Council of Public Trust compatriots,” said the minister. Krymbek Kusherbayev is deputy is a kind of permanent dialogue The Karaganda Region collected chair, while Presidential Advisor platform,” Kazakhstan Institute the most trash at 4,110 tonnes, fol- astana.gov.kz. Photo credit: Yerlan Karin is the secretary of the for Strategic Studies International lowed by the Kyzylorda Region at council. Studies Department Head Assel 4,106 and the Akmola Region at More than 5,000 Nur-Sultan said Kulginov during the July 27 great! More of these campaigns to- Among the members are candi- Nazarbetova told 24.kz. 1,885. residents collected more than 16 clean-up in Nur-Sultan. gether we will keep the cleanliness dates from the June 9 presidential The council selected its mem- Mirzagaliyev launched an ear- tonnes of garbage on the shores Among participants were repre- and ecology of our city. We’ll start election Dania Yespaeva, Tole- bers “taking into account how long lier and similar clean-up July 20 at of Lake Maibalyk, the coastal ter- sentatives of state and public or- here, then more and more,” said utai Rakhimbekov and Zhambyl they were engaged in the actuali- the Koyandy reservoir. More than ritory of the Vyacheslav reservoir ganisations, students, volunteers, participant Chingiz Albekov. Akhmetbekov. The council also sation of certain problems,” said 1,200 people collected more than and along the banks of the Karasu public figures, government -mem Kazakh President Kassym- includes public figures such as Karin at a July 17 press briefing. 10 tonnes of garbage that day. Ka- and Yessil rivers. bers and the capital akimat em- Jomart Tokayev also supported the political scientist and BTS Digital “We have a lot of so-called situ- zakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin “Despite the fact that today is a ployees. campaign. Chair Sayasat Nurbek, Kazakhstan ational leaders who appear today, also took part in the event. day off, many people have come “It’s great that most people take “We strongly support the eco- Media Alliance CEO Armanzhan raise some questions, and tomor- “Last week this campaign was to support the eco-campaign and part in the clean-up event. Espe- challenge movement that has Baitassov, lawyer Ayman Omaro- row they disappear abruptly from initiated by our government, now it help clean up debris from the ter- cially that there are many young spread throughout the country at va, activist Mukhtar Taizhan, the informational, social and po- is a large-scale national campaign ritories. Thank you for not being people. This shows our unity and the initiative of the government journalist Mikhail Dorofeyev, as litical field. We cannot rely on #Birge #TazaQazaqstan. I think indifferent. We need to protect solidarity,” said Minister of Labour and civil society. Turn the coun- well as political scientists Aidos them,” Karin added. it is a very wonderful start,” said our nature. We love to relax in the and Social Protection Berdibek Sa- try into a territory of cleanliness. Sarym, Oraz Dzhandosov, Daniyar Continued on Page A2 Nur-Sultan Akim (Mayor) Altay fresh air; likewise, we have to love parbayev. Bіrge – Taza Kazakhstan! Well Kulginov, reports the capital aki- to clean up after ourselves. Clean- “This gives an opportunity to done volunteers!” Tokayev said mat (administration) press service. liness must begin with oneself,” unite, do one thing. I think this is July 25 via Twitter. Kazpost delivers cutting-edge President seeks more jobs, aid to most services after transformation elled 16 days to reach certain lo- By Aidana Yergaliyeva calities, but Kazpost has reduced vulnerable, better conditions for business maximum delivery time within the During the years of industrialisa- a one-time nature,” said Tokayev. a nearby weapons depot which NUR-SULTAN – Kazpost, which country to four-six days. The ex- By Aidana Yergaliyeva tion, more than 1,200 enterprises “But what we have announced to caused the evacuation of a town began updating all of its services pedited distribution is the result of were commissioned, new jobs all the people must be completed of 40,000. Tokayev demanded and processes five years ago, has entirely revised activities, such as NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Presi- were created, new productions ap- on time and efficiently.” from the Ministry of Defence to seen a tremendous spurt in develop- a new sorting line with round-the- dent Kassym-Jomart Tokayev re- peared, which were not there be- The effort under the decree will complete the work on the trans- ment. Kazpost Chair Saken Sarse- clock processing and a capacity viewed July 15 Kazakhstan’s 2019 fore. However, the external and be in two parts. The first is to verify fer of military warehouses further nov spoke with The Astana Times of 6,500 departures per hour, new socio-economic development ef- internal competitiveness of Ka- the population segment that should away from the living areas as soon about the company’s achievements fulfilment centres in the capital, forts as he chaired the expanded zakhstan enterprises remains low,” receive the support. Kazakh Na- as possible. To avoid such inci- in e-commerce, privatisation in Almaty and Aktobe, increase in air session of the Government, the first Tokayev said. tional Bank and the Ministry of dents in the future, the President 2020, using drones to reach remote transport deliveries and automatis- under his presidency. He directed Salaries in numerous sectors in Labour and Social Protection com- instructed the new specially es- villages and efforts to reduce the ing processes like receiving, sorting government agencies to increase Kazakhstan have increased since pleted the work in July. tablished commission to strictly ecological impact of its vehicles. and issuing parcels. incomes, create jobs, improve land the beginning of the year, includ- The second part is signing pre- punish “all those guilty” in the “Yes, it really was the old postal “For example, starting this year, use, and work on better investment ing a 30 percent increase for public liminary contracts between sec- incident by providing submissions system, the old infrastructure with when our operators accept a pack- climate, among other actions. sector workers. ond-tier banks and microfinance to the Presidential Administration the Soviet processes. (Until five age, they no longer manually en- “Increasing the income of the The President also urged offi- organisations and the Problem and the Security Council. These years ago), nothing had changed. ter the data of all customers each population is our main job. (There cials to move forward on his June Loan Fund. This work started in will include all those officials, (In updating the work of the postal time; the information is automati- is a) growth of 6 percent, but 26 decree providing immediate late July and will be completed including civil servants, who ir- service), we moved in two direc- cally self-filled. This reduced the you cannot stop there. Sanctions, debt relief to some of the country’s before the end of the month, ac- responsibly gave permission for tions – we changed the processes time to receiving packages and protectionism also influence the most vulnerable groups. cording to Kazakh National Bank construction in the immediate vi- themselves, then automatised and correspondences by 40 percent,” development of our country. In- “This work should be kept under Chair Yerbolat Dossayev. cinity of high-risk facilities. digitised (them),” he said. he said. ternational experts talk about the constant control by the govern- As for the situation in Arys, Tokayev also spoke of the need Several years ago, parcels trav- Continued on Page A5 unstable situation in the world. ment, the Administration of the the state allocated the Turkestan for reforms in public administra- Therefore, we should consider the President. We announced this ac- Region funds to repair the town tion. creation of new jobs as a priority. tion, and I repeat: this action is of following the recent explosion at Continued on Page A2 Volunteers preserve, revive New Kazakh-Uzbek highway expected Qoi-Tobet Kazakh to boost freight traffic seven-fold aboriginal shepherd dogs Kazakh seaports and highways. It entire region,” said Aripov. “This our strategic partnership, as deter- By Aidana Yergaliyeva is a part of the Tashkent – Beineu highway is of paramount impor- mined by Nursultan Nazarbayev magazines, newspapers and the In- – Atyrau – Astrakhan international tance for further activation of trade and President of the Republic of By Saltanat Boteu ternet. The type of big dogs, which NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime transit and transport corridor that and economic relations between Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev,” was rapidly gaining popularity and Minister Askar Mamin and his Uz- opens access to the Caspian Re- Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.” he said. NUR-SULTAN – Bauyrzhan Kh- partly promoted by enthusiasts, bek counterpart Abdulla Aripov gion and European countries. The international highway will “Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan ibash, an animal enthusiast from the didn’t fit in with the past (ones)… opened Beineu-Akzhigit interna- The 85-kilometre road starts on develop Central Asia’s transport are strategic partners. We are do- Atyrau Region, has been volunteer- I had never seen such breeds before tional highway July 17 in the Man- the border with Uzbekistan, then infrastructure, increase trade vol- ing everything necessary for the ing to preserve and revive Kazakh and none of the aksakals (elderly gystau Region on the border with travels through Beineu village. An umes and unlock transit potential, rapprochement of our countries, aboriginal shepherd dogs for 15 people) remembered,” he said. Uzbekistan. The highway will important transport infrastructure noted Mamin in his speech. for the rapprochement of our fra- years with the help of like-minded Khibash started to study the sub- boost freight traffic from 1,000 to facility allows cargo traffic to pass “This project was implement- ternal peoples. I want to empha- people. The work is important for ject, but couldn’t find specialists 7,000 vehicles per day and their from Kuryk international seaport ed on direct instruction of First sise that in recent years, relations the country from economic, envi- who were familiar with the spe- speed from 50 to 100 kilometres in Aktau to other countries. President – Elbasy (Leader of the between Kazakhstan and Uzbeki- ronmental and cultural perspec- cific breed. As a result, he started per hour. “The successful implementa- Nation, the constitutional title ac- stan have reached a qualitatively tives, he told The Astana Times. travelling to distant villages in The route will provide shorter tion of this project under the Nurly corded to the First President of Ka- new level and have acquired a “Many years ago, I thought about the region and, at the same time, and more unimpeded access of Zhol state programme will give a zakhstan) Nursultan Nazarbayev. steady positive dynamic,” he the discrepancy between what I saw looked for experts with scientific Uzbek goods to Russia and the new impulse to the Silk Road trade The opening of this road symbol- added. in life and what was called Tobet backgrounds. countries of the Caucasus through flows and the development of our ises an intensive development of Continued on Page A3 (the Kazakh term for big dogs) in Continued on Page B5

INSIDE NATION ECONOMY EDITORIAL&OPINION BUSINESS NATION&CAPITAL Government adopts action plan on social Government develops economy of simple Strong communities, regions are key to KazUAV joins Terra Drone Corporation Children’s book series introduces Central Asia welfare A2 things in regions A4 nation’s success and development A6 network to provide innovative drone to readers of all ages, backgrounds B1 Shymkent becomes 31st city to join EBRD Kazakhstan to develop state programme to SARSENBAYEV: Kazakhstan and India move services A7 Burkhan-Bulak waterfall, country’s highest, Green Cities programme A2 better manage municipal solid waste A4 toward new horizons of cooperation A6 Citi continues to support AIFC’s work, invest attracts tourists with untouched nature, in Kazakhstan, says Citi executive A8 fascinating views B6

US$ 1 = 385.10 KZT € 1 = 428.35 KZT 1 = 6.07 KZT A2 NATION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

ernment to conduct an audit of all ag- of investments by 20 percent annu- ricultural land and to digitise the land NATIONAL ally in fixed assets and increase its NEWS IN BRIEF registry system by the end of 2020. level to 30 percent of the country’s President seeks more jobs... “Land is the main factor of pro- GDP (gross domestic product),” Kazakh President Kassym- duction. Without efficiency and said Mamin. Jomart Tokayev appointed July 30 transparency, we cannot develop our The Kazakh government plans to Yerlan Aitakhanov Akim (Mayor) rural areas. We understand that this increase labour productivity at least of Shymkent. Aitakhanov was born is a difficult job, here you need a har- 33 percent and increase non-oil ex- Dec. 10, 1971 in the Shymken Re- monious interaction of the ministries ports to $38 billion by 2025. gion. He served prior to his new of agriculture and digital develop- In the agro-industrial complex, the post in different positions in Ka- ment,” said the President. government has plans to increase the zakhstan banks, Kazakhstan Temir Tokayev also instructed to production of high quality domestic Zholy national railway company strengthen the responsibility for the products and reduce imports by two and the Transport Committee of poor-quality and ineffective plan- times. They will continue measures the Ministry of Industry and Infra- ning of projects funded with budget to increase export of agro industrial structural Development. Aitakh- money such as the light rail trans- goods from $2.4 billion to $5 billion anov also served as Deputy Akim port’s (LRT’s) project in Nur-Sultan. per year. of the South Kazakhstan Region. “Instead of creating a convenient, Mamin said, starting from 2020, understandable, practical transport corporate income tax from small and Nur-Sultan will host the third In- for the population, an expensive medium businesses will be trans- ternational Renewable Energy Sum- type of transport was proposed (by) ferred to the revenue base of local mit Sept. 25 as part of Kazakhstan LRT. The opinions of specialists, the budgets. Energy Week Forum. The event will architectural community, as I under- “Therefore, regions that are ac- gather more than 300 delegates to stand it, were not taken into account. tively attracting investment and discuss renewable energy sources According to the akimat, the pro- developing entrepreneurship will and the best ideas for building a jected flow will be 146,000 people receive additional taxes to local green future for the country. “The per day. Predicted flow! Currently, budgets,” he added. Photo credit: akorda.kz. Photo credit: project also solves the strategic task along a similar route from the airport The Kazakh labour market is ex- of attracting international develop- Continued from Page A1 hinder its development through un- concept of a state that listens is nec- to the new station, passenger traffic pected to add 2.1 million citizens ers, investors and technology suppli- reasonable checks, extortion, raid- essary.” is only 2,000 people daily. How are over the next five years, said Mamin, ers in the field of renewable energy “We must understand that the ing, must be severely punished. I be- Tokayev criticised the work of you going to increase passenger traf- and thus, “creating jobs through in- sources, as well as leading experts world and, with it, our society have lieve it is finally time to criminalise akims (regional governors and city fic 70 times? I do not understand,” vestment is paramount for the gov- from around the world to commu- changed. Former approaches, tools the actions of state bodies and their mayors) in attracting investors. Ac- Tokayev said. ernment. Measures will be taken to nicate and exchange experience in rapidly lose their effectiveness. Re- representatives aimed at undermin- cording to him, akims behave “in a These projects create a risk and systematically modernise the nation- Kazakhstan. A special presentation forms, new solutions to old prob- ing business. To provide in the legis- princely manner” in meetings with “entail a constant receipt of subsi- al labour market.” of start-up projects in the field of re- lems are needed. In order to increase lation strict measures up to criminal entrepreneurs and investors rather dies and a burden on the state as a He also said there is great poten- newable energy to potential investors the efficiency of the state apparatus prosecution,” he said. than keeping “an exclusively busi- whole.” tial for economic development in will take place,” reads the release. and restart its interaction with soci- The President also called all ad- ness relations”. He advised akims to Kazakh Prime Minister Askar the service sector, in particular in  ety, I instruct the Presidential Ad- ministrative bodies to establish a read Lee Kuan Yew’s book “From Mamin also addressed the govern- tourism, e-commerce, transport and BI Group Holding will build a ministration, together with the gov- feedback system with the popula- Third World to First,” where he talks ment meeting, speaking on econom- logistics. The new State Programme Hampton by Hilton hotel in Turke- ernment, to develop a concept for tion. about his personal experience in at- ic growth and the country’s labour for the Development of Tourism by stan, reported Forbes.kz. The hotel the development of public admin- “In each central and local ex- tracting investors to Singapore. market. 2025 will attract 600 billion tenge will offer 120 standard rooms, a res- istration. This is the most important ecutive body there should be per- “(Akims) sit at the head of the ta- From the beginning of 2019, there (US$1.57 billion) in investment to taurant and commercial spaces. The issue. Therefore, next year we will manently functioning platforms ble, seat them [visitors] at a distance has been acceleration in economic the industry and create 200,000 jobs, average room cost will be 15,500 consider its draft at a government for feedback with the population,” of two, three, four meters, behave growth from 2.9 percent to 4.1 per- including in related industries. The tenge (US$41) per day. The hotel meeting, and possibly at a meeting said Tokayev. “Particular attention like leaders of some principalities. cent, said Mamin. The main sources share of tourism in GDP is expected will be in the historic centre. The of the National Council,” he said. should be paid to work with so- As if you are not interested in at- of economic growth have been in- to grow to 8 percent by 2025. main tourist and cultural attractions The President further stressed the cial networks; each public servant tracting investments, but they are dustry, construction, transport, trade The development of transport and of the city will be within walking dis- need to create better conditions for should be active in social networks interested,” he said. and agriculture. Investments in fixed logistics by increasing transit, trade tance. A wedding palace will be built business development and reduce on supervised issues. We have to Tokayev also addressed a recent assets have increased 11.7 percent. and logistics capacities and improv- next to the hotel. BI Group Holding unreasonable state control. restore the trust of citizens, con- Ministry of Agriculture inventory of “The main priority of our work is ing local and national roads will CEO Aidyn Rakhimbayev and Hil- “It is necessary to fully support vincing them with numbers, facts, agricultural land that revealed 16.5 the creation of new jobs, attracting create about 150,000 new jobs and ton President for Europe, the Mid- the domestic business, the so-called actions, promptly reacting to criti- million hectares of unused land in the investment in fixed assets. By 2025, increase the industry’s share to 10 dle East and Africa Simon Vincent national bourgeoisie. Those who cism. Therefore, a transition to the country. Tokayev instructed the gov- it is planned to increase the volume percent of GDP, he said. have agreed to develop a network of hotels under the Hampton by Hilton brand in Central Asia. It is expected the network will produce more than Government adopts action Shymkent becomes 31st city to join 1,000 rooms within five years. The EFES Kazakhstan company keeps its leading position with more than 51.9 percent of the domestic plan on social welfare EBRD Green Cities programme beer market share. The company’s market share in the total sales vol- comprehensive proposals on im- efforts to reform school and voca- Plan, among other measures. Pro- ume in Kazakhstan increased 1.6 By Aidana Yergaliyeva provement of legislative acts will tional education. By Dilshat Zhussupova jects on energy-saving lamps and percent compared with the same be developed,” said Abdykalikova. All of these activities will be re- sewage treatment that would meet period last year. “Over the past pe- NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh flected in the draft State Programme NUR-SULTAN – Shymkent the fast-growing city’s needs, were riod, the company signed import government adopted July 23 an ac- for the Development of Education recently became the 31st city to discussed at a July 22 meeting in contracts with the AB InBev inter- tion plan to complete the instruc- Education system and Science for 2020-2025. join the European Bank for Re- London during which the then Shy- Tokayev has also instructed to national brewing corporation. The tions given by Kazakh President construction and Development’s mkent Akim (Mayor) Gabidulla Ab- adopt the law On the Status of the first import supplies to Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a July (EBRD) $1.11 billion Green Cities drakhimov officially joined the city Teacher before the end of this year. were implemented. The company 15 extended government meeting. Healthcare system urban sustainability programme, into the EBRD programme. If the It provides material and non-ma- initiates the campaigns on sustaina- The instructions reflect the The 2020-2025 State Programme reports mfa.gov.kz. sewage treatment plant were imple- terial incentives for teachers and ble development and development promises made during Tokayev’s for the Development of Healthcare The programme aims to preserve mented in Shymkent, it would serve a set of measures to increase the of human resources to increase its presidential campaign to improve provides for a set of measures to environmental resources, use re- as a pilot project for implementation prestige of the teacher and protect leading position in the beer mar- social welfare, raise salaries and increase medical workers’ salaries. sources sustainably, mitigate and in other major Kazakh cities. teacher rights, said Abdykalikova. ket. The volunteer, leadership and expand communication between The government will also work adapt to climate change risks and Abdrakhimov also invited the Another pressing issue is the employee motivation programmes the government and civil society, to improve the perception of ensure environmental policies con- bank’s representatives to visit Shy- elimination of three-shift schools were launched,” said the compa- among other issues. healthcare work as a profession tribute to social and economic well- mkent to continue discussion on co- and schools whose premises are in ny’s spokesperson. The government’s project office and working conditions in the draft being. It has mobilised more than operation and explore the city and emergency conditions. To address will oversee implementation of the of the new code On the Health of $278 million for this cause to date, its high-potential tourism, light and this, the government proposes a The MOST Business Incubator instructions. the People and the Healthcare Sys- reports Ebrdgreencities.com. food industries. He also met with new method to finance construc- completed July 23 its ninth session tem. The draft code will be submit- Joining the programme gives tion and repair works of school Kazakh Ambassador to the United of the acceleration programme. Five ted to the parliament in September. Shymkent access to EBRD finan- Kingdom Erlan Idrissov during his Social security “In order to study the qualitative teams attracted more than 26 mil- According to Deputy Prime cial support for projects on build- visit to the United Kingdom to dis- lion tenge (US$68,000) of invest- In preparation for implementation of the Compulsory ing a better and more sustainable cuss a project on a new university Minister Gulshara Abdykalikova, Social Health Insurance system, in ments from May to July. The jury the government proposes four the insurance, a future for cities and their residents. in Shymkent with a U.K. partner selected 10 best start-ups to take August, an audit on the regions’ The bank will identify, prioritise that will train students in informa- measures to ensure control over readiness to introduce the insur- part in the Entrepreneurship World targeted social assistance. First, pilot project will and connect Shymkent’s environ- tion technology, architecture, de- Cup (EWC) at the local level. In ance will be conducted. The ques- mental challenges with sustain- sign and hospitality management. there will be automated control begin Sept. 1 in the tions of fully updating the status, the case of selection at the interna- over the compulsory signing of a able infrastructure investments Other cities in the EBRD pro- tional level, the start-ups will have citizens’ attachment to polyclinics and policy measures by support- gramme include Amman, Minsk, contract to receive targeted social Karaganda Region. and technical readiness of medical the opportunity to get access to on- assistance. Second, the authori- ing the development and imple- Belgrade, Dushanbe, Sarajevo and line trainings and consultations and The project will test organisations will be studied,” said mentation of a Green City Action Ulaanbaatar, among others. ties will assess family well-being Abdykalikova. prepare for the super-final in Riyadh through social maps. Third, moni- the provision of some In preparation for the insurance, Nov. 12. “This year, more than 100 toring groups will visit the regions. a pilot project will begin Sept. 1 in start-up entrepreneurs from nine re- Fourth, the government will or- medical services from the Karaganda Region. The pro- gions applied to the programme and ganise hearings of regional com- the insurance package, ject will test the provision of some only 47 of these were able to qualify. missions to eliminate violations. medical services from the insur- Twenty teams failed to demonstrate The authorities of Aktobe intro- Tokayev establishes... the necessary progress,” said MOST status identification of ance package, status identification Continued from Page A1 mat of the council’s activities is still duced July 1 a social services re- of insured persons and separate ac- Business Incubator Director Alim insured persons and being established. source to improve the support sys- counting of funds. Khamitov at a press conference. tem for people with disabilities, she separate accounting According to him, the council “is “Working groups will be formed noted. Starting from August, the very balanced, includes representa- in different directions… What direc- The number of tourists increased website will offer technical reha- of funds. Transition to “a state tives of all major socio-political tions these will be will be clear at the by 50 percent over the past three bilitation equipment directly from groups in the country. Here [there end of the first meeting (in August),” years in the Naurzum State Nature providers. The rest of the country buildings from 2020. The funds to that listens” are] representatives of the ‘old’ op- said Karin. The council will meet Reserve in the Kostanai Region, would be able to use it Jan. 1. the regions will be distributed de- According to the deputy prime position, representatives of the new three times per year. reported Kazinform. Up to 1,000 As for equal working conditions pending on per capita rate and the minister, there are three main prob- protest movement, civil society “Representatives of public coun- people visit the reserve annually. and wages of foreign companies’ number of school age children. In lems in informing the public: first, activists, prominent human rights cils under local authorities will also The management of the conserva- employees, the government has addition, schools will be built us- inefficient use of communication activists who have been involved be invited to meetings of the National tion area believes agreements with been developing a draft law to ing public-private partnerships. channels; second, the formal ap- in the protection of human rights Council. This will allow us to consider travel agencies will attract more tour- consolidate duties and responsibil- The action plan also considers proach of government agencies to for many years, youth activists and the issues under discussion both on a ists. Two main routes through relict ities of employers to create equal “changing the timing of competi- highlighting their work; and third, leaders, and also representatives of national scale and in the context of the pine forest were developed. “The working conditions for workers tions for grant and programme- insufficient involvement of the popu- the regions and leading Kazakh- vision of individual regions,” he said. amateur ornithologists are especially and introduce a modern labour targeted funding, updating the lation in decision-making processes. stan experts.” By the decision of the chair, the interested in this area. For example, protection management system. composition of national scientific The government proposes to The council membership is a National Council may also include they come to see the black skylark, “To implement these tasks, the councils, increasing the require- inform the public through online community service and its mem- representatives of public councils a symbol of our region and the cen- action plan is being developed to ments for their members, making tools such as direct call-in shows bers will not be paid. at the national and local levels, as tral Kazakhstan. Family tourism and prevent conflicts in enterprises at- changes to the rules of the state with the heads of state bodies, The members will form working well as other persons. weekend tours are also popular. It is tracting foreign labour. Inspections scientific and technical expertise,” social media accounts, online ad- groups to discuss issues and propos- Tokayev promised to form the also planned to equip a beach,” said to several enterprises have been said the deputy prime minister. visor and virtual reception of the als and send recommendations di- Council during his June 12 inaugu- Deputy Director of Naurzum State scheduled. Following the results, The action plan also will continue Kazakh President. rectly to the President. The final for- ration address. Nature Reserve Kanat Batyrkhanuly. A3 EURASIA&WORLD

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

EXTERNAL NEWS IN BRIEF New EU strategy on Central Asia identifies challenges, Kazakhstan participated in the international Operation Spi- der Web July 8-12 as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisa- optimises opportunities, says EU envoy tion’s (SCO’s) Anti-Drug Strat- well reflected in the new strategy Carlsson has noted that despite tral Asia conducive to strengthen- egy Programme for 2018-2023. By Nazira Kozhanova and already represent a quite am- the best efforts of Central Asian ing regional cooperation. This is a The operation had, for the first bitious priority list to which I can countries, regional cooperation time of opportunities, and today time, the largest format of its kind NUR-SULTAN – The new Cen- fully subscribe,” Carlsson said. has not yet reached its potential, we see that aspirations can truly within the organisation. It was tral Asia Strategy, devised by the He shared his excitement about a as the initial priority was given to turn into reality. The EU is here initiated by Kazakhstan’s First European Union (EU) addresses new EU programme that provides national consolidation. because we believe in the poten- President Nursultan Nazarbayev new realities of Central Asian Afghan women with scholarships “Over the past two decades, re- tial of this region, and, most im- and gained the support of the SCO countries and encourages coop- to study in Uzbekistan and Ka- gional cooperation in Central Asia portantly, the potential of the peo- member states at the SCO Summit erative solutions, Head of the EU zakhstan. has not reached its potential. The ple of this region. This is the core in the Kazakh capital in 2017. The Delegation to Kazakhstan Ambas- “First of all, the action is the first common history and shared cul- of our new strategy on Central goal is to address and cut off the sador Sven-Olov Carlsson recently example of a trilateral cooperation tural heritage of the five countries Asia, and we are determined to in- channels used to sell and distrib- told The Astana Times in an exclu- programme between the European have not yet been translated into vest in the new opportunities and ute drugs and psychoactive sub- sive interview. Sven-Olov Carlsson Union, Afghanistan, and Central a joint perception of the region as growing potential for cooperation stances, adopt measures to pre- “The Central Asia Strategy aims Asian countries (Kazakhstan and a room for common political ac- within and with the region as a vent the use of Internet and online to forge a stronger, modern and moting a sound and open invest- Uzbekistan). This is in line with tion. This reality is, however, not whole,” Carlsson said. payment systems in the drug trade non-exclusive partnership with ment environment. the new EU Strategy for Central surprising, since all five countries The EU programmes would and increase the effectiveness of the countries of Central Asia, tak- The final priority is Working Asia and its main objective to have for obvious reasons during address finding cooperative solu- the countries’ efforts in fighting ing into account new geopolitical Better Together that presumes the foster cross-border cooperation the first years of independence tions on the regional level. illegal drug trafficking. The pre- realities as well as evolving needs EU will work together with Central both within Central Asia but and been giving priority to national “EU-Central Asia dialogues and liminary data showed 6,422 kg and capacities of our Central Asian Asia to strengthen the architecture between the five Central Asian consolidation with focus on state- EU-funded multi-country pro- of narcotic drugs have been with- partners. It builds upon the lessons of the partnership, intensifying po- countries and the wider region. hood, sovereignty and establish- grammes will contribute to pro- drawn from illegal turnover since learnt from EU engagement in the litical dialogue and opening space Secondly, we expect the project to ment of necessary institutions and moting cooperative solutions at the operation was launched. region, identifies both challenges for civil society participation. empower Afghan women who will safe borders,” Carlsson said. the regional level in areas such as and new opportunities for coop- Kazakhstan played an important be able to benefit from tailor-made However, the situation regard- the environment, water manage- Kazakhstan has traded $78.1 eration and aims at supporting the part in shaping the new strategy programmes in three priority sec- ing regional cooperation is chang- ment, climate change and sustain- billion with the Eurasian Eco- development of the region into a by sharing proposals with the EU, tors, agriculture, mining and sta- ing, as the countries are increas- able energy; education; the rule nomic Union (EAEU) since 2015, sustainable, resilient, prosperous said Carlsson. tistics, thus improving their skills ingly trying to tackle common of law; sustainable connectivity; including $19.1 billion last year and more closely interconnected “Let me in this context mention and their chances of finding em- problems together, as illustrated drugs policy; security and the pre- and $6.1 billion from January- economic and political space,” the most valuable contribution of ployment. Thirdly, we attach great by the first informal meeting of vention of radicalisation; border April. The overwhelming ma- Carlsson said. Kazakhstan in shaping the new importance to the spill-over effect Central Asian leaders in March management and intra-regional jority, 91.8 percent, is with Rus- Carlsson also identified three strategy. In June last year, the Ka- of such a project, which originally 2018. The EU would like to sup- trade facilitation,” Carlsson said. sia. Kazakhstan’s external trade priorities of the policy. The zakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs was designed as an education pro- port and strengthen this new wave One project would be the first volume reached $93.5 billion in first priority is Partnering for shared a substantive paper high- ject but which we expect to con- of regional cooperation in Central EU-Central Asia Economic Fo- 2018, 21.3 percent of which is Resilience, meaning that the lighting the importance of synergy tribute to economic development Asia. rum that was agreed upon dur- with the EAEU. The key factors EU partners with Central Asian of regional and bilateral approach- and ensuring peace and stability “Yet in the past two years, there ing the recent EU-CA ministerial boosting mutual trade include the countries in anticipating and ad- es. The eight priorities defined by in the region. Overall, we believe are important indications that the meeting in Bishkek. Carlsson pro- measures taken in 2018 to create dressing the challenges affecting our Kazakh partners, including that the EU’s strategic approach picture is rapidly changing. The posed three themes for the upcom- joint labour, services and medi- their socio-economic goals and development of human potential and long-term vision, together new momentum in regional co- ing forum. cine markets within the union. security to enhance their ability through education, promotion of with the know-how of UNDP and operation, illustrated by the first “As concrete topics for the first to embrace reform and moderni- rule of law, development of private UN Women – which are our im- informal Summit of Central Asian EU-Central Asia Economic Fo- Kazakhstan ranked 79th in the sation. entrepreneurship, new technolo- plementing partners – together leaders of March 2018 in Astana, rum, I would suggest three impor- Global Innovation Index, pub- The second priority is Partnering gies, connectivity, green econo- with the Kazakh and Uzbek exper- has also enhanced the relevance tant themes: export facilitation, lished annually by the World In- for Prosperity, which aims to un- my, environmental protection and tise and experience in the specific of the EU’s experience in crafting possibly with particular focus on tellectual Property Organisation, lock the region’s growth potential security cooperation, including fields of education is a recipe for cooperative solutions to common the agricultural sector, invest- moving down five spots this year. by fostering the development of a assistance to Afghanistan’s reha- the success of this programme,” challenges. We can only welcome ment promotion and intraregional The nation is also the third most competitive private sector and pro- bilitation and stabilisation are very said Carlsson. these ‘new winds blowing’ in Cen- trade,” said Carlsson. innovative economy in Central and Southern Asia. The ranking noted Central Asian countries have started prioritising innova- tion activities and policies. Swit- zerland was named the most inno- vative country during the report’s EU, UNDP to help Afghan women study release in New Delhi, followed by Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and the United King- dom. India jumped five places in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to 52nd, the most significant im- employment, reported the EU in Vice-President Federica Mogher- secondary level of education and Applications for bachelor’s, provement among countries since By Zhanna Shayakhmetova Kazakhstan press service. ini. only 19.5 percent are employed, master’s and technical pro- 2018. Innovation has been thriv- “I believe the Afghan people UNDP Regional Director in compared to 37 percent and 87 grammes in agriculture, ap- ing particularly in Asia, the report NUR-SULTAN – The Euro- need to feel and see that the in- Europe and Central Asia Mirjana percent for men, respectively. In plied statistics and mining are said, but trade tensions put the pean Union (EU) will provide ternational community unites and Spoljaric Egger noted technical 2016-2017, more than half of the available July 22-Aug. 9. The growth at risk. two million euro ($2.2 million) supports the reconciliation pro- cooperation and knowledge ex- Afghan population was living be- grant covers the cost of tuition, for 50 Afghan women to support cess in the country. That’s why change among countries can play low the poverty line. housing, travel and a monthly Kazakhstan introduced its first economic empowerment through the EU has decided to work very a huge role in boosting develop- “We cannot build the future we stipend. Scholarship holders voluntary national review on education and training in Ka- closely with the Central Asian ment. want and achieve the Sustain- will take a one-year English sustainable development during zakhstan and Uzbekistan as part countries to support projects that “This collaboration will create able Development Goals (SDGs) language course from October the High-Level Political Forum of a project to be administered by can help connect the neighbour- new opportunities for cross-re- without the full participation of 2019-May 2020. on Sustainable Development the United Nations Development ing countries and countries of the gional collaboration and growth,” women. Investing in women and The main selection criteria are at United Nations headquarters Programme (UNDP). region, in particular the connec- she said. girls is one of the best invest- knowledge of English (not lower in New York. The forum is the UN Women will also organise tivity projects and projects aimed According to the 2018 UNDP ments a country can make in its than elementary level) and suc- UN’s central platform to discuss summer schools on entrepreneur- at education and employment, Human Development Report, future,” said Yakup Beris, UNDP cessfully completing interviews and review the 2030 Agenda for ship and networking contribut- in particular Afghan women,” 11 percent of all adult Afghan Resident Representative in Ka- with members of the commis- Sustainable Development and the ing to the women’s post-study said EU High Representative and women have reached at least a zakhstan. sion. Sustainable Development Goals. The recent UN Development Pro- gramme Rapid Integrated Assess- ment showed the sustainable de- velopment targets are 80 percent incorporated in Kazakh govern- ment programmes and strategies. New Kazakh-Uzbek highway... The Kazakh delegation noted Continued from Page A1 the country’s progress in educa- tion, entrepreneurship develop- Bilateral trade, which reached ment, access to financial services $3 billion in 2018, has grown 25 and funds, poverty reduction and percent since the beginning of the modernising the judicial system. year. The challenges relate to the pov- Mamin noted it was symbolic erty rate gap between urban and that the project launched as part of rural areas, increased greenhouse The Year of Kazakhstan in Uzbek- emissions and transition to a di- istan. Kazakh President Kassym- versified economy. Jomart Tokayev attended the cer- emony’s opening event and his The Kazakh government signed April visit to Uzbekistan provided an agreement with Valmont In- additional impetus in developing dustries, the world’s leading pro- bilateral cooperation. viders of agricultural engineered During his trip to Aktau, Mamin products and infrastructure and reviewed innovative industrial en- irrigation equipment services. terprises in the region. He checked The document envisions creating a project on recultivating the a network of farms to transfer ad- Koshkar-Ata uranium-containing vanced technologies in irrigation, chemical waste storage facility and efficient use of water resources, renewable energy facilities. feed production, education and The region has begun construc- farmer training. Advanced ir- tion of solar and wind power rigation installations will be set plants with a total capacity of up at demonstration sites in the 50.6MW. Local authorities expect

Akmola and Turkestan regions. the 147.6MW renewable energy primeminister.kz. Photo credit: The agreement signed among Val- sources will operate by 2021. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin (C), Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov (right of centre) with officials and builders at the opening ceremony mont Industries, Global Beef (the Mamin also visited the construc- of the Beineu – Akzhigit international highway on July 17. United States) and Kusto Group tion sites of the 800-bed hotel (Kazakhstan) also involves a joint complex on the Caspian Sea coast While at the Caspian desali- dents of Karakiyanski, Munayli needs of most Kazakh customers. factured 37 percent of all Kazakh venture to build a modern irriga- and 9,500-square metre cultural nation plant, Mamin examined and Tupkaragan districts. Mamin also visited the Caspi Bi- road bitumen in 2018, can process tion plant in Kazakhstan with a centre honouring contemporary a report on its second stage of He surveyed new oil field pro- tumen, CITIC Kazakhstan and Ka- up to one million tonnes of tarry capacity of at least 1,000 systems Kazakh writer Abish Kekilbayev. modernisation, which will allow duction and service facilities at zMunayGas joint venture, which oil and produce up to 520,000 per year and investments reaching The projects will be commissioned producing 40,000 cubic metres of Schlumberger Aktau Megabase. produces high quality road bitu- tonnes of various-grade bitumen $50 million. by the end of 2020. drinking water per day for the resi- The company currently covers the men. The company, which manu- per annum. A4 ECONOMY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

ECONOMY Government develops economy of simple things in regions NEWS IN BRIEF As of June, the number of small new industries and 63 will expand gramme through credit advisory posals from business community share of local content in the pro- companies operating in Kazakh- By Aidana Yergaliyeva services established in all 17 re- and government agencies to de- curement of goods and services of existing production, reported Dep- stan had increased 7.9 percent in the economy of simple things. uty Prime Minister Zhenis Kass- gions, as well as deputy region velop economy of simple projects, the last 12 months to 158,700. The NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh ymbek. akims (governors) as co-chairs in said Mamin. The government re- “The programme of developing figure represents 37 percent of all government discussed progress in “The implementation of these the regional project offices. The duced interest rates to 6 percent, the economy of simple things is an registered small companies. More developing the economy of sim- approved projects will create government decree on the sec- introduced a grace period for loan important tool to develop entrepre- than 40 percent of all active small ple things in the regions at a July about 2,000 jobs and increase ond package of amendments was repayment and included 45 new neurship and provide employment. companies are in Almaty (37,200, 9 government meeting. As of July tax revenues by 6.6 billion tenge adopted June 28. types of products. These changes All projects are implemented in a 13-percent increase year-on-year 4, the project office for the devel- (US$17.16 million),” said the dep- “The adoption of this resolution should expand the circle of com- the regions,” said Mamin. (yoy)) and Nur-Sultan (26,500, a opment of the economy of simple uty prime minister. will allow supporting about 440 panies that receive concessional Developing the economy of sim- 10.7-percent increase yoy), fol- things and concessional lending “Developing the economy of business projects in the amount of financing. ple things addresses instructions lowed by the East Kazakhstan Re- programme runs more than 1,500 simple things, we solve the prob- 162 billion tenge (US$421.3 mil- In addition, Mamin instructed from Kazakh President Kassym- gion (9,900, a 2.9-percent increase projects worth more than 1 trillion lems of SMEs (small and medium- lion). The implementation of these the government to examine al- Jomart Tokayev on the diversifica- yoy). Almost one-quarter of the tenge (US$2.60 billion). sized enterprises) development projects is expected to create more locating funds to increase subsi- tion of the economy that he gave companies are involved in motor Of these, banks approved 92 and employment, creating new than 5,000 jobs and ensure an in- dies to replenish working capital during business trips to regions. vehicle and motorcycle trade and projects for 41 billion tenge jobs,” said Prime Minister Askar crease in tax payments amounting of projects in the agro-industrial This also addresses instructions repair (37,700, a 7.4-percent in- (US$106.6 million) and took 166 Mamin. “All this has a positive to 3.5 billion tenge (US$9.10 mil- complex. from First Kazakh President Nur- crease per year). A number of com- projects worth more than 280 bil- effect on the development of the lion),” said Kassymbek. The prime minister is also call- sultan Nazarbayev’s Oct. 5 state- panies are in construction (16,100, lion tenge (US$728.1 million) economy.” The Kazakh government also ing upon regional akimats (admin- of-the-nation address to increase a 17.4-percent increase per year) under consideration. Among the The government will monitor changed concessional financing istrations) and holding managers domestic production of consumer and education (15,400, a 4.8-per- approved projects, 29 will create business participation in the pro- conditions after considering pro- to get involved in increasing the goods. cent increase percent per year).  Retail trade volume reached 4.9 trillion tenge (US$12.73 billion) from January-June, with a 5.4-per- cent real growth year-on-year Kazakhstan to develop state programme (yoy). Food products accounted for 1.6 trillion tenge (US$4.16 billion), or 32.5 percent, with a 5.8-percent sales increase yoy. The largest to better manage municipal solid waste share, 31.5 percent, was in Almaty, ture until 2020, after which it will Separate waste collection has followed by Nur-Sultan and the By Dilshat Zhussupova begin transforming the national been implemented in 51 cities and East Kazakhstan Region at 12 per- economy, implementing renew- districts, and sorting has been im- cent and 9.1 percent, respectively. NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh able energy technology and de- plemented at 30 sites, where more Based on company size, individual Ministry of Ecology, Geology veloping rational water use until than 1,000 jobs have been created. entrepreneurs comprise 44.2 per- and Natural Resources, govern- 2030. In 2030-2050, the country Nur-Sultan Akim (Mayor) Al- cent of retail trade with sales of ment agencies and organisations will transition to using natural re- tay Kulginov and Kazakh Min- 2.2 trillion tenge (US$5.7 billion). are developing a state programme sources according to renewability ister of Ecology, Geology and Small enterprise retail sales were to better manage municipal solid and sustainability. Natural Resources Magzum Mir- 1.4 trillion tenge (US$3.64 billion), waste (MSW), reports the Nur- Kazakhstan produced 4.3 mil- zagaliyev visited July 8 a recy- or 29 percent. Sultan Akimat (city administra- lion tonnes of municipal solid cling plant in Nur-Sultan, which tion) press service. waste in 2018, approximately is the city’s only plant that sorts Art and leisure received 54.5 State and local government 100,000 fewer tonnes than in MSW through secondary raw billion tenge (US$141.61 million) funds as well as private invest- 2017. Its share of municipal solid material extraction, receiving up in investments in the first half of ment will be used to develop the waste recycling was 11.5 percent to 950 tonnes of MSW from 65 the year, 32.6 percent more than waste management industry and in 2018, 9 percent in 2017 and 2.6 waste collection companies daily. in 2018, reported finprom.kz. the government will encourage percent in 2016. It is expected to Researchers at Nazarbayev Uni- The largest bulk of capital invest- people to separate waste. increase with the ban on dump- versity’s (NU) School of Engi- ments came to the East Kazakh- The state policy on waste ing paper, plastics, cardboard neering and National Laboratory stan Region (16.8 billion tenge or

management is defined in the Akimat. Nur-Sultan Photo credit: and glass waste into landfill that Astana’s Laboratory of Green En- US$43.65 million), Almaty (11.4 Concept on Transition towards Kazakh Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Magzum came into force Jan. 1 and the ban ergy and the Environment found billion tenge or US$29.62 million) Green Economy until 2050 and Mirzagaliyev (C) and Nur-Sultan Akim (Mayor) Altay Kulginov (R). on construction and food waste that 30 percent of municipal solid and Nur-Sultan (7.1 billion tenge or aims to introduce separate waste scheduled for 2021. Since 2016, waste in the capital has the po- US$18.45 million). In service vol- collection and develop a waste Protection and the United Nations infrastructure. Kazakhstan will the government has also prohibit- tential to be recycled and another ume, theatrical activities accounted recycling sector through public- Development Programme to ad- prioritise optimising resource ed disposing scrap metal, mercury 10 percent has the potential to be for 4.7 billion tenge (US$12.21 private partnerships. The concept dress environmental concerns use, increasing the efficiency of lamps and batteries, waste oils sorted to derive solid fuel for the million), a 5.5-percent decrease was developed by the former Ka- by increasing resource use effi- environmental protection activity and liquids and electronic product city’s energy needs, reports the year-on-year (yoy). Concert activ- zakh Ministry of Environmental ciency and modernising existing and establishing green infrastruc- waste in landfills. NU press service. ity accounted for 3.4 billion tenge (US$8.83 million), a 34.4-percent increase yoy; art services were one billion tenge (US$2.6 million), a 74-percent increase yoy. Ministers adopt The cash in circulation in June, 2.23 trillion tenge (US$5.8 bil- lion), decreased 0.6 percent com- pared to May and 1.3 percent since roadmap to double December, reported the Kazakh National Bank. The monetary ag- gregate M1, which includes cash and liquid tenge deposits, de- investment by 2025 creased 4.4 percent last month ment to GDP will be developed for to 5.51 trillion tenge (US$14.32 By Aidana Yergaliyeva central and local executive bodies. billion) and 1.7 percent since the Mamin instructed central gov- beginning of 2019. The M2 in- NUR-SULTAN – The Coordina- dicator, which includes cash, all tion Council adopted a roadmap to tenge and liquid foreign currency attract investment to Kazakhstan at An important deposits, decreased 3.9 percent to the July 10 council meeting chaired driver of economic 14.55 trillion tenge (US$37.80 bil- by Kazakh Prime Minister Askar lion), but has an overall increase of Mamin. The task for the Ministry of diversification will 0.6 percent since the beginning of National Economy is to increase the the year. Money supply decreased annual gross inflow of foreign direct be the focus of investment from $24 billion in 2018 1 percent to 19.54 trillion tenge to $34 billion by 2025. investment on projects (US$50.77 billion), with a 6.1-per- The recently established coun- that provide vertical cent decrease since the beginning cil seeks to increase investment in of the year. The monetary base, or fixed assets up to 30 percent of Ka- integration of existing the money of the National Bank zakhstan’s gross domestic products of Kazakhstan, decreased 4.1 per- (GDP). enterprises. cent in June to 6.35 trillion tenge “The development of the econo- (US$16.5 billion) and 4.6 percent my is directly related to attracting ernment agencies, regional akims since December. In narrow terms, investment. It is necessary to look (governors) and holding companies the monetary base decreased for new niches, create mechanisms to intensify work with national and 5.1 percent to 5.24 trillion tenge to attract investments and provide foreign investors, as well as inter- (US$16.5 billion) and 12.6 percent all measures of support. The main national financial organisations to since the beginning of the year. task is to increase the volume of attract investments to the country’s investment in the economy by two economy and search for new large- Gambling and betting services times,” said Mamin. scale projects. have reduced to a minimum since The council approved legislative The council also considered de- 2010, shrinking to 3.1 billion tenge and institutional measures that sup- veloping a network of wholesale (US$8.06 million) from January- port more public-private partner- distribution centres to expand the March, reported finprom.kz. The ships (PPPs) to make it the main logistics capacity in Kazakhstan physical volume index of services tool to attract investments in trans- by 2023. The plan is to create a rendered prior to 2018 reached 53.3 port and logistics, energy, tourism, network of eight regional distri- percent; the volume rendered last infrastructure modernisation of bution centres in Nur-Sultan, Al- year was slightly more than 5.4 bil- public utilities, healthcare and edu- maty, Shymkent, Aktobe, Semey, lion tenge (US$14.03 million). The cation, among others. Kokshetau, Atyrau and Aktau. The An important driver of economic centres will make early product vast majority, or 86 percent of all diversification will be the focus of purchases from farmers and create services, are generated in two rec- investment on projects that provide stored capacities with the sale of reation areas, Kapshagai and Bura- vertical integration of existing en- products in retail chains at reduced bai resorts, providing the largest terprises, the prime minister’s press prices during the off-season from volume of services to the Almaty service reported. December to April. and Akmola regions, respectively. The government hopes attracting The project will ensure price sta- The Almaty Region accounts for investment across industries will in- bility and eliminate the seasonal 2.3 billion tenge (US$5.98 mil- crease the technological complexity speculative mark-up on socially lion), a 31.1-percent decrease com- of the country’s export base. important food products. The total pared to last year; the Akmola Re- Key performance indicators socio-economic effect of the project gion, 426.7 million tenge (US$1.11 (KPIs) to attract investments and from one invested tenge (US$0.003) million), a 4.8-percent increase for to achieve the target ratio of invest- will be over 30 tenge (US$0.08). the year. A5 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF AIFC develops regulations for Kazakhstan signs agreements Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, which will acquire another 50-percent share in Inter RAO’s Ekibastuz-2 Power Station, will own loan- and investment-based on Abai, Dunga oil fields all its shares by year’s end, reported hab Al Bulushi and Partex Oil and projects with at least $1 million per By Dilshat Zhussupova Sk.kz. The price cannot be disclosed Gas Board Member Fernando Alves year. until the transaction is completed signed an agreement on the Dunga Also, Kazakh First Vice Minister and closing the transaction will de- NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan crowdfunding platforms oil field in the Mangystau Region, of Energy Makhambet Dosmukham- pend on conditions such as approval recently signed agreements on the those looking for financing with which has an estimated 106 million betov, KazMunayGas Deputy Chair- by management boards and obtained Abai and Dunga oil fields with for- By Zhanna Shayakhmetova potential investors. Of course, barrels of total proven reserves. man of the Management Board for consent of creditor banks. Inter RAO eign oil and gas companies, reports this also entails a number of risks The terms of the production shar- Geology and Exploration Kurman- decided to withdraw from the power Primeminister.kz. NUR-SULTAN – The Astana and concerns for investors and the ing agreement for the Dunga field, gazy Iskaziyev and Eni Executive station because it intends to focus on Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Financial Services Authority purpose of the new crowdfund- signed in 1994, will be extended for Vice President for the Central Asian its key market, Russia, where it will Mamin met July 4 with President (AFSA), the financial regulator ing rules is to provide appropri- 15 years from 2024 to 2039, which Region Luca Vignati signed a pro- launch a modernisation programme of Total Exploration and Production of the Astana International Finan- ate safeguards concerning inves- will allow production of an addi- tocol of direct negotiations to grant for generating equipment. After the Arnaud Breuillac to discuss cooper- cial Centre (AIFC), introduced tor protections. We hope this will ation in the oil and gas sector. They tional nine million tonnes of oil. the subsoil use right for the explora- transaction, the company will no the first regulatory framework enable crowdfunding to become longer have assets in Kazakhstan. discussed oil and gas production, The launch of the $300 million third tion and production of hydrocarbons for loan- and investment-based an important source of non-bank technology transfer, renewable en- phase of the field’s development within joint operations in the Abai crowdfunding platforms, reported financing in support of job crea- ergy and the North Caspian Project will increase the production capac- field. The field is in the northern part Kazakh Prime Minister Askar the AIFC press service. tion, economic growth and com- Mamin and U.S. Ambassador to in Kazakhstan, with Mamin empha- ity from 600,000 tonnes to 850,000 of Kazakhstan’s sector of the Caspi- “This new framework is one of petitiveness,” said EBRD chief sising the importance of social pro- tonnes of oil per year and create an Sea, approximately 50 kilometres Kazakhstan William Moser met July AFSA’s ongoing commitments counsel Jelena Madir, the pro- 23 to discuss investment, oil indus- jects and job creation. 400 jobs in the region at the peak from the coast in a water depth of to promote innovation in the fi- ject’s operational leader. Following the meeting, Kazakh of construction activity, reports To- less than 10 metres. It is estimated to try and agro-industrial cooperation. nancial sector consistent with the Last year, trade turnover between Minister of Energy Kanat Bozum- tal.com. Kazakhstan’s share within have significant potential for hydro- latest industry developments and bayev, Total Vice President of Explo- the product sharing agreement will carbon resources, reports Eni.com. the countries increased 37.3 percent best practices of leading financial Crowdfunding to $2.2 billion and U.S. investment ration and Production for the South- increase from 40 percent to 60 The 700-kilometre two-dimensional centres, while safeguarding inves- is an innovative ern Europe and Caspian Region percent by 2025. Companies will seismic exploration and drilling of a inflow to Kazakhstan increased 44.7 tor protection and market integri- percent to a record-setting $5.3 bil- Bernard Clément, Oman Oil Com- be obliged to partially supply ex- 2,500-metre exploration well in the ty,” the press service said. lion. Mamin noted the newly es- opportunity for SMEs pany Joint Ventures Director of Ex- tracted oil to Kazakhstan’s market field will cost more than 14 billion The centre developed a flexible tablished Coordinating Council and ploration and Production Abdulwa- and finance social infrastructure tenge (US$36.4 million). and risk-oriented regulatory frame- and start-ups to obtain Foreign Direct Investment Fund work to protect crowdfunding in- will attract greater investment in capital through small vestors and clients. It includes two Kazakhstan by creating better busi- market activities for operating a loans and equity ness conditions for U.S. business loan-based or equity-based crowd- partners. investments from funding platform and establishing PPPs contracts worth $3 billion prudential and conduct standards QazAvtoJol will implement the large numbers of for platform operators including road traffic safety project Vision requirements on anti-money laun- investors through Zero to eliminate many traffic fatali- dering and counter-terrorist financ- ties and severe injuries, said com- an internet-based concluded in first half of 2019 ing, fundraising limits, appropriate pany board chairperson Ulan Al- Science is developing PPP mecha- Takiyev added that PPP projects systems and controls, risk disclo- ipov at a July press conference. The platform. By Dilshat Zhussupova nisms to increase the number of on urban greening were imple- sure, conflict of interest and due strategy emphasises life and health summer camps from 236 to 1,000 mented in Almaty and will be re- diligence of firms using crowd- cannot be exchanged for other ben- NUR-SULTAN – Five hundred to meet the needs of approximately produced in Atyrau. funding services. Crowdfunding is an innova- efits over emphasising conventional and sixty-five public-private part- 500,000 children. Two hundred and President Kassym-Jomart To- “The small and medium-sized tive opportunity for SMEs and cost-benefit comparisons, in which a nership (PPP) contracts worth 1.29 nineteen kindergartens operate un- kayev instructed the government to enterprises (SMEs) have proved start-ups to obtain capital through monetary value is placed on life and trillion tenge (US$3.35 billion) der a PPP mechanism, providing develop PPP projects in agriculture, to be important contributors to small loans and equity invest- were concluded in Kazakhstan in 29,000 spots for children. PPP pro- energy, industry and infrastructure health to decide how much money ments from large numbers of is spent on reducing road risks. national prosperity, economic the first half of 2019. Nine of the jects on student dormitory construc- that will ensure a return on invest- growth and employment and investors through an internet- projects were national and the rest tion in Karaganda and the North and ment through paid services rather QazAvtoJol will also automate and based platform. It represents an digitise its construction and instal- crowdfunding can become a vi- were local, said Vice Minister of West Kazakhstan Regions are also than the national budget. able vehicle for bolstering financ- increasingly important alternative National Economy Madi Takiyev at under way as part of the 2016-2019 To attract more investment and lation processes and transfer execu- to non-bank funding sources and tive documentation to an electronic ing options for SMEs and start- a July 22 government meeting. State Programme for Education and decrease public expenditure, the ups. By creating this framework, will play an important role in the The development of PPP, a long- Science Development. Ministry of National Economy in- format as part of its support for the economic growth of Kazakhstan Kazakh Ministry of Industry and AIFC marks another step towards term cooperative arrangement The Ministry of Healthcare is de- troduced three categories for PPP building a vibrant entrepreneurial and the wider region. between two or more public and veloping PPP projects to purchase projects. One hundred and fifty- Infrastructure Development’s anti- Earlier, AIFC and EBRD signed corruption initiative Adaldyk Alany. ecosystem in the region,” said private sectors, kicked off in Ka- medical equipment for cancer treat- four projects fall under Category AFSA Chief FinTech Officer As- a memorandum for further coop- zakhstan with the adoption of the ment. Twenty-one PPP contracts on I, receiving full reimbursement eration to develop a supportive A national roadmap is being de- sylbek Davletov. 2006 law On Concession and gained school canteen management were on investment from the national The project was developed with regulatory framework for the Ka- momentum with the adoption of the concluded in the Akmola Region budget. Two hundred and sixty- veloped to promote exporting Ka- zakh green finance system and zakh goods and services, said First the support of European Bank for 2015 law On Public-Private Partner- to meet children’s nutrition needs, five projects fall under Category II, acceleration programme for issu- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Reconstruction and Development ship. An additional 620 PPP projects and similar projects are under way receiving partial reimbursement on ing green bonds on the Astana In- of Finance Alikhan Smailov at a July (EBRD). worth 1.89 trillion tenge (US$4.91 in the Turkestan and East and North investment from the national budg- ternational Exchange (AIX). The government meeting. It will focus “EBRD has been committed billion) are under development. Kazakhstan Regions. Forty-eight et and paid services. One hundred parties agreed to conduct joint ac- on building new trade contracts in to the AIFC since its inception. “The majority of the projects fall PPP contracts on new sports fa- and thirty-seven projects fall under Central Asia and the Eurasian Eco- The distinctive feature of FinTech tivities regarding the green bond under education, healthcare, hous- cilities were also concluded. For Category III, receiving reimburse- nomic Union (EAEU), negotiating companies engaged in crowd- market, policy papers and rec- ing and communal services, culture example, former production areas ment on investment from paid ser- a greater reflection of Kazakhstan’s funding is that they employ digi- ommendations for green finance and sports,” said Takiyev. will be rented out as sports facilities vices and none from the national interests in EAEU’s strategic docu- tal platforms to directly connect regulation. The Ministry of Education and for youth. budget. ments, eliminating barriers for Ka- zakh goods in EAEU markets and strengthening the country’s repre- “Kazpost, in its part, is do- sentation in the Eurasian Economic ing everything possible to reduce Commission’s working bodies. emissions, while maintaining the Kazpost delivers cutting-edge services availability of services. In particu- AsiaCredit Bank, Capital Bank lar, we have significantly reduced Kazakhstan and Tengri Bank will the use of non-ecological fuel such merge into a single bank after ob- as coal to heat (Kazpost) branches. taining the necessary regulatory after five-year transformation In addition, on ‘the last mile,’ we approval from institutions such as Continued from Page A1 of corporate governance processes and no land vehicle can drive to transferred delivery to an ecologi- the National Bank of Kazakhstan, in a company,” he added. that destination.” cal type of fuel for our transport reported the AsiaCredit Bank press Along with developing as a com- Kazpost is developing new pro- Two years ago, drones trans- fleet, which affected the reduction service. The merger will strengthen pany, Kazpost installed a complete jects to improve its investment at- ported 1,150 kilogrammes of cor- of emissions and the reduction in the reorganised bank’s financial po- infrastructure to develop other tractiveness and profitability. One respondence, travelling 16,000 kil- the use of gasoline and diesel. In sition and increase liquidity with a businesses in the country. project is enhancing transit and ometres in 460 hours. In 2018, the addition, we gave bikes to post- larger size, viable business model “Development of e-commerce is bonded warehouses, as transit and figures increased nearly 13 times. men, from which there is absolute- and improved quality of assets. The one of our priority tasks. Recently, e-commerce growth potential are In the past year, Kazpost transport- ly no harm to the environment,” bank will maintain its flexible and the export procedures were eased. attractive to investors. ed 16 tonnes of periodicals; the said Sarsenov. client-oriented development poli- The new law significantly simpli- “We will actively develop drones spent the same 460 hours For regular deliveries within cy and plans to support small and fied forming international custom- both domestic and cross-border in flight yet covered more than Kazakhstan, Kazpost tries to max- medium-sized businesses and state ary documents. The ‘window’ for e-commerce and support the de- 74,000 kilometres. imise the transport load in order to programmes aimed at improving sale of Kazakh products is open,” velopment of SMEs by offering The company uses drones to reduce the cost of fuel per pack- social welfare and the business en- said Sarsenov. to work with us on the franchise deliver correspondence to 150 age. International parcels and ex- vironment. To date, the company has model. I am confident the suc- locations in the Almaty, East Ka- press deliveries, however, require opened four e-commerce centres Saken Sarsenov cessful implementation of these zakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanai, airplanes that emit nearly 90 kilo- initiatives will have a positive Turkestan and Zhambyl regions. The Aktobe Region seeks to at- in the capital, Almaty, Karagan- Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth grammes of carbon dioxide per impact on the privatisation pro- This year, delivering periodicals by tract 620 billion tenge (US$1.61 bil- da and Shymkent. All small and Fund is currently its only share- hour of flight. lion) this year, said Akim (Governor) medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cess,” he said. drones will be available in all areas. “But airplanes, with every age, holder. “This means, for example, that Ondasyn Urazalin at a July meeting are trained in the basics of e-com- “Since the beginning of 2019, also become more economical with local and foreign investors. The merce and procedures for operat- readers in remote villages receive and aviation fuel is also trying to our shareholder has already held a Drones deliver parcels to newspapers on the day they are region attracted 210 billion tenge ing in world markets. number of investment roundtables, be less harmful. At the same time, released and not late. They don’t emissions are not so significant. (US$545.95 million) in investment Approximately 1,500 SME rep- including in Dubai and Beijing, remote villages in the first half of the year. have to wait until the land transport The last mile is much more affect- resentatives were trained in 2018 with the goal of promoting portfo- Although many people were and this year, the number has risen originally ready to criticise the arrives. The advantage of drones is ed by how a department works. In lio companies… We will continue iKOMEK109, the city monitor- to more than 2,000. Kazpost offers idea of using drones for postal ser- high mobility, independent of the these directions, Kazpost is con- to present the assets and strengths ing centre, passed the International continued support to all entrepre- vice, the unmanned aircraft have quality of roads, and low energy stantly progressing,” he noted. of the company,” said Sarsenov. Project Management Association’s neurs after training. been demonstrating good results. consumption. But I want to note The company is continuing to “Another step towards privati- (IPMA) certification for project The centres provide services for In 2017, Kazpost used drones to that they do not replace the work carefully study the possibilities to sation is improving the corporate management, becoming the world’s 57 online stores, such as offering ad- launch a correspondence provision of postal employees,” he said. reduce future environmental im- governance rating. According to 25th organisation certified in IPMA vice on ways to promote their shops project to remote rural offices. pact. the results of an independent exter- Delta, reported the Nur-Sultan Aki- including by creating websites, sell- “We are very pleased with the Addressing “It is likely that with the devel- mat (city administration) press ser- ing on social media platforms and nal assessment in 2018, the rating results,” said Sarsenov. “There are opment of technology, their availa- vice. The assessment was completed renting contact centres, as well as of Kazpost’s corporate governance mountainous rural areas (where environmental impact bility and economic efficiency, we by IPMA Delta assessors Sergey facilities for receiving, storing, sort- rose to the level of BB. The compa- the distance) from the regional Drones run on electricity, mak- will use autonomous and all-elec- Bushuyev and Svetlana Murzabeko- ing and delivering goods. ny is successfully implementing a centre to a village is 40 kilometres, ing them an eco-friendlier means tric machines, robots and drones va and co-assessors Maira Hussain- plan to improve corporate govern- while driving to it on a serpentine of delivery than gasoline-powered to deliver over ‘the last mile’ and ova and Rakhmatullo Saidullayev, ance and plans in 2020 to improve route is 150-170 kilometres. Also, vehicles. As one of the biggest solar energy for the rest of our who noted the centre’s quick results, Privatising in 2020 it to the level of BBB. We believe it happens in winter in severe delivery services in the country, needs. I believe green technology effective communication system Kazpost is among the companies such a level is an indicator of readi- weather conditions, when the riv- Kazpost is aware of the impact of has a future and it is only a matter and ability to transfer best practices. to be partially privatised in 2020. ness for privatisation and maturity ers freeze and roads get blocked each delivery on the environment. of time,” he added. A6 EDITORIAL&OPINION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 Strong communities, Astana Process has contributed regions are key to nation’s to search for peace in Syria, success and development says former UN envoy nyone who travels widely in cally shared equally in rising prosperity and cessor Geir Pedersen was to be patient, Kazakhstan quickly realises that opportunity. By Elya Altynsarina perseverant and indeed creative. our country is not only large We have seen, in recent years, a major but also incredibly diverse. The commitment to addressing these chal- Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura In your opinion, has the Astana Pro- steppeA may seem endless around our capital lenges with a focus on the problems holding served as UN Secretary General’s Spe- cess, conducted in support of the main but there are many other types of landscapes regions and communities back. There have cial Envoy for Syria from July 2014 to Geneva platform, justified its mission? within our borders, each with their own been concerted efforts, for example, to November 2018. The Kazakh Ministry The Astana initiative was meant to fa- beauty and appeal. improve transport connections and energy of Foreign Affairs publication Diplomatic cilitate the dialogue between the sides and But it won’t be long, too, before travellers and water supplies so all parts of the country Herald recently spoke with de Mistura those who support them in order to produce notice that this diversity goes beyond geology, link into Kazakhstan’s modern, growing about peacemaking, the Syrian crisis and some meaningful de-escalation areas and climate and, of course, the people who have economy. These have also been coupled the Astana Process. That interview, edited hence reduce the suffering of the civilians. made Kazakhstan their home. There can be with major regional investment in housing, for space and style, is reprinted here. Such de-escalation areas did last for a differences as well in development between in schools and other public services to bring period of an average of six months and regions as well as urban and rural areas. Not their provision up to the highest national What attracted you to the work of con- did produce relief for the people dur- all parts of our nation have as yet shared standards. flict mediation? ing that period. By doing so, the Astana

equally in the country’s new prosperity. There has been major investment, too, in The job of an international conflicts news.un.org. Photo credit: Process did indeed support the attempts This is a challenge, of course, not just agriculture, which is seen as one of the ma- mediator is a very complicated one, Staffan de Mistura by the Geneva UN-led political process for Kazakhstan. It is an almost universal jor drivers of economic growth in the future. since often the two opposing sides, while aimed at pursuing the implementation of problem. All but the smallest countries – The aim is to harness science and technol- claiming to aim for a political solution, in Resolution 2254. no matter how mature or successful their ogy to increase production in a way which fact, want a military outcome consistent creativity, always bearing in mind that the economies – are struggling with the impact is environmentally sustainable. Continued with their own agenda. While this is true main priority is and should always be sav- What is your opinion about the organ- of imbalances in growth and opportunity on success in this important sphere will help in most conflicts, this should not deter the ing the lives of the civilian population. isational level of this dialogue platform? their societies. And the bigger a country and meet future food needs, boost exports, pro- mediator from trying hard to find a sus- I can say that the Astana Process is dis- the more rapid its economic progress, the vide the platform for new industries while tainable political solution. The conflict in Syria is among the 21st tinguished by the high international level greater the possibility for those imbalances creating well-paid and secure jobs in more As a child, I wanted to become a fire century’s bloodiest and most complex of organisation. This moment is also very to become entrenched if not mitigated by rural areas. fighter, then a medical doctor… Finally, I challenges for the international commu- important to gather the (Syrian) govern- determined action. These programmes and investment are de- settled for being a “doctor of countries.” nity to address. What parting words did ment and armed opposition together with Such imbalances and the inequality that livering concrete improvements in the coun- Doctors cannot afford the luxury of you have for your successor, Geir Ped- the three guarantor countries and some ob- follows can be acutely damaging at an try’s urban and rural areas. New industrial frustration, since sometimes there is no ersen? servers in order to discuss concretely, in an individual, community and national level. It zones, for example, are being established in obvious cure to a disease. The same often Indeed, the Syrian conflict has been atmosphere conductive to potential agree- can lead to individual frustration and force Shymkent, the nation’s third city, which will applies to a mediator. However, he or she defined by most observers as the worst ments, important issues such as the sustain- people to leave their homes to seek a better be serviced by a modern airport terminal can, like a doctor, still prolong the life of in the 21st century with almost 500,000 ability of lifesaving de-escalation areas and life for their families. In the worst cases, and railway station. At the same time, the the patient, reduce the pain and provide victims, five million refugees, six million the fate of detainees and missing people. the communities they leave behind can be roll-out of broadband is being accelerated hope, while creatively searching all the displaced people and massive destruction trapped in a spiral of decline. to rural areas. Over 200 additional villages time for a cure, which may be around the of urban centres, hospitals and schools. How do you value the contribution of There is a serious negative impact, too, in the Kyzylorda, Pavlodar, Turkestan and corner. In addition, thousands of people were de- the First President of Kazakhstan Nur- on national prospects. Just as successful Zhambyl regions as well as many more tained, abducted and disappeared. There- sultan Nazarbayev to the launch of the countries maximise the potential of all their schools, hospitals and town halls will be What are some of the key challenges fore, no one should expect a miraculous Astana Process? citizens, so too do nations need to maximise connected over the summer. you have faced as a mediator and how quick fix from a mediator in such a com- Actually, the role and viewpoint of the potential of all of their regions to become What is already clear is that there will no have you solved them? plicated situation. political leaders strongly impact global successful. It is in everyone’s interests, let-up in this drive under the new admin- For an international mediator nowa- Each international mediator has his/ security. In this regard, I would say that no matter where they live or work, to see istration. President Kassym-Jomart To- days, the main challenges are the pro- her style and approach to the search for launching the Astana de-escalation initia- increased effort and investment to tackle kayev, in his inaugural address, stressed his found lack of trust between the fighting a solution, also depending on the volatile tive by the First President of Kazakhstan regional disparities. determination to ensure sustained, dynamic sides, the multipolar complexity of cur- circumstances of a very volatile conflict Nursultan Nazarbayev has been crucially This effort is exactly what is happening economic growth throughout the entire rent conflicts, which in cases like Syria like the Syrian one. Therefore, apart from important and indeed extremely effective. in Kazakhstan. The remarkable economic country. This will be helped by continued can include up to 15 countries and enti- a very in-depth briefing on what so far has I would like to express the hope that progress over the last two decades has, of devolving of responsibility to the regional ties, and divisions among members of the been done in order to mitigate the devas- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who course, transformed living standards and and local level. It is a recognition that strong Security Council. tating effects of the conflict and the av- is a very seasoned diplomat and politi- public services right across the country. But communities and regions are the essential Hence, in order to try to overcome all enues pursued in order to find a politically cian, will keep the country’s intention to there has been a recognition, too, that not foundation for a strong Kazakhstan in the these challenges the best is to exercise sustainable and inclusive solution, my contribute to peace-making and peace- every region or community has automati- coming decades. patience, perseverance and constructive only advice to my very experienced suc- keeping globally. Kazakhstan and India move toward new horizons of cooperation tacts were established during First I am convinced we can expand Kazakhstan and 10 regional coun- space and military sectors could By Bulat Sarsenbayev Kazakh President Nursultan Naz- trade. To do so, we must improve tries. also become priority cooperation arbayev’s 1992 trip to India. It was delivery methods between our Together with Kazakh Invest, areas. As is well-known, India is the Nazarbayev’s first foreign visit as countries. Therefore, the embassy we are cooperating with Farm2U, Significant support in expanding most populous democracy and the President after our independence. is making every effort to use the a major Indian farming company this cooperation is provided by the sixth largest economy in the world In 2009, Kazakhstan and India Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran interested in developing gardening Honorary Kazakh Consulates in with a GDP of 2.69 trillion. U.S. signed the Declaration on Strategic railway (with further destinations in Kazakhstan. The Refex group of India, which operate in Mumbai, analysts predict India, currently Partnership. at the ports of Bandar Abbas and companies is also expected to soon Chennai and Gandhinagar. Ad- the world’s sixth largest economy, Today, Nur-Sultan and Delhi Chabahar) and then the sea route finalise an agreement on rare earth ditional honorary consulates are could become the third largest by share similar positions on regional to India. The reduced time and cost metals processing and the acquisi- planned. 2025. and global cooperation and work could double or triple trade. tion of the Drozhilovsky deposit. In recent years, the numbers of The Indian Government is imple- closely within international and According to the Ministry of Additionally, the large energy Indian citizens visiting Kazakh- menting programmes to stimulate multilateral platforms. National Economy of Kazakhstan, company NTPC is ready to enter stan and Kazakhs traveling to India economic development, including Our cooperation has ensured a approximately 560 entities with the Kazakh market to implement have increased. Soon we expect In- improving public administration port of the Archaeological Survey high level of trust. An example in- Indian capital are registered in Ka- an alternative energy project with a dian low-cost air carriers SpiceJet and national legislation as well as of India, reconstructed his grave in cludes the fact that Kazakhstan’s zakhstan. More than 200 Indian capacity of over 100 MW. and IndiGo to launch more flights the business and investment cli- Srinagar city, in the state of Jammu first participation in a UN peace- companies registered in the past These are just a selection of pro- between Delhi and Almaty and mate. Many of the initiatives are and Kashmir. A placard with infor- keeping mission was deployed in two-three years. jects we are working on. Mumbai and Almaty. similar to Kazakh programmes. mation in Urdu and English was 2018 to Lebanon as part of an In- Work to expand trade and eco- The embassy also assisted an Indian citizens transiting through India is at the forefront in finan- installed near the grave. dian battalion. nomic cooperation is carried out Indian business delegation’s par- Nur-Sultan and Almaty can now cial resources, innovation and sci- A significant role in consolidat- Until 2015, the Indian population jointly with the Kazakh-Indian ticipation in the Astana Economic stay in Kazakhstan visa-free for 72 entific and technical development. ing the Delhi Sultanate established wasn’t fully aware of Kazakhstan’s Business Council. Tengri Bank in Forum. The delegation met with hours. Kazakh citizens can also ob- The country is also a huge export at the beginning of the 13th century economic opportunities. Modi’s Almaty, of which Punjab National Kazakh Prime Minister Askar tain electronic visas to visit India. market for foreign goods, as well was played by the Turkic military- 2015 official visit and top-level Bank is the shareholder, assists In- Mamin, Ministers of Industry and In 2018, the embassy issued as a major investor and supplier of feudal nobility, which originated negotiations spurred economic co- dian companies in Kazakhstan. Infrastructure Development, as more than 25,000 visas to Indian advanced technologies, primarily from Central Asia. The Delhi Sul- operation. Regarding attracting invest- well as Digital Development, In- citizens, which is four times more in IT. tanate lasted 320 years and was the Additional impetus came during ments, the Kazakh Ministry of For- novation and Aerospace Industry, than in 2014. India is one of Kazakhstan’s key largest state in North India. One the Indian Prime Minister’s 2017 eign Affairs and other government the heads of the National Bank, In November-December 2019, political and economic partners in of its founders was Qutb al-Din visit to Kazakhstan for the SCO agencies are building a vertically the Astana International Financial President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the region. Aibak, representative of the Mam- Summit and the opening of EXPO integrated scheme to attract foreign Centre (AIFC), as well as other is expected to visit India, which Relations between our peoples luk dynasty. Most sources mention 2017. Today, cooperation is rapidly investors, starting with embassies business and political organisa- will expand cooperation. have ancient roots dating back to Turkestan, a sacred region in Ka- developing with a focus on eco- abroad. This aligns with the new tions. The positive state of Kazakh- when Saka tribes from the territory zakhstan, as his homeland. nomic diplomacy. task of the foreign ministry and our Agreements totalling approxi- Indian relations demonstrates that of modern Kazakhstan established Today, Kazakhstan and India are Kazakhstan is India’s main trad- embassies to implement economic mately $300 million and two mem- we have chosen the right path for a powerful empire in India. multi-ethnic, multi-religious, mul- ing partner in Central Asia. Ka- diplomacy. orandums were signed. cooperation. Some sources attribute the Sak tilingual, and secular societies. zakh-Indian trade exceeds India’s Our embassy in India has hired The embassy is also pursuing co- It is a great honour for me as a origin to the spiritual teacher and Our shared roots are also seen combined trade with other coun- officers responsible for attract- operation in finance, banking and diplomat representing Kazakhstan founder of Buddhism, Gautama in our languages. Many common tries in our region. ing investments and we recently FinTech. In April, presentations on in India, a country with one sixth Buddha, who had the title “Shaky- words share meanings in the mod- Bilateral trade in 2018 reached opened a representative office of what the AIFC can offer were or- of the global population and deep amuni” (Sakyamuni), meaning ern Kazakh and Hindi languages. $1.2 billion. Since 2017, trade has the Kazakh Invest national com- ganised in Delhi and Mumbai. historical roots and rich culture, to “the wisest among Shakya (Saka).” The joint statement signed follow- increased 26.5 percent. Compared pany in Delhi. Great prospects also exist for work and live alongside hard-work- An important person in Indian ing Indian Prime Minister Naren- to 2015, this figure has more than Our efforts are bringing results. IT cooperation with India. The ing, sincere and kind-hearted peo- history is the famous Kazakh dra Modi’s 2015 visit to Kazakh- doubled. At the end of 2018, the transna- launching of telecommunications ple, and to develop friendship and statesman of the Middle Ages, stan was called “Tez Kadam,” For the first three months of this tional company Chaudhary Group equipment production by Tejas at cooperation between our countries. the scholar-historian Mohammed which in both languages means year, bilateral trade was 35.9 per- acquired the assets of a noodle the Astana IT hub and cooperation Haidar Dulati. In 2018, the Kazakh “Quick Step.” cent higher than the same period production plant in the Turkestan with leading Indian IT company The author is the Ambassador Embassy in Delhi, with the sup- Indian-Kazakh political con- last year. region and are seeking partners in Infosys are being discussed. The of Kazakhstan to India.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

potential, Terra Drone chose KazUAV as its partner in Ka- zakhstan. Thanks to this step, all KazUAV joins Terra Drone Corporation network advanced foreign technologies will be available to our custom- ers in surveying, power genera- tion, construction, oil and gas to provide innovative drone services and other areas. Kazakhstan will dustry, the time is ripe for Terra throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, now become part of the global By Dilshat Zhussupova Drone to gain a footing in Cen- Oceania and South America. unmanned aircraft community tral Asia with this investment,” Also established in 2016, Ka- as one of the youngest but larg- NUR-SULTAN – Japan-based said Terra Drone Corporation zUAV provides mapping and GIS est markets,” said KazUAV CEO Terra Drone Corporation’s recent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) services to construction and agri- Eugeniy Garkushin. investment in KazUAV means Toru Tokushige July 18 to Terra- cultural sectors and surveillance KazUAV will adopt technolo- the Kazakh drone company will drone.net. drone services to Kazakhstan’s gies from the Terra Drone group join a global network of more Established in 2016, Terra special forces and in emergen- to provide drone-based services than 25 companies to provide Drone Corporation leverages ad- cies like wildfires and floods. For in Kazakhstan, such as power cutting-edge and cost-effective vances in unmanned hardware, example, KazUAV mapped six line inspection and vegetation drone services in Kazakhstan, re- lidar and photogrammetric sur- airports in the country over a sur- management for the energy sec- ports Terra-drone.net. veying methods and drone data veyed area of four million hec- tor; open-pit and underground “With 3 percent of the world’s processing techniques powered tares for the International Civil mapping services for the mining total oil reserves in Kazakh- by machine learning and artifi- Aviation Organisation. sector; and onshore and offshore stan, the production of oil and cial intelligence technologies to “The goal to become the top infrastructure inspections, tanks gas in the country is witnessing provide drone services for oil and drone company in the world is inspections and nondestructive a year-on-year increase. As a terra-drone.net. Photo credit: gas, utilities, renewables, min- incredibly complex and ambi- testing for the oil and gas indus- leading provider of drone-based L-R: Yuhei Nagai, Dmitriy Ivanov, Eugeniy Garkushin, Ruslan Vitvitski and ing, construction and geographic tious. We are very pleased that, try. It will also sell drones and solutions for the oil and gas in- Alexander Borovkov. information system (GIS) sectors having assessed our results and sensors to local customers. Mobile virtual network Established retailer Wildberries operator Izi enters market to assist emerging entrepreneurs less conventional mobile operator “Kazakh businesspeople already and we are waiting for suppliers in Kazakhstan in 2011. Dos (Friend By Nazira Kozhanova participate in online sales of cloth- from Kazakhstan. Today, Wildber- in Kazakh), a low-cost service de- ing, accessories, cosmetics, prod- ries already sells clothes, accesso- signed to compete with similar low- NUR-SULTAN – Wildberries ucts for car enthusiasts, books and ries, cosmetics, goods for motor- cost operator Tele2, lasted only 18 General Director Tatyana Bakalchuk children’s products. The launch of ists, books and children’s goods. months. and Kazakh Invest Deputy Chair- such a project (electronic expertise The potential for the development Izi’s competitors are sceptical man of the Board Ruslan Issatayev centres) will primarily allow small of our partnership is significant; about the project’s perspectives, signed a memorandum July 9 and medium-sized businesses to high-quality goods are created in reported Kursiv.kz. Timur Turlov, launching electronic expertise cen- obtain the necessary knowledge this country, so we would like to a member of the Kcell board of di- tres to support Kazakh entrepreneurs and tools for successful online trad- create new sales, to create new rectors, expressed uncertainty about willing to export their goods. ing, as well as expand the range of business places and even to create whether the current state of the mar- The document details opening three products exported online,” he said, new brands,” said Bakalchuk. ket is favourable for launching the centres in the capital, Almaty and as reported by Profit.kz. The Russia-based company’s new product via direct sales. Shymkent, with the first launching in The centres will be operated by turnover increased by 74 percent “Izi started in one of the most ex- the capital by the end of the year. Wildberries specialists who will to 46 billion rubles (US$733 mil- pensive marketing channels – direct The centres will assist Kazakh provide educational services, facil- lion) in the second quarter of this services that 99 percent of customers sales… At the same time, the market entrepreneurs in increasing their ities (photo studios) and logistics year compared to the same period By Nazira Kozhanova use, but the list of services will rap- is already at the minimal price possi- sales volume, creating new jobs assistance by submitting goods last year. Sales in the first half of idly expand,” he told the website. ble; the connection is cheap, the mo- and starting new brands. Issatayev directly to the centres with the op- 2019 grew 79 percent to 85 billion NUR-SULTAN – Izi, a new SIM card delivery is currently bile operators have low margins and noted Wildberries employees have tion of subsequent redirection to rubles (US$1.354 billion), com- MVNO (mobile virtual network available in Almaty. After re- the price competition decreased,” he particular areas of expertise which the company’s storage facilities. pared with the first half of 2018. operator) that provides its services ceiving their cards, customers said. could also help entrepreneurs in “The online store has been The number of clients increased exclusively online, has entered the can activate them and choose a Prime Source company CEO Evg- expanding their businesses online. working in the country since 2014 85 percent during the same period. Kazakh market, reported Forbes. service pack through the website eny Scherbinin, however, noted the kz. The operator is using a KaR-Tel or app. Service packs are fully project offers synergy opportunities company licence. customisable and, unlike the for the financial industry. Izi, which launched the beta ver- majority of Kazakh mobile op- “Today, 90 percent of the client’s sion of its services June 27, offers an erators, have no expiration dates. interactions are not in the infrastruc- alternative to conventional customer Price points for the released data ture of financial organisations, but support (service offices and call cen- plans are $4.18 for 10 GB and in mobile applications and on the tres). The service provides a website $7.83 for 30 GB. Internet. It pushes banks to look for and app with live chat aimed at solv- The KaR-Tel license also repre- options for cooperation with market- ing customers’ problems remotely. sents Beeline, a more conventional places, social networks, aggregators The beta version has a limited num- mobile operator, and Izi is designed and providers of various services. ber of services, according to a com- using the company’s existing net- The most complete, operational, reli- pany representative. work. able source of customer information “Izi already has the most important KaR-Tel attempted to launch a is the cellular operator,” he said. Astana International Financial Centre, Bank CenterCredit to develop open financial platform

By Nazira Kozhanova

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana In- ternational Financial Centre (AIFC) and Bank CenterCredit (BCC) signed July 24 a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop the BCC open financial platform based on OpenAPI (application program interface) technologies. “We are ready for productive co- operation with Bank CenterCredit in the development of OpenAPI technology. It will expand the ca- pabilities of market participants in the creation of new innovative

products. It is important to acquaint service. AIFC press Photo credit: the financial sector players with this technology, since its applica- technology (fintech) startups or web service, Readwrite reports. tion will have a great impact on the participating in acceleration and APIs are sets of requirements that market,” said AIFC Chief Develop- incubation programmes and joint govern how one application can ment Officer Kairat Kaliyev on the workshops. communicate and interact with an- opportunities API technologies pro- “We highly appreciate the co- other. vide to the financial sector. operation with the Astana Inter- The AIFC, launched last year, The technology will allow po- national Financial Centre. The seeks to become the leading fi- tential partners to integrate with development of open financial nancial centre in the region. the bank and create new innova- platforms is one of the priority ar- The AIFC focuses on enhancing tive services, Kaliyev said. eas for the development of BCC,” growth through its main strategic The memorandum signed by said Ruslan Vladimirov, deputy pillars, including capital markets, the AIFC and BCC contains chairman of the BCC board. asset management, fintech, Is- provisions on the interaction of An open API, often referred to lamic finance, banking and insur- structures in the use of the plat- as a public API, is a publicly avail- ance. form by the AIFC participants, able application programming BCC was established September the development of innovative interface that provides develop- 19, 1988 and is one of the first and laboratories, the provision of ers with programmatic access to largest commercial banks in Ka- mentoring support to financial a proprietary software application zakhstan. A8 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 Citi continues to support AIFC’s work, invest in Kazakhstan, says Citi executive a big agenda here in Kazakhstan,” novation and help with the govern- wouldn’t have already attracted so Monaco emphasised that “diver- By Saltanat Boteu she said. ment’s agenda,” she noted. much FDI,” she said. “Kazakhstan sity of thought and of management The company is one of the largest “To do that, you have to have can be a gateway for the economic approach makes a better team.” NUR-SULTAN – Citi has been foreign investors and the only mul- a robust capital market, liquidity opportunity that surrounds it.” “Often when I am the only supporting the Astana Interna- tinational bank with an operating and financing. AIFC has made Monaco has been a member of woman in a meeting room, I tional Financial Centre’s (AIFC) licence in Kazakhstan. In 26 years huge strides in the last year in the AIFC Advisory Council since don’t really notice that… I could work and plans to continue coop- of working in the country it has getting infrastructure in place to the beginning of this year. She be with bankers or other profes- erating, said Julie Monaco, head of helped the government and corpo- support that,” she added. “Ka- has 34 years of experience in the sionals. I think it’s important to Citi Global Public Sector and the rate clients raise over $30 billion of zakhstan has a significant source financial services industry and has have diversity and it’s not just for only female on the AIFC Manag- capital in the international markets. of unique minerals and creating been recognised internationally. the sake of having women; it is ing Council, in an interview with “In Kazakhstan we are a ma- [exchange-traded funds] ETFs She was on the 2018 American more about what we’ve discov- The Astana Times. jor provider of settlement and that are tied to those minerals Banker’s list of 25 Most Powerful ered about diversity. When we Doing business in more than clearing services. We also sup- would be a very unique invest- Women in Banking and Finance have diversity, we have different 160 countries and jurisdictions, ported our local clients overseas, ment class. The other is FinTech. for the ninth year among many approaches and ways of think- the company provides financial underwriting bonds and extending Julie Monaco Kazakhstan potentially is well other titles and awards in the in- ing… It makes a team stronger,” services to governments and as- transactional services,” she said. positioned to provide FinTech dustry. she said. sists them to finance themselves, The company invests its efforts solutions not just for Kazakhstan, “The institutions that I worked Monaco serves on the Corporate digitise, mitigate risks and become in developing capital markets as economies have something be- but for the all the countries in the for and especially Citi have been and Investment Bank’s Diversity more efficient. alternative to traditional bank fi- yond traditional bank lending as area.” very supportive and committed to Committee and is an active mem- “We do risk mitigation, help nancing. a way to attract foreign direct in- Because of the investment con- equality, making sure that it is an ber of the Citi Women’s Network. governments protect themselves “That obviously is what AIFC is vestment (FDI) and foreign capital ditions created by AIFC and the inclusive culture and that people “Women often focus on what against volatility and foreign ex- all about – how to create a frame- and provide an engine for growth geography of the country, “it’s a recognise unconscious biases and their gaps are… So, what I say change interest rates and commod- work. We are very excited about for local companies. It allows en- good investment environment and try to overcome them,” she said. to women is stop selling yourself ity prices and protect their fiscal what AIFC is doing; we think it trepreneurs, fintech companies it’s only getting better,” she noted. “My success is not mine… it is the short; take a chance, push yourself budgets though various risk miti- is the right thing, because for eco- and new emerging technological “I think that Kazakhstan has an culture and company that surround out of your comfort zone. You can gation tools. We also help govern- nomic growth and development to companies to find new sources of economic story that is compel- me that have enabled me to be suc- do more than what you think you ments that are privatising, which is happen it is really important that funding so that they can create in- ling for foreign investments, or it cessful.” can do,” she said. EBRD financing for Women in Business Meat processing programme reaches $561 million plant opens in “In the EBRD regions, women particularly amongst women en- 2018, more than 800 women en- By Zhanna Shayakhmetova entrepreneurs often continue to trepreneurs. Offering consulting trepreneurs in 13 different regions face legal and cultural barriers and business coaching services, have attended the conferences. NUR-SULTAN – The European when they wish to go into busi- we helped women-led businesses Recently, EBRD launched the Akmola Region Bank for Reconstruction and De- ness. Our comprehensive Women to solve specific problems such as Women in Microbusiness pro- and a second deboning line have velopment’s (EBRD) Women in in Business programme has been promoting the company on the In- gramme for 350 women entrepre- By Zhanna Shayakhmetova subsequently been installed and a Business programme has provided helping address these issues in ternet or improving the efficiency neurs from 14 Kazakh regions to Metro Cash and Carry distribu- $561 million in credit lines to more an impressive range from fashion of their management systems. improve their access to efficient NUR-SULTAN – KazBeef tion centre with the capacity to than 60,000 women-led small and designers to furniture producers With the help of mentoring, we business tools and modernise how Group opened a meat processing store up to 1,000 tonnes of prod- medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and from retailers to construc- created the opportunity not only they do business. plant July 11 in Schuchinsk in the uct was built. in 18 countries. tion companies. We are proud and to discuss strategic development Fifteen women-led enterprises Akmola Region, reported the Ka- Opening the facility is an im- Launched in 2015, the pro- pleased to contribute to the crea- issues with the business leaders are also participating in the Fast zakh Invest press service. portant milestone for KazBeef, gramme offers a unique combi- tion of high-performing and inclu- from Kazakhstan and abroad, but Track accelerated programme to The company is the country’s noted General Director Beibit Ye- nation of financing together with sive business environments in the also tips on work-life balance and learn the world’s best practices for only producer of marbled beef us- rubayev. technical assistance and access to economies where we work,” said personal development,” reads the promoting women’s entrepreneur- ing U.S. technologies, with a full “Now, 70 percent of meat on know-how, including mentoring EBRD Director for SME Financial release. ship, choose from different types production cycle of high-quality the domestic market is supplied and networking opportunities as Products Ines Rocha. Approximately 58 percent of the of consulting services and busi- meat products from feed cultiva- from bazaars and subsidiary well as training and business ad- EBRD and six partner financial beneficiary women-led enterprises ness coaching and expand their tion to packaging finished prod- farms. We want to change the vice in operational efficiency, strat- institutions – Arnur Credit, Bank within advisory projects created business contacts. ucts. Dozens of small farms near situation by giving better quality egy and financial management. Kassa Nova, Bank Centre Credit, new jobs and 73 percent of them EBRD helped Smart Imperium, the plant supply meat. for a good price. Food safety is EBRD also provides the online ForteBank, Microfinance organi- have achieved turnover growth. a Montessori kindergarten, to de- KazBeef’s meat has a unique a priority for us. The consumer self-diagnostic tool Business Lens, sation MFO KMF and Shinhan Close to 250 women entrepreneurs velop a network of branches in Al- taste due to using wheat as fatten- should purchase meat without the which helps women entrepreneurs Bank – provided 21,281 sub-loans joined the mentoring programme maty and Almaty Region and in- ing feed for 180 days. The food use of hormones and antibiotics. identify the strengths and opportu- worth 28.9 billion tenge (US$76 and 97 percent benefitted from crease its revenue by 360 percent. is main difference from meat Our products are certified by the nities within their businesses. million) to women-led enterprises their mentors’ knowledge and ex- The enterprise was able to launch produced in Argentina or Brazil, GFSI international food safety EBRD Managing Director of Fi- in Kazakhstan. perience. Montessori primary schools for which mainly use herbal feed. system. This certificate is recog- nancial Institutions Francis Malige The bank also supports women Nearly 400 women entrepre- the first time in Kazakhstan with “I think Kazakhstan should nised worldwide and we will be noted promoting women’s inclu- entrepreneurs outside the country’s neurs took part in the workshops the help of the bank’s advisory ser- become the leader in the region able to export our products. We sion in business is vital to realising major cities in accessing finance. to develop skills in key areas of vices. for the production of all types are proud to open the plant and the full economic potential of any “A significant gender gap in en- management ranging from leader- The bank also assisted AGF of meat. We have the potential at the same time, we are ready to country. trepreneurship in Kazakhstan in- ship to information and commu- Group with automating its process so that the Kazakh agro-industry share our experience with other “It is unique in its combination stigated an integrated and creative nications technology (ICT) and to produce home textiles, develop- should occupy half of the coun- entrepreneurs of the country,” he of finance and advisory [assis- approach to closing it. The EBRD financial management. ing a brand and creating a market- try’s economy. The agro-industry said. tance], but what really makes it became the trendsetter not only in EBRD initiated the WECON ing strategy to open retail stores. should become more important Fifty people presently work at stand out is the impact it is mak- proactively promoting women en- Conferences to connect women Sales turnover was 150 million than the oil and gas industry, the plant, but the number of jobs ing in empowering women and un- trepreneurship in Kazakhstan, but in business with their role model tenge (US$391,132) per year pri- because it is renewable. New may increase three-fold. The leashing their potential,” he said. also in providing mentoring as a entrepreneurs, strengthening their or to EBRD support; in 2018, it technologies are also of great company has 120,000 hectares of Creating a favourable business service under Women in Business. business linkages and providing reached four billion tenge (US$10 importance. It is important that area with more than 5,000 head environment for women entrepre- Mentoring was not always seen the inspiration and motivation for million). The enterprise has be- the agro-industry is environmen- of Angus and Hereford kept on neurs is also a priority. as a valuable learning resource, the next success stories. Since come an IKEA supplier. tally friendly,” said Kusto Group a beef cattle pedigree reproducer Board of Directors Chairperson farm in the Akmola region. The Yerkin Tatishev. company is also engaged in wheat The reconstructed plant has in- feeding 5,000 head of cattle in the creased capacity from 2,000 to Zerenda District. 6,000 tonnes of product per year. The feedlot, which will be Ferroalloy production plant De-boning and packaging launched at the end of July, will equipment was installed and Skin accommodate up to 15,000 head Pack, a process to vacuum seal and provide more than 6,000 steak in portions, was launched tonnes of high-quality marbled opens in Karaganda in June. Meat grading equipment beef annually. opening, highlighting the key role By Nazira Kozhanova the Karaganda Region plays in de- veloping Kazakh production. NUR-SULTAN – A ferroalloy “In the Karaganda Region, work production plant opened July 24 in to diversify the industry, modern- Karaganda. Kazakh Prime-Minis- ise the backbone enterprises and ter Askar Mamin took part in the attract investment continues”, opening ceremony. Mamin said. The plant’s primary product is a He stressed that 93 percent of all high-quality ferrosilicon (FeSi75), attracted investments are private, which is the key element in steel half of which are foreign. Over- production and alloying. At the all, there are 35 new large-scale first production stage, the plant is investment projects, worth over set to produce 180,000 tonnes of $1 trillion, which are being imple- fully export-oriented ferrosilicon mented in the region, with 17 of per year, gradually increasing up them with foreign investors’ par- to 240,000 tonnes per year. ticipation. The region’s investment A key feature of the plant is in growth in the first half of 2019 was minimising the negative envi- 72 percent. ronmental impact of ferrosilicon plant, more than 1,500 new jobs the YDD Corporation is more than During his trip to the Karaganda production, as the plant uses gas were created. While operating, the $94 million. The project was fund- Region, Mamin visited the cath- cleaning systems and electric en- plant will provide 350 jobs at the ed by Kazakh private funds and ode copper plant, the processing ergy. first stage and up to 550 jobs at the European investors, with the at- and enrichment of lead-silver ore The main share of ferrosilicon second stage. traction of debt financing from the plant and the mining and process- will be exported to Russia, Turkey, The plant’s second stage of pro- Kazakh Development Bank within ing complex. Mamin also inspect- South Korea, the United States and duction will allow Kazakhstan to the framework of the Kazakh State ed the SES Saran solar power sta- the countries of the European Un- be listed among the top five largest Programme of Industrial and Inno- tion, launched in January, and the ion. producers of ferrosilicon. vative Development. reconstructed northern and eastern

At the construction stage of the The total cost of the project by Mamin took part in the plant bypass of the Karaganda city road. service of Kazakh Invest. Press Photo credit: B Nation&Capital

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

PEOPLE CULTURE SPORTS Top female boxer, promoter of the Astana Opera Ballet Children get medals at Winners sport is among 100 New Faces B2 performs in Lithuania B3 Games for cancer survivors B7 Children’s book series introduces Central We are different, but abroad Asia to readers of all ages, backgrounds we are all Kazakhs, says

By Dilshat Zhussupova

NUR-SULTAN – Author Ma- Kurdish community leader rina Abrams is introducing Central said, in Kazakhstan, we are dif- Asia to people of all ages in the By Saltanat Boteu ferent, but abroad we are all Ka- English and Russian-language il- zakhs,” he said. lustrated book “Orange and Blue: NUR-SULTAN – The Assem- The centre, which specialises in The World of Barzu.” The story bly of the People of Kazakhstan charitable assistance, opened in of a boy from the mountains and (APK) and ethno cultural centres the capital in 2009. his family features a folkloric nar- across the country play a signifi- “We do not neglect people who rative and an educational section, cant role for the nation, said the really need attention, help and sup- all of which foster curiosity and capital’s Barbang Kurd ethnocul- port. We have many patrons who discussion among children and tural centre head Shamo Fatoyev. support a large number of fami- parents alike. They represent and praise the di- lies… They do not want to spread With few books about Central versity of the population. At the information about the help they Asia available for children, “a re- same time, abroad we are all Ka- provide. We have taken care of gion with more than 100 ethnic zakhs, he noted. several orphanages and we try to groups, the land of the Great Silk “I would say the assembly is a make them happy all the time,” he Road, where Alexander the Great small model of the United Nations. told assembly.kz. left his footprints,” it is a breath of As chairman of the assembly Nur- both fresh and familiar air for Cen- sultan Abishevich [Nazarbayev] Continued on Page B2 tral Asians, said Abrams in an ex- clusive interview with The Astana Times. “Far, far past the horizon there is a marvellous land of deserts and steppes, of swift rivers flow- Nekrasova. Tatiana Photo credit: Chess players win 2019 ing past age-old cities and of blue Marina Abrams lakes glistening beneath towering mountains. This is the ancient land studied photographs from the re- favourite was a collection of Ka- flew to the region, where - Iper of Central Asia!” the book begins. gion and I also used pictures that I zakh folk tales, ‘Kanbak-Shal.’” sonally visited tanoor workshops, Asian Juniors The visual narrative is just as en- took during my visits to craftsmen. Approaching the book as if she went to museums and read through gaging as its written word, with And, of course, both of us were born knew little about the region helped a lot of historical and ethnograph- illustrations that are “simplified, in the region and shared our vision her rediscover things that were ic literature,’ she said. “Also, I almost cartoonish, yet ethnograph- of childhood in Central Asia.” familiar. More than two years of crowdsourced information through Championship medals ically accurate images of life in Ta- Abrams recalled her early days research led her to new places and 10 Facebook groups, where people showed good results,” she said, re- jikistan,” noted Abrams. in Soviet times, when books were acquaintances. provided things like more than 250 By Saltanat Boteu ported the Kazakhstan Chess Fed- “(Tajik illustrator) Farrukh Neg- difficult to buy. “I barraged my friends in Ta- names of bread and recipes and eration. matzade is a very talented artist “Each book was a treasure,” she jikistan and Uzbekistan with hun- where I consulted for very specific NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh “I participated in nine rounds who, over the years, developed a said. “We read tales and stories dreds of questions, corresponded pieces of information.” chess player Assel Serikbai won and scored seven points. Unfortu- very unique style,” she said. “We from all 15 Soviet republics. My with experts and historians and Continued on Page B2 the Asian U-20 Championship, nately, in the fifth and sixth round which took place June 30 to July I lost to my rivals. However, my 9 in Surakarta, Indonesia. Kazakh result was the best and I became player Nazerke Nurgali also won a champion. I received the title gold and bronze in the champion- of international master of chess ship’s blitz and rapid tournaments among women. Everyone knows NU students utilise 3D printer respectively. that every victory comes with Serikbai bypassed 36 rivals from great difficulty. I am very glad that nine countries to win the champi- I was able to meet the expectations onship. With her tournament re- of my relatives, the coaching staff in design of electric scooter sults, she received the title Female and all of our people. Such compe- Akmaral Kalmanbaeva and Sul- The students designed the tech- four times. In the first version it International Master, also complet- titions help young athletes grow to By Aidana Yergaliyeva tanmurat Yeleu, with NURIS en- nical characteristics by taking their was rough; we got it into shape. ing the female grandmaster norm. a professional level. There is also gineer Aidar Alimbayev serving as inspiration from major electric We ourselves did the metalwork- “The match was not easy. Also, an opportunity to exchange expe- NUR-SULTAN – Nazarbayev curator. scooter manufacturers. The col- ing, cut out metal plates, made all Nazerke and I were the only ones rience with colleagues from other University (NU) students recently “In mid-April, we gathered a lapsible device with concealed sorts of manipulations. We tested from Kazakhstan in the women’s countries,” she told bnews.kz. designed a new model of an elec- team of four students of different wires can reach 25 kilometres per four different models and ended up tournament, but we managed to tric kick scooter using a 3D printer majors. Then, we began to get ac- hour and the rider can monitor the with a more oval-shaped, stream- cope with excitement, and we Continued on Page B7 to create some details at Naz- quainted with the capabilities of speed and battery using a Smart lined and ergonomic front fork. It arbayev University Research and the experimental Machine Shop App mobile application. is this scooter that was assembled Innovation System (NURIS). and consulted for the first time The young developers tested for competing in contests, not for THINGS TO WATCH & The team of NU sophomores with the engineers of the digital 120 prototypes. They plan to refine sale. We will continue to refine the with diverse engineering, natural prototyping lab FAB LAB. After the design for the consumer mar- design and technical part, but, first, PLACES TO GO and social sciences backgrounds that, we energetically mastered all ket and make a number of scooters we already have plans to make a PALACE OF INDEPENDENCE worked on the project for four the equipment needed to assemble for sale. series of 100 scooters for sale,” June 2 - Aug.10 First contact, exhibition months. the scooter – hand tools, laser ma- “Each part of the scooter we did said Baimukhan. SteelG was created by Maksat chine, 3D printer and many oth- at least twice; the steering part, Anuarbek, Yersultan Baimukhan, ers,” said team leader Baimukhan. namely the fork, was modified Continued on Page B5 PALACE OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION June 25 – Aug.10 Re-membering, Dialogues of Memories, exhibition Almaty-based Nomad Stunts founder TSE ART DESTINATION July 4 – Aug.8 Racing the Galaxy, exhibition achieves long-held wish to work with Disney ASTANA ARENA ug.1 at 8 p.m. FC Astana - FC Santa Coloma By Aidana Yergaliyeva A Andorra, UEFA Europa League NUR-SULTAN – Almaty-based Nomad Stunts worked with Dis- ASTANA OPERA ney’s live-action adaptation of the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, Aug.9 at 7 p.m. Music Holidays at Astana Opera, helping recreate the 1998 chil- concert dren’s favourite cartoon of the same name. Founder and leader BARYS ARENA Zhaidarbek Kunguzhinov shared Aug.7 at 3 p.m. HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk – his impressions from the movie shoot with The Astana Times. HC Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg¸ The plot features the heroic deeds President’s Cup 2019 of the young woman who pretended Aug.7 at 7.30 p.m. HC Barys Astana – HC Ak Bars Kazan, to be a man in order to preserve the President’s Cup 2019 honour of her family and save Chi- na from invaders. The motion pic- Aug.8 at 3 p.m. HC Ak Bars Kazan – HC Salavat ture is considered one of the most Yulaev Ufa, President’s Cup 2019 expensive Disney projects, with a Aug.8 at 7.30 p.m. HC Barys Astana – HC Neftekhimik production budget of $290 million. Nizhnekamsk, President’s Cup 2019 The trailer was out July 7. Dis- ney has scheduled the movie’s re- Aug.9 at 7.30 p.m. HC Salavat Yulaev Ufa – lease for March 27, 2020. HC Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg¸ The film promises to be spectac- President’s Cup 2019 ular, as the Nomad Stunts team has Aug.10 at 5 p.m. HC Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg – nearly 20-years’ experience and is HC Barys Astana, President’s well known for performing stunts on horses, one of the hardest types Cup 2019 of tricks. They have a long history “We have been working with make for children and I wanted to say one thing – everything was at Aug.11 at 5 p.m. HC Salavat Yulaev Ufa – working with Hollywood and, rel- Hollywood studios for a long time, see the process from the inside, to the highest level,” Kunguzhinov HC Barys Astana, atively recently, with online giants but I always wanted to work with understand how such large-scale said. President’s Cup 2019 such as HBO and Netflix. Disney. I like the films that they motion pictures are created. I can Continued on Page B2 B2 NATION&CAPITAL PEOPLE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 Top female boxer, promoter of the sport is among 100 New Faces got her first big wins. She won two resistance to her hobby, but her In 2016, having won the cham- By Aidana Yergaliyeva bronze medals in the Kokshetau strong will and passion for boxing pionship of Kazakhstan, she had region-level competition and in the helped her to go along with it. the opportunity to again partici- NUR-SULTAN – World boxing nationwide Kazakh Youth Champi- “My mom was at first against my pate in the World Boxing Champi- champion and Kazakh Honourary onship. Then, in 2008, she won the hobbies. She even asked my coach to onship among Women in 2016 in Master of Sports Dina Zholaman Kazakh Youth Championship. kick me out of the room. But when the Kazakh capital. At this World is among Kazakhstan’s 100 New “I grew up without a father. I was I won the championship of Kazakh- Championship, she has four fights Faces. She promotes women’s raised by my mother. I had to be stan,… she got used to my love of and became the second world box- boxing and brings boxing victories strong, to stand up for myself. I have boxing, (and she) became my main ing champion among women in to Kazakhstan as a result of her always been spiritual and had a fight- fan. If possible, she goes to my com- Kazakhstan. dedication and two-three times per ing spirit… Boxing immediately at- petitions, supports me. For example, “I think that women’s boxing day trainings year round. tracted me. At that time, I also liked last year my mother, grandfathers and in Kazakhstan has a great future. The 100 new faces programme the Xena the Warrior Princess series. little sister came to the World Cup in Especially after the successful per- is a national project to highlight I also wanted to be such a warrior India, rooted for our team. My family formance of our team at the home the stories of inspirational Ka- woman. I think boxing just personi- is proud of me,” said Zholaman. world championship in 2016. I still zakhs across the country from fies this fighting spirit, strength, cour- In 2014, after seven years of win- remember with pleasant emotions many walks of life. age,” Zholaman told prosports.kz. ning medals and titles in Kazakh how the fans supported us in Asta- Zholaman was just 12 years old She lived in the small Kazakh Championships, she participated in na. We love our job. There is noth- when she started boxing in 2007 village Zhaksy in the Akmola Re- the World Championship in North ing terrible and bad in women’s at the Zhaksy junior sports school gion with deep-rooted social bias Korea. She took fifth place and boxing. This is a beautiful sport. under the guidance of trainer Alex- that boxing was only for boys. was awarded the title of Master of Our girls are great at boxing at the ander Vysotsky. The same year, she Dina Zholaman At first, the young athlete faced Sports of international class. world level,” she told sports.kz. Children’s book series introduces Central Almaty-based Nomad Asia to readers of all ages, backgrounds Stunts founder... Continued from Page B1 tures. It is what we call in inter- friends, through which they chan- said. “I just came back from my Continued from Page B1 The team trains rigorously six national policy a soft diplomacy nel their creativity and empathy. research trip to Uzbekistan, which “The ‘Mulan’ project for us days a week and seven when film “This communication united us, tool – those from Central Asia For many, a boy from a Central was crowdfunded by my readers. I is a landmark. For me, it is also preparations begin. raised awareness about the project have the opportunity to share Asian village has become such a talked to local experts, craftsmen, very valuable that Nomad Stunts “As a rule, before lunch we work and served as an incentive for them their culture with others, while friend as well as a way for adults to grandpas, grandmas and weavers. showed itself at a high level; we out stunts with horses and after to talk to their families to learn international audiences can start recall their younger days. All of the secrets that I learned will were told more than once that we lunch, we go through general phys- more about their own culture,” she learning about the region from a “Children are children every- be included in the ethnographic did a great job and this, of course, ical training – fights, fencing, pull- added. very early age,” she said. where. They are curious and thirsty notes section in the next book!” is very nice. Well, New Zealand ing on ropes,” said Kunguzhinov. Abrams, who worked in interna- “For example, diplomats and to learn things. They like to explore Abrams plans to donate copies itself is just a gorgeous country; The team plans to make more tional security for approximately foreign aid workers living in Cen- the world around them and beyond through a crowdfunding campaign very glad that I managed to go appearances in international pro- 15 years, grew up in Kazakhstan, tral Asia now have a way to share the horizon. They like adventures to Kazakhstan’s Kamkor Zhurek there,” he noted referring to the lo- jects. lived in Tajikistan and now resides their experience with their fami- and having fun. Isn’t that what (Caring Heart), which helps or- cation of the shoot. “According to the plans, we have in the United States. She noted lies. Some people ordered 10 to childhood is about?” she said. phans, single mothers and children Nomad Stunts sent a 13-mem- several projects in Bollywood. I the experiences shaped her book, 15 books for Christmas gifts last Abrams is writing a second with disabilities. ber team to the set. Kunguzhinov, recently returned from the nego- because “the more you travel, the December – for their nephews, book about Barzu, in which read- “I hope to find an organisation in addition to his stunts and horse tiations. Also, several joint pro- more you understand what your nieces, grandchildren and cous- ers will learn about Central Asia’s that will help me translate the book training, also played a small part jects with the Turkish side, where own country has to offer in terms ins,” she noted. sweet melons, Timurid architec- into the region’s languages and as a tribal military commander. Nomad Stunts, fortunately, have of culture, traditions, nature and Through donations, the book ture, his mother’s job as a weaver disseminate it among schools and Kanat Kudyarov doubled for one of long been known. We are currently social interactions.” also made its way to children of and grandmother’s story about the libraries in Central Asia, especially the main protagonists, actor Jason negotiating filming in Georgia “This prior work experience refugees in Russia and Ukraine. way unusual embroidery helped those in villages and small towns,” Scott Lee, while Zhandos Aibassov and Italy. I hope everything turns gave me the skills to run my “The children of refugees and the ruler of the City of Blue she said. doubled for another lead character. out well, since the Nomad Stunts project, cooperate with people labour migrants often lack the Domes save his people from hun- Book three will focus on the Silk “(We) got experience working team is universal; our stunt people of different backgrounds, suc- reading skills in their new coun- ger. The book will be crowdfund- Road and the nomadic cultures of with New Zealand riders, seeing do absolutely different tricks and cessfully fundraise, analyse the try and have difficulties attend- ed this year and released in April. Central Asia. how they prepare horses. I cannot people are already aware of this market and find the right struc- ing school. At the same time, they “The main topic will be the One can get to know Barzu by say that there were some cardinal around the world,” he said. ture for the content of the book. miss their homes and feel the need magnificent embroidery of Cen- ordering “Orange and Blue: The discoveries, but we always learn Before becoming a stunt per- I believe my book helps to show to connect with their culture,” said tral Asia. Children will discover World of Barzu” on Amazon or di- because each new film gives a new son, Kunguzhinov was an artist in parents and children around the Abrams. the diversity of this craft and the rectly from Abrams on Facebook experience. This time we came up the Kazakh State Circus for seven world the value of diverse cul- Children often invent imaginary meanings of the ornaments,” she and Instagram (@marina.abrams). closer with the way how to shoot years. As a young risk taker, he con- the stunts on the chromo key, saw tinuously excelled in his abilities what the distance should be, how and was awarded silver (1993) and the frame is overlaid. We are trying bronze (2001) medals at the Lions to take something useful from each International Chinese Circus Art project we work on,” he said. Festival. He is an Honoured Worker We are different, but abroad we are all Each stunt performance is dan- of Kazakhstan and was awarded the gerous and tricks on galloping hors- Order of Kurmet (Honour). es multiply the risks. Kunguzhinov Kunguzhinov won the 2013 recalled an extremely dangerous award “For the Promotion of Kazakhs, says Kurdish community leader moment for stunt performer Murat Sports in Cinema” presented by Continued from Page B1 Burkhanov. His years of training the American International Acad- payed off and Burkhanov complet- emy of Martial Arts. The honour is “However, one of the most re- ed the hardest scene just in one take. known as the “Sports Oscar.” spected people, Yusup Aliyev, is “There was one moment when the Nomad Stunts has performed in worth mentioning. He has adopt- riders galloped at high speed in one movies such as “Mongol,” “No- ed 12 orphans. Most remarkable, line, very tightly to each other, and mad,” “The Road to Mother,” “Vi- they are all children of different one of my guys, Murat Burkhanov, king” and “Zhauzhurek Myn Bala” ethnicities. Although he has chil- had to fall right under the hoof be- and the “Marco Polo” series (seasons dren and grandchildren, he has tween the horses. We made one take, 1 and 2). The group has collaborated committed himself to these chil- which was immediately filmed; on set with Hollywood icons includ- dren and has given them a bright the director of the action unit ap- ing Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Arnold future,” he added. proached us immediately, thanked us Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Fatoyev emphasised people like and said how cool it was to do such a Jason Statham and Bruce Willis. Aliyev can become role models complicated trick and even from the Kunguzhinov recommends for youth. first take! There were other difficult young people seeking to become “My heart is full of pride and moments, but the most important stunt performers work hard and gratitude when I meet people with thing was that we had enough time never give up. such strong spirit. At the same to prepare, so that we could rehearse “I advise novice stunt people to time, looking at them, we try to be everything thoroughly,” he said. work on yourself, to train for en- equal and it teaches us to be kind, The risks were also minimised, durance, since in our work psycho- to be able to value and to love one as the stunt group worked with logical stability is the main thing. another,” he said. Disney professionals. It happens that it is difficult to tune The centre’s focus on charitable “Since this is a Disney company, yourself up morally before a diffi- activities is due to the life expe- a company with a long history and cult trick – you start thinking that rience of the Kazakh people in vast experience, the process went you will be injured, but you have the 1930s when many ethnicities very well; the conditions were to go all the way. Don’t be afraid were deported to the country. just great. Of course, there were of anything, because if there is fear “The Kazakhs themselves fell situations when plans changed and or doubt, then there will definitely apart and lived in their homeland there was an additional need to be an injury. You need to give a lot needing help, but they did not urgently train the horses, but we of effort, do not despair, never stop;

strangle the peoples who had set- assembly.kz. Photo credit: were given the time to prepare and there are times when you want to tled down and did not think that Members of the Kurdish community in Kazakhstan. everything was fine. Everything quit, but you need to go through they were foreigners, because worked as one coordinated mecha- it. But then it will be the other the spirit of the Kazakh people is one family. That Kurdish family cents,” he said. “We have a lot of He stressed performing good nism,” said Kunguzhinov. way around – you want to quit and very high… My ancestors were was so grateful to the woman that children’s groups. They sing and work depends on the team; thus, Nomad Stunts is an international [can’t, because] this work is drag- wealthy and rich. When the de- they took her family name. His dance in the Kurdish language he is grateful for the centre’s team. team. While most of its members ging on. In general, I noticed that portation took place, they were descendants continue to bear the as well as Kazakh and other lan- “The presence of a strong team are from Kazakhstan, with another many people think that the work left hungry in the cold steppes. family name to express their grat- guages.” helping each other plays a major big group from Kyrgyzstan, it also of stunt performers is money and They did not know what to do; itude to the Kazakh people, [yet] The centre is considering open- role. From the first working day includes performers from Austral- fame, but first of all it is hellish their souls were broken and Ka- they are a pure-blooded Kurdish ing a Sunday school to teach of our centre, we have done a lot ia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Russia work, methodical work and expe- zakh families shared their small family,” he added. Kurdish. of work through teamwork,” he and Turkey. The team is currently rience that must be experienced sources of water and bread,” he The centre also focuses on “We talked about this with the said. composed of 86 people, including again and again. Often there will said. educating youth, preserving and teachers. It is not only Kurds who “We created the Mother Coun- 12 young women. be such loads, when it will be very, “My friend’s grandfather had passing Kurdish traditions to the want to learn the Kurdish lan- cil, headed by Malika Sadikova, “Girls are often invited, because very hard; you need to master all been living with his family in younger generation. guage but also many people want and the Council of Elders, headed there are not so many female stunt this and realise that when you go the home of a Kazakh woman “As you can see, our course dif- to know it, because it is a Persian by Yusup Aliyev in Nur-Sultan people in the world who can do through all the difficulties, you will who took them into her house in fers from others. We always pay language. It has its own peculiari- and Hassan Atashev in the Ak- horse tricks, tricks with burning be proud of yourself!” said Kungu- winter. All of them became as great attention to growing adoles- ties,” said Fatoyev. mola Region,” he added. and fence themselves,” he said. zhinov. B3 NATION&CAPITAL CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

Bakhtiyar Adamzhan, became the enchanting conclusion of the even- ing,” noted one of the local reviews. Astana Opera Ballet performs in Lithuania The public was impressed by the Adamzhan and Aigerim Beket- concert. By Nazira Kozhanova ayeva, received particularly high “Artists showed us a high level praise from Lithuanian critics. of dancing, technical and acting NUR-SULTAN – Astana Opera “The most complicated choreo- skills. The professional skills of Ballet staged a gala programme graphic interpretations of the ugly dancers are beyond praise. It is ob- July 9 in Kaunas, Lithuania. The body and the angelic purity of the vious that each of them has a vivid performance received high praise soul of Quasimodo were a mas- personality, artistic charisma and from both local critics and the au- sive success with the audience. their own style. The movements dience, reported zakon.kz. Strength and energy, impeccable and arms of the ballerinas were The programme included clas- technique and the unsurpassed flawless; they were like poetry in sic and contemporary pieces. skill of the dancers conquered con- motion. The troupe is undoubt- Altynai Assylmuratova start- noisseurs from many countries of edly in great shape,” said audience ed the concert with the pas de the world. Kaunas was not an ex- member Agne Raude. deux from “Giselle” by Adolphe ception – Lithuanian connoisseurs The public and critics welcomed Adam, followed by Anastasiya of choreographic art joined the the troupe to perform in Lithuania Zaklinskaya and Olzhas Tar- range of admirers of the talent of again. lanov as Giselle and Count Al- Kazakh artists,” according to one “I would also like to note the bert, respectively. Rustem Seiti- of the local reviews translated by genre variety and contrast of the bekov and Gaukhar Usinova the Astana Opera press service. numbers of an interesting, rich and performed a piece from “Car- Adamzhan and Beketayeva’s well-designed concert programme. men” by George Bizet. performance of “Don Quixote” I liked everything: both classical

The evening continued with Astana Opera. Photo credit: was also noted by the critics. ballets and modern numbers. It was an excerpt from “The Sounds of “‘Don Quixote’ by Ludwig a truly impressive show! I hope to- Times” written by Kazakh com- staged by Swiss ballet master performed by Anel Rustemova and An excerpt from “Notre Dame Minkus, performed by world bal- day’s performance in Kaunas will poser Aktoty Raimkulova and Kseniya Zvereva. The piece was Tarlanov. de Paris,” presented by Bakhtiyar let stars Aigerim Beketayeva and not be the last,” said Raude. Disney concert raises more Altyn Adam World exhibition than $18,000 to support tour opens in North Macedonia national treasures have subse- nearly 4,000 pieces of skil- Staff Report quently travelled to museums in fully handcrafted gold jewel- Azerbaijan, China, Poland, Rus- lery shaped like birds, hawks, inclusive education NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh sia, South Korea and Uzbeki- hawthorns, horses, moose and formed by our artists. This is our This programme included 22 National Museum opened The stan. tulpars (Pegasus). Kazakhstan By Aidana Yergaliyeva gift to children for Capital Day. compositions from animated fea- Great Steppe: History and Cul- The exhibit seeks to introduce incorporated tulpars into its na- I want to thank Walt Disney CIS tures “Aladdin,” “Beauty and ture exhibition July 11 at the foreign audiences to Kazakh- tional coat of arms and an Altyn NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh sing- (Commonwealth of Independent the Beast,” “Frozen,” “The Lion Macedonian National Archaeo- stan’s rich historical and cul- Adam sculpture decorates the ers performed well-known Disney States) in the person of Igor Ma- King,” “The Little Mermaid,” logical Museum in Skopje. The tural heritage. Altyn Adam, the Independence Square in Almaty. movie soundtracks in their native karov, who came to us with his “Mulan” and “Pocahontas.” display, part of the Altyn Adam country’s national symbol, is the Archaeologist Kemal Akishev language July 6 at the Zhuldyzdar family. Music is what brings kind- All funds collected will be (Golden Man) World interna- remains of the 17-18-year-old discovered the first Altyn Adam Sherui (Stars Parade) charity cin- ness, patriotism, a sense of justice donated to the Bolashak Foun- tional exhibition, will afford res- Saka prince who lived during the in 1969 in the Issyk mound near ema concert in Almaty. The event and respect for others in children,” dation’s Every Child Is Worthy idents an opportunity to see the early Iron Age, approximately in Almaty. It is recognised as the raised approximately seven mil- said Bauyrzhan Baibek, honorary of School social project. The mysteries of the vast area. the sixth-fifth centuries BC. discovery of the century and re- lion tenge (US$18,226) to support member of the Bolashak Corpo- venture has opened 20 inclusive The Altyn Adam World exhi- The warrior’s burial cloth- searchers recreated the look of inclusive education for children rate Foundation Board of Trustees. education offices in the capital, bition tour opened in Minsk in ing is embroidered with golden the ancient warrior. with autism. Accompanied by a large sym- Aktau, Almaty, Atyrau, Kyzy- December 2017. The Kazakh plates and his mound contained Archaeological excavations Almaty is now on the list of cit- phony orchestra, the performers lorda, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, revealed five additional mounds ies with an official Disney Con- included Balzhan Bidash, Adam Shymkent and Uralsk, provid- with golden men in Araltobe cert license, reported the Nur Otan Kental, Daniyar Otegen, Zharky- ing an opportunity for 248 chil- Kurgan, Shilikti near the capital Party press service. nai Shalkar, Danelia Tuleshova, dren with autism and other neu- and Taldy’s burial ground in the “Today, for the first time, we Indi Yedilbayeva, Yerden Zhak- rological conditions to attend Karkaraly District. heard the voice of the best Disney sybekov and Nurmuhammed school. Exhibition visitors will see the songs in the state language per- Zhakyp. Bolashak plans to open an ad- unique archaeological findings ditional 20 offices this year in the from Saka mounds in Berel (the Akmola, Aktobe, East Kazakh- East Kazakhstan Region), Taksai stan, Karaganda, North Kazakh- (the West Kazakhstan Region) stan, Pavlodar, Turkestan and and Taldy-2 (the Karaganda Re- Zhambyl regions. The initiative gion). The Kazakh National Mu- has also received support from seum included 292 exhibits from the Nur Otan Party as a part the its holdings. Kedergіsіz Keleshek (The future The Saka tribe (Persian for without boundaries) national pro- “mighty men”) was divided in- ject. ternally into three large groups The Bulat Utemuratov Founda- including the Saka Tigrahaud tion opened the Asyl Miras au- (“wildermen”), distant ances- tism centre July 5 in Shymkent, tors of the Kazakhs who lived the seventh centre in the country in the territory where the Issyk to help children with autism spec- mound was discovered. In their trum disorders. All services are writings, ancient Greek authors

Photo credit: nurotan.kz. Photo credit: provided free of charge. referred to them as Asian Scyth- ians, while other early sources described them as “tours with fast horses.” The exhibit will close Aug. 11 and by the end of the year is Dimash Kudaibergen participates planning visits to museums in Georgia, Japan, Spain, Turkey and the U.K. In 2020, it will be displayed in Austria, France, in #Abai175 poetry challenge Facebook page. Adam World Altyn Photo credit: Germany, Italy and the U.S.

Staff Report

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh sing- er/songwriter Dimash Kudaiber- gen is one of the latest people to participate in the #Abai175 poetry challenge dedicated to the Kazakh poet and thinker’s 175th birthday. He was nominated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “With great respect, I took from the President of the Republic of Ka- zakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the challenge of reading poems dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the great thinker and poet Abai. tengrinews.kz. Photo credit: In turn, I pass on the baton of this Dimash Kudaibergen challenge to Akim (Governor) of the Aktobe Region Ondasyn Sey- stagram page. Tokayev was nomi- Science Askhat Aimagambetov, ilovich Urazalin, People’s Artist of nated by 9-year-old school student Minister of Culture and Sports Ak- the Russian Federation Igor Yako- Lyailim Shamshyrak. toty Raimkulova, Ambassador to vlevich Krutoi and my dear #dears The challenge was created by Russia Imangali Tasmabambetov, (the term used to describe Kudai- Bolashak program alumna Shynar Russian musician Valeria and Rus- bergen’s fans),” he said. Shakenova, who posted her own sian producer Arman Davletiarov. Kudaibergen passed the chal- video June 5. Using the hashtag Kazakhstan will celebrate Abai’s lenge to the men and his fans in #Abai175, she encouraged oth- 175th birthday August 10, 2020 the video posted on his Instagram ers to make a video reciting one with more than 500 events, both page. He chose Abai’s “Qaqtaghan of his poems, then post it online. in Kazakhstan and internationally, aq Kumistei,” which describes fe- It quickly gained momentum in reported 24.kz. His birthday will male beauty. Kazakhstan and abroad, with also propel initiatives to popularise Tokayev passed it to him July 1,848 Instagram users taking the tourism in Semey, his birthplace, 9 after posting a reading of “Gy- challenge. Participants have in- said Tokayev during an April 27 lym Tappai Maqtanba” on his In- cluded Minister of Education and meeting with city officials. B4 NATION&CAPITAL COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 Main restoration of Arys Government for Citizens provides to complete by August, more than 15 million services are available through egov.kz, the vices offered at the office of the obtaining public services. It fea- By Zhanna Shayakhmetova Telegram-bot, a mobile app, the service provider were excluded tures the most in-demand services. Government for Citizens state cor- and 17 services were additionally The Face ID will available for au- says Prime Minister NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh poration and a single contact cen- converted into electronic format. thorisation and signing a request government-owned company tre for consulting on the provision “We are now working to unite for public services,” he added. Government for Citizens provided of public services,” Ospanov said. public services for further improve- Four offices in Almaty and Nur- more than 15 million public ser- Egov.kz provided 23.5 million ment. It will be called the composite Sultan offer services using biomet- vices in the first half of 2019 and services in the first half of the year government services. We identified ric data including face and finger- seeks to improve the delivery of compared with 12.8 million ser- a full register of composite services print recognition since December. services through automation and vices in 2018. and 11 composite services were Approximately 15,000 service re- better interagency cooperation, Some 329 public service cen- already launched, which include cipients were registered and more said Vice Minister of Digital De- tres (TsONs), including 23 centres the provision of 25 public services than 3,400 public services were velopment, Innovation and Aero- with autodrome equipment and 17 from the entire registry,” he said. provided. space Industry Ablaikhan Ospanov digital centres operate in the coun- An intellectual consultant was Mobile ID signature verification at a July 19 press conference. try. Seventy mobile offices operate introduced as part of the Digital will be also launched in the near The Kazakh government increased in the remote areas. Kazakhstan programme. More future. the number of services offered in Since the beginning of the year, than 200,000 services were pro- The @EgovKzBot bot in Tele- April by 120 to 740. Of those, 532 74 services for business proce- vided by chat-bot. gram messenger features 25 servic- are online and 208 are offered as pa- dures were reduced. The terms Ospanov said that the mGov, an es including an address certificate, a per-form services. The Government of rendering public services were updated mobile app with 77 ser- certificate of the absence (presence) Photo credit: primeminister.kz. Photo credit: for Citizens state-owned corporation reduced two-fold and decreased vices will be launched in August. of real estate, online queue booking Aug. 1 deadline set by President offers 635 services. to 10 days. Due to integration, the The list of services will be updated and other services. Approximately By Dilshat Zhussupova Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “We need to offer more services number of documents was reduced weekly. 400,000 users have received more Approximately 70 percent in electronic format. The services to three or four. Thirty-seven ser- “This app will be useful tool for than 600,000 public services. NUR-SULTAN – National and of the military arsenal in Arys, local officials hope to finish by which included artillery, ammu- nition, grenades and anti-tank Aug. 1 the most important re- have undertaken additional edu- pairs to the town of Arys, which and anti-aircraft guided missiles, cation, with 12 more planned to was heavily damaged June 24 by was destroyed by the explosion receive it by September. a large explosion at a munitions and fires. The remaining muni- Advanced technology surgery The centre is planned to host ap- warehouse nearby, Prime Minis- tions will be relocated. proximately 3,000 surgeries per ter Askar Mamin announced July The explosions also forced a year and to completely cover the 11 during a visit to the Turkestan four-day evacuation of all of the demand for surgeries in Semey Region. town’s 45,000 residents. Eight- centre opens in Semey and the East Kazakhstan Region. The explosion and resulting hundred pensioners and veterans tech medical care to the population The centre has a hybrid surgery “Today, this equipment corre- fires killed two soldiers and a and 4,000 children from Arys By Nazira Kozhanova and treat difficult patients in their technology that allows both open sponds to the latest European and civilian and caused widespread will also be given the oppor- own hometown without sending and minimally invasive laparo- American quality standards, and damage, reported the Ministry of tunity to rest in holiday homes NUR-SULTAN – A new surgery them to other cities or countries,” scopic surgical interventions with with the support of the Ministry Defense and Ministry of Internal and summer camps, respectively, centre opened July 14 in Semey. said surgeon Serik Akshulakov medical imaging systems, which of Healthcare, we hope that within Affairs’ Emergency Situations elsewhere in the country until This centre uses hybrid surgery on the convenience of having this include magnetic resonance to- the framework of the guaranteed Committee. August. technologies that are unique to centre in Kazakhstan. mography, computer tomogra- free medical care, surgeries using The warehouse fires were con- Each resident will receive Kazakhstan and corresponds to Akshulakov conducted the phy, surgical x-ray systems or the new equipment will be availa- tained by firefighters, and the 100,000 tenge (US$260.76) as international joint commission ac- opening ceremony and performed C-arcs, ultrasound systems and preliminary cause of the explo- part of a social support measure ble to residents of the region,” said creditation standards for hospitals, the first surgery in the centre with video navigation systems, in a sion was found to be a violation set by Mamin in a June 29 visit the Deputy Akim (Governor) of reports KazInform. the Head of the Neurosurgery single multifunctional unit. One of fire safety rules during ware- to the region, reports the Turke- the East Kazakhstan Region Asem  “Today, I enjoyed working Department of the Neurosurgical unit requires up to 20 workers, in- house construction and restora- stan Region Akimat (adminis- Nusupova. with modern, high-class equip- Centre and the Head of the De- cluding surgeons and nurses, due tion. tration). The national budget The project cost was 2.3 billion ment in the new surgical room, partment of Endovascular Surgery to the surgeries’ complexity. The Mamin inspected the progress will contribute two billion tenge tenge (US$6 million), with the which has no analogues in Ka- and Hybrid Operating Emergency centre personnel received addi- in restoring residential build- (US$5.22 million), the regional equipment costs being 1.7 billion zakhstan. A hybrid surgery room Hospital Aibol Maralbayev. To- tional education in using the tech- ings in Koktem-1 and Koktem-2, budget will contribute one bil- tenge (US$4.3 million). The state will improve the availability and gether, they removed a patient’s kindergartens, schools, railway lion tenge (US$2.61 million) and nology abroad ahead of the centre and regional governments funded stations, hospitals and a public the Turkestan Corporate Fund for quality of the provision of high- brain tumour. opening. Forty-three specialists the centre. service centre during his visit, Social Development will contrib- reported Primeminister.kz. He ute the remaining sum to the 4.78 called for the timely restoration billion tenge (US$12.46 million) of infrastructure so that educa- required for the initiative. tional facilities, for example, Disaster relief to Arys came would be ready for the start of from citizens around the country Two sugar plants to be built the academic year in September. as well as from the newly formed five months of this year compared Sugar Corporation. The Shusky, million. In the Zhambyl region, the Eighty-five percent of houses Turkestan Corporate Fund for By Yerbolat Uatkhanov to 2018. Total production the first Tarazsky and Merkensky sugar plant will get sugar beet from the in Arys were damaged after the Social Development, Nur Otan five months of 2019 was 91,100 factories were stopped for several Chu district. explosion at the warehouse, said Party’s “We are United with NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry tonnes. The largest volumes of months. According to the Ministry of First Vice Minister of Industry Arys” campaign for humanitar- of Agriculture seeks to reduce the production are traditionally con- Another 24.8 percent of local Agriculture, in Kazakhstan, the av- and Infrastructure Development ian aid, StartTime’s crowdfund- nation’s dependence on imported centrated in the Zhambyl region production was provided by man- erage sugar consumption per year Kairbek Uskenbayev. As of July ing campaign, ticket sales from sugar by building two sugar plants at 67,200 tonnes. Production ufacturers of the Almaty region, is almost 500,000 tonnes. Of that, 18, 1,469 houses in Arys have the July 6 capital day celebra- by the end of 2021. volumes fell 48.7 percent in the where the following corporation’s 90 percent of the domestic market been repaired, while another tions and government officials’ The plants will be in the Zhamb- region. The Zhambyl region has plants operate: Koksu, Aksu, Bu- demand is provided by processing 4,698 houses are under repair by June 25 salaries. The Turkestan yl and Pavlodar regions and cost two plants called Tarazsky and rundai, Eskeldi and Alakol sugar imported cane raw sugar and im- more than 6,868 builders and 207 Corporate Fund for Social De- $775 million. The plants will have Merkenskiy. Both plants belong factories. porting ready-made sugar. Only construction companies, accord- velopment gathered more than a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per to the Central Asian Sugar Corpo- Officials hope the two new 10 percent of finished products ing to the Committee on Con- 1.65 billion tenge (US$4.3 mil- year and will use local raw mate- ration. plants will combat the decline. The are obtained from local sugar beet. struction and Housing. Approxi- lion) in donations as of July 9, rials. The sharp production decline plant in the Zhambyl region will The main suppliers of sugar for mately 100 to 250 houses are reported the Turkestan Region Sugar production in Kazakh- is due to the suspension of the cost $208 million while the Pav- Kazakhstan are Russia and Bela- being repaired daily to meet the Akimat. stan fell 45.4 percent in the first activities of the Central Asian lodar region plant will cost $568 rus. Kazakhstan to spend $3.3 billion until 2023 to develop Shymkent services sector. This will ensure ing the volume of housing con- By Assel Satubaldina the real economic growth of 5.5 struction from 500,000 square percent annually, which is higher metres this year steadily up to 1 NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan than nationwide,” he said. million square metres per year will invest 1.284 trillion tenge Prime Minister Askar Mamin and bring the housing supply to (US$3.3 billion) until 2023 to said Shymkent should become a 30 square metres per capita,” boost development and upgrade regional hub and a magnet for in- said Mamin. infrastructure in the nation’s third vestors. Tourism development also largest city Shymkent. Three new industrial zones will promises big opportunities. Shym- The funds will be used to imple- be built in Shymkent, adding to the kent will be the cultural capital of ment 89 initiatives, said Kazakh Ontustik special economic zone the Commonwealth of Independ- Minister of National Economy that will also be expanded. ent States (CIS) in 2020. Ruslan Dalenov. To improve transport infrastruc- “As a rule, the city chosen to The initiatives are included in ture, a new passenger terminal at be the cultural capital hosts many the comprehensive plan for the city the city’s airport will be built and international events. I instruct the development until 2023 adopted rail station will be reconstructed. Shymkent Akim (Mayor) to pre- July 9 by the Kazakh government. “We are implementing 11 pro- pare the plan of events with state Of those, 836 billion tenge jects (in transport infrastructure), bodies,” said Mamin. (US$2.18 billion) are private including the reconstruction of a Abdrakhimov said a Nepalese investments, 299 billion tenge 31-kilometre A2 road, prolonga- investor will build a Disneyland- (US$778.2 million) will come tion of Kunayev Avenue towards like amusement park and aqua from the national budget and 68 Tashkent extending by 31 kilome- park in Shymkent. billion tenge (US$176.9 million) tres. Also, the construction of four “We will allocate 100 hectares are through public-private partner- main crossroads [is envisaged]. of land for the construction. He is ships. Twenty-four kilometre South now making calculation with the Located in southern Kazakhstan, and South-East ring roads will be specialists from Dubai who built Shymkent has grown significantly With the measures in place, the Dalenov said access to a cen- trillion tenge (US$9.1 billion). In built,” said Shymkent Akim (May- Dubai aqua park. We expect the in the last decade with the popula- officials expect annual volume of tral water supply will grow from real terms, this is 5.5 percent an- or) Gabidulla Abdrakhimov. delegation July 13, where we will tion exceeding one million in 2018 investment will reach 1 trillion 93 percent to 98 percent, natural nual growth on average. Nearly Mamin also instructed the com- discuss the project in more detail,” following Almaty and capital Nur- tenge (US$2.6 billion). gas supply will increase from 60,000 jobs will be created,” said pletion of the construction of a said Abdrakhimov. Sultan. In 2018, gross regional product 92 percent to 98 percent and the Dalenov. gas distributing station and a 190 The officials expect the proxim- Shymkent also received the city reached two trillion tenge (US$5.2 proportion of roads in satisfac- “Shymkent has a huge economic billion tenge (US$494.5 million) ity to Turkestan and Tashkent will of national significance status in billion) and the volume of invest- tory condition will grow to 59.4 potential. Significant investments combined cycle plant with a 450 also attract tourists, facilitate the 2018, joining Almaty and Nur- ments reached 588 billion tenge percent. will be made in infrastructure de- MW capacity. construction of tourism infrastruc- Sultan. (US$1.5 billion). “The economy will grow to 3.5 velopment, energy, tourism and “The plan will allow increas- ture and create new jobs. B5 NATION&CAPITAL SOCIETY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 Youth-friendly health centre opens in Almaty Students to pay part of are effective drivers of change. How Conference on Population and De- to achieving the Sustainable De- By Zhanna Shayakhmetova well they navigate adolescence will velopment (ICPD) in Egypt. The velopment Goals. Promoting youth determine not only the course of decision marked a paradigm shift leadership has been identified as NUR-SULTAN – A youth- their own lives, but that of their in the way the global community one of the accelerators needed to tuition by volunteering friendly health centre opened in communities and society at large. viewed the interlinkages between achieve a world where every preg- Almaty July 11 as part of the Year Realising the full potential of youth population dynamics, sexual and nancy is wanted, every birth is safe of the Youth. The Place Where You without investing in their health is reproductive health and rights and and every young person’s potential with social organisations Are Always Welcome is a resource unimaginable. The youth-friendly sustainable development. This can be fulfilled,” said Vallese. hub providing information and ser- health centre will be a facility where year, Denmark, Kenya and UNF- According to a recent survey on vices for young people on ways to girls and boys can find answers to PA will host a summit Nov. 12-14 the status of youth sexual and re- develop life skills and prepare for questions concerning their physi- marking the programme’s 25th an- productive health and their access the challenges of adulthood. cal, emotional and psychological niversary. to sexual and reproductive health The project, supported by the development and life skills, such “The Nairobi Summit is an op- services and information, approxi- Ministry of Healthcare, the Almaty as ways to build confidence, be- portunity to recommit to the main mately one third of Kazakh adoles- city administration and the United come an inspiring leader and many goals agreed in Cairo and to pro- cents aged 15-19 are sexually active Nations Population Fund (UNF- other important skills,” said UNFPA mote the rights and dignity of in- and the vast majority (91 percent) PA), offers the services of a gynae- Representative for Kazakhstan and dividuals, including on the right are not sufficiently aware of HIV cologist, andrologist, psychologist, Country Director for Kyrgyzstan to choose when and how many and AIDS. The number of teenage social worker and other experts, and Turkmenistan Giulia Vallese. children to have, to have access to pregnancies “remains unaccept- reported the UNFPA press service. The worldwide community modern methods of contraception ably high in comparison with other “When empowered and given the adopted a programme of action and to eliminating gender-based Organisation for Economic Coop- right opportunities, young people in 1994 during the International violence, which are prerequisites eration and Development (OECD) countries, while the unmet need for contraception remains high.” “When you are a teenager, you may be exposed to many risks – Kazinform Photo credit: peer pressure, bullying, risky be- haviour, including risky sexual be- tenge (US$52.21) or five-credit By Nazira Kozhanova (50 hours) workload covering haviours, and more. It is important 50,000 tenge (US$130.52) of their to have the correct information, NUR-SULTAN – Starting in tuition. Tuition costs vary from to learn to say ‘no’ and resist peer September, Kazakh students will 75,000 tenge (US$195.77) to 1.8 pressure, but most importantly be able to pay a part of their tui- million tenge (US$2,819.12) per to have the choice and power to tion by volunteering, said Direc- semester, depending on the pro- make decisions that will be funda- tor of the Department of Higher gramme, university and region, mental for your future live. By vis- and Postgraduate Education of the according to the Freedom Finance iting this centre and participating Ministry of Education and Science Life study. The credits earned will in its activities, we can empower Adlet Toibayev at a July 7 press also count towards degree com- youth to make healthy choices in conference. pletion. areas that concern their lives. The The programme will be availa- The pilot programme is planned Astana Declaration on ‘Investing ble through a soon-to-be launched for three years and is expected to in Youth. Leaving No One Behind’ website, where all students study- enumerates it all,” said Y-PEER ing in Kazakh universities will be Youth Network member Aiym eligible to register and choose a Students will have Olzhabai. type of work. Volunteer organisa- tions willing to recruit new mem- a choice between bers through the programme will taking a two-credit also be invited to register. Volunteer opportunities include (20 hours) workload educational work in neighbour- NU students utilise 3D printer... hood clubs (social organisations covering 20,000 Continued from Page B1 velop SteelG and plans to partici- that provide educational and rec- tenge (US$52.21) pate in the four-month programme reational services to local commu- The team conducted a survey sponsored by NURIS Business nity members for free or at a lower or five-credit (50 with approximately 700 respond- cost than commercial organisa- Incubator that supports innovative ents, predominantly aged 17-23, tions) and inclusive educational or- hours) workload start-ups in their early stages. They that demonstrated the demand for ganisations. Students will be able covering 50,000 tenge such a product. will also look for new team mem- to tutor the English and Kazakh “According to the results of the bers with 3D modelling, engineer- languages, as well as other school (US$130.52) of their survey, most of the respondents ing and critical thinking skills. subjects, and coach sports. Other tuition. do not have an electric scooter, Recently, the team participated choices involve organisational and but would like to buy one to use in the Castelloli Smart Scooter administrative work with social daily,” said Kalmanbaeva. Challenge in Spain. The interna- organisations and social work with involve 50,000 students. The pro- Their analysis of similar scoot- tional competition invited teams to the elderly and teenagers at risk. ject will be coordinated by local ers available through online stores present their engineering develop- The options will correspond with executive bodies. showed sales increased 70 percent ments, conduct market analysis and the students’ majors as closely as In January, the First President, in 2018. The trend could continue outline business plans assessing the possible. Nursultan Nazarbayev, suggested to gain momentum, as consumers potential launch of their machines Students will have a choice raising the scholarships of students may want to drive cars less. in terms of production, price, deal- between taking a two-credit (20 who do volunteer work by 30 per- The team is continuing to de- ers, markets and other factors. hours) workload covering 20,000 cent, reported Vlast.kz.

livestock without practical use of dogs,” he added. Part of his work includes find- Volunteers preserve, revive Qoi-Tobet ing the dogs, securing good care for them in a household and insuring they practice in the steppes. “It turned out that finding cus- Kazakh aboriginal shepherd dogs tomers (a household) is not easy. Continued from Page A1 taken, but so far, this is far from per- Khibash wants to find a non-com- Therefore, there was a need to buy fect. And when (we reach the) peak, mercial organisation to continue his offspring and distribute them fur- “I was able to establish contact with a lot of herders will need a powerful, work to preserve and revive Kazakh ther. Sometimes, I paid half the price scientist Alexander Nikolayevich hardy assistant,” he said. shepherd dogs. He raises the dogs at of puppies to herders… but I don’t Vlassenko, who agreed to advise and While some may suggest or- his detached house. complain. We managed to keep at monitor materials from the trips,” he ganising a cull to reduce the wolf “It is not easy… but there is no way least five or six puppies in the steppes said. “I found that very interesting population rather than use dogs, out. There are very few dogs and few- and they showed good results; the that dogs that are not known to the Khibash­ argued “wolves are essen- er chances with each passing hour,” owners called and thanked me. Un- cynology live in the Kazakh prov- tial and an integral part of a healthy he said. “Although I cannot stand like fighting and city dogs, ours are ince. Since then, I have been trying ecosystem.” the thought of using public money, more authentic and they understand to find as many representatives of “In this regard, I have a differ- I started to think of opening a non- the most important thing their city such dogs as possible and give them ent philosophy… If we destroy the commercial organisation designed brothers have already lost,” he said. a chance for a rebirth.” wolf, we will lose pastures. Re- to finance searches, genetic research, Khibash suggests organising large- The breed he discovered does not member what happened to Yellow- salaries for employees and subsidies scale expeditions to remote Kazakh have an official name. Among locals, stone Wildlife Park. Therefore, in for some of the farmers who decided regions to search for surviving dogs it is called Qoi-Tobet, which is trans- the course of its activities, a person to buy puppies, since not all of them of the breed and open private vet- lated as sheep dog. should harmonise his relationships can afford it.” erinary educational institutions and “The etymology of this term is not with wildlife as harmoniously as The issue of finding funds is vital cynological courses and inviting ex- entirely clear… It is clear that this possible. There is no other way,” he and, unfortunately, the government perts to save and revive them. is due to the nature of its activities said. currently has no programmes for “There is a need to use the expe- – escort livestock and protect from Besides practical importance, the preserving and reviving domestic rience and knowledge of the nearest predators,” he said. dogs have ethno cultural and bio- animals, Khibash said. Nevertheless, neighbours and to attract profes- The breed is special, said Khibash, logical value as a heritage of Kazakh during his trips he has met others sors,” he said. because it can live in extreme nature ancestors and endemics. who agree with his philosophy, one While some might think there are conditions similar to wolves and help “At one time, and even now, a lot of whom lives in the Aktobe Region only two breeds of Kazakh dogs, herders protect cattle from predators. of criticism and condemnation was and has been hired to perform certain Tazy and Tobets, by travelling across “The main advantage of these poured onto the heads of Kazakh work according to Khibash’s instruc- the country, he has realised the op- dogs is their aboriginal state. That dog enthusiasts from representa- tions. posite. is, the psychophysiological state of tives of neighbouring nations for “All these years, I have managed “Such a huge territory…. simply the body, which allows them to exist Bauyrzhan Khibash with Akkus. encroaching on their dog breeds as (to work) only with my personal could not be so scarce on the breeds. in the wild, like a wild cousin wolf, national value,” he said. funds. I had to leave work and en- There were many more, but due to and successfully withstand extreme house conditions and massively used sively with other representatives of “The dogs that I want to recover gage in private business in the field various historical upheavals, not all climatic conditions inherent in many in… dog fights,” he added. the breed, said Khibash. differ in exterior. They will not cause of car rental to earn more and to fi- of them were preserved,” he said. regions of Kazakhstan,” he said. The Qoi-Tobet breed is unde- By helping herders, the breed con- any objections, because although nance the expeditions to find and “Nevertheless, our land still holds “That means that they didn’t lose manding. Although they are not gi- tributes to developing the country’s they were spread from northern grow my dogs,” he said. many secrets that are waiting for those qualities that were recently in- gantic, they are quite big, with their agriculture. Mongolia to Spain (Hun, Mongo- “It is impossible to avoid the loss their Columbus, so let’s hope, be- herent to many aboriginal breeds; for size corresponding to that of a po- “Possessing such a huge agricul- lian-Tatar and Turkic expansion), for of the (dogs’) working qualities and lieve and search.” example, Turkmen Shepherd Dogs tential enemy, a steppe wolf. They tural potential, Kazakhstan should the most part they were concentrated selection measures of those who Khibash can be reached by e- or Alabai, which due to their great are friendly with people including develop it as much as possible. on the territory of Kazakhstan,” he have proven themselves in the fight mail ([email protected]) or mobile popularity began to be bred in green- children and do not behave aggres- Certain steps in this area are being added. against the wolf and the grazing of phone (+7 701 202 08 76). B6 NATION&CAPITAL TOURISM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 Burkhan-Bulak waterfall, country’s highest, attracts tourists with untouched nature, fascinating views road from Tekeli to the Kora gorge, In winter, the temperature can By Saltanat Boteu through which its namesake river drop to -40 degrees Celsius, freez- flows. As a result, tourists must take ing the waterfall and Kora River. NUR-SULTAN – The Almaty the Oskemen highway to the road Although it is more difficult to Region tops many lists with its rich into Kapal village and drive into the reach the area in such weather, the natural attractions, one of which mountains. The best options are to go winter landscapes are as fascinat- is Burkhan-Bulak, Kazakhstan’s with a guide who has already visited ing as the summer ones. highest waterfall. It is located in the waterfall and knows the road, use The place has many legends, one the mountainous Jongar Alatau tourist agency services or ask locals. of which is the story of a mother and area in the Kora River gorge. Once on the road, the first thing her son, Burkhan. According to lore, The waterfall is 168 metres long, tourists see is the gorge, a place his mother wished for him to have a 114 of which are visible, and ris- that delights with the mountain wife who was his equal, but he fell es to an altitude of 2,000 metres ranges’ untouched nature. The in love with a freedom-loving Kora above sea level. Burkhan-Bulak is gorge is spread over 90 kilometres from a rich family. When Burkhan’s 70 kilometres from Tekeli and ap- and its depth in some places reach- mother learned of this, she forbade proximately 130 kilometres from es nearly one kilometre. him to see the girl and locked him Taldykorgan, the regional centre, The waterfall is beautiful any in a castle as a punishment, but he according to eltourism.kz. time of the year, but the best time to managed to escape from captivity Burkhan-Bulak River, a right visit is summer, when the warmer and join her. The Kora River rep- tributary of the Kora, originates weather and melting glaciers give resents them being together after from Jongar Alatau’s springs and the tumbling water added strength. many years have passed. To com- moraine lakes. Although it is summer, the climate plete the tale, a small, nearby river

There is a hiking trail but no direct tengrinews.kz. Photo credit: is cool and humid. is known as Tears of a Mother. Alakol Lake officials Kazakhstan seeks airline services announce $78 million expansion at Routes Silk Road 2019 forum Bureau Deputy Director Helena give us an excellent opportunity to “We recently launched direct By Dilshat Zhussupova Mahuas to Routesonline.com. declare ourselves as a high-level flights to Ulaanbaatar and To- The route development forum airport, present a new passenger kyo. We are planning to launch tourism infrastructure NUR-SULTAN – The forum for the Commonwealth of In- terminal and discuss the develop- flights to New York, Singapore Routes Silk Road 2019 gathered dependent States, Central and ment of new and existing destina- and Shanghai. We have worked July 15-17 more than 250 people Eastern Europe, Middle East and tions,” said Nursultan Nazarbayev throughout 98 international routes. investment from business, government and Central Asia will help Kazakh- International Airport Chief Execu- I know that there are many heads aviation in panel sessions and 800 stan’s aviation market expand, in- tive Officer Radilbek Adimolda. the capital and Taldykorgan with of airlines that would like to work face-to-face meetings to discuss crease its number of international Last year, 38 airlines offered in Kazakhstan, and we are open to By Assel Satubaldina fares partially subsidised by the air services at the capital’s Palace flights and learn from major avia- scheduled international flights cooperation,” said Kazakh Vice government. of Independence, reports the city tion companies, said Nur-Sultan from Kazakhstan, and interna- Minister of Industry and Infra- NUR-SULTAN – Thirty billion The airport runway will be reno- akimat (administration). Deputy Akim (Mayor) Bakhtiyar tional capacity rose 5.3 percent tenge (US$78.3 million) will be vated, with officials recently com- “The Astana Convention Bureau Maken at the forum’s opening. For to 3.54 million departure seats. At structure Development Berik Ka- invested in the next four years in pleting the design specifics and is excited to host this prestigious example, the Kazakh Civil Avia- the forum, Kazakh Tourism Dep- maliyev. infrastructure projects at Alakol estimates. The changes will allow event and welcome all participants tion Committee met with repre- uty Chairman Kairat Sadvakass- Approximately half of South Lake, a popular beach vacation aircraft to take off and land from to our wonderful city. Nur-Sultan sentatives of foreign airlines and ov urged local ground handlers Korea’s population consider them- destination between the East Ka- two directions and increase the is growing at a tremendous pace airports to discuss opening new and tour operators to consider 24 selves keen travellers, and many zakhstan Region and Almaty. A runway length to 2,100 metres and and this is an important and timely destinations from Nur-Sultan. and 48-hour itineraries to allow a have visited well-established des- working group was created to plan width up to 45 metres. The altera- event on our journey to develop “For Nursultan Nazarbayev Air- longer stop at Nur-Sultan for tran- tinations and seek new experienc- and monitor the projects. tions also envision installing high- Nur-Sultan into a leading business port, the international exhibition sit passengers, given that airports es, a gap which Kazakhstan may The lake, among the national intensity lights and constructing a and convention destination in Cen- Routes Silk Road 2019 is a sig- are increasingly honing their hub well fill, noted Somon Air Chief tourism priorities, receives sig- new terminal with a capacity of 70 tral Asia,” said Astana Convention nificant event. The conference will potential. Executive Officer Thomas Hallam. nificant support from the state passengers per hour. and work has been ongoing since “We have invested a lot of re- 2016. The government allocated sources to develop the coast in the 500 million tenge (US$1.3 mil- past two years. In the next four lion) from the 2017 budget and years, we will invest more, so that 800 million tenge (US$2.08 mil- not only locals, but also foreigners Great Steppe History travelling lion) from the 2018 budget to will come here and enjoy their va- develop the shoreline infrastruc- cation,” said Akhmetov. ture. Officials will study the Austrian The area’s approximately 175 experience to build a year-round exhibition opens in Taldykorgan recreation centres and two hotels recreation and health centre in The display, stretching from floor cater to different budgets, from Alakol to make use of the lake’s By Nazira Kozhanova to ceiling, focuses on the problem 5,000 tenge (US$13) per night mineral and healing waters. He of mass deaths of wildlife. “Grand- hostels to luxury accommodations. noted the road connecting Ust- NUR-SULTAN – The Great mother’s Eyes,” by Akhmedyarov, East Kazakhstan Region Akim Kamenogorsk, Kalabatau village, Steppe History travelling exhi- is a sequence of eye-shaped caul- (Governor) Danial Akhmetov met Semei and Ayagoz village remains bition opened July 13 in an ex- drons extended along several rows. with the region’s entrepreneurs a problem, promising to finish re- hibit centre in Taldykorgan in the It expresses the artist’s memories July 12 seeking ways to boost de- construction in two years. Almaty Region, reported Ten- of visiting his grandmothers in the velopment at the lake. Akhmetov also urged busi- grinews.kz. village and their excitement and To control coastal erosion, en- nesses to come out of the shad- “The idea of the exhibition was care each time they saw him. sure safe access and protect the ows. State Revenue Department inspired by the ‘Seven Facets of the The exhibition also features lec- coastline, breakwaters will be Deputy Chair Yerzhan Ktanov said tures and master classes. It will installed every 100-150 metres an 11-day inspection revealed 38 Great Steppe’ article. What is the along two kilometres of the shore- businesses working in the shadow world’s perception of the peculiari- continue through Aug. 13. line. A water supply system, water economy. ties of the people living in the arid Great Steppe History was fea- intake facilities and sewage treat- “In 2018, businesses paid 67.5 zone in the centre of the Eurasian tured earlier in two other cities and ment network will also be built. A million tenge (US$176,232) in continent for centuries? What is the will be travelling to additional re- 110 kW-capacity power transmis- taxes to the budget. This year, the difference between the Asian conti- gions. It is significant as one of the sion line from Makanchi village to sum is expected to reach 100 mil- nental feeling and the European sea inform.kz. Photo credit: first exhibitions of its scale to reach sensation? What values did horse the country’s more remote areas. Koktal will ensure stable electric- lion tenge (US$261,085), which is Said Atabekov, Alibay Bapanov, Exhibition curators Liza Akhmadi ity supply. 148 percent more than last year. riding people bring to the world The exhibit was organised by the Smail Bayaliyev, Saule Dusenbina, and Yulia Sorokina were present An airport opened in Usharal But there are still cases when busi- bank of human culture?” said or- Almaty Region Akimat (admin- Almagul Menlibayeva, Moldakul for the opening ceremony. village in 2017, making Alakol nesses submit incorrect informa- ganiser Dinara Amangeldina. istration) as part of Kazakh First Lake more accessible for tourists. tion about their revenues, subse- The travelling exhibit features Narymbetov, Rashid Nurekeyev, Among the objects are Dusen- President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Flights are operated from Almaty, quently evading taxes,” he said. more than 100 works of 12 artists Arystanbek Shalbayev, Vitaly bina’s “Pillows,” a set of airbags Seven Facets of the Great Steppe including Askhat Akhmedyarov, Simakov and Saule Suleimenova. depicting batyrs and other animals. programme. Jastar Kerueny domestic tourism promotion project to launch The following day, they will Region, accompanied by Darkhan capital. The influencers’ evalua- By Nazira Kozhanova travel to the regions. The four-day Dzholyshbekov and Zamanbek tions and recommendations will be trip will include visiting and pro- Zhanaliyev; Karaganda, accom- included in devising tourist attrac- NUR-SULTAN – Jastar Kerueny, moting domestic tourist attractions panied by Yessenali Aigerim and tion policies. the domestic tourism promotion Anuarbek Zhalel; Pavlodar, ac- “We want tourism to develop as project devised by creative young and they will be accompanied Kazakhs collaborating with estab- by Tourism in Kazakhstan brand companied by Irina Ten and Na- much as possible; for that, we want lished influencers, will launch Aug. ambassadors selected from estab- zim Missanov; Shymkent and the to collect recommendations and 12, reported Kazinform. The project lished Kazakh influencers. Turkestan Region, accompanied give them to authorities and, later, is designed to both promote and The project involves seven by Aigerim Abdykarylova and state authorities are to take certain study Kazakh tourist destinations. tourist destinations – Aktobe, ac- Daulet Bizhanov, and Uralsk, ac- measures to improve the domestic The millennials involved will companied by T Jokers project companied by Pazl YouTube pro- tourism situation,” said Youth of gather in the capital that day to ini- members; the Almaty Region, ac- ject team Gabit Adirshayev, Aktoty Kazakhstan Congress Executive tiate the project. The programme companied by Gani Azhikenov, Bolshova and Alisher Konysbaev. Director Tokhtar Bolysov at the will include a concert featuring lo- Eldos Zhanuzak and Zhanerke After the trip, the participants July 17 Central Communication

Photo credit: Aquarida Tour. Photo credit: cal celebrities. Zhumadil; the East Kazakhstan will present an assessment in the Service press conference. B7 NATION&CAPITAL SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 Paralympians from 78 countries compete for 20 gold medals at Nur-Sultan’s World Para Powerlifting Championships two months for a good result here. there is double the amount of re- by the International Paralympic By Dilshat Zhussupova I could not have asked for any- sponsibility. But we will see. The Committee (IPC) every four years. thing more. It feels great. I am very barbell will single out the winner.” Held for the eighth time, it became NUR-SULTAN – Four hundred happy that I could achieve my goal A key task in the national sports an important stop for para-athletes’ and forty-one Paralympians from at this championship,” she told industry is to increase the share of qualification pathway to the 2020 78 countries competed for the Paralympic.org. the population engaged in sports to Tokyo Paralympic Games. World Para Powerlifting Cham- Kazakh audiences cheered for 30 percent by 2020, said Nur-Sul- “Paralympic sport is the most pionships’s 20 gold medals in the Raushan Koishibayeva, a Para- tan Akim (Mayor) Altay Kulginov striking way to prove to people capital’s Congress Centre July 12- lympic silver medallist with ampu- in his opening ceremony speech. that, despite difficulties in life, 20, reports the city akimat (admin- tated legs, in the women’s up to 67 “Starting this year, people with people can make a significant con- istration). kilogramme event July 16. disabilities have been able to ac- tribution to their country’s devel- Powerlifters set a strong tone on “I am proud that our country will cess the Paralympic Training Cen- opment,” said the then Nur-Sultan the first day, with three-time Para- host such a big event and I think that tre for free,” he said of the centre Akim Bakhyt Sultanov at his Jan. lympic silver medallist Cui Zhe set- all of this will have a positive effect that opened in July 2018 as part of 31 meeting with IPC President An- ting the first world record at the 2019 and help Kazakh Para sport to move the Tugan Zher (Motherland) state drew Parsons. “There is no greater World Championships with a lift of forward,” she said to Paralympic. programme. pride than when the flag of Ka- 104.5 kilogrammes in the women’s org before the competition. “I hope The event, in which athletes zakhstan is raised at international up to 41 kilogramme event. for a successful performance be- with physical and intellectual dis- competitions in which people with

“I have worked hard in the last Akimat. Nur-Sultan Photo credit: cause these are home walls and abilities compete, was organised disabilities participate.” Children get medals at Winners Gymnasts take Games for cancer survivors silver medals

Staff Report

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh chil- at Universiade dren won medals at the July 3-8 be distributed. I will adjust the pro- World Children’s Winners Games By Nazira Kozhanova gramme, I will try to add complex- for cancer surviving children in ity on the horse and the rings,” said Moscow. Expenses for some of NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh gym- Karimi. the participants were paid by the nasts Milad Karimi and Nariman Kurbanov also won silver at Young Talents Samruk Kazyna pro- Kurbanov won silver medals in the Universiade. His final perfor- gramme. the crossbar and the pommel- mance was estimated by the judges “I really enjoyed the games, horse exercises, respectively, July at 14.7 points. Chin-Kal Li from where more than 500 people from 7 at the 2019 Universiade, reports Taipei won the gold in this com- 15 countries took part. I participated Olympic.kz. petition. Kazumaya Kaya from Ja- in chess and football tournaments. In the crossbar exercises compe- pan received bronze. Karimi told These are my second games, so this tition final, Karimi finished second Olympic.kz his medal was an un- is my last time here,” said Alexan- Tengrinews. Photo credit: with a score of 14.675. The winner expected result, as his form was in der Zabolotnyi, one of the games’ ya Lepsheyeva, Roman Shigov won “By implementing the Young Tal- held in Moscow since 2010. In to- of the competition was Chia-Hung decline after the last World Cham- participants. His father added that a bronze in football. Baisakova also ents project, we strive to support our tal, more than 3,000 children from Tangu from Taiwan, Ivan Stre- pionship. child in remission can only partici- won gold in swimming. Zabolotniy, talented children, to give them the more than 20 countries have taken tovich from Russia won bronze. “I’m so glad, I’m happy. After pate in the games twice, unless he Alexander Korolyov, Adil Sarbayev opportunity to show their abilities in part. All participants compete in six Earlier Karimi took fifth place in the last year’s World Champion- has cancer again, so they hope it’s and Kirill Puzikov won gold in both national and international com- sports: athletics, swimming, table the all-around competition, sev- ship, I had absolutely no results, Zabolotnyi’s last games. football. Korolyov also got bronze petitions,” said Director of Corpo- tennis, shooting, chess and football enth in the floor exercise competi- there was a decline in form,” said Children from Kazakhstan won in shooting. Polina Klinkovich won rate Communications Department in their age groups. The games aim tion and fourth in the competition Kurbanov. medals in chess, football, swim- gold in swimming and race walking of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign to help children forget about the on the uneven bars. Karimi shared “I have one more goal left, the ming and other sports. Bisultan and bronze in tennis. Wealth Fund Miras Irgebayev. disease and return to a full life. The his excitement over winning the World Championship next Octo- Berdibai and Assel Bayaliyeva won This year, Kazakhstan was repre- The World Children’s Winners games also seek to motivate chil- silver medal with Olympic.kz. ber. I will direct all the prepara- bronze medals in chess. Berdibai sented by 17 children, with five of Games are sports for children who dren to get into sports and give them “Honestly, I can’t believe that tion towards it. I will complicate also won silver in football and gold them funded by the Young Talents have undergone cancer treatment. the opportunity to believe in them- I took second place. Emotions my programme by the start of the overwhelm me! I put myself to- in athletics. Ayanat Baisakova, Yuli- Samruk Kazyna programme. The Winners Games have been selves and their strength. World Championship. But first, a gether, really put myself together week of rest, you need to come to to perform well in this final and your senses, tune in and prepare I didn’t pay attention to anything for the World Championship. Now else,” Karimi said. He also shared my new goal is the World Champi- his plans on the World Cup prepa- onship medal,” said Kurbanov. Chess players win 2019 Asian ration, as the Olympic spots for The Universiade is an interna- Kazakhstan will depend on its tional multi-sport event, organised result. for university athletes by the Inter- “Five days of rest and back to national University Sports Federa- Juniors Championship medals the battle again! We will be pre- tion (FISU). This year’s Univer- paring for the World Cup, where siade took place in Naples, Italy Continued from Page B1 Serikbai and Nurgali began proved my choice. There, I was spots for the Olympic Games will between 3 and 14 July. playing chess from a very young taught a lot,” said Serikbai. “Our girls, as always, did well! age and plan to continue a career The athletes are famous in Kyzy- After the victory of Dinara (Sadu- in sports. lorda, said Zhaksylyk Ospanov, akassova) at the Asian Champi- “I have been interested in chess deputy head of the region’s sports onships, our juniors backed up since childhood. My parents sent department. her result with a victory in the me to school when I was five years “In our region there is a big under-20 continental champion- old. In the second grade, a chess support for young chess players. ship,” Kazakhstan Chess Fed- club opened in our school. Togeth- In the school of Olympic reserve eration’s Executive Director Irina er with my friends, I decided to No.1, there is a chess department. Grishchenko. sign up and now I understand that They have their own budget. The Asian U-20 (Juniors) this decision was fateful for me,” The Department of Sports of the Championship gathered 70 ath- Nurgali told bnews.kz. Kyzylorda region also allocates letes: 34 in the men’s and 36 in the “I became interested in chess at funds for the participation of women’s sections. Kazakh chess the age of six. Then I studied in the athletes in international tourna- players Sultan Amanzhol (men’s first grade. Our school has opened ments. The region organises vari- section), Serikbai and Nurgali rep- a class for teaching this sport. Its ous competitions. Assel Serik- Photo credit: kazchess.kz. Photo credit: resented Kazakhstan at the cham- head Riza Koshkarova invited bai and Nazerke Nurgali are our sports.kz. Photo credit: pionship. Assel Serikbai me and I agreed. Parents also ap- pride,” he said. Nariman Kurbanov Kazakh athletes win three medals in karate at Asia Championship with Aktauov also winning gold Hammideh Abbasali, who previ- By Nazira Kozhanova that year. ously medalled at the senior world Amirali competed in the men’s championship. Abbasali defeated NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh under 67 kilogramme category, Berultseva 4-2. karate team won three medals July where he also won silver at the Despite the overall success of 20 at the 2019 Asia Championship 2018 Asian Games. This year, the Kazakh team, leader Darkhan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Andrei Amirali fought competitors from Asadilov, who was voted Kazakh- Aktauov took gold and Didar Ami- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Thai- stan’s best athlete in June, was un- rali and Sofia Berultseva won sil- land and Jordan, winning all the able to secure any medals, noted ver, reported Olympic.kz. rounds. He was defeated in the Sanauov. “The results of the latest Asian finals by Japan’s Hiroto Shi- “It’s a pity, of course, that our Championship, compared with last nohara, the 2014 Asia Games leader Darkhan Asadilov was left year, turned out to be more than champion. without an award, but even this successful for us, especially con- Berultseva, who last year moment cannot influence the sit- sidering the fact that the champi- won the world junior athlete ka- uation. Darkhan will continue to onship is licensed and its results rate championship, gained her remain at the head of the Olympic may affect the Olympic rankings,” medal in the women’s over 68 list at least until the next sporting said head coach Zhastalap San- kilogramme category. She won event that is to be held in Sep- Photo credit: olympic.kz. Photo credit: auov. rounds against competitors from tember – the Premier League in Aktauov won in the men’s un- advance to the finals, he fought Malaysia, then faced Alshari Ab- and Abdulla previously met in the Tajikistan, Taiwan and China. Tokyo – and then we’ll see,” he der 55 kilogramme category. To athletes from Cambodia, Iran and dulla from Saudi Arabia. Aktauov finals of the 2014 Asian Games, In the finals, she fought Iranian said. B8 NATION&CAPITAL CAPITAL

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 YARKOcross run emphasises fun, charity and health awareness oured powder blasted from bottles The first paint race, known as July 18, after which registration By Dilshat Zhussupova to receive their medals at the finish The Colour Run, gathered 6,000 cost 4,500 tenge (US$11.71) for line. people in Arizona, the United children over 3 and 6,000 tenge NUR-SULTAN – People ran There were no winners or prizes States in 2011. It has since grown (US$15.61) for adults. five kilometres for charity July 20 at the untimed event, which em- into more than 200 annual events Adults received a t-shirt, back- at the seventh annual paint race phasises fun, charity and health with over two million participants pack and start number at Triathlon YARKOcross in the capital’s Tri- awareness over competition. Fit- in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe Park July 19 at 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. athlon Park, reports the city akimat tingly, celebrations were held at and the United Arab Emirates. Children under 3 did not receive (administration) press service. the finish line, featuring football Non-traditional running events a starter kit, and kits for children The race was organised by the darts and an art zone, and the funds like paint races encourage the par- over 3 did not include a t-shirt, Plant a Tree fund with the support raised contributed to tree planting ticipation of people of all ages that which could be purchased sepa- of the akimat. With clean white and sports field installations. Last have never run a 5K. Participation rately. shirts and a 10 a.m. start, runners year, the proceeds went to equip- was free for children under 3 and A YARKOcross race will also made their way through the ‘jun- ping basketball and volleyball cost 3,500 tenge (US$9.10) for gather runners in Shymkent Aug. gle’, this year’s theme, of bright courts with the Beat Autism asso- children over 3 and 5,000 tenge 17. One may register to participate and environmentally friendly col- ciation. (US$13.01) for adults before at www.yarkocross.kz. Mayor urges construction companies Palace of Martial Arts opens to follow safety procedures, pay employees and buy locally cussed waste management and real estate developers’ responsi- bility to investors. Nur-Sultan has a single landfill site located along the Alash High- way where construction compa- nies may legally dispose of their waste. Since the beginning of the year, 66 drivers have unloaded construction company waste at sites with no licence to accept waste, and 76 drivers have un-

loaded dirt on the roadway. Video Aida Ramazanova Photo credit: Photo credit: Nur-Sultan Akimat Nur-Sultan Photo credit: surveillance cameras may be in- Martial Arts symbolises the form Martial Arts coincided with the Altay Kulginov (C). stalled in 10 sites prone to illegal Staff Report of a flying eagle, a symbol of the Day of the Capital and a gala festi- dumping by construction compa- freedom and strength of Kazakh- val of martial arts that began May “The types of building materials nies to change construction com- NUR-SULTAN – The new, stan,” said Samruk Kazyna Con- 7 in Shymkent. The festival was By Dilshat Zhussupova that are produced by us should, if panies’ behaviour. government-sponsored Palace of meant to promote a healthy life- possible, be used when building Kulginov also called for a more Martial Arts opened July 6 in the style among youth and featured NUR-SULTAN – Nur-Sultan the city. We have production fac- responsible approach toward real capital. Kazakh President Kassym- The 32,000-square- performances by martial artists Akim (Mayor) Altay Kulginov tories for houses and elevators, estate investors, given that there Jomart Tokayev attended the open- from the Kazakh Martial Arts As- discussed safety compliance and thousands of people are working are more than 10,000 investors ing. metre, $50.8 million sociation. the purchase of local materials in these industries and all of this is affected by the actions of unscru- The 32,000-square-metre, $50.8 centre will offer “Sport has become an important July 16 with representatives of being produced for your benefit,” pulous real estate developers. For million centre will offer training economic and social policy direc- construction companies working he concluded. example, developers’ fund misap- facility for professional and ama- training facility for tion. A clear confirmation of my in the capital, reports the city aki- Kulginov also called on develop- propriation has left many housing teur martial arts athletes. It has professional and words is that the Palace of Martial mat (administration) press service. ers to pay employees on time and projects idle. been built by the Samruk Kazyna Arts, built upon the instructions of Kulginov urged construction comply with the conditions stipu- “I met with real estate inves- Sovereign Wealth Fund and in- amateur martial arts (the First Kazakh President) Nur- workers to comply with safety lated in labour contracts. tors, many of whom did not get cludes a gym, fitness centre, mini sultan Nazarbayev, has opened its procedures at construction sites by “We are creating and will con- the chance to move into their football pitch, 25-metre swim- athletes. It includes a doors today,” said Kazakh Minister wearing protective hats and foot- tinue to create all the conditions for apartments, mortgage their prop- ming pool and hotel throughout its gym, fitness centre, of Culture and Sport Aktoty Raim- wear. you to do business, but if you do not erty, live in dormitories or were four floors. It can hold up to 5,000 kulova at the opening ceremony. “I ask you to follow the safety pay wages or pay wages (informal- left without any housing options. spectators and host competitions mini football pitch, “Today, sports facilities are precautions and requirements for ly) in envelopes, then we will have The state is now solving their in boxing, judo, weightlifting and working at an overload of 143 per- work attire, ranging from helmets a different conversation, so please problems. We will exercise strict wrestling. 25-metre swimming cent. The design and documenta- to safety footwear. The most impor- work within the law,” he said. control over each project so that “The sports facility was built to pool and hotel tion are being developed for the tant thing for us is the safety of our “If someone from the akimat cre- this does not happen again. If you meet the standards and require- construction of fitness centres in people, especially those who work ates barriers to your business, then want to do business, we will sup- ments of international sports throughout its four four residential areas of the city, at construction sites. Please do not you can contact us. We will restore port you. The President personal- federations. Innovative engineer- floors. including Koktal-2, Ilyinka, Ondi- skimp on that. After all, when safe- order. If someone asks for bribes or ly controls the removal of admin- ing solutions were applied to the ris and Zheleznodorozhny,” said ty precautions are observed, there is money, there are services that will istrative barriers for businesses, building to provide the most ad- the then Nur-Sultan Deputy Akim order, quality and results,” he said. respond instantly. You can contact but businesses must also accept vanced energy-efficient heating, struction Director of Procurement (Mayor) Yerlan Kanalimov in May Kulginov also urged construc- me directly,” he added. some level of responsibility on ventilation, air conditioning and and Operations Darkhan Mussa- on additional sports facility con- tion companies to buy locally The mayor and construction their part, especially in the field lighting systems. The unique tri- nov. struction that will take place in produced construction materials. company representatives dis- of construction,” he said. angular shape of the Palace of The opening of the Palace of 2019-2021. Presidential directives on improving living standards to be incorporated into capital’s social, economic development The First President, Nursultan of the population, including social- the wages of public sector employ- The criteria for the provision of dated. This made it possible to in- By Dilshat Zhussupova Nazarbayev, tasked the new gov- ly vulnerable groups. From June 1, ees increased by up to 30 percent. targeted social assistance was up- crease the average amount of aid ernment, appointed Feb. 25, to given and increase the number of NUR-SULTAN – The capital’s aki- “take effective steps in improving recipients of targeted social assis- mat (administration) will incorporate living standards, stimulating the tance almost three-fold,” he said. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s economy and implementing stra- Creating favourable conditions call for government to improve living tegic objectives.” Tokayev further for business will also remain a pri- standards in the city’s social and eco- directed government agencies to ority for the akimat. The territory nomic development, said Nur-Sultan increase incomes, create jobs, im- of the capital’s Industrial Park is prove land use and develop a bet- 95 percent full, and another park ter investment climate at the ex- will be opened to accommodate Nursultan panded government meeting. the creation of new industries. “Increasing the income of the “There are concerns about the Nazarbayev tasked population is our main job. (There workload of projects that were the new government, is a) growth of 6 percent, but we launched (at the Industrial Park), cannot stop there. Sanctions and some of which are generally idle. appointed Feb. 25, to protectionism also influence the Of the 49 projects in the Industrial development of our country. In- Park, 10 projects function accord- “take effective steps ternational experts talk about the ing to how they were accepted. in improving living unstable situation in the world. Twelve projects, which were in- Therefore, we should also consider troduced in 2017-2018, function standards, stimulating the creation of new jobs as a prior- at a workload of approximately 10 the economy and ity,” said Tokayev. percent. There is room for work,” The government will allocate said Kulginov. implementing two trillion tenge (US$5.3 billion) The akim emphasised that the from the state budget to social sup- capital’s new business projects strategic objectives.” port over the next three years, and ought to be export-oriented and Kulginov sees a role for the city hopes to see more light manufac- Akim (Mayor) Altay Kulginov at a akimat in advancing these social- turing projects, which amount to July 17 meeting on the results of the ly-oriented measures. two at the moment, given the re- July 15 expanded government meet- “This year, concrete steps have cent launch of the Economy of ing chaired by Tokayev. been taken to increase the incomes Simple Things state programme.