-10° / -16°C WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 No 3 (165) www.astanatimes.com Adopting children should be norm, Kuryk seaport says Mothers House Fund Director to boost shipment

By Saltanat Boteu

ASTANA – Ana Uii (Mothers’ capacity House) Public Fund has helped via Kuryk was 10 percent more approximately 3,500 women keep By Saltanat Boteu compared to 2017 and amount- their children in their birth families ed to 1.61 million tonnes. There and more than 900 youngsters find ASTANA – Approximately 2.5 were 70 percent more vessel adoptive families. The experience million tonnes of freight will be calls; their number reached 453,” shows it is possible to reduce so- shipped through Kuryk seaport said Kuryk seaport’s Deputy cial orphanhood with effort and in 2019, one million tonnes more Head Talgat Ospanov. a desire to resolve the issue, said than last year. The terminal is capable of serv- Ana Uii Executive Director Bibig- The port, on the Caspian Sea ing up to 20,000 cars a year. It also ul Makhmetova in an interview in the Mangystau region, was put has two berths for rail transport, with The Astana Times. into service in December 2016 each of which can serve and send The fund has two state-scale and began operating the following four ships per day. In 2018, 210 projects and several in the capi- March. Kuryk has subsequently barges were placed in the terminal; tal and the Akmola region aimed become a key component in the each barge has the capacity for 50 at helping mothers facing chal- country’s transformation into a freight cars. lenges to keep their children and Eurasian continental transport and Port managers intend to expand logistics hub, reported kazakh-tv. supporting adoptive families and cooperation with other coun- kz. youngsters from boarding-style tries; this year, shipments will “2018 was favourable for institutions to find each other. All be launched to Iran and Turk- Kuryk seaport. A car ferry termi- menistan. Kuryk seaport’s ferry are sponsored by philanthropists. nal was opened in the port with “Since 2013, we have imple- handling capacity will reach six the participation of the President million tonnes, with a plan of 10 mented the Ana Uii project that is a [of Kazakhstan]. At the end of network of crisis centres for women million tonnes by 2030. last year, the shipment of cargo Continued on Page A8 who are in difficult life situations and at risk of abandoning a child. When their families cannot accept them, a woman is faced with the choice of keeping the child or aban- doning it. We are doing everything British expert says AIFC ready possible to help women avoid such thoughts and save the child,” she said. Continued on Page B2 to provide Islamic finance-related arbitration Almaty region, bordering China, eyes Groups, which are composed By Yerbolat Uatkhanov of Parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the ASTANA – Born and raised in House of Lords, and other impor- expanding industry, trade and tourism the U.K., British lawyer and ar- tant positions. I have been work- could you tell us about the most German company Wilo, which has ucts will be exported to Central bitrator, Freeman of the City of ing on legal cases from different jurisdictions across the globe ei- By Malika Orazgaliyeva significant projects? already produced 44 units of equip- Asia, China, Iran and Siberian re- London, Shariah scholar and Is- This year, we are planning to ment, and there are plans to produce gions of Russia under the interna- lamic finance expert Sheikh Bilal ther related to Islamic finance or general commercial disputes,” ASTANA – In an exclusive maintain the momentum of the more than 300 units in 2019. A tionally-recognised Lukoil brand Khan wanted to excel profession- he said in an exclusive interview interview with this newspaper, socio-economic development of Mareven food plant for the produc- marked Made in Kazakhstan. ally while maintaining a link with with The Astana Times. Akim (Governor) of Almaty oblast the oblast. tion of products under the brands The Khorgos-Eastern Gate SEZ his family’s traditional roots in AIFC has benefitted by attract- Amandyk Batalov shares his As the state-of-the-nation address BIGBON and Rolton with its own (special economic zone), a major South East Asia. He has achieved ing Khan, as he is both an Eng- views on the region’s transforma- of the head of state says, “Export- logistic and warehouse infrastruc- transport and logistics hub at the both goals by contributing his lish qualified lawyer from one tion from a formerly agrarian to a oriented industrialisation should ture launched on Industrialisation crossroads of commodity flows unique proficiency to the Astana of the leading Magic Circle law combined agrarian and industrial be a central element of economic Day last December. Annual produc- between China, Central Asia and International Financial Centre firms and an international Shariah one, its efforts to attract tourists policy.” We are now working hard tion will amount to 24 billion tenge the Eurasian Union, provides a (AIFC). scholar. It is extremely rare to find to its diverse destinations as well in this direction. Whereas in the (US$62.8 million); up to 80 percent powerful impetus to the economic “After developing expertise an experienced specialist in both as its growing role as a key entry past our oblast was considered ex- of the products will be exported to development of the oblast. Phoe- in Islamic finance, I studied [for fields. point into Kazakhstan from China clusively agrarian, it is now safe to Central Asian countries under the nix, a company from the United a] LL.B law degree and then the as it implements its famed Belt and say that Zhetysu (Seven Rivers, the brand Made in Kazakhstan. Arab Emirates, will open a feed Khan is a member of the AIFC legal practice in banking and fi- Advisory Council on Islamic Fi- Road Initiative (BRI). region’s informal name) is an agrar- This year, three more large ex- mill with a capacity of 60,000 nance and an MBA in various ian and industrial region. port-oriented facilities are being tonnes per year at the SEZ dry nance (ACIF) and AIFC Interna- British universities. Prior to join- tional Arbitration Centre (IAC) What socio-economic develop- It is also worth emphasising that introduced. port; it will be the only enterprise ing the AIFC, I served on numer- ment issues are on the agenda? our oblast is implementing nine pro- Lukoil, one of the world’s larg- that produces extruded feed for all panel of arbitrators. IAC provides ous high-profile boards includ- an independent and expeditious Are there plans to improve per- jects involving large multinational est producers of oil-refining and types of farm animals, birds and ing being Vice Chairman of the formance in the coming years? companies; two of them have al- petrochemical products, has begun alternative to court litigation and fish and 50 percent of the products Mosaic International Leadership How much foreign investment did ready been launched. They include the pre-commissioning of a lubri- operates at the highest interna- will be exported to China. Programme of the U.K. Prince’s Almaty oblast attract in 2018 and a pump production plant of the cant plant; 21,000 tonnes of prod- Continued on Page A6 tional standards to resolve AIFC Trust; as Senior Adviser to the civil and commercial disputes. British All-Party Parliamentary Continued on Page A8 Kazakh, international health experts present KazISS among world’s cutting-edge heart surgery technology Editor-in-chief and Harvard Medi- top think tanks for fourth By Dilshat Zhussupova cal School Professor of Medicine Mandeep Mehra. ASTANA – Leading Kazakh “While we can sustain life with and international experts presented [left ventricular assist] devices, consecutive year a fully implanted ventricular as- which have become better, these top 150 think tanks for the first sist device (FiVAD) at a Feb. 6 devices were not fully internalised By Zhanna Shayakhmetova time, taking 147th place among press conference in Astana titled – not contained within the body and Groundbreaking System for Pa- connected to a battery outside it, a 6,846 global think tanks. Over tients with Failing Heart. big problem in the field,” he noted. ASTANA – The Kazakhstan In- the past three years, the number The first human use of a wire- “The scientists before you, through stitute for Strategic Studies under of think tanks participating in the less coplanar energy transfer with a their sheer hard work, have been the President (KazISS) was ranked ranking increased by 1,316. The continuous-flow left ventricular as- able to move the field toward con- among the world’s top think tanks number of Kazakh analytical cen- sist device (LVAD) was carried out venient LVAD implantation. This for the fourth consecutive year, the tres in the report is growing every in the capital’s National Research is a critical advent in our field and institute’s press service reported year,” according to the press ser- Cardiac Surgery Centre last month, Kazakhstan, despite great demand will, eventually, treat only 4,000 should not be taken lightly.” Feb. 4. vice. said its Chief Executive Of§ficer among patients with end-stage people,” said University of Chicago The FiVAD removes the risk of in- KazISS was ranked 142th among Asia has experienced a dramatic (CEO) Yuriy Pya. heart failure. Now, the procedure is Professor of Medicine Nir Uriel on fection often caused by the transcu- 8,162 think tanks and the second growth in think tanks since the The centre offers cardiology, in- routine at the centre. Twenty-four- the prognosis for most advanced- taneous drive line, which protrudes among those in Central Asia in the mid-2000s. terventional cardiology, cardiac sur- year-old Ismayil Tursunov is the stage heart failure patients. “In from the abdomen in standard ven- 2018 Global To Go Think Tank In- “Many think tanks in these re- gery, intervention arrhythmology, first patient to have undergone a Astana, you are taking technology tricular assist devices. Patients can dex Rankings. gions continue to be dependent on rehabilitation, radiodiagnosis and new procedure with Leviticus Car- a step up and producing a solution also walk without external equip- The University of Pennsylvania government funding along with laboratory diagnosis, treating both dio’s FiVAD, and international ex- for those patients that, without this ment up to 8 hours a day. analysed the activities of 31 Ka- gifts, grants and contracts from children and adults. Its scientific pro- perts made the trip to Kazakhstan technology, would not be alive.” “[The new technology] is a poten- zakh institutions. international public and private gress has contributed to Kazakhstan to see his transformation in person. Kazakhstan’s newest contribution tial game changer for patients’ qual- “KazISS was included in the donors. University, government entering the top 30 leading countries “More than 25 million people in to LVAD implantation was recorded ity of life. It restores patients to a life global ranking only for certain affiliated or funded think tanks re- in cardiac surgery complexity. the world have heart failure, and the in an academic article in the Jour- that they want to lead, in which they categories and areas until 2016. main the dominate model for think Eight years ago, LVAD implan- majority will die [from this illness]. nal of Heart and Lung Transplan- can swim, take showers and engage According to the results of 2015, tanks in these regions. tation had never been carried out in Heart transplants are an option that tation and not lost on the journal’s in normal life activities,” he added. the institute entered the world’s Continued on Page A2

INSIDE NATION ECONOMY EDITORIAL BUSINESS NATION&CAPITAL Ministry of Healthcare attracts investments, as Economy has stabilised, says Deputy PM in Year of Youth harnesses one of Kazakhstan’s Akmola region to produce country’s own Astana Opera premieres medical coverage doubles A2 2018 year-end summary A4 most valuable assets A6 oatmeal corns A7 “Eugene Onegin”B1 Expert Council on Digitisation discusses Kostanai region economy grows, expands From pipelines to apple orchards: Kazakh Sherkala captivates with ancient history, e-government, developing startup culture A2 export geography A4 enterprise sees opportunity in managing unearthly landscapes B6 diverse businesses A8

US$ 1 = 374.81 KZT € 1 = 422.52 KZT 1 = 5.71 KZT A2 NATION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019

NATIONAL Ministry of Healthcare Expert Council on Digitisation NEWS IN BRIEF A 60-hectare wholesale distribu- tion centre for agricultural trade will be built in Karaganda, connect- attracts investments, as discusses e-government, ing the northern and southern parts of the country, reports the regional press service. The construction of the first stage will cost 10.5 billion medical coverage doubles developing startup culture tenge (US$27 million). Covered pa- vilions with heating ventilation and By Zhanna Shayakhmetova air conditioning will accommodate up to 164 trucks at the same time. ASTANA – The Ministry of Storage terminals, climate and dry Healthcare intends to attract 1.3 warehouses and chambers with dif- trillion tenge (US$3.4 billion) in ferent temperature controls have al- investments, bringing private in- ready been built. A customs zone and vestment in healthcare to 60 per- hotel will also be located in the area. cent by 2025, reported Vice Min- “We are using the latest technologies ister of Healthcare Alexey Tsoy at of warehouse logistics and online the Feb. 5 meeting. operations. The initial stage will be The ministry and regional ad- completed this summer. The second ministrations are implementing stage will be the processing of agri- a project to develop health in- cultural products,” said Deputy Akim frastructure as part of the Den- Vice Minister of Healthcare (Governor) of Karaganda Region Al- saulyk (Health) state programme Alexey Tsoy. mas Aidarov. for 2016-2019. It includes infra-  structure planning, changing the lion tenge (US$2.6 billion), in- The Turkestan region’s maternal network configuration of health cluding 17 multi-profile hospitals mortality rate decreased by 35.9 per- organisations to improve primary to replace 61 hospitals. Kazakh Prime Minister Andersen, 01 Booster Inc. Co- cent compared with 2017. The mor- healthcare and patient-oriented Work is underway to implement Staff Report Bakytzhan Sagintayev told the founder George Goda, Astana tality rate has decreased by 4.3 per- medical care and infrastructure the Compulsory Social Health In- council that digitisation should, Hub CEO Joseph Ziegler, former cent. Some 8.1 billion tenge (US$21 modernisation through investment surance system, which will come ASTANA – The International above all, improve citizens’ lives. Malaysia Digital Economy Corpo- million) was allocated for the mate- attraction. into force in 2020. It is expected Expert Council on Digitisation dis- Council attendees from nation- ration CEO Yasmin Mahmood, In- rial and technical equipment of medi- The project is prepared to devel- to offer favourable conditions for cussed at its Jan. 31 meeting inter- al universities included Kazakh- ternational Data Corporation Vice cal organisations. The equipment in- op the infrastructure plans based providing high-quality medical national practices in digital devel- British Technical University President and Regional Managing dex increased 1.5 times compared to on 17 regional plans by April, re- services. opment, the role of e-government President Kenzhebek Ibrashev, Director in the Commonwealth last year and reached 65.75 percent. duce practice workload and cre- Maintenance and construction of as well as how to nurture young Al-Farabi Kazakh National of Independent States Robert Far- It is planned to build a regional multi- ate large medical clusters with an primary healthcare facilities in ru- talent and develop a startup culture. University President Galimkair ish, Singularity University Faculty field hospital accommodating 610 average capacity of more than 500 ral areas are also a priority. Small The gathering also discussed Mutanov, International Infor- Chair of Finance and Economics patients, a tuberculosis centre and beds. facilities near population centres economic sustainability in devel- mation Technology University Amin Toufani and World Econom- an oncological centre, among other “The workload averaged 1,773 will be opened in accordance with oping technology and the impact President Damir Shynybekov, ic Forum Head of the Internet of medical facilities, in Turkestan. “Ap- people or 85 percent of the plan regional long-term plans. of innovation ecosystems on edu- Satpayev University Vice Presi- Things, Robotics and Smart Cities proximately 2 million e-health pass- at the end of 2018. The planned The minister also spoke about cation and employment. dent for Corporate Development Jeff Merritt. ports were created, 19,220 healthcare rate of reducing the workload was epidemiological outbreaks of the The goal of the discussions was Bakhytzhan Barmagambetov, Many of the attendees also par- workers took part in training on med- reached in 10 regions due to the measles virus in the country. Ad- to address challenges to digitisa- Nazarbayev University (NU) ticipated in the Feb. 1 annual Digi- ical information systems and 441,717 commissioning of 165 facilities,” ditional vaccination is possible. tion development and examine the Vice President for Innovation Ye- tal Agenda in the Era of Globali- people use mobile apps. Twenty digi- he said. “Currently, 1,876 confirmed outcomes of the Digital Kazakh- rden Kussain and NU Vice Dean sation 2.0 Forum on the Eurasian tal emergency offices were opened at The ministry is also working to measles cases, including 1,426 stan state programme. for Academic Affairs Michael Innovation Ecosystem in Almaty. hospitals,” said head of the regional improve the material and technical children under 14, were registered. Kazakhstan hopes to digitise Lewis. Attendees discussed the Eurasian healthcare department Mukan Yegiz- base of outpatient organisations, The disease is recorded mainly parts of the economy, government International experts included Economic Union digital agenda, bayev. ambulance stations, emergency among unvaccinated children, and human capital development United Nations E-government Industry 4.0, Sustainable Devel- services and rural hospitals. which is 64 percent of all cases. and implement a Digital Silk Road Branch Chief Vincenzo Aquaro, opment Goals and the digitisation Kazhydromet reports that the coun- Eighty-one percent of mono- Some of them didn’t reach the and innovative ecosystem within Big Innovation Centre Chief Ex- of small and medium-sized busi- try observed the coldest winter in the specialised hospitals were in- vaccination age and some cases five years. ecutive Officer (CEO) Birgitte nesses. last seven years. “The cold anomalies tegrated into regional multidis- are related to refusals from vacci- reached almost all regions. The tem- ciplinary hospitals. Thirty-five nation,” said Tsoy. perature dropped to minus 45 degrees multidisciplinary clusters with an He noted 105 patients are cur- Celsius at night in the eastern, central average capacity of 415 beds were rently receiving treatment and and northern regions starting from created by optimising 94 hospitals. 1,771 have completed the regimen. Feb 4. The temperature reached mi- Healthcare investments reached The ministry will launch the KazISS among world’s top think nus 30 in the south. The cyclone also 119 billion tenge (US$311 mil- medical train campaign to double brought snowfall, blizzards, fog and lion), according to the statistics population coverage in remote ar- ice. Taking into account the increase committee. Private investment eas. in wind and humidity, the tempera- grew by 7.8 billion tenge (US$20 “We use helicopters of the com- tanks for fourth consecutive year ture seemed much lower. Last year, million). mittee for emergency situations. Continued from Page A1 the leading think tanks in the Cen- Azerbaijan and Georgia – as well January, with a minus 38 degrees was By 2025, the regions plan to We have a single operator of heli- tral Asia group. Kazakhstan has as Afghanistan are included in the the coldest month,” said Kazhydrom- build 201 facilities worth one tril- copter services,” he said. There is increasing diversity the largest number of analytical group of Central Asian countries in et expert Laura Sailybaeva. among think tanks in these regions centres in the group. the classification ranking. with independent, political party Experts feel “the think tanks can The rating is compiled on the sur- Kazakhstan will produce 250 im- affiliated and corporate/business provide a range of strategies and vey results of the centres assessed ported industrial goods, according sector think tanks that are being best practices for transforming and more than 4,000 journalists, to Kazinform. “The government has allocated 600 billion tenge (US$1.5 created with greater frequency. In public policy and institutions in an politicians and experts in the field of billion) and 400 billion tenge (US$1 an effort to diversify their fund- era of digital and political disrup- economic and political research. 2.4 million Kazakhs living billion) of these will be directed to the ing base, think tanks have targeted tions, as well as increased social More than 30 different criteria manufacturing industry to produce businesses and wealthy individu- and economic turbulence,” noted are used for the rating including about 250 industrial goods that are als to support their core operations the document. geographical location, functional used daily nationwide. The financing and programmes,” according to The report, traditionally present- and organisational orientation, in rural areas will have high will reduce the share of imports up to the report. ed by the University of Pennsylva- quality and reputation of scientific 50 percent in the coming years. It is The rating includes 55 different nia, is composed as part of the An- and analytical work, recognition, planned to stimulate the production nominations combined into four alytical Centres and Civil Society the number of briefings and of- of fabrics, shoes, fertilisers, paints, quality internet by 2020 groups. KazISS ranked second programme under the leadership of ficial meetings and the number of windows, doors and other furniture,” after Azerbaijan’s Centre for Eco- Professor James G. McGann. The nominations for special achieve- the development of the digital po- said Minister of Industry and Infra- nomic and Social Development in Caucasus countries – Armenia, ments. By Aidana Yergaliyeva tential of our youth. The Digital structure Development Zhenis Kass- Bridge international innovation ymbek. ASTANA – Construction has forum was held, which designated begun on a 20,000-kilometre opti- and approved Kazakhstan as a re- Twenty-five industrial-innovative cal fibre network that will supply gional IT hub,” the minister said. projects are being implemented in high-speed internet to approxi- The ministry has been devel- the Kyzylorda region, Kazinform re- mately 2.4 million citizens living oping infrastructure in bigger Kazakhstan to present its first ports. “Seven projects have already in rural Kazakhstan by 2020, said cities, such as Astana, Almaty been completed, including the Shapa- Minister of Information and Com- and Shymkent as well as Kara- gat house-building plant, a feed facto- munications Dauren Abayev in a ganda and Aktobe to be labelled ry, two AralTuz Spanish workshops, recent yearly report video posted “smart.” Work is continuing to report to UN on SDG progress and facing brick and asphalt concrete on Facebook. improve public services. Previ- bekova on the country’s SDG im- at SDG implementation. Now, plants in the Aral district. Last year, a Approximately 1,200 villages ously, citizens would wait for up By Dilshat Zhussupova plementation. our goal is to identify the areas lime plant with a capacity of 75,000 including 3,500 schools, hospitals to five working days to get a sin- The 2030 Agenda is consistent where we need to move further tonnes per year started production in and akimats (administrations), gle verification document. Today, ASTANA – Kazakhstan will re- with Kazakhstan’s development and take additional measures for the Zhanakorgan district. The first ce- will receive the service. The they can get the same document port to the United Nations (UN) in efforts. The energy-oriented aspect greater progress by the country ment plant in the region also produc- ministry chose Kazakhtelecom in a few clicks at home. There are New York this year on its imple- of the agenda was most acutely re- on SDGs.” es 11,000 tonnes of clinker, the main national telecommunication com- 634 varieties of electronic ser- mentation of the Sustainable De- flected throughout Astana EXPO SDG monitoring is led by the component of cement. The goods of pany to run the project. vices available, which is almost velopment Goals (SDGs) for the 2017 international exhibition on Ministry of National Economy’s the plant are widely used not only in The villages will be connected 60 percent of the total. Recently first time, said Kazakh Vice Min- Future Energy. Goal implementa- Committee on Statistics, which construction, but also in the oil and gradually in stages. According to Public Service Centres (PSCs) ister of National Economy Madina tion is expected to yield positive established interagency working gas and nuclear industries,” said head estimates, more than 1.29 million began providing services using Zhunisbekova at a January meet- multiplier effects for the country, groups on People, Planet, Pros- of the regional Department for Indus- people will have high-speed inter- biometric data. In addition to dig- ing in the capital. facilitating its progress on becom- perity, Peace and Partnership, col- trial and Innovative Development Ri- net near the end of 2019. The rest ital PSCs such as in Astana, now In September 2015, Kazakh ing the top 30 most competitive lected and processed UN agencies’ nat Sultangereyev. should get the internet by 2020, operate in Almaty, Shymkent and President Nursultan Nazarbayev countries by 2050 and attracting data and organised national meet- said Vice Minister of Informa- Kostanai as well. signed a document on the adop- greater foreign investments. ings on SDG statistics. This year, 13.5 million tonnes of tion and Communications Daryn Seven big cities also opened tion of the 2015-2030 Develop- Monitoring national achieve- The UN, established in 1945, is oil will be produced at the Kashagan Tuyakov. migration service centres with a ment Agenda at the 70th UN ments on SDGs is just as impor- an intergovernmental organisation field, Vlast.kz reported. “Kashagan Also according to the year-end window for non-residents. General Assembly. SDGs are 17 tant as their implementation. Par- tasked with maintaining interna- reached stable production of 330,000 video report, the ministry also “In the year of the 60th anniver- global goals on socioeconomic ticipating countries are responsible tional peace and security, develop- barrels per day. Mining expansion started in 2018 the Digital Ka- sary of the Kazakh Television, a development, including pov- for undertaking follow-up activi- ing friendly relations among na- projects are continuing. We expect zakhstan state programme’s large- gradual transition of the regions erty, hunger, health, education, ties and reviewing implementation tions and achieving international that the operator will continue project scale implementation including to digital on-air television and global warming, gender equal- progress, thus requiring high qual- cooperation. Kazakhstan recently optimisation to increase the gas injec- through the opening of the Astana radio broadcasting with the dis- ity, water, sanitation, energy, ity and accessible data collection completed its 2017-2018 term at tion for a production level of 450,000 Hub Technology Park. The hub connection of the analogue has urbanisation, environment and and analysis. the UN Security Council, having barrels per day,” Minister of Energy now manages 140 projects in- begun. Work continued on the de- social justice. “The Ministry of National focused on global non-prolifera- Kanat Bozumbayev said on the issue. volving 1,200 participants and at- velopment of the state broadcast- “We have made voluntary com- Economy began this work,” said tion efforts as well as on ensuring Three major fields – Kashagan, Ten- tracted 42 investors. ing network in the border areas,” mitments, and our country strives the vice minister. “All initiatives sustainable development in Cen- giz and Karachaganak – are expected “There are all conditions for he said. to fulfill those goals,” said Zhunis- voiced by the President are aimed tral Asia and Afghanistan. to be overhauled this spring. A3 EURASIA&WORLD

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019

EXTERNAL NEWS IN BRIEF Inclusive global dialogue is Kazakh foreign policy Kazakh and German business rep- resentatives gathered in Hamburg Feb. 4 to explore the role of Ka- zakhstan as an economic and logis- priority, FM tells diplomatic corps in annual briefing tics hub in Eurasia and beyond. The and the responsibility of the Min- to open a United Nations Regional orities for interaction between Ka- (Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s forum was organised and supported By Elya Altynsarina istry is to ensure favourable exter- Hub in Almaty. He also noted Ka- zakhstan and individual nations Identity) Programme and promote by the Federal Association of Ger- nal conditions for the sustainable zakhstan will continue to seek a res- around the world. that heritage internationally. man Silk Road Initiative, the Ham- ASTANA – One of Kazakhstan’s socio-economic development of the olution to the Syrian crisis through The ministry, said Atamkulov, “We expect that cultural and burg Chamber of Commerce and foreign policy priorities is to pursue country by political and diplomatic the Astana Process peace talks. seeks to improve the investment cli- humanitarian cooperation will be- the Kazakh Embassy in Germany. inclusive dialogue between leading means,” the minister said. The minister also noted that high- mate in accordance with Organisa- come a significant factor in exter- The agenda included prospects for powers to overcome “bloc think- He also told the corps that devel- level events involving the Collec- tion for Economic Cooperation and nal relations,” he said. expanding economic, investment, ing” and reach consensus on key oping multilateral and multi-level tive Security Treaty Organisation, Development (OECD) standards. The minister also noted that Ka- transport and logistics cooperation global issues, new Kazakh Foreign diplomacy is a strategic foreign the Conference on Interaction and Kazakhstan, in cooperation with zakhstan recently reached agree- between Kazakhstan and other coun- Minister Beibut Atamkulov told policy resource. He said Kazakh- Confidence Building in Asia, the the World Bank, has also adopted ments with 20 countries on visa tries along the Silk Road and ways to ambassadors and envoys during his stan continues to advocate for dip- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a National Investment Strategy.. exemptions for general passport boost cooperation with the European first meeting with the diplomatic lomatic solutions to conflicts and the Organisation for Islamic Coop- The country also plans to use its holders. These agreements are in Union. Kazakh Ambassador to Ger- corps in Astana Feb. 7, according to increased collective responsibility. eration and other major international Astana International Financial Cen- addition to existing agreements many Bolat Nussupov also met with the ministry’s press service. Atamkulov noted Kazakhstan organisations are planned for 2019. tre, International Centre for the De- with 45 countries allowing visa- Aurubis AG Executive Chair Jür- The meeting is an annual ritual to will continue to push for the meet- Kazakhstan will host in 2019 the velopment of Green Technologies, free entry into Kazakhstan for up gen Schachler and Aurubis Senior brief the diplomatic corps on for- ing between global powers, such First World Congress of Turkologists, Astana Hub and other entities to to 30 days, including all member Vice President Christophe Koenig eign policy goals. “The main task as the United States, Russia, China the 12th Astana Economic Forum expand economic relations in the states of the OECD and the Eu- and the top management of logistics of (the government) is to enhance and European Union. He also re- and the Fourth Meeting of Speakers innovation and service sectors ropean Union. Kazakhstan also company BUSS Group; the world’s the welfare and quality of life of cit- minded the diplomatic corps of Ka- of Parliaments in Eurasia, he said. The country will also continue to launched Jan. 1 a pilot project to second largest transport company, izens, as it has been defined by the zakhstan’s nuclear non-proliferation The foreign minister also briefed codify its historical and cultural her- issue single entry visas electroni- Deutsche Bahn; and members of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and disarmament efforts and plans the gathering on Kazakhstan’s pri- itage through the Ruhani Janghyru cally. small and medium-sized German businesses.

Sarsen Amanzholov East Ka- zakhstan State University opened an Abai Kazakh Youth Centre in Norwegian seed vault preserves seeds the Polish city of Świecie. The cen- tre will facilitate cultural exchange, education programmes and interna- tional projects between Kazakhstan for global food security and diversity and Poland. The sides also expect the new facility will support aca- having made theirs, and he hopes to diversity. “As of today, there are de- demic mobility and dual education By Dilshat Zhussupova see deposits from Kazakhstan’s gene posits in the vault from Uzbekistan between Kazakh and Polish uni- banks in the future. comprising barley, sorghum, wheat versities. “It is symbolic that we are ASTANA – Svalbard is home to “The best way for citizens to en- and maize and from Tajikistan com- opening the new centre in the Year approximately 2,500 people and courage the conservation of genetic prising barley and wheat.” of Youth in Kazakhstan. I would one million types of seeds in the resources in their countries is by The idea behind every gene bank, like to note that Abai is a significant Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a se- urging governments to allocate re- that seed collection and a greater symbol of Kazakh culture and a ge- cure bank preserving copies of plant sources, by donating seeds of old understanding of crop diversity nius born and raised in our East Ka- seeds held in gene banks in Central varieties and landraces to national could prevent famines, was born zakhstan region. We embrace Abai’s Asia and worldwide. In an inter- gene banks who can then deposit in the Soviet Union. Raised dur- rich traditions in our university and view with The Astana Times, seed copies in the vault and, as consum- ing severe famines, Soviet scientist we organise big conferences, pub- vault coordinator Åsmund Asdal ers, by requesting food products Nikolay Vavilov dedicated his life lish monographs and scientific -ar explained why a vault on the side from a diversity of plants,” he said. to ending famine in Russia and the ticles about him. This means that of a mountain between Norway and At Svalbard, 1.64 million seeds world, a pursuit that resonates in our professors and students can tell the North Pole is the world’s most originate from Tajikistan, 1.13 mil- Kazakhstan given its 1930-1933 a lot about Abai and his poetry,” important insurance policy. lion from Kazakhstan, one million famine that claimed 1.5 million said Amanzholov University Dean Constructed in 2008, the seed from Uzbekistan, 345,024 from lives. On his visit to Kazakhstan, Mukhtar Tolegen. vault is managed under the Nor- showed the importance and useful- tries need food and are concerned Kyrgyzstan and 308,232 from he identified the wild apple Malus wegian government, Global Crop ness of the seed vault,” said Asdal about food supplies for their popu- Turkmenistan. Seed preservation, sieversii as the ancestor of all cul- Kazakh flagship air carrier Air Diversity Trust and Nordic Genetic on Svalbard’s first withdrawal. “The lations… No countries are self- however, is not a numbers game; tivated apples grown and eaten Astana will launch direct flights to Resource Centre. The hope is soci- fact that ICARDA had copies in the sufficient in genetic resources, so all instead, it is a diversity one. A 2009 worldwide and added its seed to St. New York and Shanghai, Kazakh ety will never have to use it, much vault made them able to restore governments understand that inter- conservationist report “The Red Petersburg’s Vavilov Institute Gene Minister of Industry and Infrastruc- like home insurance holders hope gene banks in Morocco and Leba- national cooperation is needed.” List of Trees of Central Asia” found Bank, one of the first in the world. ture Development Zhenis Kassym- to never use their policy. Lebanese non and to continue their important Still, Asdal finds the greatest threat that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ta- “Vavilov’s efforts and achieve- bek recently announced. The launch scientist Mahmoud Solh’s seed- work in plant breeding and research to all seed banks is a lack of funds, jikistan, Turkmenistan and Uz- ments have been crucial for the de- follows the instruction of Kazakh collecting journey throughout Cen- for improving food production.” followed closely by war and natural bekistan have more than 300 wild velopment of gene banking and for President Nursultan Nazarbayev to tral Asia, for example, developed The vault’s egalitarian design disasters. Many politicians in both fruit and nut trees, 44 of which are the conservation of plant genetic open direct route to the United States into Syria’s International Centre for and free-of-charge storage policy developing and developed countries critically endangered, threatened or resources around the world. He and Japan. “This year, the ministry Agricultural Research in Dry Areas has also created a unique world have yet to act on genetic resource vulnerable due to climate change, was the pioneer and we are proud and Air Astana will be working to (ICARDA) seed collection. Follow- peace zone where rival nations’ conservation and availability for timber felling, overgrazing, pests to have the seed vault as a facility launch flights to Japan, the United ing the 2011 Syrian civil war, some seeds sit beside one another. After plant breeding and future food pro- and diseases. following his ideas,” said Asdal. States and China and to other big of the seeds were stored in Svalbard all, food supply protection con- duction, he said. The team behind “Your region is extremely rich in To learn more about the vault, cities around the world,” said Kass- for safety until ICARDA was rees- cerns everyone. the vault has launched public aware- genetic resources and it is important one can visit www.seedvault.no ymbek. The accreditation procedure tablished elsewhere and requested “Conservation of plant genetic ness campaigns to convince govern- that these resources are conserved and explore its seed portal at www. that will allow the Kazakh airline to to withdraw its 90,000 seeds. resources is needed for future food ments and gene banks to make vault for the future,” said Asdal on Central nordgen.org/en/global-seed-vault/ fly to the United States has begun “The ICARDA case really production,” he noted. “All coun- deposits, with 76 depositor institutes Asia’s contribution to agricultural search-seed-vault. and the signing of the relevant inter- governmental aviation agreement is slated for March.

The Kazakh documentary “Her- itage of Ancestors” will compete Israel and Kazakhstan have close ties in education, within the programme of the Lon- don International Filmmaker Festi- val that will take place in the British capital Feb. 16 to Feb. 23 and which medicine, agriculture and technology, says envoy draws international emerging artists and experienced filmmakers. The “From the next academic year, in Kazakhstan. They apply for as- governmental institution for promot- Kazakh feature is nominated in two By Saltanat Boteu students from Kazakhstan will be sistance from the Israeli Embassy ing innovation,” noted Wexelman. categories, Best Short Documentary able to study in our leading univer- in Kazakhstan to find partners in the Innovation Authority of Israel and and Best Editing of a Short Docu- ASTANA – Israel and Kazakh- sities. This is an initiative of our country,” she added. Kazakhstan currently has a bilateral mentary. The documentary is a part stan have been developing close embassy. Recently, the president The two countries also cooperate agreement to cooperate in applied of a broader series of documentaries, ties in different spheres and on of the Bolashak Center of Inter- in medicine and healthcare. research. A company, young re- “Turkic Nations in Kazakhstan,” various levels, exchanging experi- national Programmes Zhanbolat “Doctors from Kazakhstan visit searcher or businessperson can de- that tells the story of Turkic groups ence and knowledge in education, Meldeshov was on a working tour Israel for training. Sometimes, velop a product with a Kazakh and/ living in Kazakhstan, exploring medicine, agriculture and technol- to leading Israeli universities and Kazakhstan invites Israeli doctors or Israeli partner and receive grants their traditions and culture. “Herit- ogy, said Israeli Ambassador Liat he signed the agreement of cooper- to hold trainings or to do compli- from both governments. age of Ancestors” depicts the life Wexelman in an interview with ation. This agreement enables stu- cated surgeries. Also, patients go For the last six years, the embassy of the Uzbek diaspora in Kazakh- The Astana Times. dents from Kazakhstan to study in to Israel for medical treatment and has had a common project with the stan through the lens of 47-year-old “We have very close relations Israel on the funding of the Kazakh surgeries,” she said. Aktobe regional akimat (administra- Abdimanop Zupparov, who lives in between Israel and Kazakhstan. It government,” said Wexelman. Innovation systems, known as tion) where residents have attended southern Kazakhstan and who has can be seen from the active work of Israeli Ambassador Liat Wexelman “Moreover, taking into consid- Big Data or Digitisation in Health- trainings on women’s entrepreneur- continued his grandfather’s tradition embassies in both Kazakhstan and eration the activities of our embas- care, have also been implemented ship, social activities and education of making the baby cradles known Israel that indicate the importance between heads of religions and sy, Israeli universities offered full in the healthcare system as part for children with special needs. The as besiks among locals. of the relations between the coun- confessions,” said Wexelman. “Re- scholarships from the Israeli side,” of the Digital Kazakhstan pro- embassy continued the training due tries,” Wexelman, who arrived to cently, two Chief Rabbis of Israel she added. gramme. the high level of interest and in Feb- Global Finance Magazine ranked Astana last autumn, noted. participated in the intercivilisation- Priority is also given to the coun- “We don’t use hard copies in our ruary, a group of regional entrepre- Kazakhstan 44th out of 128 coun- “Our Prime Minister, Benjamin al dialogue within the Congress of tries’ economic ties, especially relat- system; it’s all digitised. Private neurs participated in Tailor Made, tries in its recent World’s Safest Netanyahu, chose to make his first Leaders of World and Traditional ing to innovations. According to the and governmental hospitals as well a social entrepreneurship training Countries ranking, which took a visit to Central Asia to Kazakhstan in Religions, which is an initiative of 2019 Bloomberg Innovation Index, as pharmacies are connected to the held in Haifa, Israel. comprehensive view of safety for December 2016. From all the coun- President Nazarbayev.” Israel was ranked as the fifth most in- system. Prescriptions can be seen In March, the embassy is working each country. The methodology tries in the region, our Prime Min- Top Israeli universities cooperate novative country. It is known world- in the system at the pharmacies and to establish SportTech accelerator in incorporated three factors to evalu- ister came here. For us, Kazakhstan with universities in Kazakhstan. wide for cybersecurity, smart cities patients can get medication with- Almaty aimed at developing sports ate safety: war and peace, personal is the most important and valuable “The faculty of law of Tel Aviv and smart building technologies. out hard copies of prescriptions. technology solutions. The Med in Is- security and natural disaster risk. partner in this region,” she added. University has ties with the faculty “We specifically emphasise de- All medical examinations can be rael conference on digital healthcare Kazakhstan was ranked ahead Kazakhstan and Israel cooperate of law of Kazakh State Law Uni- velopment of innovative ecosystem accessed from mobile phones. Ap- will be held during the same frame. of Russia (108th), China (81st), in different areas and on different versity. Almaty Management Uni- and entrepreneurship. Israel is a pointments to a doctor can also be In May, the embassy will organ- Azerbaijan (71st), Armenia (62nd) stages including government, min- versity has ties with Hebrew Uni- start-up nation. These make up the done through the phone,” she said. ise a road show on water technolo- and its Central Asian neighbours istry, spiritual organisations, edu- versity, Tehnion University and Tel main part of our exports and it is the The embassy has numerous gies featuring Israeli companies. Kyrgyzstan (89th) and Tajikistan cational institutions and the busi- Aviv University. It is on the prov- subject of collaboration with Ka- plans for the future. “Many Israeli companies will (68th). European countries with de- ness community. osts’ and faculty levels,” she said. zakhstan as well,” noted Wexelman. “We are planning a study tour for come, because we want to take part veloped economies and healthcare “We cooperate on many levels Nazarbayev has proclaimed “Our Knesset (unicameral state leg- a delegation from Kazakhstan to ob- in developing water technologies systems topped the list. The United and fields including academia, 2019 the Year of Youth in Kazakh- islature) is called green Knesset, be- serve and adopt similar modus oper- in Kazakhstan,” said Wexelman. States ranked 65th, while Iceland, cultural exchange, political con- stan. In support of the celebration, cause it’s energy efficient.” andi in innovations as in Israel. For “Many Israeli companies have al- Finland and Switzerland made up sultation, economic and business the embassy is offering study op- “Many Israeli companies are in- example, in our country we estab- ready built drip irrigation and water- the top three. ties, intercivilisational dialogue portunities for young Kazakhs. terested in establishing businesses lished the Innovation Authority. It is a ing systems in South Kazakhstan.” A4 ECONOMY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019

ECONOMY Akmola region achieves Economy has stabilised, says Deputy NEWS IN BRIEF The tax burden for Kazakhs earn- ing less than 63,100 tenge (US$167) a month has been reduced by 90 per- positive results in PM in 2018 year-end summary cent as of this January. According to sulted from good work by the gov- nies must appoint specific depu- the Statistics Committee, every fifth citizen falls into the category. The By Malika Orazgaliyeva ernment, the National Bank and re- ties personally responsible for the gional akims. investment work. Therefore, [First highest share of low wages earners industry, exports; puts ASTANA – The Kazakh econo- “The newly appointed Minister of Deputy Prime Minister Askar] exists in the education and industry my has reached the point of stabil- Foreign Affairs Beibut Atamkulov Mamin, Atamkulov and [Minister of sectors and reaches 37.2 percent and ity, Deputy Prime Minister Yerbolat was given the authority to synchronise Industry and Infrastructure Develop- 23.1 percent, respectively. Tax rev- Dossayev said Jan. 31 during an ex- the work of all levels, beginning from ment Zhenis] Kassymbek, you need enues to the state budget increased social sector in focus tended government meeting in which the Kazakh representations abroad to to create a good interaction in order by 15.8 percent over a year and to- government officials reported 2018 local administrations (akimats). This to hold a planned and coordinated talled 7.9 trillion tenge (US$20.91 performance outcomes to Kazakh is a common task of the entire govern- work,” Nazarbayev said. billion). The value added tax consti- President Nursultan Nazarbayev. ment,” the President said. Other government officials report- tuted 37.1 percent – 2 trillion tenge “GDP [gross domestic product] Nazarbayev also said large com- ing on 2018 outcomes at the meeting or US$5.29 billion – of all tax rev- grew four percent, and 70 percent of panies from Japan, the United States included Prime Minister Bakytzhan enues. growth was provided by the manu- and Germany sometimes leave Ka- Sagintayev, Chairman of the National  facturing sectors. The assets of the zakhstan because the country lacks Bank Daniyar Akishev, Kassymbek, Kazakhstan’s domestic copper National Fund at the beginning of government systems to support those Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ore production volumes reached a 2019 amounted to $61.6 billion. The companies. He urged all branches of of Agriculture Umirzak Shukeyev, record high of 103.2 million tonnes, unemployment rate is at a safe level government to work together to re- Akim (Governor) of the Zhambyl an 8.2 percent increase compared to of 4.9 percent,” Dossayev reported. tain foreign investment. Region Askar Myrzakhmetov and 2017. The key event in the industry Nazarbayev noted the positive “Each branch ministry, local ad- Akim (Governor) of the West-Ka- was the incorporation of BlackRock 2018 outcomes and said they re- ministrations and national compa- zakhstan Region Altai Kulginov. Inc, the world’s largest hedge fund, into KAZ Minerals’ shareholders, reports finprom.kz. At the end of The government allocated 28.7 2018, the assets managed by the By Zhanna Shayakhmetova billion tenge (US$74 million), in- hedge fund amounted to $6 trillion. cluding 9.9 billion tenge (US$25 Copper concentrates production ASTANA – The Akmola region million) for crop production and 6.4 Kazakhstan ratifies Caspian increased by 15.7 percent over a received a positive assessment at billion tenge (US$16 million) each year to 12.9 million tonnes. Copper- the Feb. 2 government meeting for for animal husbandry and increas- zinc ore mining totalled 4.8 million industrial growth and the amount of ing animal product productivity tonnes, which is 4.2 percent less housing commissioned as part of the and quality. Beef exports were 712 Sea convention than in the same period last year. 7-20-25 programme. tonnes with an annual plan of 500 Each state shall exercise sover- use, navigation, fishing, marine re- The trading volume on the Ka- Regional Akim (Governor) Malik tonnes. Staff Report search, safety cooperation, rational eign rights to subsoil use within the Murzalin set the goal of increasing Agricultural labour productiv- zakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) use of biological resources and pro- boundaries of its seabed sector of the decreased by 15.6 percent to 127.8 target indicators in the agriculture, ity increased 13.1 percent in nine ASTANA – Kazakh President tecting the marine environment, said Caspian Sea. entrepreneurship and social sectors. months of 2018. trillion tenge (US$338.25 billion) in Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Minister of Foreign Affairs Beibut It is also possible to lay trunk sub- 2018, the most significant decline “The Ministry of Agriculture noted Industrial production was 645.6 law “On the Ratification of the Con- Atamkulov as he presented the bill. marine pipelines and cables on the the projects on agricultural process- billion tenge (US$1.6 billion). Man- since the KASE’s launch. The in- vention on the Legal Status of the Resolving any issues relating to bed of the Caspian Sea, on the con- ing at the Makinski poultry farm and ufacturing investments grew to 44.6 fluence of the stock market in the Caspian Sea” Feb. 8, establishing the Caspian Sea is within the exclu- dition that the projects comply with digitisation of land at the Barayev In- billion tenge (US$116 million) or economy decreased from 32.2 per- the principles for peaceful use of the sive purview of the Caspian states. environmental requirements. An stitute. Last year, the area of irrigated 135.1 percent over the correspond- cent to 29.2 percent. The maximum body. “The presence in the Caspian of important condition is also the need land was 65,000 hectares, 18,000 of ing period of 2017. Processing in- trading volume in 2018 was record- “I would like to congratulate all ships under the flags of states not be- to coordinate the route for pipelines which is the share of our region. We dustry exports reached $83.8 million ed in January (12.4 trillion tenge or longing to the Caspian five, as well only with the party whose sector will need to increase the area of oilseeds with an increase of 25.1 percent in of you on the signing of the Con- US$32.82 billion), the minimum host the pipeline. taking into account economic profits eight months of 2018. vention. Today, my counterparts as armed forces not belonging to the in December (9.5 trillion tenge or and climatic conditions,” he said. Thirty projects with an investment and I summarised the work on the Caspian states, is not allowed,” he The presidents of the Caspian US$25.14 billion). The capitalisa- The region, in cooperation with of 132.7 billion tenge (US$346 mil- Caspian Sea. We also have signed noted. states signed the convention on the tion of the stock market decreased the Atameken National Chamber lion) were implemented in 2015- a series of agreements,” the Kazakh According to the convention, the sea’s legal status at the Aug. 12 sum- by 10.5 percent to 15.5 trillion tenge of Entrepreneurs, will devise a plan 2017. Four projects for 52.3 bil- President told his counterparts dur- water surface will be delimited into mit in Aktau. (US$41.02 billion) and its share of to develop small and medium-sized lion tenge (US$136 million) were ing the signing of the document in a zone of 15 miles of territorial wa- “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gross domestic product (GDP) is businesses and provide new jobs. launched and 1,146 jobs created Aktau last August. ters of each of the five states as well held negotiations for 20 years and now 29.2 percent, compared to 32.2 Improving the quality of life and as part of the industrialisation pro- The Convention reflects all the as 10 nautical miles of fishing zones. finally, five states came to a positive percent in 2017. The money market constructing local roads are also nec- gramme. legal aspects of the Caspian littoral The rest of the surface will be in decision. Therefore, it can be said decreased by 19.3 percent a year, but essary. Thirteen projects were implement- states’ relations in the Caspian Sea. common use. with confidence that the signing of still constituted 85.7 percent share. Akmola showed a positive trend ed for 26 billion tenge (US$67 mil- The provisions of the United Na- Each party has the exclusive right the convention is a historic event,” The reason for the money market’s in all key economic areas last year. lion) to ensure domestic food supply tions Convention on the Law of the to fish for aquatic biological resourc- said Kazakh Senate Chair Kassym- decrease was a 45.6 percent drop in The average monthly nominal wage for the capital. Sea of 1982 and the principles ap- es in its fishing zone in accordance Jomart Tokayev when the conven- trading volume on currency swap increased 8.8 percent in the third Last year, 12,727 jobs including plied to transboundary lakes are not with the convention based on sepa- tion was presented for ratification in transactions, down to 33.7 trillion quarter compared to the same period 8,035 permanent positions were cre- applicable to it. The sea will have rate agreements between the parties the Senate on Jan. 31. tenge (US$89.19 billion). in 2017, according to the regional ated in the region. Approximately its own legal status. The states will and their own national legislations. To ensure effective implementa- press service. Approximately 102.2 3,000 people were engaged in public delineate the seabed into sectors as Each party also has the exclu- tion of the Convention, the states The securities market showed billion tenge (US$266 million) was works and social benefits were pro- in a sea principle. The sovereignty sive right to regulate, authorise and established a special mechanism of a positive trend for 2018. Trading allocated to the social sector. vided for 15,288 low-income citi- rights to the water columns will be conduct scientific marine research regular five-party consultations - volumes grew 41.2 percent over Developing industry and agricul- zens. regarded as in a lake principle. in its territorial waters. Ships with High-Level Working Group on the the year, totalling 4.9 trillion tenge ture is a priority. Akmola is one of More than 2,000 people took part The main provisions are the ba- the parties’ flags may conduct re- Caspian Sea at the level of deputy (US$12.97 billion). Its proportion the country’s main grain-growing in trainings and 923 microloans sic principles of relations of coastal search within the territorial waters foreign ministers/plenipotentiaries of the total trading volume remained regions and agricultural production worth 3.7 billion tenge (US$9 mil- states at sea, delimitation of national of another party only with its written of the coastal states. The Group will at 3.8 percent. The corporate bonds increased 0.8 percent to 397 billion lion) were issued as part of the mass zones, jurisdiction and sovereignty, permission and under its established hold its first meeting this month in sector concentrated 1.8 percent (2.3 tenge (US$1 billion). entrepreneurship initiative. procedure for implementing subsoil conditions. Baku, Azerbaijan. trillion tenge or US$6.09 billion) of the total trading volume, the sector of shares 0.4 percent (539.8 billion tenge or US$1.43 billion). The number of shares listed on the KASE and the number of their is- Kostanai region economy grows, suers increased to a record-setting 130 and 113, respectively. Twenty new issuers passed the listing, of expands export geography which 13 were in the equity sector, six in the corporate bond sector and creased 8.3 percent compared with tonnes, a workshop for animal fixed assets were 31.6 billion tenge jects worth more than 100 billion one in the central bank of exchange- By Zhanna Shayakhmetova 2017 and construction increased feed with a capacity of one million (US$82 million) with an increase tenge (US$262 million) are under traded funds. Among the liquid 22.3 percent. More than 300,000 tonnes per year and a workshop of 38.6 percent. Seven investment consideration. shares, KEGOC national transmis- ASTANA – The Kostanai re- square metres of housing were for gluten and the processing of oil projects worth 25.2 billion tenge The region leads in production sion grid operator and KazTransOil gion’s economy continues to grow, commissioned. crops,” he said. (US$66 million) were launched of flour, vegetable oil, dairy prod- national company had the largest reported Kostanai Region Akim “We are working with 11 pro- According to the regional and 700 workplaces were created ucts and confectionery. trading volumes of 9.4 billion tenge (Governor) Arkhimed Mukhambe- jects at the industrial zone. The press service, 245.3 billion tenge in 2018. The machine construction to- (US$24.88 million) and 9.3 trillion tov during his Jan. 29 meeting with largest project is related to the cre- (US$644 million) was invested Also, the region launched pro- talled 113.4 billion tenge (US$297 tenge (US$24.61 billion), respec- President Nursultan Nazarbayev at ation of the agricultural hub that in the region in 2018, which is 43 jects related to agricultural ma- million) and increased 13 percent. tively. Akorda. includes a workshop producing billion tenge (US$112) more than chinery production, building The AgromashHolding enterprise The manufacturing industry in- flour with a capacity of 600,000 in 2017. External investments in material production and the meat- assembled more than 4,000 grain Domestic funds are interested in processing facility in Arkalyk and combines since 2005. Some 240 Kazakhstan’s transition to a green measures to support small and me- combines were produced last year. economy. The Akmola region is dium-sized enterprises. The local enterprises produced building a wind farm worth more The average monthly nominal more than 12,000 cars. Forty-six than $130 million. The preliminary salary for the third quarter of last cars were produced as part of the results of 2018 shows that invest- year increased 8.5 percent and Made in Kazakhstan initiative. ments in environmental protection 98.5 billion tenge (US$258 mil- Export is one of the priority tasks increased 2.5 times year on year lion) was allocated to the social of foreign economic and trade ac- and amounted to 80.2 billion tenge sector. tivities of the region. The region (US$22.3 million). This is a record The gross regional product with exports to 75 countries. value in Kazakhstan’s history of in- a growth of 10.3 percent is 1.3 bil- The turnover of the region was vestment in this area. The competi- lion tenge (US$3.4 million). more than $2,670.3 million with an tiveness of green technologies in As one of the largest mining re- increase of 45.5 percent in January the national economy is increasing. gions of Kazakhstan, the regional – November. Exports totalled $1.5 There are 65 renewable energy fa- enterprises produce 100 percent of billion and imports $1.15 billion. cilities, including 12 wind, 19 solar, the iron ore pellets and more than Iron ore products are exported 33 hydroelectric power plants and 60 percent of iron ore. to China and Russia. Cars are ex- one biogas plant. The three lead- More than 700 industrial enter- ported to Kyrgyzstan, Russia and ing regions are Akmola (25.7 bil- prises with 43,000 employees op- Tajikistan. Confectionery products lion tenge or US$68.02 million), erate in the region. go to China, Germany, Mongolia Zhambyl (12.7 billion tenge or The enterprises implemented six and the Commonwealth of Inde- US$33.61 million) and Atyrau (9.1 projects worth more than 800 mil- pendent States (CIS). Dairy prod- billion tenge or US$24.08 million). lion tenge (US$2 million) in 2017- ucts are exported to Russia, flour Kazyna Capital Management holds 2018. The expected production and pasta to Afghanistan, Iran and a 23.55 percent share in the author- volume will be 165 million tenge the CIS. Last year, the region start- ised capital of the project and is in- (US$433,290) per year at the Ko- ed to export copper concentrate to volved in the construction of wind stanai Minerals company. Ten pro- China. power stations. A5 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019

BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF Alstom strengthens its positions in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is the world’s larg- est flax producer with domestic producers collecting a record har- vest of 700,000 tonnes this year, focuses on localising technology in Kazakhstan reports Abctv.kz. It surpassed we already work with several to be part of the development of bouring countries like Georgia, flax export leader Canada with its By Zhanna Shayakhmetova Kazakh partners to develop the the new Silk Road. The first step Ukraine, Iraq and Uzbekistan,” he harvests in Northern Kazakhstan activity. That is one of the main was to have an industrial base, said. and the Akmola and Kostanai re- ASTANA – Alstom, the French challenges that will come in the based in Kazakhstan, in Central Alstom has more than 600 em- gions. Zernovye & Maslichnye multinational rail transport com- next two or three years – how Asia and assemble locomotives for ployees in Kazakhstan with two Research Bureau Head Viktor to develop the local industrial the country. The second step was to joint ventures and two facilities Arslanov noted flax production pany, started delivering Kazakh- competencies to be part of the supply locomotives to Azerbaijan. including the EKZ plant for loco- is not subsidised by the state. produced Prima T8 electric game,” he added. With the support of our customers motive manufacturing and main- According to Kazakh First Vice locomotives to Azerbaijan in Naudy emphasised customer in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, the tenance in the capital and a point Minister of Agriculture Arman late December. Capital-based satisfaction is essential. next steps will be to provide trans- machine manufacturing plant in Yevniyev, 22.8 million tonnes of Electric Locomotives Assembly “Alstom has an ambitious goal portation solutions to other neigh- Almaty. different types of grain were also Factory (EKZ) plans to produce harvested this year. A total of 11.7 40 freight locomotives for the million tonnes were exported, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars regional rail- which is 32.4 percent more than way link operated by Azerbaijan Railways. Alstom General Director for the EKZ in 2017. factory Julien Naudy. Launched in 2012, the EKZ Five-hundred-and-twenty-sev- plant is the result of a strategic partnership among Kazakhstan at full capacity. The plant is one en family-owned dairy farms and of the main economic drivers and Temir Zholy (KTZ), Alstom and 139 industrial ones will open in a hub for producing and exporting Transmashholding, the Russian Kazakhstan by 2027, said First locomotives to the region. engineering and train manufactur- Vice Minister of Agriculture Ar- “The start of this new produc- er, Julien Naudy, Alstom General man Yevniyev. In this way, milk tion line demonstrates our solid production is set to increase over Director for the EKZ factory said and long-term partnership with 10 years by one million tonnes. in an interview for this story. The Kazakhstan. We are proud to In 2018, 25 dairy farms were plant is located on 8.7 hectares in contribute to Kazakhstan’s ma- opened, seven of which were the Astana Industrial Park. chinery-building industry through industrial and 18 were family- Alstom’s projects include sup- localisation of technology and pro- owned. Overall, the volume of plying 295 locomotives to KTZ duction, creation of new working milk production was 1.5 million – 200 freight and 95 passenger. It places and training for local per- tonnes, which is 7.6 percent more is also providing 40 freight and 10 sonnel,” he said. than in 2017. passenger locomotives to Azerbai- EKZ plans to reach 50 percent of jan. local content by the end of 2025. Kazakh businesses will receive “The main objective of the com- “There are two ways to local- Damu Entrepreneurship Devel- pany is to execute the contract that ise production. The first way is opment Fund subsidies of 30 bil- we have. The first priority of our to work with Kazakh industrial lion tenge (US$79.26 million) activity is to provide good quality partners and the second way is for credit mechanism implemen- products in due time for our cus- to develop in-house activities. tation under the Business Road- tomers,” said Naudy. In this way, we inaugurated our map 2020 state programme. Sub- Last year, Alstom launched ad- own workshop to assemble the sidies will be allocated toward ditional production of on-board on-board transformers last year. businesses in manufacturing and transformers for electric locomo- It is a new activity in Kazakh- agricultural product processing. tives at the EKZ plant. The pro- stan, because it is a high-techno- Conditions are that the nominal duction capacity of the line is ex- logical product. We are proud to interest rate on borrowers’ loans pected to be 300 transformers per bring this technology to Kazakh- is up to 15 percent per annum, the year, with 100 employees working stan. As for industrial partners, subsidy size is seven percent of the nominal interest rate and the subsidy term is up to seven years. Damu Fund Board Chairman Abai Sarkulov noted that afford- able lending terms will contribute Almaty aquarists create Producing block containers to the development of entrepre- neurship in the priority sectors of the economy. Damu Fund is a financial agent implementing professional-grade is complicated, but and monitoring financial support to small and medium-sized enter- prises and providing guarantees to banks on entrepreneurs’ loans underwater worlds worthwhile business as part of Business Roadmap 2020. By Yerbolat Uatkhanov By Yerbolat Uatkhanov With February temperatures ASTANA – The market for ASTANA – Kazkont produces down at -40 degrees Celsius, professional aquarists is ex- mobile homes primarily for field Astana Taxi and Astana Akimat panding in Almaty, as their ser- workers and oil and gas and con- (city administration) conducted struction companies. Considering the Feb. 7 campaign Warm Trip vices are in great demand. The experts not only preserve life in Kazakhstan’s vast territory and se- in the capital, reports the city vere climate, such products are in akimat. Astana Taxi cars made aquariums, but help those who enjoy the underwater worlds. great demand. rounds along bus routes to pro- Kazkont founder Raimbek Sa- vide free-of-charge transport to Large pet stores also hire such specialists. gadinov decided to start producing

city residents in the cold weath- kapital.kz. Photo creidt: “This is a very serious profes- modular homes after working with er. Commuters were also able Alexander Stroganov them for a number of years. On to get rides after 10 p.m., when sion. It’s a pity that universities average, the 10-year-old company kapital.kz. Photo creidt: buses cease to operate. Fur- do not teach such specialists. of the client. Sometimes the soil manufactures 360 homes each year Raimbek Sagadinov ther good deeds carried out by The aquarium at home or in an which makes the water is hard and is planning to automate pro- Astana businesses and residents office is a part of nature and it or soft. It is a nourishing soil for duction. The company uses block con- pacity is not so great. Our main during the city’s severe cold needs to be properly organised living plants,” said Stroganov. “There was no money and no tainers, structures popular as of- customers are different companies. may be found on social media – water flow, good filtration, “If a client wants to plant machine tools for the production, fices, showers, toilets and even Every month we produce approxi- hashtags #ЖақсылықЖаса and right balance of bacteria and mi- more exotic plants in an aquari- mately 50 homes and sell approxi- #ДелайДобро. croflora. You cannot even pour too. At first, we got 70 percent pre- homes. water into an aquarium from a um, then another system of care payment and bought materials and “We often have orders for modu- mately 30. In general, we sell ap- is needed there – you need to First Heartland Securities (FHS), tap. The fish need not only feed, we got the remaining 30 percent lar homes for shift workers in the proximately 360 homes per year,” supply carbon dioxide and add an investment division of the finan- but also treatment, adaptation after a modular home was ready. Atyrau and Mangystau regions. he noted. nutrients and micro and macro cial holding company under the after transportation and many I made my very first home with a In addition, they can be used as Sagadinov has competitors, but group of autonomous education other things,” said professional elements every day. The more friend at a country house,” he said. commercial premises or temporary doesn’t pay attention to them. organisations Nazarbayev Univer- aquarist Alexander Stroganov, exotic plants and fish, the harder “As demand began to grow, I structures. People also like to use “I believe if there is competi- sity (NU), Nazarbayev Intellec- reported Kapital.kz. it is to care for them,” he noted. realised that I needed a separate them as small houses where a land tion, then the market becomes tual Schools (NIS) and Nazarbayev He noted Kazakh aquarists are Fish are not the only aquarium workshop with an adjacent terri- lot is small and they don’t want more alive and production grows. Fund, acquired Tsesnabank under self-taught amateurs who are inhabitants, as some also accom- tory. We rented a building and this to construct a house. Of course, a I think that every product has a an agreement between the Kazakh interested in the business. They modate snails. was our first large workshop. Our modular home can’t be compared consumer,” he said. government, the Kazakh National are usually trained by more ex- “Among them there are useful company developed gradually and with a real house, but its advantage “Kazakhstan is a large country Bank and FHS, reports NU. Ac- perienced aquarists, then use the types; now, in our market there in five years we were able to pur- is that it can be quickly transported and a significant part of the costs cording to the university press Internet and textbooks. is a useful snail eating algae chase a land plot where our work- and you can live in it,” said Saga- is spent on logistics. Disassembled service, Tsesnabank will continue “There is a widespread belief that appear on plants. Plants in shop was built and we purchased dinov. mobile homes’ transportation al- its efforts in developing services that fish have a memory of only the aquarium and algae are not the necessary equipment,” he add- “The demand for products is lows transporting eight modules, and products to meet the financial three seconds, but you can’t say the same thing. Algae attack the ed, reported Kapital.kz. high, although our production ca- rather than three as it was before, needs of Kazakh citizens and small this about all of them. Many fish plants and appear in the form of and you can collect them on the plaque on the leaves and trunks,” and medium-sized businesses. Its understand you very well. For site. We produce different sizes – said Stroganov. activities will be instrumental in example, some species of fish six, eight, nine and 12-metre mod- Owners may spend as little implementing economic diversi- recognise their owner – they ular homes, depending on custom- know who feeds them,” he noted. as 30,000 tenge (US$79) for fication initiatives and promoting ers’ needs,” he added. “If a stranger enters the room, a good aquarium. The invest- sustainable economic development. Sagadinov recently trained in The acquirement of Tsesnabank they will not show any emotion. ment provides the client with an Germany, where he learned ways will enhance opportunities in fi- But if they see the owner, they aquarium made in Germany with to standardise production. nancing educational and scientific immediately begin to indulge – very good glass and a cleaner. programmes and improving the they swim up, play, will attract Stroganov then adds pebbles, a “It is unprofitable when each general financial conditions of the his attention and play with him,” beautiful plant, fish and nutri- client dictates [his or her] own group of autonomous education he added. tious food. needs. We continue to stand on organisations. A new institutional Many companies are interest- “My most expensive aquar- our own, offering standardised di- model that fosters collaboration in ed in the services of professional ium cost one million tenge mensions. I understand that with education, research and business aquarists. (US$2,630). It was large with the new approach I have lost some will now emerge because the group “I create a design. I choose the expensive gregarious fish and clients, but this will help the pro- has acquired a powerful tool to pur- colour of the soil – dark or light. the aravana (an Asian fish, very duction to reach a new level and sue its human-capacity building Fish can live in an empty aquar- much appreciated in China),” he hone workers in a certain skill,” and social development mandates. ium, so we start from the tastes noted. he said. A6 EDITORIAL&OPINION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Year of Youth Almaty region, bordering China, eyes harnesses one of expanding industry, trade and tourism Continued from Page A1 tourism departments of Chengdu naya Skazka-Aport-Aktas ski resort and Xi’an (China) and the Minis- in Talgar district and plan to invest An Alacem cement plant with a try of Economic Development of 16.5 billion tenge (US$4.3 million); Kazakhstan’s most Novossibirsk Region of the Russian capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per the number of visitors is 724,000 year is being launched in May; it Federation. people. will export its products to China, Information tours are conducted Thus, thanks to the work done Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. for foreign and domestic tour opera- in 2018, the tourist flow to Almaty valuable assets As a result of the measures taken, tors along the most attractive routes oblast grew by 22.2 percent and azakhstan, as we are all aware, has been blessed with an in 2018 non-primary exports grew and new facilities to increase the amounted to almost two million abundance of natural resources under our soil and seas. The by 15 percent ($298.3 million). tourist flow through direct sales. In tourists. growth of our economy and the transformation of living Agribusiness shows qualitative 2018, five information tours were standards since independence have been built on the har- progress. Thus, 440,000 tonnes of held, including for international Could you tell us about the meas- nessingK of our oil and gas reserves and other natural resources as well, sugar beets have been harvested out Amandyk Batalov exhibitors of the Kazakhstan In- ures being taken to improve the of course, as the hard work and good sense of our citizens and strong, of 11,200 hectares of the crop. Two Kaskelen and for 100 children in ternational Tourism Fair (KITF) transport system in Almaty oblast? stable leadership. plants in the Aksu and Koksu dis- the village of Kyrgauyldy of Kara- exhibition and as part of the open- State infrastructure development But while these industries will continue to be very important to our tricts have produced 42,000 tonnes sai district, which increased the ing of the tourist season at Lake programmes are of great help in im- future, Kazakhstan has already recognised that they can’t carry our of their own white sugar. coverage of children with preschool Alakol. We are working with the in- proving the oblast’s transport sys- country to the next stage of development and prosperity. This will only There are plans to modernise the education in the oblast. Overall, we ternational Internet platforms Profi. tem. As part of the Nurly Zhol pro- be achieved, as President Nursultan Nazarbayev has said, through the Alakol and Karabulak sugar fac- managed to bring the availability of Travel and TripAdvisor. The output gramme, we built roads in the oblast talents and drive of our country’s young people. tories and relevant talks were held kindergartens up to 98 percent by of this work will be a micro web- meeting world standards. They in- Here, too, Kazakhstan has been fortunate. While many countries with investors. Moreover, building the end of the year. site presenting the accommodation clude the section of the Western Eu- are seeing their populations stagnate or even shrink, our demographic of a new factory in Kapshagai is be- As for healthcare, we opened a sites and tourist facilities of Almaty rope-Western China (304 km) and trends are much more positive. We are a young country not just in the ing negotiated together with Atame- modern medical laboratory in Kara- oblast. the Almaty-Taldykorgan road (260 years as a modern independent nation but also in the make-up of our ken National Chamber of Entrepre- sai district that conducts labora- The well-known television and km). The total length of the roads in tory research of biomaterials in the radio broadcasting company BBC population. neurs. Almaty oblast is 6,138.6 km. Up to Thanks to the introduction of shortest possible time and runs tests filmed two beautiful videos about 30 billion tenge (US$78.5 million) Around four out of ten Kazakhs are now under 24. Well over 25 advanced technology in corn pro- using modern high-tech equipment. the nature and tourist destinations is allocated annually for the con- percent are millennials, born this century. It is an advantage many other duction, a record crop of 532,000 A complex of medical information of Almaty oblast and they were struction and repair of local roads. countries which are facing the financial and social pressures that an tonnes has been harvested for the systems was introduced in 12 medi- seen by a huge number of viewers As of Jan. 1, 78.1 percent of oblast ageing and shrinking population last 27 years. Thus, farmers of Pan- cal institutions of Almaty oblast, around the world. autoroads are in good or satisfac- As these talented can bring look at with envy. filov district, who use drip irrigation, which helps to quickly and accu- Tourism monitoring data show a tory condition and by the end of What, of course, makes this receive up to 120 centners from one rately diagnose and treat patients. steady increase. Thus, in 2018 com- this year, this figure will reach 78.5 young people enter demographic dividend more ben- hectare, which is two times more Furthermore, the computed tomog- pared with 2017, the tourist flow percent. eficial is that young Kazakhs are than the average yield in the oblast. raphy department of Alakol Central grew by 22.2 percent and amount- As I have already said, a devel- the labour market far better educated and prepared The oblast started to develop a Regional Hospital is equipped with ed to 1.9 million people. Services oped transport infrastructure is one in ever increasing than any previous generation for new direction – industrial potato a computer tomograph and an ef- rendered increased by 54.9 percent of the mandatory criteria for the the opportunities and challenges growing. Kegen and Raiymbek dis- fective diagnostic process has been and amounted to 12.9 billion tenge successful development of tourism. numbers, they should ahead. Over one in three of our tricts sowed 100 hectares with elite organised. (US$33.7 million). The oblast has Thus, the Taldykorgan-Usharal- young people have gone through potato varieties, received 300 cent- With regards to social protec- 729 accommodation sites, an in- Taldykorgan air route is subsidised; provide the engine higher education. ners from one hectare (with an aver- tion, a daycare centre was built in crease from last year’s level by 7.2 for this purpose, we allocated 46.2 needed to drive our As these talented young people age across the oblast standing at 187 Talgar district for 25 children with percent with 9,607 rooms, and the million tenge (US$120,869) in enter the labour market in ever centners per hectares), created two disabilities providing specialised one-time capacity is 25,929 beds. 2018 and will allocate 107.8 million economy and country increasing numbers, they should service and storage facilities and social assistance in a semi-hospital Lake Alakol is the gem of Zhe- tenge (US$282,028) in 2019 from provide the engine needed to purchased 21 units of equipment. setting for children under 18 with tysu. In order to implement the in- the budget of the oblast. Flights op- to the next level. drive our economy and country Overall, we plan to increase the disabilities. structions of the head of state given erate three times a week; last year, to the next level. If we are to gross harvest of potatoes from As for sports, two sports centres during his working visit to Almaty they operated from July-October. achieve the over-arching ambition of Kazakhstan joining the ranks of 722,000 to 800,000 tonnes, which were leased in Tekeli, which will oblast on May 9, we are developing The aircraft is Yak-40; the airline the world’s top 30 developed nations by 2050, we need them to provide will ensure stock for a soon-to- facilitate the promotion of popular tourism and all the necessary adja- is Airline Zhetysu. This year, we the skills, make the breakthroughs and build the pioneering companies. be-launched Farm Frites potato sports in the city by increasing the cent infrastructure. plan to increase the frequency from number of people involved. three-six months. Currently, the Their critical importance to Kazakhstan’s future is one of the rea- plant with a production capacity of In 2018, an investment of 2.5 bil- 70,000 tonnes per year. This year, we are working on lion tenge (US$6.5 million) allowed Usharal Airport cannot receive large sons why 2019 has been declared the Year of Youth. It is a chance to In livestock breeding, beef pro- 26 PPP projects totalling 78.1 bil- us to commission 33 facilities on the aircraft, which limits the flow of celebrate and showcase – as President Nazarbayev did last month in duction grew by 9 percent; we ex- lion tenge (US$204.3 million), in- lake shore and create 216 new jobs. tourists. In this regard, for the repair Astana – the already major contribution to our economy and national ported one million tonnes of meat. cluding four in education, five in The construction of a multifunction- work and to increase the capacity of life of our younger generation. By drawing attention to these achieve- We have 97 feedlots for the devel- health, seven in energy and utili- al five-star, 400-bed Koktem Grand the runway of the airport so it could ments over the next 12 months, we will encourage more young people opment of export potential; the con- ties, four in sports, agriculture, in- Resort has been completed. Its in- receive aircraft such as Airbus, IL- to follow their lead whether in business, science, the arts or in adminis- struction of five meatpacking plants dustry, tourism and culture and one vestor is Falcon Petroleum LLC; the 76 and Boeing, we allocated funds tration. with a total capacity of 91,000 in transport and security. hotel resort is officially open. from the oblast budget to develop, But the Year of Youth is not, as President Nazarbayev has made clear, tonnes is underway. Other projects include a school The seasonal railway service design and estimate documentation. just a celebration. It is also intended to focus on where improvements Thanks to the automated produc- for 1,200 students in the village of Zhetygen-Dostyk-Zhetygen (Al- Construction and installation work are needed in policy and attitudes to ensure we make the most of the tion of large milk plants and the Aitei of Karasai dsitrict, operation maty 1-RZD 13 (Akshi)-Dostyk) is scheduled for the beginning of the demographic trends. It is a recognition that there remain barriers which creation of 70 family dairy farms, of a positron emission tomography has been subsidised since 2015. second quarter of this year. prevent too many of our young people from making the most of their milk production in farms increased centre in the village of Otegen Batyr We allocated 36.8 million tenge Following an official instruc- potential. by 21 percent and the workload of of Ili district, an outpatient clinic for (US$96,276) from the local budg- tion of the Minister for Investment Youth unemployment may have fallen but still remains too high. With milk plants reached 89 percent. By 250 people in the village of Uzyna- et in 2015, 65.6 million tenge and Development of the Republic an estimated 250,000 young people expected to join the labour market 2021, due to the creation of family- gash of Zhambyl district, a cultural (US$171,623) in 2016, 85 million of Kazakhstan on the development every year, this could be a recipe for frustration and anger unless action based dairy farms, there are plans centre in Kapshagai, an indoor track tenge (US$222,378) in 2017 and of regional aviation of Dec. 13, is taken. The investment and priority given to education has pushed up to ensure a full load of milk plants facility and a swimming pool in 85 million tenge (US$222,378) in 2017, Zhetysu Airline was named standards but there is more to do. We see, too, gaps in the provision in with high-quality milk. Taldykorgan, fitness and health cen- 2018. In 2018, we subsidised air the main operator for the purchase youth services. As a result of the measures taken, tres in Kapshagai, Shamalan village flights amounting to 579 million of aircraft for regional airlines. To These are all areas where action has been signalled over the next last year agribusiness raised 82 bil- and in Raiymbek rural area of Kara- tenge (US$1.5 million) in the fol- this end, as part of the Nurly Zhol 12 months. In particular, measures and additional funds are to be put lion tenge (US$214.5 million) of in- sai district and a 110/10 kV substa- lowing directions: Astana-Usharal- state infrastructural development in place to extend educational opportunities particularly in rural areas vestments with a growth of 22 per- tion in Karasai district. Astana, Almaty-Usharal-Almaty, programme, the akimat of the oblast PPP projects help to unburden the and to provide more financial support for young people to continue in cent, labour productivity increased Taldykorgan-Usharal-Taldykorgan together with BRK-Leasing pur- by 10 percent and exports of pro- budget and build socially important and Taldykorgan-Astana-Taldykor- chased two Czech-made L-410 air- college. cessed agricultural products by 28 facilities, modernise infrastructure gan. In 2018, we completed the craft. One of the aircraft has sanitary More help will be provided for young people to set up their own percent. and create jobs thanks to private in- construction of the railway station equipment that will allow rendering businesses and learn skills through new and extended programmes. We pay great attention to the vestment. Generally speaking, this in Akshi village. qualified medical assistance to the Young people in Kazakhstan, as they do in many other countries, have development of entrepreneurship. mechanism gives a tangible positive The work carried out in 2018 population outside the oblast centre. also drawn attention to the lack of affordable homes. The announce- Today, small and medium-sized effect. showed that the tourist flow to Lake Indeed, the fact that the Nurly ment that 1,000 new apartments are to be built every year to meet this enterprises employ one in four resi- Alakol grew by 35.4 percent com- Zher and Nurly Zhol state pro- need is a step in the right direction to help young people move to where dents of the oblast. They produce What is being done to attract pared with 2017 and amounted to grammes are extended until 2025 the opportunities are. almost a third of the gross regional tourists? How many tourists visited over one million people. We ren- will help us to increase the percent- It is a comprehensive package aimed at ensuring all our young people product and tax revenues increased the oblast in 2018? dered tourist and recreational ser- age of roads in good condition from have the skills and support needed for them to make their contribution by 1.5 times, from 75 billion tenge The tourist potential of Almaty vices amounting to 5.9 billion tenge 77 percent to 90 percent. to Kazakhstan’s future. The Year of Youth is much-needed public rec- (US$196.2 million) to 108 billion oblast is rich and diverse. The oblast (US$15.4 million), 1.7 times more ognition that the key to our country’s continued success lies in remov- tenge (US$282.6 million). has unique opportunities for the de- compared with 2017 (3.5 billion Any additional information ing the barriers which might prevent this from happening. velopment of all types of tourism, tenge or US$9.2 million). about the region that would be in- Could you tell us about public- starting from an educational one We are actively developing teresting to our readers? private partnership activity and related to visits to cultural and his- mountain tourism. To this end, we Our gross regional product for projects? torical sites and ecotourism includ- signed a memorandum with Kazakh 2018 is estimated at 2.7 trillion tenge From 2016-2018, Almaty oblast ing the observation of rare species Tourism and Almaty-Tau Associa- (US$7.1 billion), with an increase signed 22 public-private partnership of flora and fauna to adventure tour- tion of the Tourism Cluster of Al- of 3.5 percent. Industrial output was (PPP) agreements worth 33 billion ism, wellness tourism and others. maty oblast on joint development of 884 billion tenge (US$2.3 billion); tenge ($86.3 million) and generated In order to develop all these areas, the mountain cluster. The first stage the quantum index is 101.1 percent. 12 billion tenge (US$31.4 million) we adopted the Tourism Roadmap provides for the development of five Gross agricultural output reached of private investment, as well as cre- for Almaty oblast for 2018-2020 mountain gorges. To date, the capac- 703.3 billion tenge (US$1.8 billion) ated more than 400 new jobs. taking into account the priority de- ity of the ski resorts is 7,500 people with a growth of 103.6 percent. Con- I will give some examples from velopment of domestic and inbound per day, 45 km of tracks and 670 struction amounted to 276.6 billion each area. tourism. beds. By 2025, the projected flow of tenge (US$723.6 million) or 101.6 In the agricultural sector, we To attract tourists, every year Al- tourists will reach 65,000 people per percent by 2017. A total of 713,200 opened seven service and storage maty oblast presents its opportuni- day and 320 km of tracks and 4,000 square metres of housing (110.4 facilities (in Aksu, Eskeldi, Karatal ties at tourist exhibitions in Almaty beds will be created. In general, the percent) were commissioned. The (2), Koksu, Panfilov and Sarkan and Astana, this year presenting it- tourist flow to Almaty oblast will oblast’s economy attracted 574.3 districts) by leasing 114 units of ag- self at the largest tourist sites in Ber- reach 4.165 million people. billion tenge (US$1.5 billion) of in- ricultural equipment to private part- lin, Hong Kong, London, Moscow The opening of Oi-Qaragai Les- vestment; the quantum index is 103 ners, which helped to increase the and Tokyo. In 2018, apart from Ak- naya Skazka mountain skiing park percent. Retail turnover exceeded acreage of sugar beet up to 1,500 tau, Almaty, Astana and Shymkent, in early January was a striking start 500 billion tenge (US$1.3 billion) hectares; rice, 1,000 and corn, 500. workshops were held in Chengdu to the development of the mountain with an increase of 7.2 percent. We In education, we commissioned and Shaanxi (China) and Novossi- cluster. The investment amounted created 31,295 jobs in all sectors of kindergartens for 320 children in birsk (Russia). Memorandums of to 15.5 billion tenge (US40.6 mil- the economy; the unemployment Taldykorgan, for 150 children in cooperation were signed with the lion). We continue to develop Les- rate decreased to 4.6 percent.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Akmola region to Kazakhstan to expand types produce country’s of goods exported construction services, buses and 113 countries and added 46 new tenge (US$1.32 million) will be al- Staff Report synthetic, microfiber and cast iron products to its list of exported located toward concessional lend- products to neighbouring coun- goods over the past few years. ing, pre-export financing and state own oatmeal corns ASTANA – Kazakhstan will ex- tries,” he said. “Kazakhstan increases its output guarantee provisions. pand the types of products it exports The ministry also plans to ex- to the external market by eight to This year, export promotion and this year, said Kazakh Vice Minis- pand the export of railway prod- 10 product types annually – if not efforts to attract investment, tour- ter for Industry and Infrastructure ucts to Azerbaijan, Egypt and Uz- new ones, then existing ones enter ism, transport and logistics oppor- Development Arystan Kabykenov bekistan; yellow phosphorus and production on an industrial scale,” tunities will also be supported by at a January press conference. potassium fertiliser to the United said the vice minister. Kazakhstan’s new trade offices. “Sodium cyanide will be shipped States, the Czech Republic, Ger- Last year, the country commis- The Kazakh Chamber of Com- to Russia; semolina to China, Eu- many and Poland; water, milk and sioned more than 30 export-ori- merce is expected to open offices rope, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Russia and meat to Afghanistan, China and ented projects. Over the next three in Belarus (Minsk), Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan; bags to Russia and Singapore; cars to Kyrgyzstan; years, it plans to increase the ex- (Bishkek), the Russian Federation Tajikistan; ammonium sulfate to armature to Tajikistan; cereals to port potential of the non-primary (Kazan, Moscow and Yekaterin- Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan; Russia’s Tatarstan; safflower oil to sector of the economy 1.5 times, burg), the United Arab Emirates chromium products and non-alco- Japan; ammonium nitrate to Geor- said Vice Minister for Industry and and Uzbekistan (Tashkent). Ad- holic beverages to Afghanistan, gia; ice cream to Mongolia. Infrastructure Development Kair- ditional offices are planned within Belarus, Japan, the United King- Kazakhstan currently offers more bek Uskenbayev. Within this time the Eurasian Economic Union and dom, Turkey and Turkmenistan; than 800 manufactured goods in period, approximately 500 billion the European Union. Cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and China increased 38 percent in 2018 and Chinese railway administra- will be transported from China to including wheat, flour, barley, oats Staff Report tions approved the projected traffic Kazakhstan starting from February. and lentils are exported to Afghani- volumes of more than 15,700 tonnes “Joint measures help to increase stan, Iran and Turkmenistan ASTANA – The volume of trans- of cargo in 2019 during the meet- the volume of cargo transportation Freight traffic runs through the voxpopuli.kazakh.ru. Photo credit: portation between Kazakhstan and ing. It was agreed to transport grain by rail through our border crossings Bolashak-Serhetyaka sections, Zarechnyi Director Ualikhan Aripov. China was 13,979 tonnes and in- cargo in the big bags and specialised with China. It also creates oppor- which is part of the transnational creased 38 percent in 2018 com- wagon trucks with rearrangement of tunities for the effective function- railway corridor connecting Ka- pared with 2017, according to an wheel sets and containers to/through ing of a single railway space in the zakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. By Aidana Yergaliyeva oats are an unfussy herb in our announcement at the Jan. 28 meet- the Alashankou and Khorgos sta- Eurasian region,” said First Deputy This route provides access to the conditions,” he added. ing of the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy tions and vegetable oil in tank cars of Chairman of Kazakhstan Temir sea routes in the Gulf region. ASTANA – Kazakhstan must The company will complete (KTZ) delegation and Urumqi up to 500,000 tonnes from Kazakh- Zholy Kanat Almagambetov. The transit container trains on still rely on many imported goods. plant construction in a year or two. Railway company in Urumqi. stan and Russia to China through the Earlier, the company reported the Altynkol-Bolashak-Serkhetya- Zarechnyi, the country’s largest Excavation work has already be- Some 8,500 tonnes of cargoes Alashankou-Dostyk border cross- that more than 400 trains were ka-Akyaila route also run through agricultural product supplier, is in- gun. were transported from Kazakhstan ings with rearrangement of carriages shipped from the Bolashak, a bor- the Bolashak border station. Motor tending to change this by launch- A feeding platform with a capac- to China, which is 54 percent more at the Dostyk station,” reported the der station with Turkmenistan, in vehicle parts, electronic equipment ing the nation’s first oatmeal corn ity for 1,000 cattle will be built on than in 2017. press service of KTZ. the Mangystau region, which is two and household goods are transport- producing plant near Pokrovka vil- the side of the facility to accom- “The representatives of Kazakh The 280,000 tonnes of gas pipes times more than in 2017. The goods ed along the route. lage in the Akmola region. modate the deep processing tech- “Today, as a rule, Russia sup- nique. Without it, 40 percent of the plies oatmeal to our stores, but oats would be wasted. now Kazakhs will have their own “If we process 10,000 tonnes of oatmeal, high quality and ecologi- oats per year, we will have 4,000 cally clean,” said Zarechnyi Direc- tonnes of waste. We will use them AFSA, global regulators launch Global tor Ualikhan Aripov, as quoted by on the feeding platform. Near Pok- inform.kz. rovka there are two villages, Bo- The plant will use the latest risovka and Poltavka; more than technologies to automate nearly 1,000 people live in each. We are Financial Innovation Network all stages and ensure deep pro- planning to buy young stock from International Financial Centre’s models in multiple jurisdictions, group and is encouraging other cessing. The company estimates the population and put it for fatten- By Yerbolat Uatkhanov (AIFC) commitment to further including Kazakhstan, the U.K., regulators and international organ- the new equipment should allow it ing. This is for the beginning and in facilitate cross-border financial Singapore and other jurisdictions. isations to join. to process two tonnes of oats per the future, perhaps, we will breed ASTANA – Astana Financial activities in a fair, transparent and Companies which want to take The GFIN seeks to provide a hour. To accommodate the vol- Simmentals (Swiss Fleckvieh cow Services Authority along with a efficient manner,” AFSA Chief part in the testing must meet the more efficient way for innovative ume, the facility will employ 20 breeds) or Anguses (Scottish cow newly-formed alliance of 28 finan- FinTech Officer Assylbek Davle- application requirements of all the companies to interact with regula- people working in two seven-hour breeds) there. To do this, we will cial regulators and organisations, tov said Feb. 1, according to the jurisdictions in which they would tors and navigate between countries shifts. need a food supply, which we have including Financial Conduct Au- press service of the AFSA. like to test. For example, a company as they look to scale new ideas. Aripov believes once the plant not yet developed,” said Aripov. thority (from the U.K.), Interna- The network will help the or- wishing to test in Kazakhstan, Aus- The network was proposed in a begins operating at full force, it Aripov is among the Nation’s tional Monetary Fund and World ganisations to collaborate and ex- tralia and Hong Kong must indepen- consultation paper in August. The should help to significantly cut 100 New Faces and known for his Bank Group established Jan. 31 change knowledge on innovations dently meet the eligibility criteria, GFIN received 99 responses from imports, as well as replenish the constant support of social causes the Global Financial Innovation and lessons learned in Regulatory and/or other relevant standards of 26 jurisdictions. The response number of Kazakh goods contain- and charities. Zarechnyi, his fam- Network (GFIN). Technology (RegTech) related the regulators of those jurisdictions. from industry and other interna- ing oatmeal under the brand name ily business, has extensive experi-  “We are pleased to be part matters as well as provide com- Companies interested in apply- tional regulators was overwhelm- Bakha-Söhne exported to Com- ence in the agricultural field. The of this initiative. The GFIN will panies with an environment to test ing to take part in the pilot cross- ingly positive in favour of estab- monwealth of Independent States company has elite seed farming facilitate greater regulatory coop- cross-border solutions. border tests should review the list lishing the network to facilitate a (CIS) countries. status for producing grain, peren- eration between the like-minded The GFIN initiative on cross- of participating regulators and sub- new practical method of regulatory “We chose oats, as they are in nial grass seeds and cereals and authorities to foster a sustainable border testing would allow compa- mit an application before Feb. 28. collaboration on innovation and high demand on the market today. signs 10-15 memorandums on so- global financial ecosystem. This nies to simultaneously test innova- The network has also published creating an environment for cross- Moreover, we have acreage and cial responsibility every year. network is an extension of Astana tive products, services or business the Terms of Reference for the border testing. Government envisions consolidating local exporters through engaging foreign buyers and state service support Arab Emirates (UAE) to cer- as Auchan (the European Union, mark-promoting events to enhance cluding business process analysis, ence of these countries shows, after By Aidana Yergaliyeva tify their products, which it feels Russia), Metro (China, Middle service support for exporters. Au- products and product demand, as opening in the traditional markets of should “simplify access to [for- East, Russia), Migros (Turkey), thorities will ensure the participa- well as marketing and promoting trade missions, exports have grown ASTANA – The Ministry of In- eign] markets.” In the same vein, Vanguard, Wumart (China) and tion of at least 50 enterprises in products abroad, said Kabykenov. three times already in one year. The dustry and Infrastructure Devel- it suggests organising meetings Yonghui (China). foreign specialised exhibitions and The newly updated export.gov. purpose of these representations is opment has prepared a three-year this year between Kazakh produc- The 2019 agenda includes 15 organise six national stands car- kz should also ease many time- to manually escort Kazakh export- comprehensive plan to assist ex- ers and large foreign buyers such trade missions and seven trade- rying enterprise diagnostics, in- consuming procedures. ers abroad,” said Kabykenov. port-oriented domestic enterprises “Every entrepreneur will be The ministry estimates export in entering foreign markets. able to receive services related to earnings will reach 725 billion The ministry surveyed more exports, as well as submit an ap- tenge (US$1.9 billion) by 2021. than 300 local non-oil exporting plication for participation in trade The main goods should potential- companies and identified nearly and economic missions. In addi- ly be machine-building industry, 60 percent need financial support tion, there are plans to integrate the food, dairy and construction mate- in terms of concessional lending, portal with leading market places, rials products. refinancing, subsidies, tax pref- logistics service dispatchers and The chief Kazakh manufactur- erences and transportation cost an electronic customs declaration ing exporters currently produce reimbursement and speeding up system,” he added. steel alloy rods, shaped and spe- the value-added tax (VAT) refund Local businesses should worry cial profiles, pipes and seamless process, as well as removing trade less about the language barrier in profiles and other metallurgy prod- barriers abroad. exporting their products, as for- ucts. Non-oil exports represent Authorities will allocate 500 bil- eign technical regulations will be 19.6 percent of finished goods, he lion tenge (US$1.31 billion) from translated into Kazakh and Rus- noted. the state budget, said Vice Minister sian. Atameken National Chamber of of Industry and Infrastructure De- Ten additional trade mission Entrepreneurs certified more than velopment Arystan Kabykenov at centres in Central Asian countries, 1,400 domestic producers, includ- a Jan. 28 press conference. China, Turkey and the UAE will ing 368 export-oriented enterprises. The ministry sees a number of facilitate the work. Total exports grew by 26.4 per- opportunities for local companies “Today we have only one, while cent last year. Exports in the non- to invite inspection commissions Russia has 57, Belarus has 40 and primary sector increased by 3 per-

from China, Iran and the United kapital.kz. Photo credit: Uzbekistan has 12. As the experi- cent to nearly $14.5 billion. A8 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 From pipelines to apple orchards: British expert says Kazakh enterprise sees opportunity AIFC ready to provide in managing diverse businesses Islamic finance- Responding to current market By Aidana Yergaliyeva demands, San Mir Astana’s next plan is to develop a service cen- ASTANA – San Mir Astana tre that will essentially be a pipe related arbitration represents a group of companies rehabilitation ambulance. The that at first glance have little in first such centre should launch in common. While one deals with Atyrau this year and the company repairing and rehabilitating oil has ambitions to repair pumps and gas pipelines, another is in on the entire Caspian region. To agroindustry producing organic develop the centres, it plans to crops and products, particularly cooperate with Hydro, the U.S.- Aport apples. based firm and leader in the cen- “The ideas we use in one field, we trifugal engine and pump repair can apply [to another] and create a field. The relevant agreement was synergy,” company chairperson Ye- signed in 2014. rmek Beisembayev explained the In a desire to make its business unusual combination in an exclu- as ecologically friendly as possi- sive interview for this story. ble, the company has started de- San Mir Astana began its busi- along with the tools is far more invited only German and Japa- veloping a low-energy gas engine ness as a commercial construction important. To achieve the smooth nese engineers to deal with them that is also a cheaper alternative company in 2005. A little later, transfer of such technologies, one and for the engineers to repair to the traditional model. Since the company drastically changed would need a minimum of three- them for us. Then, devaluation the engines generate heat as a its direction to what it represents five years and “invest a lot into helped us to do them ourselves, by-product, the solution was to today due to a severe economic people,” he added. as we had no other choice,” said set greenhouses next to them and decline during those years. Since In its early years, San Mir Beisembayev. create a win-win deal with local then, it has been positioning it- Astana used 3,000-5,000 work- Human capital is the main link entrepreneurs. self as a reliable firm by using the ing hours of foreign engineers between San Mir Astana’s busi- San Mir Astana’s first foray most modern technologies offered per year to educate local ones. nesses. into organic crop production in- by leading engineers in Australia, Learning the technique of using “Business is an art in its own cludes a desire to revive the past Germany and Japan. underground robots to inspect way. We have several directions. glory of Almaty’s Aport apples, Shariah scholar and Islamic finance expert Sheikh Bilal Khan (R). “What we achieved in repairing pipelines, for example, is an ap- It is kind of a diversification be- famously known for their large Continued from Page A1 Courts also have strict timelines proach that justified the expense. and restoration (rehabilitation) of cause the relevance of one busi- size and rich taste. One of the  and dates for submissions and In the last few years, periods of pipelines is installing a new tube ness has a certain cycle and any biggest Aport apples measured “First, the process of taking a hearings. sharp tenge devaluation pushed inside the old tube and, thereby, direction that you develop is con- 1.9 kilogrammes. matter to a court is called litiga- “If any of the parties fail to the company to cut the number the old tube is restored (rehabili- nected with personnel, i.e. with “We have a modern apple or- tion. Every other dispute resolu- file their papers, there can be of foreign workers, as their input tated) without changing the exter- people. In other words, it is you chard. The level of automatisa- tion mechanism except for litiga- a summary judgement against increased the cost to customers. nal infrastructure. That is ‘no dig’ who trains one set of staff. Dur- tion of the orchard is approxi- tion is referred to as alternative them, the case can be struck out San Mir Astana needed to rely technology. We have mastered ing a certain time period when mately 70 percent. In an entire dispute resolution (ADR), which or costs can be awarded against on the newly trained engineers to horizontal directional drilling you don’t have orders, you have orchard, on 20-30 hectares, there includes arbitration, and some of them, whereas arbitration does work with the robots, which low- and tunnelling; that is, laying all to tell them ‘That’s it, guys. Now, are only four people working… the other types are mediation and not have any such deadlines un- ered costs while maintaining high types of underground communi- we don’t work. Goodbye! We are We try to automate the process- negotiation,” he said. less mutually agreed by the par- quality service. cations,” he noted. waiting for new projects. When es to the maximum and we use He compared the formality of ties,” he noted. “We understand that we took When one wants to introduce we have projects, then we will engineers for that… With the litigation, which is generally held Resolving disputes in court can a risk, [but] we analysed the new technology, merely trans- meet with you.’ But these are population number, Kazakhstan in a courtroom and must follow be extremely costly and time con- risk thoroughly and minimised ferring tools, machines and en- living humans and we can’t tell is destined for automation,” said precise rules and requirements, to suming, while arbitration is far it… Before, if we were afraid of gines is not enough. Transferring them that, so we do this diversi- Beisembayev. the less strict setting for arbitra- more cost effective and time ef- touching that kind of robot, we knowledge, experience and skills fication,” he added. Under the brand name Almaty tion. ficient. Court proceedings can be Bio Garden, the company collect- broadcast in the media and are ed 30 tonnes of apples last year “If you consider, for mostly open to the public; one of in its first harvest. The apples did the main benefits of arbitration is not make it to the Kazakh market, instance, an Islamic that it is private, confidential and however, as they were used to never published. introduce Aports to potential cli- finance dispute, then “Finally, the outcome of arbitra- ents in other trading centres. the parties can even tion, known as an arbitral award, San Mir Astana expects to in- is enforceable in similar fashion to crease next year’s harvest to 150 choose Islamic law, a court judgement. Thus, the win- tonnes. ning party can enforce the arbitral “The harvest will increase in Kazakh national award in the courts of all signatory the first five years with geometri- law or any other countries of the Convention on cal progression. According to our the Recognition and Enforcement estimates, we should reach our framework which is of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New first 1,000 tonnes by 2023,” he mutually agreed.” York Convention) of 1958. The list added. of the countries is very extensive, The business will not limit as it includes most countries,” he itself to generating bigger vol- “Arbitration proceedings can added. umes, as the company will soon be conducted without any pre-set Kahn noted he is quite satisfied produce apple jams, chips and strictures and can be convened with the development of the IAC fresh juices. wherever the parties mutually and growth of AIFC. None of the agree, which can be in an office, major arbitration centres have ar- in a meeting room or in a private bitrators who are both Shariah room of a hotel,” he added. scholars and internationally quali- Courts are required to follow fied English lawyers. Kuryk seaport to boost shipment capacity particular rules of legal jurisdic- He added IAC is unique. It is tion, while arbitration does not the only such centre in the Central Continued from Page A1 products, fertilisers, chemicals and terminals such as a ferry complex, million tonnes. Both are expected have such pre-requisites. Asian region and an integral part other types of cargo. universal reloading terminal, liq- to be in service in 2022. “If you consider, for instance, an of AIFC jurisdiction with all of its The seaport is located on the east The seaport is included in the uid cargo terminal, transport and Kuryk seaport was created as Islamic finance dispute, then the advantages and attractions for its coast of the Caspian Sea. It is in international transport corri- logistics centre and production part of the New Silk Road pro- parties can even choose Islamic participants. a natural bay south of Aktau port dors network. It handles freight complex. ject and President Nursultan Naz- law, Kazakh national law or any which provides favourable weath- coming from China and passing The universal reloading terminal arbayev’s 2014 Nurly Zhol – Path other framework which is mutu- er conditions for loading and un- through Azerbaijan, Georgia, will be able to process about three to the Future state-of-the-nation ally agreed,” said Kahn. In an arbitration, loading, particularly rail cars’ roll- Turkey and Ukraine on the way million tonnes of container, gen- address, which aim to make Ka- “In almost all instances of litiga- the parties may ing in and out operations. Kuryk to Europe. eral and bulk cargos. The liquid zakhstan a broad business transit tion with some rare exceptions, the focuses on shipment of grain, oil It includes several transloading cargo terminal capacity will be 2.9 regional hub. parties have to meet in person with choose any language other officers of the court and lay personnel while arbitration can be or medium of held via video or audio conference communication and technology,” he added. The methods also differ regard- instruction; litigation ing who will represent the parties and preside over the proceedings. proceedings are “Litigation requires a duly ap- conducted in the pointed judge and advocacy by certified lawyers with proper national language higher rights of court audience. In where the court is contrast, in an arbitration, the par- ties can appoint on an ad hoc ba- based or in English. sis a mutually agreed person and there is no requirement for rep- resentation by advocates albeit in complex, cutting-edge and cross- Starting the arbitration process border matters, [where] there are is very simple. The procedure be- experienced adjudicating arbitra- gins by contacting the IAC Regis- tors, and parties can have repre- trar, who forwards all the required sentation,” said Kahn. information and documents. In In an arbitration, the parties conjunction with his team, the reg- may choose any language or me- istrar guides the individual through dium of communication and in- the necessary procedures. In case struction; litigation proceedings of queries or potential matters for are conducted in the national lan- arbitration, important information guage where the court is based or and contacts are available at www. in English. aifc-iac.kz. B Nation&Capital

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019

PEOPLE CULTURE SPORTS First virtual museum of Kazakh Astana Ballet develops youth IPC President makes first women’s history educates and involvement in art visit to Kazakhstan empowers B2 B3 B7 Astana Opera premieres “Eugene Onegin” Two Kazakhfilm productions win honours at Dhaka Film Festival two solitary people, 6-year-old By Saltanat Boteu orphan Bibol and veteran musi- cian and nursing home resident ASTANA – Two Kazakhfilm Kassymkhan. Communicating productions were honoured at the with Kassymkhan, Bibol realises a 17th Dhaka (Bangladesh) Interna- person’s spiritual and moral quali- tional Film Festival (DIFF) held ties can truly help one achieve Jan. 10-18. “Little Prince of Our happiness. City” received the Best Children’s The film was directed by Talgat Film Badal Rahman award, while Temenov, known for works such “Shynyrau” (Deep Well) was as “Love Station,” “Running Tar- awarded Best Cinematography get” and “Teen Wolf among Peo- (Asian Competition Section). ple.” Kazakhfilm shot the film “Little Prince of Our City” tells with Adigul Productions. the story of the friendship between Continued on Page B3 Almaty to host first marathon of 2019 The starting time for adults is 9.30 By Saltanat Boteu a.m.; for children, 9.00 a.m. The winners will be designated high society lady with the one and attention to be focused precisely nov and Sofya Tasmagambetova, ASTANA – The Almaty Mara- by age for both distances. Every By Zhanna Shayakhmetova only love of her life throughout the on the depiction of Tatyana’s inner who worked on the production for thon, which gathered 14,000 par- participant will receive a finisher’s opera. Despite her feelings, she world,” he said. the first time, made approximately ticipants last year, will take place medal. ASTANA – Astana Opera House accepts her fate and stays loyal. I The director was a jury member 250 costumes. April 21. Funds raised from the Registration is open through presented Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s believe that this opera can touch of Placido Domingo’s Operalia, Preparing the stage setting took charitable event will be used Feb. 17 at www.almaty-marathon. “Eugene Onegin” staged by Italian the hearts of the audience,” said the world opera competition, and six months. The performance in- to build sports facilities. The kz. director Davide Livermore Feb. Niyazova. staged Puccini’s “Turandot” at the cludes video projections, and LED 1,200-person preparatory race, the The marathon is organised by 8-9 in the capital. Livermore believes the opera is Astana Opera last year. screens with colourful images will season’s first, will be held Feb. 23 the Courage to Be the First cor- Russian baritone Alexey Isaev an integral part of emotional edu- “At the Astana Opera, superb be used instead of windows. Ani- in the city’s First President’s Park. porate fund, World Class Almaty and Talgat Mussabayev performed cation for many generations. working conditions are created. It is mals are also involved in the pro- The 10-kilometre main distance fitness club and Shakhmardan the part of Eugene Onegin, Galina “After watching the perfor- gratifying that each cultural event duction. will be divided into three age cate- Yesenov research and educational Cheplakova and Aigul Niyazova mance, I would like for the viewers is treated here with great reverence. “The effects created by the light gories (15-34, 35-49 and over 50). foundation with the support of the portrayed the leading role of Taty- to say that this story is relevant to- For example, we repeatedly met designer will be interesting for the The children’s distance (three kilo- Almaty Akimat (administration). ana and Medet Chotabayev and day and that it resonates with them with Minister Arystanbek Mukha- audience. The interior is decorated metres) is available to those 10-14. Continued on Page B7 Zhan Tapin played Vladimir Len- and touches their emotions. In this mediuly throughout the staging with a huge chandelier and a large, sky. production, we will see Tatyana’s works and he took an active part rotating circle with a couple of “This work was created by two inner world. We will learn how a in the creative process of preparing young people dancing and a large geniuses – Alexander Pushkin and young girl discovers her woman- the opera ‘Eugene Onegin.’ Moreo- mirror will amaze the viewers. Pyotr Tchaikovsky. It is a classi- hood, perfectly aware of what she ver, we had wonderful time making This production differs from many cal masterpiece… Tatyana, who has lost, what she has gained and music together; the minister is an previous ones in that it has many Changing reality has the most complex character discovered in life. All of this hap- excellent musician,” he said prior moving decorations,” said design in the story, is undergoing a trans- pens with a feeling of deep maturi- to the premiere. and production department head formation from a young girl to a ty. I would also like the audience’s Costume designers Pavel Dragu- Victor Carare. through “green” art the new age of Homo Ecologicus, an By Ayim Ismailova age of a completely new approach to Earth problems aimed at creation. Writers captivate audience with real-life “Green” thinking is a new model HSH Albert II, the Prince of Mo- of human behaviour. Due to the naco, known worldwide as the Green new paradigm, we can maintain Prince, proactively participates in the perfect ecological balance on Earth “green” movement and advances the stories, use social media for promotion in the new age. The shift of think- ecological thinking on our planet. ing towards “green” technologies is Prince Albert II initiated various involved. It was the printed me- “Contrary to the writing pro- clear idea you have in your mind brightly represented in impressive ecology projects, including the Clean By Zhanna Shayakhmetova dia community having my back. I cess, the release and publishing for your book as a writer,” she examples, such as the model eco- Equity Conference and the Award of would say 50/50. The creative pro- part is teamwork; everyone has an added. city in Freiburg, the tremendous the Prince of Monaco. More than ASTANA – What challenges do cess of writing is a solo part and opinion, a perspective, but at the Alonso has also finished two amount of energy produced by the 1,800 investors, scientists, diplomats young writers face? What are their eventually it arrives to its end,” she end all the people involved in the children’s books. wind turbine park in Denmark, the take part in the Clean Equity Confer- sources of inspiration? How can noted. project have to agree, despite the Continued on Page B5 restored forests in South Korea. ence every year. During conference social media increase book sales? The main goals of stable devel- sessions, more than 380 projects The Astana Times spoke with opment enunciated during the UN have been initiated. Due to ecologi- young Kazakh female writers to Global Assembly and the agreement cal activities of the Prince, Monaco learn about their stories and ambi- concluded in Paris in 2015 are events is transforming into one of the world tions. that formed constructive develop-  centres for the advancement and sup- ment trends for the whole planet. port of “green” innovations. Meruyert Alonso New eco-solutions could advance Continued on Page B3 Karaganda native Meruyert Alonso released her first book, “The short summer of Chante- claire,” in 2018. A reporter by oc- THINGS TO WATCH & cupation, she is residing in Lima, PLACES TO GO the capital of Peru. The work centres on the life of people in small towns, those who ASTANA OPERA “live in the towns and villages in February 14 at 7 p.m. Romeo and Juliet, ballet the middle of nowhere away from February 17 at 5 p.m. Floria Tosca, opera the neon lights of shopping malls.” It sounds like a sleepy kingdom, February 22 at 7 p.m. La Bayadère, ballet but “we lived our small and incon- February 27 at 7 p.m. La Traviata, opera spicuous lives in these godforsak- en towns.” “Former editor of ‘Cosmopoli- BARYS ARENA tan [Kazakhstan]’ magazine Maya February 14 at 7.30 p.m. HC Barys – HC Kunlun Red Star Akisheva was the first person to read my book. In fact, one hour be- Beijing fore the official book presentation February 16 at 5 p.m. HC Barys – HC Avangard Omsk she arrived at the store, approached me and said ‘Do not be afraid. It is such a good book. A writer has SARYARKA VELODROME been born.’ Those words made me February 21 at 8 p.m. Kazakhstan – Australia, FIBA feel really calm,” said Alonso. Basketball World Cup 2019 The book was self-published, as she did not have an agreement Qualifiers with a publisher. February 24 at 8.30 p.m. Kazakhstan – Philippines, FIBA “It allowed me to personally direct the whole process. On the Basketball World Cup 2019 other hand, many magazines such Qualifiers as ‘Esquire,’ among others, gave publicity without any settlement B2 NATION&CAPITAL PEOPLE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 First virtual museum of Kazakh women’s history educates and empowers museums in the world – all of them Almaty’s Abilkhan Kasteyev State By Dilshat Zhussupova are united by the desire to build a Museum of Arts’ use of social media collective image of women’s cul- in promoting local art. ASTANA – Kazakh women’s ture and history, which was never “The only photographs of Ka- history museums educate and specifically collected, preserved or zakh women that have been pro- empower women, providing an studied,” she noted, adding Wom- fessionally restored and colourised awareness-raising platform and en of Kazakhstan joined the Inter- in a digital format are three photos tools for overcoming discrimina- national Association of Women’s of Khiuaz Dospanova,” she added, tion, said Women of Kazakhstan Museums in 2018. referring to photo colourist Olga founder Dinara Assanova in an Museums allow visitors to place Shirnina’s restorations of the Ka- interview with The Astana Times. their identity within historical zakh pilot. “I am really looking Assanova’s family provided her and cultural contexts, but have forward to creative enthusiasts in with a keen awareness of women’s not always been socially and eco- Kazakhstan who will restore pho- contributions to society from a nomically inclusive spaces. In in- tographs of Kazakh history, which young age. tegrating technology into the exhi- would allow us to see the past in a “Motivation to study Kazakh bitions, the organisation hopes to completely different light.” women’s history was given to me bring the museum to the people, Assanova leads by example in by my grandfather,” she said. “He rather than vice versa. making museums more accessible was the one to initiate his private “There are no [other] virtual muse- by allowing visitors to take photo- collection of outstanding women ums in Kazakhstan,” she said. “When graphs and videos of the exhibitions. in Kazakhstan that I inherited.” most of the archival material is on- “It will be much easier for peo- That private collection has since line, it is easily accessible. One can ple to study history when they can been expanded into a structured always find material there to work on imprint a pattern from a sholpy and thoroughly researched pub- an article, post, abstract or research, so [Kazakh jewelry] from the 19th lic one, with followers making [physical] visits to archives and mu- century and capture a picture of their own submissions about their seums can be significantly reduced.” the only Kazakh nurse to have mothers, grandmothers and great- Parts of the country’s economy, received the highest international grandmothers. The non-govern- of Kazakhstan. Women Photo credit: government and human capi- medal, the Florence Nightingale mental organisation Women of Photograph restorations of Khiuaz Dospanova (top right) by Olga Shirnina. tal development are undergoing Medal!” she said. Kazakhstan runs the country’s first digitisation as part of the Digital She noted among Kazakhstan’s virtual museum on its Instagram ing traditions in Kazakhstan. An- Kulyash Baiseitova, the youngest to 95 percent; Sofiya Takibayeva Kazakhstan state programme. As- numerous and diverse organisa- (@womenofkz), also publishing other photography exhibition is to be awarded a People’s Artist of restored the most sophisticated sanova hopes to see Kazakhstan’s tions working on women’s rights, Kazakh women’s photographs, bi- based on our unique research on the Union of Soviet Socialist Re- bricks, majolica, terracotta and scientific works, archival photo- many lack historical information ographies, folklore legends, poems the streets of Almaty named after publics title for her opera singing. glaze for the Mausoleum of Khoja graphs and audio-visual material to advance their cause. and paintings on Facebook and women,” she noted. “Knowledge of women’s con- Akhmed Yassawi; former Minister in its 234 museums as accessible “I think that what I do serves Twitter (@womenofkz). Museum Kulyash Baiseitova. Photo cred- tributions is a great tool of inspi- of Culture Laila Galimzhanova online as material from the United women’s interests, women’s his- exhibitions have featured Kazakh it: Women of Kazakhstan. ration and empowerment,” said made a huge contribution to the States Library of Congress and tory and women’s movements,” names, toponyms, mythology, Scholarship on women’s role Assanova. “Legacy matters. For development of cinematography Louvre Museum Internet archives. she added. “I want our women to phaleristics collections, philately in history has expanded in recent every Manshuk Mametova and in our country and recently, art- “Throughout the world, museums know their history and be proud and numismatics. Assanova hopes years, challenging and widening Kulyash Baiseitova, there are ists Saule Suleimenova and her are turning into spaces that are reviv- and inspired by their predecessors. to also develop a physical mu- the traditional consensus on his- thousands of women who deserve daughter Suinbike Suleimenova ing the cult of knowledge; with the I am confident that the education seum, library, research centre and tory. Kazakh history textbooks to be part of the historical narrative unveiled the story of Lydia Blino- help of the internet and good con- and professional development of database. now feature Manshuk Mametova, of our country… Gaukhar Zakum- va, artist and wife of the famous tent, this is possible. With the advent a woman will help all of us grow “We have a great exhibition one of two Kazakh women to be bayeva developed unique catalysts painter Rustam Halfin.” of the internet, our life has ceased to into a highly intelligent generation based on the research of Adrienne awarded the Hero of the Soviet for oil refining, which allowed for Today, there are women’s muse- be the same, so we need to change that will turn Kazakhstan into a Mayor, historian of Stanford Uni- Union title for her bravery dur- increasing the depth of oil refine- ums on every continent. the paradigms of museum work in country with a high level of human versity, on the female eagle hunt- ing the Second World War, and ment from the usual 50-60 percent “There are about 300 women’s Kazakhstan,” she noted, pointing to development.” Adopting children should be norm, says World weightlifting Mothers House Public Fund Director champion is one of Continued from Page A1 “We are working on case man- cent of the cases, we succeed,” she the family can give the child such a agement technology; this is work- added. happy, caring, safe environment in The fund has 25 crisis centres in ing with each specific case… and The centres also accept under- which a child can develop. This is age pregnant girls. They are usu- 100 New Faces 19 Kazakh cities, which provide [offer] women training on parent- an understanding of the responsibil- a transitional home for approxi- ing skills so that they know how ally directed from guardianship ity they take,” she noted. mately 300 mothers and 250 chil- to take care of a child and then authorities or by the power of their The Adoptive Parents School dren. Every month, the centres ac- be able to decide how to live and parents’ attorney, because families holds classes for groups of 15 eve- cept approximately 60-70 women, raise a child independently when are unable to cope with the situa- ry Saturday for three months. including those who are pregnant they leave [the crisis centre],” said tion. Women typically live at the “During the school, we give (in their seventh month or from the Makhmetova. centre for six months; underage them an understanding of what the 20th week), with newborns from The fund also seeks to develop girls are permitted to remain for a child has experienced, what are maternity hospitals or children up healthy surroundings for the wom- longer period. one’s needs,” said Makhmetova. to 18 months. en and children. In 2016, the fund started its sec- The fund promotes the idea that Women are offered temporary “We are doing much work with ond large-scale project, the Januia any child can find a family and residence and psychological, med- the social environment of a wom- (Family) Adoption Support Centre. adoption is a normal practice. ical and legal advisory assistance. an. We try to restore all social ties, The programme, aimed at helping “Our task is to coordinate candi- Depending on the women’s situ- so that a woman can once again those who want to adopt children, dates. They all want a little baby; ations, the fund helps them study acquire a resourceful state and has helped to place 940 children in there are few or no such children or find a job and offers parent- can confidently return into society 640-650 families. or they have a disease. We also tell “At that time, there were more institutions that if a child has a dis- ing, communication and life skills with her child and the child would Vitaly Didenko training. acquire a caring family. In 80 per- than 8,000 children in children’s ease, he or she can also be adopted boarding-style institutions includ- and have a family. We can help the ing children in Children’s Homes family to treat and heal the child. awards, noting behind each high (0-4 years), orphanages (4-18) We also sponsor such expenses,” By Anzhela Kaliyeva result is regular work and patience. and medical and social institutions she noted. “In addition to my own effort, (children with disabilities aged The fund has also initiated the ASTANA – When Vitaly Diden- this victory has a great contribu- 4-18). These three institutions are Balajan (Child loving soul) pilot ko came into the sports club as tion from my coaches – the first under the control of three different project for 2018-2023 with the a boy to improve his health, he coach Vladimir Nikitenko and governmental institutions that are goal of transforming and reduc- could not imagine that within a honoured coaches of Kazakhstan the ministries of healthcare, educa- ing seven boarding-style institu- few years he would achieve great Nikolai Lavrentiev and Andrey tion and science and labour and so- tions in the Akmola region. The success. One of Kazakhstan’s 100 Glyvyak. I have already been do- cial protection, respectively. Eve- programme seeks to create family- New Faces, Didenko is a nine- ing weightlifting for 17 years. To- rything is very difficult, because style inclusive groups, with chil- time World Weightlifting Champi- day, I am engaged in my favourite they do not interact with each dren of different age, with at least on, World Absolute Champion and business; it cannot even be called other. There are different statistics, two caregivers. North Kazakhstan region weight- work,” he said. approaches and standards for chil- “In developed countries, there lifting record holder. The weightlifter has two idols – dren’s care,” said Makhmetova. are no children’s boarding-style “Weightlifting is not for the faint Kazakh President Nursultan Naz- The fund offers information institutions. Everything is close of heart. In our sport, it is impor- arbayev and Arnold Schwarzeneg- and legal advisory assistance for to families or transferred to fami- tant to overcome and endure your- ger. Both are outstanding adoptive parent candidates such lies. In the world, there are two self,” he said in an interview with personalities and ordinary people, as adoption forms, required docu- approaches – revolutionary, when The Astana Times. he says, who began without spe- ments and the rules and regula- countries completely abandoned A native of the region’s Akzhan cial privileges and were able to tions for adopting. these institutions, and evolution- village in Timiryazev District, achieve high results in their field. To ease the process and make it ary, when these institutions were Didenko came to the sport at age Didenko plans to organise his clear and smooth for both adop- gradually transformed,” said 13 to improve his health. Today, he own championship, win several tive parents and children, the fund Makhmetova. is an Honoured Master of Sports of national championships and per- also created the Adoptive Parents “[In family-style institutions] Kazakhstan. form for the first time at the Asian School, where they can receive the child’s psychological health Didenko works as a general Championships in Korea in the psychological counselling to pre- is saved; it is easier for a child to physical trainer with Kulager pro- hope of adding the title to his list pare them to become moms and adapt and he or she has experience fessional hockey club in Petropav- of achievements. dads. in interacting with adults who are lovsk. Coaching, however, is his “I would like to wish for all Ka- “The work of a psychologist is in the role of parents. We believe first love, as it brings him great zakhs to always pursue their own vital, because it is very important to that Kazakhstan should take the pleasure. He is also continuing his if that is what they want and dream clarify motivation. We must see the second path,” she noted. own sports career. of, regardless of their field of ac- potential of the family… We believe “These institutions should be Didenko won his first serious tivity. Our country does not stand that if a family’s motivation is to family-oriented, supporting and medal in 2003 in Almaty at the Na- still; it is developing at a frantic solve its own problem, it’s wrong... implementing the child’s right to tional Youth Championship. He pace and we need to manage to The right motivation, in my opinion, live and grow up in a family,” she has never slowed down and mod- grow after it and achieve success,” is that a child needs a family and added. estly mentions his more than 50 he said. B3 NATION&CAPITAL CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Astana Ballet develops youth involvement in art erating interest by the domestic Kyzylorda and Taldykorgan as part nificant events in the cultural life By Yerbolat Uatkhanov and foreign public. of the Ruhani Jangyru (Modernisa- of the country. The interaction of In 2018, the theatre presented tion of Kazakhstan’s Identity) pro- cultures was clearly manifested in ASTANA – Astana Ballet pre- the premiere of “Giselle,” Adolfe gramme. Under the auspices of the the festival programme in the same sented new creative achieve- Adam’s romantic ballet and the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the year; it was extremely interesting ments, successful tours and pro- pearl of the world ballet repertoire. ballet presented various genres of and intense. The full house was ductive cooperation with foreign The performance, well known not choreographic art in Milan (Italy), guaranteed to all the days of the theatre representatives last year. only to ballet fans but also to those Monaco and New York (U.S.). The dance forum, as the tickets were In 2019, the staff, composed far from its world, served as a tour programme included the best bought in advance,” he noted. mainly of young people, will ex- great experience in studying clas- images in the neoclassical style He added this year Astana Bal- pand its repertoire and geograph- sical dance canons. Guest chore- and a delightful combination of let will make a significant con- ic list of tours. ographer Ricardo Amarante added national dances. tribution to implementing the “I want to note that every year expression, lightness and natural- The ballet’s possibilities will al- Seven Facets of the Great Steppe there is a steady and exact growth ness. low the city to become a platform programme, which attaches im- of interest in high art; our audience The one-act neoclassical ballet for large international classical portance to national history and is becoming much younger, which “Love’s Lost Idols” was staged and modern art competitions, said developing the cultural arena. Re- means very good involvement of Nov. 2-3 for Kazakh viewers. Kuzembayev. hearsals are currently being held young people in art,” said Astana American choreographer, director “We can say with confidence that on stage to prepare for the pre- Ballet Director Valeriy Kuzem- and innovator Nicolo Fonte au- the festival, held as part of the cel- miere of “Beibars,” Kazakhstan’s bayev. thored the performance. ebration of the 20th anniversary of first historical film-ballet under the All performances are held be- The theatre also toured Kazakh Astana as the capital, has become direction of the theatre’s chief cho- fore consistently full houses, gen- Choreographer Ricardo Amarante. cities including Aktau, Almaty, one of the large-scale and sig- reographer Mukaram Avakhri. Two Kazakhfilm productions win National Museum honours at Dhaka Film Festival presents world-famous Continued from Page B1 Shanghai Cooperation Organisa- and invited us to festivals in their by the Rainbow Film Society. It seeks tion Film Festival. The production countries. The festival life of our film to introduce Bangladeshis to main- “For me, this was a big surprise. was also presented in the main is just beginning. I think we have eve- stream films from around the world My friend, a famous Serbian art competition at the Eurasian Bridge rything ahead,” said Zhetiruov. and help develop the country’s cin- art masterpieces historian who was at this film fes- II International Film Festival. The film is based on the novel of ema. DIFF has also created space for love and was handed for the per- tival, called me and said that our Kazakh cameraman Rivkat the same name by Kazakh writer young, aspiring filmmakers in Bang- By Assel Satubaldina manent display to the Pygmal- work was recognised as the best Ibragimov was applauded for his and public figure Abish Kekil- ladesh and throughout South Asia to ion art gallery,” said the organ- children’s film. Of course, I am work on “Shynyrau.” Director Zha- bayev. It presents the story of Yen- connect with global artistic trends. ASTANA – The National Mu- isers. very pleased with this. This is a big nabek Zhetiruov personally pre- sep, who has rare knowledge about The festival, with the theme seum of Kazakhstan unveiled the The items are part of the private victory for ‘Little Prince,’” he said. sented the film to the local public. the difficult work of digging wells. “Better Film, Better Audience, “Old and New, Great and Unique” collection of Kazakh artist Yer- Kazakh actor Toleubek Aralbay, “At the festival in Dhaka, there were The film raises themes of rivalry, Better Society.” attracted repre- exhibition, displaying some of the bolat Tolepbai. who played Kassymkhan, won many experts from different countries pride, love, friendship and betrayal. sentatives from 72 countries and world’s most prominent art pieces. “The art in the private collection Best Male Role at last summer’s who were interested in ‘Shynyrau’ DIFF, held since 1992, is organised showcased 220 films. Among 45 exhibits are the works is a special mystery and secret that of Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, one can only get closer to but can- Albrecht Dürer, Marc Chagall, not solve it to the end and tap into Joan Miro and Pierre Auguste Re- its meaning because the collec- noir. tions bring art of different eras and Work of well-known Kazakh countries together revealing our Astana Circus artists win prize artists is also on display, including similarity with artists who lived works by Abylkhan Kasteev, Oral hundred years before us. This is a Tansykbayev, Zhanatai Shard- spiritual closeness of the common enov, Shaimarden Sariev, Sakhi at Monte Carlo Circus Festival Rohmanov, Tokbolat Toguzbayev, human heritage that is particularly revealed and gets stronger through “The performance has very diffi- formers was noted by President of tional festivals of Veo-Veo and La- Alexei Stepanov and Yevgeniy the prism of national [art],” ac- Staff Report cult tricks that we perform without the European Circus Association tino, winner of the Grand Prix of the Sidorkin. (a spotter) hand, and, of course, it and Vice-President of the Circus Shabyt International Festival of Cre- “This is a rare exhibition. The cording to a statement by the or- ASTANA – The equilibrists of the was very exciting, but everything Festival in Monte Carlo Urs Pils, ative Youth. She toured in Belarus, dialogue of geniuses through ganisers. Astana Circus Yoka Konurbayeva went well,” said Konurbayeva, re- who was on the jury of the Echo Spain, Italy, Monaco, Japan, France the prism of centuries and con- “I believe many people know and Nazerke Merekekyzy, won priz- ported astana.gov.kz. of Asia Circus Festival and invited and Switzerland. She also toured in tinents. It is a unique opportu- Yerbolat Tolepbai. He is not only es at the 43rd International Circus The two performers received an them to take part in the largest cir- Australia for nearly two years. nity to get to know fine art of a wonderful artist, but also an un- Festival in Monte Carlo Jan. 17-27. invitation to Monte Carlo during cus event in the world. The “Equi- Konurbayeva and Merekekyzy old masters through the lens of derstanding and intelligent person. The artists performed the “Equi- the Echo of Asia Circus Festival in librium at Segway” performance are the winners of the Grand Prix our time. The view from Asta- He wants our visitors to be closer librium on Segway” original per- Astana in July. The festival was part took the third place at the festival of the Echo of Asia International na at ‘Old and New, Great and to world art and seeks to bolster in- formance.. It is the first time the of the celebration of the 20th anni- in Astana. Circus Festival in the category of Unique,’ world art rarities from terest to real art among our young circus performers from Astana per- versary of the capital. Konurbayeva is an aerial balanc- contributing to the development of private collection that was ac- people and the real art is immor- formed at the festival. The creativity of the two per- ing performer, a laureate of interna- circus art (2016). cumulated in the past quarter tal,” said exhibition curator Olga century with great attention and Baturina. Changing reality through “green” art Continued from Page B1 virtual forests by Naziha Mestaoui, change. The movie shows the disas- the key eco-projects of the cinema, a Kazakhstan launches Davis Maisel’s photographic obser- trous state of our planet and inspires manifesto of the “green” generation Albert II also supports the Festi- vations and exhibitions of the French viewers to find the means to amend it. which can be characterised as non- val for Earth, created by artist Maria sculptor Paulo Grangeon in collabo- Starting from the premiere the crea- aggressive, meditative and ecologi- Rebecca Ballestra as an art project ration with the World Wildlife Fund tion of Di Caprio has received a wide cal consideration of the world. Qazaq Epos contest to that will contribute to social, scien- are just a few examples of “green” art response. The movie is being dis- This grandiose mega project was tific and economic transformation successfully converging art and ecol- cussed worldwide on well-known TV filmed at bird’s eye view using through creativity and culture. In ogy, creativity and social problems. channels, in key universities. Leading Cineplex high resolution camera. 2018, climate change and economic Interaction between art, ecology and scholars, presidents of different coun- The filming crew visited 53 coun- promote folk culture opportunities associated with a sus- social issues becomes valuable part tries, key persons of the art are partici- tries in 18 months and have filmed tainable future, accelerating the tran- of cultural policy in many countries. pating in the discussion. To restore the the places of the Earth, which are in sition to promoting environmentally The “green” art is not only a new original “Before the Flood” state to need of urgent help. friendly culture were the focus of trend of modern art creating images the humankind, it is crucial to change The “Home” movie presents effec- among youth the festival. The Festival for Earth and symbols of new age and new re- the way of thinking by various means tive cinema and new age, when an au- Communication Dauren Abayev at is supported by the Prince Albert II ality, but also an art of action spread- including “green” art. dience of thousands of spectators are By Assel Satubaldina a Feb. 4 conference. Foundation, the Euro-Mediterrane- ing new ideas of ecological thinking. American Actor Richard Gere is able to see the true state of our planet The competition is expected an Centre for Climate Change, the The associative method of introduc- also actively involved in the “green” and try to find a solution worldwide. ASTANA – Kazakhstan will to reach 50,000 school students Oceanographic Museum of the Prin- tion to ecological ideas may be dif- movement. Due to his focus on the The number of “green” art projects launch the Qazaq Epos project to and 25,000 teachers from 5,000 cipality of Monaco and the Museum ficult to initial understanding, but it problems of ecology, Gere has re- is increasing day by day. One could encourage school students’ spiritu- schools nationwide. It will begin consider installations and architec- of Natural History (Venice). is able to change thinking drastically. ceived the International Green Award. al development through the prism at the district level, followed by re- “Green” technologies are chang- tural performances during Expo “The artists are true creative power Famous Hollywood actor Leonar- of the nation’s rich ethno and phil- gional and national level contests. do Di Caprio has recently become one ing not only energy markets but also 2017 in Astana as another example of a civilisation and society. In his osophical legacy in folk eposes. Prizes vary by level, with of the most recognisable activists of the lifestyle which has demonstrated of “green” art as well. Marc Fornes’s creations, the artist anticipates the The competition is open to sixth- 150,000 tenge (US$396.25) the changes which would embrace other the American “green” movement. In its deficiency during thousands of Coral sculpture was acknowledged tenth graders throughout the coun- main prize at the district level. The spheres of social and cultural life af- 2008, he established the Leonardo Di years. The new Modus Vivendi of as one of the key installations. The try. Participants must recite “Ko- regional winner’s presentation will ter one or two generations,” wrote Caprio Foundation for the protection the New Millennium Human is be- sculpture had been created to attract bylandy Batyr,” a 107-page epos, by be streamed live on Khabar TV Mircea Eliade. The new age en- of the environment. The main goal of ing created. New ecological aware- spectators’ attention to the problem and the individual will receive one riched the art and the creativity with the foundation is to attract public at- ness his beginning to spread world- of disappearing coral riffs. heart; explain the meaning of differ- the new spirit of the times, with the tention to possibilities that would help wide due to “green” persons and The International Green Tech- ent archaisms and respond in the Ka- million tenge (US$2,642). “green” art which creates new reality stopping the global climate warming. creative “green” projects. nologies & Investments Centre re- zakh language to literature questions “There are similar competi- and endeavours to bring the changes In 2016, Di Caprio shot the “Be- Luc Besson produced the “Home” cently established in Astana under based on the school programme. tions organised worldwide. For into the real life. fore the Flood” movie about the movie and also provided the main the guidance of former EXPO 2017 “The focus will be on study- example, Shakespeare readings Artists, writers, movie directors global warming. He cooperated idea for it. The movie can be called Commissioner Rapil Zhoshybayev ing historic eposes. This includes in English-speaking countries or converge the art and social require- with Fisher Stevens, James Packer, the culmination of the spatial re- will also contribute to the creation learning the work by heart, expres- Pushkin’s in Russia. Their goal ments of the present day and try to Bret Ratner, Trevor Davidoski and search of the director. The movie and development of “green” art sively reading it out load and be- is similar, which is trying to con- transform real life with their creations Jennifer Davisson Killoran. Martin premiered in 87 cities all over the projects in Kazakhstan. ing able to explain the meaning. vey the beauty and richness of the all over the world. Famous American Scorsese was the general producer world on June 5, 2009, as part of the New “green” thinking will come The knowledge of poetic texts will mother tongue to the growing gen- photographer Ansel Adams wrote in of the movie. The movie was pre- International Environment Day. Bes- into being only when all countries develop the other personal percep- eration, the beauty of the poetic his autobiography: “The quality of sented during the Toronto Inter- son cooperated with famous French collaborate and influence each oth- tion of history, its main eras and heritage of our ancestors,” said the place, the reaction to the direct national film festival in Septem- photograph Yann Arthus-Bertrand er. It is worth repeating the words of consequences. The poetic texts Abayev. contact with the Earth and creative ber 2016, and later was broadcast for the movie. It was based on 15 the authors of the “Home” movie: will also positively affect speak- A similar competition held in objects such as mountains and the worldwide via National Geographic years of the filming, about 500,000 “We are capable to continue the his- ing manner and writing literacy November involved Almaty school sky are crucial for the integrity of our Channel and other TV channels. photographs by Yann Arthus-Ber- tory of the Earth together.” and will lay a foundation to a more children reading the “Alpamys Ba- existence on our planet.” The actor noted the movie is the re- trand, the “Atlantis” documentary by conscious choice of literature. This tyr” epos. The winner was No. 180 Olafur Eliasson’s installations, ar- sult of three years of travel. The crew Luc Besson and also on the philan- The author is a coordinator of project will have a big effect on the school ninth grader Aruzhan Ab- chitectural performances by Aman- visited various corners of the Earth to thropic activities of the director. the Art for Sustainable Develop- formation of the nation’s code,” sattar, who received a 1.5 million da Schachter and Alexander Levis, depict the after-effects of the climate The “Home” has become one of ment project supported by IGTIC. said Minister of Information and tenge (US$3,962) prize. B4 NATION&CAPITAL COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Zhambyl region Kokshetau will start Smart City reports 4-5 percent transition with schools and busses, growth in almost all sees steady economic growth ondary issue, however, as the town 280 memorandums with outlets sented a final detailed plan for a By Aidana Yergaliyeva must address questions more vi- to prevent future issues. Starting 128.9-hectare plot during a Jan. 24 tal for locals. The lack of seats in Dec.1, heat tariffs reduced 36 per- meeting with the regional akim. economic sectors ASTANA – Kokshetau’s transi- Kokshetau’s secondary schools cent to 2,721 tenge (US$7.20) per “This is a very important pro- tion to a Smart City will start this resulted in splitting the school day gigacalorie. Beginning Jan. 1, city ject for the city. In April, the de- year by introducing e-tickets on into three shifts, forcing kids in the residents have observed tariff re- sign and estimate documentation public transport, the Smart School third shift to study late in the even- ductions for the sewage system (11 for the construction of a bypass project in five schools and a pilot ing. percent), water (6.6 percent) and road, which is also included in the project to digitise the housing and To eliminate the third shift, electricity (6 percent). project, will come from the state utilities sectors. The town of ap- schools Nos. 1, 4, 6 and 13 will The real sector of the economy examination. It will separate the proximately 130,000 is the region- build extensions accommodating is developing steadily, said Mar- city from the lake and all the wa- al centre of the Akmola region. 1,680 seats. Construction is also zhikpayev. Industrial enterprises ter coming from the streets will The Smart City project is in its in- planned in the Saryarka microdis- have produced goods worth 105.3 pass through the sewage treatment itial development phase. The city’s trict to provide 280 additional kin- billion tenge (US$ 278.6 million). plant,” said Marzhikpayev. housing maintenance firms (KSKs) dergarten seats for children with Fixed asset investments were 38.8 The 7-20-25 state housing mort- connected all houses to the e-KSK speech disorders. Twenty-four billion tenge (US$102.66 million), gage programme approved more online service system and installed of 29 public private partnership a 10.6-billion tenge (US$28.04 than 200 applications. Thirty-one cameras at 400 entrances of a (PPP) education projects worth 3.8 million) increase compared to the apartment buildings with 1,500 planned 800 last year, said Akim billion tenge (US$10.05 million) previous year. units were built, construction is (Mayor) Yermek Marzhikpayev at were started last year. Construction of three city high- continuing on 19 buildings and a Feb. 7 annual report meeting with Food prices were unreasonably ways and a bridge on Gabdullin 17 buildings with 600 apartments the regional governor. high near the end of 2018 and the Street across the Kylshakty River are expected to be commissioned Zhambyl region Akim (Governor) Askar Myrzakhmetov. The project has created a sec- city akimat (administration) signed began last year. The akimat pre- soon.

investment volume in fixed assets By Aidana Yergaliyeva was 108.4 percent (more than 2.3 billion tenge or $6.04 million). ASTANA – The Zhambyl region Positive dynamics was also main- Kazakhstan moves annual funding observed a 4-5 percent increase in tained in managing state budgets. all sectors of its economy in 2018, The growth was mainly from reported the regional akimat (ad- production volume in the chemi- ministration) press service based cal, metallurgy and mechanical en- of scientists to earlier in the year on the information from the De- gineering industries. The dynam- payment. Earlier, the advance pay- for young scientists and instructed in the treasury, we could not pay partment of Economy and Budget ics were associated with improved Staff Report ment was 30 percent and the sci- the government to increase grant salaries to teachers, doctors and Planning. engagement of small and medium- entists received funding in March- funding for basic and applied re- even military people. Despite this, The akimat set goals to increase sized businesses and an increase in ASTANA – Kazakh scientists May, while the implementation search by three billion tenge (US$ we began to send young people to regional socio-economic indica- enterprise productivity during the implementing research projects period of projects and programmes 8 million) annually. the best universities of the world tors by 2.8 percent in the begin- year, said Zhambyl region Akim and programmes began receiving was five to seven months. “It is necessary to help young sci- and the state paid for each of them ning of the year. Although there (Governor) Askar Myrzakhmetov. funding in January for the first The innovation will enable scien- entists to implement their ideas into $30,000-50,000,” he said. was a risk of non-fulfilment of “We cannot rest on our laurels; time since the country’s independ- tists to implement tasks from the be- real projects. I am personally going “These guys have returned and product volumes and construction in the new year, even larger pro- ence. Previously they received ginning of the year, according to the to do this,” he said, highlighting the are working for our economy. Af- and industry investments near the jects are to be implemented,” he funding only in the spring. terms of the contract, as well as to necessity to make science and educa- ter that, Nazarbayev University end of the year, the final indica- said. Corresponding changes and ad- receive payment beginning in Janu- tion accessible to all young people. was established at the level of the tor assessment showed upward The akimat is now leaning to- ditions have been made to the ary. Now it is possible to implement “Active assistance to young best world standards. And now the trends. The industrial output index wards a top-down approach of con- Budget Code, Rules for budget ex- projects and programmes within 10 scientists is of great importance. Bolashak students, each gradu- was 102.6 percent (reaching 396.2 trolling indicators in upcoming re- ecution and its cash services. months. Time has shown that we made the ation of Nazarbayev University billion tenge or US$1.04 billion), ports. It will introduce a new format The Ministry of Education and Speaking at a recent forum in right decision when we established students, KBTU (Kazakh British construction was 105 percent and of final assessment works focusing Science reported that since De- Astana dedicated to the opening of the Bolashak programme at the Technical University) and so on on current issues and revising their cember 2018, work has been car- the Year of Youth, Kazakh Presi- most difficult time for our coun- – they are already creating the fu- timely solutions. In addition, region- ried out to conclude additional dent Nursultan Nazarbayev an- try. We could not pay pensions to ture elite of our country,” President The akimat set al authorities plan to start joint work agreements on 50 percent advance nounced the allocation of funding old people – there was no money Nazarbayev said. goals to increase with 30 territorial departments, in- spections and other administrations regional socio- within the region. The memorandum economic indicators specifying the requirements among regional, town and village adminis- Astana to build gas infrastructure by 2.8 percent in the trations is underway. Despite the general positive beginning of the year. trends, the 80-percent planned ex- Although there was a port growth target was unfulfilled on outskirts of capital at only 38.1 percent. risk of non-fulfilment The annual report analysis to water-heating boilers and fuel- In the second quarter of this year, ganda-Astana route with a length showed the need to open a support Staff Report oil boilers, gas distribution net- it is planned to begin construction of 1,081 kilometres. of product volumes centre for entrepreneurs and inves- works of Koktal-1, Koktal-2 resi- of the first phase of the city’s gas At the second stage, it is planned tors. The Business Road Map 2020 ASTANA – The national gov- dential areas, Zheleznodorozhny distribution networks. Gas infra- to build the gas pipeline from and construction and programme cannot serve its target- ernment plans to build gas infra- and Southeast districts. structure development of the Kok- Astana to Kokshetau. The third industry investments ed audience, as the analysis showed structure around the outskirts of The second phase will build the tal-1 and Koktal-2 residential areas, phase includes construction of the a low lending rate of financial sup- the capital to provide blue fuel for infrastructure to supply fuel to the Zheleznodorozhny and Southeast pipeline to Petropavlovsk. In the near the end of port for those who want to start a urban heat and power plants, Kok- gas distribution networks of Mi- districts is planned from 2019 to fourth stage, the Zhezkazgan and business. In particular, there is no tal-1 and Koktal-2 residential ar- churino, International, Kuygen- 2023 as funding becomes available. Temirtau compressor stations will the year, the final support for those who would like, eas, Zheleznodorozhny and South- zhar, Telman, Prigorodny, Garden Gas supply to the capital will be be built. indicator assessment but cannot get, a 6-percent loan. east districts. Village and Family Village resi- through the new Saryarka gas pipe- It is expected that about 800 jobs This year, the centre plans to im- The infrastructure will be paid dential areas. line, which is planned to be built in will be created during the con- showed upward plement 13 directions, 16 indica- for with local, national and private The Ilyinka, Shubary and Ondi- four stages. At the first stage, the struction of the Saryarka gas pipe- tors, 17 projects, 60 initiatives and funds. It will be built in three phas- ris districts will be supplied with pipeline will be constructed along line, and more than 200 jobs will trends. 313 events. es. The first phase will provide gas gas following the third phase. the Kyzylorda-Zhezkazgan-Kara- be created during its operation. Turkestan region plans development of 188 settlements The administration is also work- ism were named priority areas in By Assel Satubaldina ing to identify illegal construction this effort. sites. “We have major tourist destina- ASTANA – The newly estab- Last year, Turkestan region Ar- tions. They include health tourism lished Turkestan region plans to chitecture and Construction Con- in the Saryagash district, ski tour- create 188 development plans trol Department examined 2,639 ism in the Tolebi district (Kaska- for settlements in the region, said objects, including social facilities, Su), historical and cultural tour- Turkestan Region Architecture and residential houses and businesses. ism (pilgrimage) in Turkestan. Urban Planning Department Head “In general, we found out that We have unique architectural, his- Baktybai Duisebekov. 430 objects were built with vio- torical and archaeological monu- The Turkestan region is the lation of norms and requirements ments, amazing nature and unique youngest among the nation’s 14 envisioned in the law. We have culture. There are over 1,000 his- regions. Kazakh President Nur- taken measures. We complied torical, cultural and archaeological sultan Nazarbayev declared the 724 protocols. Among those, 162 sites as well as four protected areas establishment of the new region in deal with state facilities and 562 (Aksu-Zhabagly, Karatau, Sairam- June 2018. The region occupies a are individual construction,” said Ugam and Syr Darya-Turkestan) territory of 11.6 million hectares Department Deputy Chair Muhit in the region,” Turkestan region and is home to nearly three million Turysbekov. Akim (Governor) Zhanseit Tuime- people. The inspections imposed fines bayev told The Astana Times in The decree also declared Shy- worth 106.69 million tenge November. mkent, previously centre of the (US$279,960). The region’s architecture depart- South Kazakhstan region, a city Development of the Turkestan ment recently compiled a list of of national significance putting it region has been a national priority additional 500 monuments in the in the same group with Astana and and the government plans to invest region and prepared several sketch Almaty. approximately $2 billion to build design projects, including con- Last year, the region finalised infrastructure and facilities, in- struction of the Ordabasy cultural development schemes for 77 set- cluding new housing areas, airport complex in the Ordabasy district, tlements and construction plans and administrative and business the House of Friendship and an for areas with up to 5,000 resi- centres. outdoor museum displaying the re- dents. Agriculture, industry and tour- gion’s key historical sites. B5 NATION&CAPITAL SOCIETY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Social innovations planned at IT Child with autism models children’s camp for youth with disabilities clothing brands in Astana

By Saltanat Boteu

ASTANA – Socialisation is vi- tal for children with disabilities, believes educational psychologist and speech pathologist Zarina Dan- dybayeva. Her 13-year-old son, Alikhan Dandybayev, who has an autistic spectrum disorder, found his interest in modelling for cloth- ing brands, such as Button Blue and Acoola Kids and continue to develop his skills in other spheres. Socialisation is vital for develop- ing communication skills, adapta- tion in society, developing one’s skills and expanding knowledge about the world Dandybayeva said L-R: Zarina Dandybayeva and Alikhan Dandybayev. inclusive practices and approach- background, but are not limited to in an interview for this story. es, a mentoring programme and programming. “I became interested in a model By Saltanat Boteu students’ practical involvement in “First, the participant must have agency when I realised that we we might get refused, but when I the correction centres, but parents existing projects. Participants will a background in this area (IT); need something to do. The most shared our story, they gladly in- should not limit themselves to the ASTANA – The World of Equal receive a competitive education we cannot teach you this in three important thing for our children is vited us to a photo shoot,” noted classes offered in the centres only, IT Opportunities, aimed at devel- and independent learning skills. months. Secondly, when we speak socialisation,” she said. Dandybayeva. said Dandybayeva. Following the oping IT skills and competencies The youth IT camp will include about the IT sphere, everyone Since October, Dandybayev has Before modelling, they tried to example of her son, she suggests to for young people with disabilities, teams of talented young IT spe- thinks that it is programming. It can taken part in five photo shoots of attend various leisure activities communicate with teachers, coach- will launch in March. The project cialists, including individuals with be copywriting and proofreading. Fashion Baby Kazakhstan and and sports sections. Dandybayeva es and specialists to help a child to includes a competition involving disabilities, said Bachishe. The re- Even for journalists on freelance Baby Models KZ children model believes that every child has his try oneself in different fields and socially-conscious IT projects, with quirements are the same for all. sites, there are a lot of orders and schools. or her own interests, strong sides develop. “Right now, we are planning to the winners receiving 2 million “We should not create green- good pay for them,” said Bachishe. “We had photo shoots for chil- of the character, therefore, parents, especially of children with special participate in table tennis classes tenge (US$5,216). house conditions for people with The project also has a preparatory dren clothes brands such as Button needs, should try attending differ- in the Orda Rehabilitation Centre. The venture is being imple- disabilities, because in the future stage involving a trip to the regions. Blue and Acoola Kids. Alikhan’s portraits are in Khan Shatyr, Asia ent leisure activities in sports, arts This is good for concentration and mented by the Samruk Kazyna they will come to groups where they “We make meet ups and hack- Park and Saryarka Shopping Cen- and other fields. movement correction. I also want Trust Social Projects Development will have the same requirements as athons, which means that we come, tres and the Kukuruku family cafe “A child with autistic spectrum him to participate in choreogra- Fund, Yerekshe Tandau Shelek other employees,” he noted. talk about this project, show how it in Astana,” said Dandybayeva. disorder is able to do different ac- phy and vocal classes, but cannot Corporate Fund, Chevron Cor- The first stage is the application is done and launch a hackathon for poration and Eurasia Foundation Usually the photo shoots are in- tivities,” she noted. find a teacher yet,” she said. “I’m and selection process, when 16 two days,” he added. Dandybayev tried attending happy that Alikhan realises his po- of Central Asia (EFCA). It has dividual, but once Dandybayev at- participants from all regions will Those who wish to participate tended a group modelling session drums, dombra (Kazakh musical tential in some field. I am not sure been allocated 7.5 million tenge be selected. Particular attention can learn about the project through as well. instrument) classes, karate, hockey whether he will be doing it when he (US$19,560) from the Samruk Ka- will be given to those from remote social networks, Zhas Otan (the “When we go to a photo shoot, and lawn tennis. He has also been turns 25. We will be searching what zyna Trust Fund and 9.2 million regions. Nur Otan Party youth organisation) no one notices that we have autism. attending swimming classes for to do. I want him to try everything tenge (US$23,472) from Chevron, During the four-day camp, par- distribution and regional akimats Alikhan does everything according three years. to find what he wants to do.” a portion of which will be used for ticipants will gain programming (administrations), which have di- to the photographer’s instructions; “Physically, Alikhan is strong, Dandybayeva noted that not all the prize money, said EFCA Pro- skills, learn to package their own rect access to people with disabili- he understands directions well and but he has no sense of rivalry. He classes her son attends are free, gramme Manager Andrei Bachishe projects, attend a leadership course ties and the opportunity to organise stands in certain positions. He likes swims very well. Without stop- which is a financial burden for their at the Kazakh Central Communi- and receive the basics of entrepre- joint events. to communicate with people there. ping, he can swim 150 metres in a family, but the results are more im- cation Service press conference. neurship. Bachishe noted it is not yet pos- It is a way he socialises. We come pool back and forth, but he swims portant, she said. He noted one of the objectives The event also includes an IT sible to cover all regions. in a particular time, but sometimes at his pleasure (not to compete). “My first education is a lawyer. is to develop independent earning social project competition, the best “We will only have Almaty and wait and he observes photo shoots We also tried hockey, but you have When Alikhan was born and we skills, solving the problem of low of which will receive grant support Astana and the three most active of other children,” she said. to overtake hockey puck or push, diagnosed autism, I learned to be competitiveness for employment. for necessary technical equipment regions that the competition will In the beginning of December, but Alikhan does not like it. So, an educational psychologist and a The main task of the camp is to pro- to launch the venture. Each will be select. We will drive there for the Dandybayev participated in photo we found a suitable creative activ- speech pathologist. I work in his vide direction. assigned a mentor. hackathons and meet ups. The shoot for Fox Kids magazine. ity such as modelling for him,” she correctional school and work with Various modern technologies To participate in the competi- camp itself will be based in Al- “Once we went to a different said. children with the same diagnoses will be used such as online tools, tion, applicants must have some IT maty,” he said. model agency. I was afraid that Children usually attend classes in individually,” said Dandybayeva. Writers captivate audience with real-life stories, use social media for promotion Continued from Page B1 a popular topic, but people bought lisher in 2014-2015, but we didn’t “I was lucky to have Beibit your book, they are ready to co- “If a person has the ability to ob- the book not because they are in- print the book because of the cri- Alibekov as my second publisher. operate with you in Kazakhstan. It serve, natural curiosity or the gift “My children have a different terested in Dubai, but simply be- sis. The book was available online He is a public figure who has many is more difficult to enter the Rus- of journalism, he or she can write childhood from the one I had; I was cause they wanted to read the real for two years; then, I rewrote the friends among bloggers. Writing a sian market. The store enters into a book even without travelling. born in the U.S.S.R. They will not story of my life and the lives of book to make it more authorised book is a challenge itself and then a contract only with the publish- There are many interesting things be able to understand the circum- other people. As a journalist, I usu- for publication. The first edition of you have to promote it. Unfortu- ing house, which represents the around us. It is not about inspira- stances of that time; however, I will ally write articles in local media, 500 copies was completely at my nately, we do not have book agents writer, not with a writer herself,” tion, but about the ability to see the transmit the remembrance of my plus I like to talk to people through expense. The promotion is not an who are engaged in promotion in she noted. world around you. I recommend first years of life to them,” she said. my page in Instagram. Thanks to easy process. I paid more attention our country,” she added. Mustafina is planning to write a for beginning authors to watch, The author also offered some social media, the audience gets to my social media accounts to The work was of great interest in second book about how her hus- write down dialogue and how peo- recommendations for beginning to know you and is eager to read writers. more of your stories if they like the promote the book. It helps me sell Moscow, where it sold out. band became a pilot and she be- ple behave in different situations,” “Do not be afraid, do not look way you write. So, it’s actually a the book now,” she said. “If bookstores are interested in came a film director in Spain. she said. into your past, do not let what peo- great instrument for a young writer ple may say affect your goals. You – develop your personal brand, as are not a one hundred dollar bill; this helps promote the book. How- not everyone is going to like you,” ever, you should do it from the she added. heart. People feel fake emotions,” she noted. After travelling and living in dif- Alina Mustafina ferent places, Mustafina considers Initially, Alina Mustafina’s herself a true nomad. book, “How to move to Dubai “My life in the UAE inspired me and to stay there,” was journalis- to write a book. This world was tic writing about the United Arab unusual to me and my friends. I am Emirates (UAE) and a guide for happy to share these amazing sto- those interested in relocating to its ries with people. My husband and I largest city. also lived in Spain and Turkey. We But it became more than that, do not live long in one place and it said the author. The work emerged gives impetus for new stories and as ethnographic research about na- acquaintances,” she said. tives of other countries currently The writer was especially living in Dubai. pleased to read good reviews from “It is actually not a recipe for how Akisheva, critic Madi Mambetov, to move to the Arabic wonderland. blogger Marina Sharipova and It’s a combination of stories about journalist Zarina Akhmatova. people searching for happiness in “I get a lot of feedback from my the Arabic sand,” she said. followers. Surprisingly, I only re- One of the stories is autobio- ceived critical reviews from peo- graphical, recounting the life of a ple who have not read the book. former young editor at “Cosmo- They said that they hate the idea politan Kazakhstan” who went to of leaving the country. Those who conquer the UAE. She sold souve- have read it say they didn’t actu- nirs, took part in a film and pho- ally expect that it was going to be tographed Tom Cruise, Kim Kar- that interesting and impressive,” dashian and the Sheikh of Dubai. she added. “I was surprised that the book Mustafina did not face any dif- was popular with a wide range of ficulties in publishing. readers. Of course, immigration is “At first, I agreed with a pub- Alina Mustafina Meruyert Alonso B6 NATION&CAPITAL TOURISM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Sherkala captivates with ancient history, unearthly landscapes years of wind and rain subsequent- Different theories surround ly created the quaint and magnifi- Sherkala. Some historians believe cent rocky formations seen today. Jochi’s (Genghis Khan’s son) for- Amazing, unearthly views open at tress was on top of the mountain at every turn. the beginning of the 13th century. “Among all these canyons, the Locals believe a wish made while feeling that you are on another one circles the mountain, with a planet did not leave me. There is trip taking longer than an hour, no soul around, only the rocks of will come true. different shapes and colours and “What should be done is to go white with limestone earth,” said around the mountain. It will take Nurzhan Algashev in a blogpost an hour and a half, but each next on travelblog.kz. turn will open up before you and Sherkala is located 170 kilome- you will see more and more new tres from Aktau and 22 kilometres beautiful and unusual views of northwest of Shetpe town. It is Sherkala,” said Algashev. along the ancient Silk Road and Visitors will need certain equip- has historical references and nu- ment and some experience to climb merous legends. the approximately 15-metre high The trip to the mountain from chute to the top of the mountain. Shetpe winds through a road locals “The mountain is gigantic with often refer to as “the gate of fairy sheer edges. Therefore, do not tales” that includes the remains of a even think to climb on it with- medieval caravanserai (a roadside out special equipment. Even with Photo credit: e-history.kz. Photo credit: inn where travellers could rest), the equipment it can be dangerous, piala (small ceramic bowl) or gi- means The Lion’s Castle in Turk- shlak peninsula. The retreating Akmysh oasis and a shrine. Among because the rocks are destroyed by By Aidana Yergaliyeva gantic yurt, is becoming the main men. waters of the huge Sarmatian Sea the must-see sites are the remnants wind and rain,” he said. tourist attraction of the Man- Sherkala’s peculiar form is the washed away soft rock sections of Kyzylkala, a 10th-century Silk The best time to travel is early ASTANA – Sherkala (also gystau region. Some even see a apparent result of a powerful earth- creating chalky cuestas, canyons, Road settlement with fragments of spring-autumn. Tourists usually Shergala), a lone mountain with sleeping lion who laid its huge quake that caused the ocean bed to coombes, basins, sand massifs and the wall still intact, and the aban- rent four wheel drives for up to an unusual shape resembling a head on his paws and the name ripple at the site on the Mangy- bizarre mountains. Hundreds of doned Shikh Ata necropolis. 55,000 tenge (US$145.30) per day. British survivalist races UNESCO includes horse breeding through Altyn-Yemel Park in spring rites on Intangible Discovery Channel series Cultural Heritage list season, I will do my best to be in A 2011 Guinness World Record A photo album on national horse madic peoples came to the fore- By Dilshat Zhussupova better physical shape,” he said on holder for walking the Amazon Staff Report breeding traditions was published front of history in his recent article competing with others for the first River’s entire length, he insists that in three languages and a 20-minute ‘The Seven Facets of the Great ASTANA – A survivalist’s risks time. his greatest challenges are psycho- ASTANA – The United Nations documentary was shot at the Ka- Steppe,” said Deputy Permanent are well worth taking if people are The second episode, featuring logical, rather than physical. Educational, Scientific and Cul- zakhfilm studio. Representative of Kazakhstan to encouraged to seek their own ad- Kazakhstan’s Altyn-Yemel Na- “After I turned 30, there came a tural Organisation (UNESCO) has This year, Kazakhstan partici- UNESCO Askar Abdrakhmanov. ventures, said survival expert Ed tional Park, aired in the country moment in my life when I believed included the traditional spring fes- pated for the first time as a member Including new traditions on the Stafford in an interview with The Feb. 4. In it, Stafford takes on for- that I had enough experience to tive rites of Kazakh horse breeders of the UNESCO Intergovernmen- list will serve as a powerful incen- Astana Times. mer South Korean Special Forces tackle a journey on foot along the on the Representative List of the tal Committee for the Safeguard- tive for experts, authorities and the Bitten by the adventure bug soldier Rhee in a five-day race. Amazon. I didn’t have a wife or Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) ing of the ICH. local population to continue their of Humanity, reported the Min- “According to the research of the activities and promote the tradi- istry of Culture and Sports press Botai culture of the fourth millen- tions. service. nium BC, the culture of horse do- The committee also approved “Preceded by year-long prepa- mestication began in Kazakhstan. the first periodic report on the rations, the main constituents President Nursultan Nazarbayev work to execute the provisions of of the practice are Biye baylau noted this marked the beginning the Convention for the Safeguard- (literally, tethering mares), the of a culture of horsemanship and ing of the Intangible Cultural Her- ancient first milking rite encom- became a symbol of the era when itage in Kazakhstan since it joined passing the separation of mares powerful empires created by no- the group in December 2011. and foals from the herds, milking the mares and celebrating with songs, dances and games; Ayghyr kosu (figuratively, the stallion’s marriage), a recent rite for adjoin- ing stallions in herds, and Kymyz muryndyk (metaphorically, the initiation of koumiss), the first koumiss sharing rite, opening the season of its production and shar- ing,” according to the organisa- tion’s release. Kazakh delegates showed the experts the annual rites in the Uly- tau District of the Karaganda re- gion. Horse breeding spring rites have occurred for many years as part of the Terisakkan spring festival. Photo credit: playpilot.com Photo credit: UNESCO experts studied the folk Ken Rhee and Ed Stafford in Altyn-Yemel National Park. horse breeding traditions and at- tended the festivals for two years. as a child in the British country- “Kazakhstan is probably the children yet, so I didn’t have those side, Stafford has since pursued most severe terrain I have ever obligations that would stop most extreme tests of endurance and come across,” said Stafford. people and wanted to do some- isolation to prove he can single- “There was no water, plants or ani- thing that I could remember with handedly survive in the harsh- mals, so getting out of this place to pride… The most difficult part of est environments. Now, he faces where I could begin to survive was this whole test was its duration, the world’s toughest survivalists probably the most difficult test. It the fact that it took two and a half in the new Discovery Channel seems to me that I reached a place years when I did not see my moth- series “Ed Stafford: First Man with at least some signs of life only er, friends or relatives,” he said. Out,” racing across Asia to a pre- on the third day.” In addition to achieving a world determined extraction point to be “My favourite trip of this se- record, Stafford took home a valu- the first to complete the test. The ries was the one I was most afraid able life lesson. six-part series began airing Jan. of, the island of Bonaire and its “When I was making the walk 28 in Kazakhstan. mangroves,” he added on his race along the Amazon for two and “This [series] is a story in which in the Caribbean Sea. “The idea a half years, I was completely I face a problem and do not have all of a race in the mangroves was obsessed with the idea of reach- the answers – you watch how I try foolish and unrealistic to me be- ing the end,” he noted. “I could to overcome these obstacles, step cause it seemed too difficult to have made more friends, picked by step, and find a way out of the survive there even a single day, up Portuguese better and learned situation. I hope that this encourag- not to mention race. In the end, it about all the medicinal plants es people to go on trips, challenge was precisely because I had such in Brazil. There were so many themselves and put themselves in low expectations that this episode things that I could have done that an uncomfortable position to de- turned out amazing.” would have made my journey velop as individuals,” he said in the Like most survivalists, Staf- much more enjoyable. Instead, I show’s message. ford is not one to mindlessly risk was completely fixated on reach- His competitors include survival his life, rather taking measured ing the finish line… I think that experts Cat Bigney, Matt Graham, chances. this is a common mistake in life John Hudson, Aldo Kane, Ken “Behind the scenes, there is a more generally – the more I want Rhee and EJ Snyder. fantastic team that makes sure that to be in the future, the more I “Some of my opponents were if something happens to me, a risk forget about the present and the ultramarathoners, one of them assessment and an evacuation plan harder it is to live.” was a former marine and another are ready,” he explained. “Because Stafford’s next race in Mongolia a paratrooper. If the project is suc- of this, we can take more risks and will premiere this month on Dis- cessful and approved for a second produce an exciting programme.” covery Channel. B7 NATION&CAPITAL SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 IPC President makes first visit to Kazakhstan diuly, Astana Deputy Akim (May- greater pride than when the flag By Dilshat Zhussupova or) Yermek Amanshayev, Ministry of Kazakhstan is raised at interna- of Culture and Sport’s Committee tional competitions in which peo- ASTANA – International Para- for Sports and Physical Education ple with disabilities participate.” lympic Committee (IPC) President Chairman Serik Sapiyev and Para- On the second day of his vis- Andrew Parsons visited Kazakh- lympians Zulfiya Gabidullina and it, Parsons and Prime Minister stan for the first time Jan. 30-31, Alexander Kolyadin. Bakytzhan Sagintayev discussed reports the Astana Akimat (city ad- “In my view, a country suc- the 2019 World Para Powerlift- ministration) press service. ceeds when it pays great attention ing Championships, to be hosted He began his visit at the capi- to protecting the rights of people by the capital July 12-20, and tal’s Paralympic Training Centre, with disabilities,” said Parsons at Paralympic sports development which was opened in July as part the Jan. 30 meeting. “This visit in Kazakhstan more broadly. The of the Tugan Zher (Motherland) is important for us, to support the former is an event organised by the state programme and is furnished National Paralympic Committee, IPC every four years, in which ath- with special sports equipment and parasport, para-athletes and infra- letes with physical and intellectual facilities for people with varying structure development. Kazakh- degrees of ability. stan is an important partner of the disabilities compete. It will be an “I have visited many centres in IPC, and it is this kind of support important stop for para-athletes’ the world and few places have such that leads to excellent results for qualification pathway to the 2020 beautiful facilities as your training your athletes.” Tokyo Paralympic Games. centre for para-athletes and people “Paralympic sport is the most Founded in 1989, the IPC is the with disabilities. Here, everything striking way to prove to people global governing body for the Par- is built according to international that, despite the difficulties in life, alympic Movement and organises standards for accessibility,” he people can make a significant con- the Paralympic Games. It seeks to said upon inspecting the centre. tribution to their country’s devel- promote Paralympic values and Later that day, the IPC head met opment,” Astana Akim (Mayor) create sports opportunities for peo- with Kazakh Minister of Culture Bakhyt Sultanov told Parsons at ple with disabilities, from beginner and Sports Arystanbek Mukhame- Andrew Parsons visiting the Paralympic Training Centre. their Jan. 31 meeting. “There is no to elite level. Almaty to host first Ski jumper wins bronze at marathon of 2019 2019 Nordic Junior World Continued from Page B1 advance,” said the organising classes, where participants will committee. be invited to talk about correct Beginning Feb. 2, the fund of- Almaty Triathlon Federa- running techniques and related Ski Championships fers a three-month open training tion Coach Maxim Mzhelsky topics. The list of master classes national team’s head coach, noted was born in Ridder and began with professional trainer Igor has prepared a special month- and lectures is available on the By Dilshat Zhussupova the Kazakh athlete’s achievement skiing at age twelve. In 2017, Nemovcha. He prepares mara- ly training plan divided into marathon website. was historic. Tkachenko was the Asian Winter thoners and guide them towards weekly sessions. It includes in- Several children’s institu- ASTANA – Kazakh ski jumper “For the first time in the history Games bronze medallist and won successful results without harm- dividual plans for those aiming tions will receive charitable as- Sergey Tkachenko won a bronze of independent Kazakhstan, we silver at the team event. He com- ing their health. After the in- to run 10, 21.1 (half marathon) sistance from the event. This medal at the recent 2019 Nordic have a Junior World Champion- peted in two events at the 2018 dividual sessions, participants and 42.2 kilometres (marathon). year, the proceeds will be used Junior World Ski Championships in ships medal,” he said. PyeongChang Winter Olympics. may ask questions about proper The exercises are designed to to build two sports facilities Lahti, Finland, reports the Kazakh “I am very pleased that everything In July, he set the summer world nutrition, exercise and running improve overall fitness, endur- for Almaty regional boarding National Olympic Committee. turned out well and that the flag of record distance at 151 metres at techniques. ance and speed. The plan also school No. 15 for children from On Jan. 19-27, athletes com- our country was raised at the Junior the opening event of Burabai Ski “Basic training is required for includes recommended dates for low-income families and for a peted in 23 events at what were World Championships,” said the Resort in Shchuchinsk. any race. Even at a distance of passing a medical examination. project to provide adaptive ski- the 42nd Junior World Champion- bronze medallist to Olympic.kz on Along with Tkachenko, ski 10 kilometres, you need to start The organisers are also pro- ing and snowboarding for chil- ships and the 14th Under-23 World his 96.5 metre and 94.5 metre jumps. jumpers Nikita Devyatkin, Gleb training at least three months in viding lectures and master dren with autism spectrum dis- Championships in Nordic skiing. “No jump is the same. I’m still look- Safonov and Nurshat Tursunzh- order and other developmental In the men’s junior event for ing for ‘my’ jump because some- anov represented Kazakhstan at features. In addition, a climbing the individual normal hill, Nor- times there are good executions and the sports event. The national team wall will be built for the Kirov military-patriotic club of young army soldiers. “We are often asked how we raise funds for charity,” said Courage to Be the First Direc- tor Saltanat Kazybayeva. “Each participant of the Almaty Mara- thon contributes to charitable purposes by registering and paying for participation. This is how funds are collected. We do not transfer funds to selected institutions, but on an individual request. We create the necessary sports infrastructure; we build sports fields or climbing walls and we buy sports or medical equipment. In 2018, we collect- ed more than 16 million tenge Photo credit: olympic.kz. Photo credit: (US$42,416) and in 2019, there Sergey Tkachenko (R). are plans to allocate 26 million tenge (US$68,926) for charity.” Courage to Be the First seeks wegian ski jumper Thomas Mark- sometimes not. But after completing earned an expanded quota this to promote an active lifestyle, eng earned first place with 252.1 the first jump, I was sure that I would year, with twice as many athletes involving more people in physi- points, German ski jumper Luca make the second jump calmly. My competing at the championships cal training and sports both as Roth earned second place with jumps were also successful through- for the first time. Also, for the first amateurs and professionals, in 250.8 points and Tkachenko out training, and I knew that I could time, Kazakhstan was selected to accordance with the highest in- earned third place with 248.9 fight for the medal.” compete in the team events with ternational standards. The first points. Pavel Vasilyev, the Kazakh Nineteen-year-old Tkachenko 12 other teams. Almaty Marathon in 2012 had 2,500 participants, a figure that by last year had increased nearly six-fold. B8 NATION&CAPITAL CAPITAL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Tomotherapy Centre opens with innovative approaches in cancer treatment India,” said centre General Di- funded the work to beatify the are planning to develop the city’s By Ainur Seidakhmetova rector Zhanar Nurzhanova in an grounds. medical tourism. The tomotherapy exclusive interview with The “All Kazakhstan`s citizens can machines are the only ones avail- ASTANA – The city’s Tomo- Astana Times. get treatment in our centre. Pa- able in the Central Asian region, as therapy and Nuclear Medicine “Tomotherapy is a highly effec- tients must bring the results of the nearest centres are in Moscow Centre began receiving and con- tive treatment method which uses previous medical examinations to and Kazan (Russia). The managers sulting patients this month. The photon beams. A photon is started the centre. Our doctors will con- believe these factors make the cap- centre uses the most innovative by an engine and its speed reach- duct an additional examination, ital a major medical destination for radiation therapy to treat different es the speed of light. The photon if necessary, before making a di- cancer patients from neighbouring types of cancer. beam localises and burns a tumour agnosis and assigning a therapy. countries. “We bought two tomotherapy more precisely. This is the main We plan to introduce two ways “We will start a big PR cam- machines to install in our centre. difference and advantage of tomo- of financing treatment at our cen- paign soon. Our website is almost Both of them are the latest mod- therapy over other types of radia- tre – by the patient or the state. ready and will be launched [soon]. els available on the market. This tion therapy,” she added. A patient will have to apply for People will get necessary infor- technology is absolutely new for The centre has a separate build- public funding to get free treat- mation from our website. We will Kazakhstan. We brought it from ing erected and equipped accord- ment in our centre. We submitted also promote our official pages on the USA, where tomotherapy has ing to X-ray radiation protection all the documents to the Ministry social media. Our first patient will been widely used in cancer treat- requirements. Construction started of Healthcare for consideration. start getting treatment this month. ment since 2012. Daniel Fass, the in April 2017 and was completed The centre provides outpatient We will invite the mass media; we director of New York Tomother- in August 2018. treatment. One treatment session want to have nationwide coverage apy centre, is now in Astana. He The tomotherapy centre is a pri- lasts up to 15 minutes. It is abso- of this event on TV and in newspa- trains and consults the local staff. vate investment project. Damu En- lutely painless. After the session, pers,” said Nurzhanova. We have about 30 people work- trepreneurship Development Fund a patient can go home,” said Nur- Individuals wishing additional ing at the centre. Most of them subsidised the interest rate on the zhanova. information about the Tomother- got training at large tomotherapy bank loan for the project and Bait- Centre professionals receive apy and Nuclear Medicine Centre centres in the USA, France and erek National Managing Holding special training, and managers may call +7 7172 95 44 84. Akimat urges service Neighbourhood outpatient clinics organisations to repair problem in residential houses to help meet residential building façades demand for health services algorithm for repair. All works To meet the demand, the city veloped. According to the concept, were implemented, which saved Staff Report will be executed at the expense of Staff Report recently approved the Single Per- the opening of compact outpatient the budget approximately 1 billion service organisations’ returnable spective Plan for Healthcare Infra- clinics replacing expensive clinics tenge (US$2.62 million). ASTANA – The Urban Environ- funds as part of the Regional De- ASTANA – Creating multi-pro- structure Development until 2025. is planned. The project is called “In this regard, taking into ac- ment Metropolitan Department of velopment Programme until 2020. file hospitals and compact outpa- According to Nadyrov, the plan Doctor at Home. count the social significance of Control and Quality recently in- To date, the department has re- tient clinics in residential houses envisages the creation of four mul- The project seeks to open a net- this project, I suggest replacing the spected the façades of 1,265 hous- ceived information on the funds should reduce the number of pa- ti-profile hospitals and a medical work of compact medical ambu- planned construction of 11 clin- es and 486 service organisations, collected from 60 percent of the tients visiting traditional clinics, centre for mental health by com- lance stations, located on the first ics in the Single Perspective Plan said department head Tolegen Ku- organisations, while the remaining said Astana Public Health Depart- bining nine hospitals. floors of residential buildings. The to opening of 51 compact ambu- lushev at a January meeting of the 40 percent did not provide informa- ment’s Head Kamalzhan Nadyrov “In 2018, through restructuring, stations’ opening is carried out on lance stations. This will help save city akimat (administration). tion. The administration, therefore, at a Jan. 28 meeting in the Astana the Children’s City Hospitals No. private investment. a budget of approximately 10 bil- As a result, the department issued has planned on-site meetings with akimat (city administration). 3 and 2 and Perinatal Centre No. 1 The government guarantees lion tenge (US$26.16 million),” 466 prescriptions, 439 of which residents and service organisation Astana has a high demand for were merged into the multi-profile the attachment of the population said Nadyrov. were executed within the specified representatives through Feb. 25. healthcare with one of the high- hospital No. 2,” said Nadyrov. and per capita funding, in turn, Astana Akim (Major) Bakhyt time. Twenty-seven were sent to Should the department not est birth rates in the country, more To ensure a maximum 20-min- the private investor invests in the Sultanov has directed city officials judicial bodies for non-fulfilment, have all the data by the end of the than 30,000 children born annu- ute walking distance and reduce construction and equipping of the to focus on the quality of services with 19 entered into legal force month, it will report the results to ally, more than 100,000 surgeries the burden on general practition- clinic in accordance with the re- and the education of the public in by court decisions. Only 20 cases the relevant authorities for them performed annually and more than ers, a concept for the development quirements of the concept. the implementation of the Doctor passed without a prescription, re- to conduct audits of the organisa- 4.5 million patient visits per year. of a clinics’ network has been de- In 2018, eight such projects at Home project. ported the akimat press service. tions’ financial and economic ac- “It should be noted that accord- tivities, he added. ing to the results of the work car- The akimat has repaired resi- ried out following the results of dential façades at 8 Abai, 19 2018, the number of appeals to the Baitursynov, 27 Moldagulova, 4 management and the Monitoring Seifullin, 17 Tashenov (Block 1), 9 Astana entered IDC’s smart cities list and Operational Response Centre Zhanibek and Kerey Khandar and system having monitoring and Lab head Alimzhan Yessetov viding market intelligence and decreased by 80 percent,” said Ku- 10 Zhubanov streets and insulated By Aidana Yergaliyeva analysis functions, based on presented the Smart Aqkol pro- events advisory services in in- lushev. the outer wall at 9 Sembinov Street which the entire set of services ject to Kazakh President Nursul- formation technology, telecom- The department developed an (Khan Tengri building). ASTANA – Market intelli- in the field of Smart City and IoT tan Nazarbayev during his Jan. munications and consumer tech- gence and advisory firm Inter- (Internet of Things) can be car- 18 visit to designate it as the first nology. It offers global, regional national Data Corporation (IDC) ried out. In this respect, we have smart town in the country. and local expertise in technol- placed the Kazakh capital among taken into account the experi- Many other projects are also ogy and industry opportunities mature smart cities in its recent ence of Aqkol,” said Abdykady- contributing to the city’s matu- and trends in more than 110 Residents, experts seek research analysis. rov. rity such as Open Data, Astana countries. The corporation is a IDC’s analysts evaluate the Aqkol, once a provincial town SU, Smart Astana, and e-KSK (a subsidiary of International Data use of information and com- near the capital, has been mod- smart tool that monitors commu- Group (IDG), the world’s lead- munication technology (ICT) in ernising its entire infrastructure nal housing sector owners). ing tech media, data and market- citizen dialogue to shape areas such as economic develop- for the last six months. Tengri Since 1964, IDC has been pro- ing services company. ment and civic engagement, ur- ban planning and administration, public safety, transportation and city’s environment energy and infrastructure. assigned a given courtyard in the “Astana has become one of the By Dilshat Zhussupova city which they could explore and first cities in Central Asia to be find residents to engage in their pro- surveyed based on this model ASTANA – Baikonur district jects. Their group output will be a and assessed in terms of Smart Akim (Mayor) Yerlan Kanalimov, courtyard “passport” detailing the City Maturity,” said Astana De- Astana Urban Centre and Astana space, its users and their preferred partment for Investment and Innovations recently kicked off the social activities. Working groups Entrepreneurship Development second stage of the City on Request and urbanism experts will design head Alisher Abdykadyrov. project, reports the capital’s akimat projects for courtyards based on The corporation rated the Ka- (city administration). these characterisations and launch zakh capital at a 2.48-point ma- The project promotes dialogue these projects in the format of city turity level, lagging half a point among citizens as a tool to improve workshops this spring. behind Moscow (3.1), reported Astana’s urban environment. Astana Urban Centre was estab- elorda.info. Singapore (4.4) The first stage of the project in- lished as part of the research and de- stands as one of the highest on volved the distribution of the survey sign institute Astanagenplan in Sep- the maturities list, followed by to gather residents’ concerns and tember 2016 on the initiative of the New York City (3.7), Dubai (3.6) suggestions. Classes in community then Astana Akim Asset Issekeshev and Barcelona (3.2). dialogue were also offered Nov. 9-11 to comprehensively and systemati- “Our department together with at Astana Urban Centre’s School for cally transform the capital’s urban IDC carried out work to survey Moderators. The free training event environment with tools borrowed the sectoral departments of the centred on the skill of moderating from urban, sociological and an- Astana Mayor’s Office with re- and facilitating dialogue in a fair and thropological disciplines. The centre gard to economy, transport, envi- impartial way so that participants carries out original data collection ronment, safety and digitisation. understand each other’s position and and research, as well as projects, fo- According to the results of the work toward a joint solution. rums, workshops and round tables. above-mentioned work, Astana The second stage involved a Jan. Its objectives are to involve resi- has been included in IDC’s inter- 19-20 project seminar for more than dents in city planning and develop- national rating of smart cities,” 60 residents guided by urbanism ment, develop new urban planning he added. expert Svyatoslav Murunov. Dis- approaches, collect, produce and The city’s development is as- cussion centred on identifying chal- disseminate knowledge on the city, sociated with introducing the lenges faced in the city and areas for develop and improve public spaces, Digital Kazakhstan state pro- improvement. Residents, modera- engage experts, promote urban com- gramme. One of its primary aims tors and akimat representatives then munity development and create effi- is to include Kazakh cities in formed project working groups. cient and flexible platforms for dia- smart lists of five global ratings. Group leaders and their teams were logue on city development. “The platform is a software