0° / -2°C WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 No 4 (94) www.astanatimes.com Nazarbayev Pushes for Almaty’s Better Kazakh President Preparedness for 2017 Universiade Orders New By Kamila Zhumabayeva ASTANA – Kazakh President Massive Investments Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed the government in collaboration with the 2017 World Winter Uni- in Economy versiade organising committee and Almaty’s akimat (city administra- The session in Akorda discussed By Yerbolat Uatkhanov tion) to take all measures to pre- the results of social and economic pare for the Universiade during a development of 2015, monetary ASTANA – President Nursultan policy, diversification of the econ- meeting in Almaty on Feb. 16. Nazarbayev ordered the govern- As the head of state noted, it is omy, an increase in the safety and ment to make way for huge invest- profitability of the Single Accumu- important to conduct the games at ments into Kazakhstan’s economy a high level for Kazakhstan and it lative Pension Fund, promotion of as it continues to deal with twin employment and strict control over is designed to bring a big econom- negative effects of low commodity ic impact. spending are key stones of Anti- prices and tit-for-tat sanctions be- Crisis Action Plan discussed at the “Conducting the Universiade tween Russia and the West. will give a new impulse to devel- meeting. The President, chairing an enlarged “The National Bank should en- oping the city, improving its ar- session of the government on Feb. 10, chitectural appearance, raising the sure an effective monetary policy instructed the ministers to both draw while maintaining the level of free level of service in hotels, restau- forth by one year $1 billion worth of rants, public transport and sports floating exchange rate, avoid sharp expenditures to be made under the exchange rate fluctuations and con- objects. This all will stimulate Nurly Zhol programme next year and small and medium-sized business- tinue with de-dollarisation. There President Nursultan Nazarbayev (R) is shown new facilities being built for the 2017 World Winter Universiade in Almaty use the pension funds as a source of are no restrictions on the receipt es, increase the volume of services during his visit on Feb 16. around 4 billion dollars worth of ad- and create new jobs,” the President of liquidity by banks. I believe ditional capital. In addition to sup- that the National Bank is pursuing said at the meeting. those facilities after conducting the safety of citizens. Particularly pri- The head of state noted that im- porting new industrial enterprises and A number of projects are still not games. The strain on the budget or to the anticipated Universiade plementing the tasks set to increas- a correct policy in the current cir- infrastructure development under the cumstances. It is necessary to carry ready, according to him. should be minimal while the sports and the arriving of many athletes, ing the efficiency of the domestic Nurly Zhol programme, money will out daily monitoring of the finan- “The Medeu ice rink, Shymbu- facilities should be available to the fans and tourists, he instructed economy in many ways depends primarily be used to support housing cial situation and together with the lak ski resort and Baluan Sholak public,” Nazarbayev stressed. measures on improving law en- on the regions, among which Al- construction and job creation and to sports and culture palace raise The President also touched upon forcement in the city by continuing government promptly take appro- maty plays an important role. buy shares of foreign companies to priate measures,” Nazarbayev said. serious concerns. Moreover, it is the crime situation by drawing the work on setting video cameras ensure profitability of pension sav- now necessary to think how to use attention to the need to raise the and street lighting. Continued on Page A3 ings. Continued on Page A4 Mazhilis Election Campaigning Starts, Tea vs. Coffee: Central Election Commission Approves Comparing Cultures Six Parties and 234 Candidates and their Role in Kazakh President and party leader ty and continue the nation’s way cesses and patrons, including new By Malika Orazgaliyeva Nursultan Nazarbayev. to the future. We cannot hide from methods of remuneration for civil According to the programme, the global challenge. We must ac- servants; new systems for select- ASTANA – The political party cept it. We have one leader: Nur- ing, promoting and confirming Kazakh Society the party intends to carry on with registration process for the March 20 the goal of joining the 30 leading sultan Nazarbayev. We have a police officers and judges; indus- together with their families start- parliamentary elections ended Feb. By Kamila Zhumabayeva world economies. The programme shared great future and our victory trialisation and export support ing from ancient times. A fragrant 20 with a six-party list that includes is based on the five institutional re- will be shared as well,” the text of programmes; trilingual education tea with either milk or cream is 234 candidates approved by the Cen- ASTANA — Kazakhs have forms announced last year, which the document said. (in Kazakh, Russian and English) usually served after a traditional tral Election Commission (CEC). On The five institutional reforms been drinking tea for thousands of supports the Nurly Zhol programme and national values programmes; beshbarmak meal (Kazakh na- the same day, the nomination of can- include modernising Kazakhstan’s years, while some are only starting tional dish). Baursaks (fried yeast and the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy. and steps to increase accountabil- didates for maslikhat (regional legis- state apparatus, enhancing the rule ity by the heads of state bodies, to to drink coffee. Why do residents dough) are baked and various “The coming five years will de- latures) elections was also complet- of law, supporting the middle class ensure transparent decision mak- prefer one hot drink over the other sweets are served with tea,” said termine the fate of Kazakhstan in ed. Campaigning, which began Feb. and diversifying the economy, pro- ing, to involve citizens in budget- and which has a better, healthier, mother and enterpreneur Gulnara 21, will now last until March 18. the 21st century. Our country and moting national unity and increas- ing processes and to promote soci- more-efficient or calming effect? Ashirbayeva. The country’s ruling party, Nur all of us will have to pass a test of ing transparency and accountabil- etal self-regulation by transferring The Astana Times interviewed ba- She added drinking a hot cup of Otan, adopted a new election strength. There is much work on ity in government. Mechanisms to powers to civil society institutions ristas in the capital’s coffee houses tea is good, “especially after a hearty programme, “Kazakhstan 2021: the country’s transformation ahead achieve these ends include steps and reducing the areas of responsi- and coffee and tea lovers to answer meat dish and is necessary in order Unity. Stability. Creation,” during of us. Our mission is to protect the to make the civil service corps bility of state bodies. the question. for the food to digest well.” the Jan. 19 congress chaired by country, strengthen our sovereign- independent from political pro- Continued on Page A2 “Kazakhs loved to drink tea Continued on Page B5 Young Kazakh Entrepreneurs Kazakhstan’s First Seek to Save Aport Apple McDonald’s to Open in 2016 launched an apple orchard with little knowledge but great enthusi- asm and have since gained interna- tional attention for their work. An- drey Kim, an acquiring manager, and Timur Takabayev, an informa- tion systems architect, both earned business degrees in London before turning to farming. The two un- likely agriculturalists spoke with The Astana Times about their deci- sion to become apple farmers and how they are using social media to promote their organic farm. The Almaty-born project devel- opers set out to start an agriculture business without chemicals and genetically modified organisms. They’re currently combining their business careers with their love of gardening, and have set up an or- chard in the Trans-Ili Alatau foot- hills. For them, the project is social rather than commercial. They say their apple project shows that two Timur Takabayev (L) and Andrey Kim. people full of pure enthusiasm but By Zhanna Shayakhmetova lacking gardening knowledge can technology in their quest to restore still succeed, and point to their re- Kazakhstan’s famous, but threat- sults: around 300 trees have been ALMATY – Two `Almaty entre- ened, Aport apples. restored within a year. This photo taken on Feb. 23 shows Kazakhstan’s first-ever McDonald’s restaurant almost ready for opening at one of the preneurs are using new media and The young businessmen Continued on Page B4 capital’s busiest intersections. Read the full story on Page B8. INsiDE NATION ECONOMY&BUSINESS EDITORIALS OPINIONS NATION&CAPITAL OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission More than 6,000 Citizens Received Excitement Builds for Broadcast of ‘Kazakh IDRISSOV: The World Supports a Vision Bulgarians ‘Sprinkled Kazakh Steppes with Head Pledges Objective Monitoring A2 Microcredits in 2015 A4 Game of Thrones’ A6 of a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Planet A7 Sweat and Blood’, Community Leader Says B1 Kazakhstan Committed to Competitive, EBRD Loans $103 Million to Upgrade Historic Meeting in Havana to Help Eliminate KASSYMBEK: Where and How to Holiday Transparent and Fair Elections, Foreign Almaty-Astana Highway A5 Misunderstandings A6 in Kazakhstan A7 Samsung Becomes Official Minister Says A2 EXPO 2017 Partner B6 US$ 1 = 355.45 KZT 1 Euro = 393.80 KZT 1 Rouble = 4.65 KZT A2 ELECTION 2016 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 NATIONAL NEWS iN BRiEF Kazakhstan Committed to Competitive, Transparent Salamatty Kazakhstan (Healthy Kazakhstan) specialised medical train began a journey in Karaganda Feb.