+35° / +22°C WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017 No 14 (128) www.astanatimes.com German President makes first visit to Astana GDP grows 4.2 percent in first half of 2017 in the same period last year the By Yerbolat Uatkhanov industry showed a 3.1-percent de- crease. The volume of oil produc- ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s GDP tion increased by 9.7 percent, iron grew 4.2 percent in the first six ore production by 8.5 percent and months of the year due to the coal production by 16.5 percent. growth of main indicators in in- The Asian Development Bank, dustry, construction, agriculture, which issues the Asian Develop- transportation, warehousing and ment Outlook Supplement, re- trade, noted Minister of National ported that, as the largest economy Economy Timur Suleimenov at a in the Central Asian region, Ka- recent government meeting. zakhstan showed an unexpected “According to preliminary data, economic upswing in the first in the January-June period of this quarter of 2017. The report speci- year Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by fied another figure – Kazakhstan’s 4.2 percent. In the January-June 3.6-percent GDP growth. period of 2016, growth was 0.1 Bank experts stated economic percent. The positive contribution indicators have continued to im- of goods production to the econo- prove at least through May, with my was 2.6 percentage points, pro- industry rising 7.8 percent on in- duction of services – 1.3 percent creased mining production, which and food taxes – 0.3 percent,” he rose 9.2 percent. Mining, manufac- said. turing and trade together contrib- Suleimenov noted the various uted 2.1 percentage points to first drivers of the economic growth. quarter growth. Rising domestic “These industries ensured the demand reflected further growth growth of the short-term economic in households’ real incomes in the indicator by 5.8 percent in the first first quarter of 2017 after a strong half of the year and a decrease by increase in the last quarter of 2016. By Malika Orazgaliyeva the 25th anniversary of diplomatic development, as well as our for- “Presently, the Kazakh side is 0.7 percent in the same period in The bank predicts GDP growth ties between the two countries this eign policy tasks. Germany is our interested in developing bilateral 2016. Due to the increase in output is now expected to reach 2.6 per- ASTANA – Kazakh President year. reliable friend and key economic cooperation within the new pro- in the backbone industries, there is cent in 2017, up from the 2.4 Nursultan Nazarbayev and Ger- Nazarbayev congratulated Stein- partner. There are more than 900 grammes,” he said. an increase of 7.8 percent this year percent forecast in 2017. Assum- man Federal President Frank-Wal- meier on his presidency and noted joint ventures successfully oper- “Productive work of the Inter- compared to a decline of 1.6 per- ing stable domestic demand and ter Steinmeier discussed bilateral the long-standing cooperation be- ating in Kazakhstan. To this, the governmental Commission and cent in the same period of 2016,” increasing exports, economic re- political, economic, cultural and tween Kazakhstan and Germany. amount of direct German invest- Business Council is of a great he said. covery is likely to continue. The humanitarian cooperation July 12 “Today, we are at a new level ments is more than $4 billion,” importance. Today, more than 20 Suleimenov added the min- growth forecast for 2018 has been in the Akorda presidential resi- of strategic partnership on a broad Nazarbayev said. documents have been signed for a ing industry demonstrated a high substantially upgraded from 2.2 dence. It was Steinmeier’s first spectrum of political and econom- Nazarbayev also touched on bi- total amount of $1 billion,” Naz- growth rate of 9.4 percent, while percent to 2.9 percent. official visit to Kazakhstan as ic relations. I informed President lateral relations in agriculture and arbayev added. president and was timed to mark Steinmeier about Kazakhstan’s transit. Continued on Page A3 Astana confirms EXPO 2017 reaches halfway point, commitment to OPEC welcomes one and half millionth visitor agreement to cut oil production “I want to say that Kazakhstan By Dana Omirgazy will try to fulfil its obligations on all signed agreements. Our com- ASTANA – Kazakhstan con- mitments were taken last year and firmed July 12 its commitment to extended at the OPEC and non- agreements between the Organisa- OPEC meeting in May. Thanks to tion of the Petroleum Exporting these agreements, we sold our oil Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC for export at an average price of countries to reduce oil production $52 per barrel in the first quarter. until April 2018. Continued on Page A3 Hollywood stars in town for Eurasia Int’l Film Festival on average. During the first days of Cirque du Soleil, Amphitheatre, museum of the future, where the By Zhazira Dyussembekova the exhibition, the number was ap- Creative Energy Area and Energy main types of energy – space, sun, proximately 23,000 people per day. Best Practices Area (EBPA). biomass, wind, water and kinetics ASTANA – Halfway through The total amount of visits Nur Alem, which is a main are demonstrated,” reads the expo EXPO 2017, the international ex- since June 10 until July 23 was sphere and the Kazakh pavilion, website. hibition has welcomed one and a 1,295,991. That includes the sum- attracts approximately 10,000 Almost every day, expo cel- half million visitors, according to mary attendance of all the exhi- people per day, according to the ebrates national days of differ- an expo national company press bition facilities, according to the Khabar TV channel. The large ent countries, as well as cultural release. Astana EXPO 2017 national com- spherical building has eight floors events and festivals. The most re- Almost two weeks earlier, on pany’s press release. and visitors require approximately cent national days were those of July 11, the exhibition welcomed The most visited pavilions are two to three hours to see every- Greece, Japan, Argentina, Papua and identified its one millionth Plaza Africa, Egypt, India, Rus- thing inside. New Guinea, Uganda, Singapore visitor. That visitor was a math sia, Turkey, Japan, the Kingdom “More than just a museum, Nur and Costa Rica. teacher from Astana who received of Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Thai- Alem must become an innovation The expo runs from June 10 to gifts and recognition. This time the land and Turkmenistan, reads the hub of research and culture centre September 10, 2017. A total of 115 visitor remains unknown. statement. after the exhibition. Digital, multi- countries and 22 international or- According to statistics, in the The most visited facilities of the media and interactive technologies ganisations are presenting their period from July 13 to July 23, the exhibition complex are Nur Alem, allow to expand the possibilities achievements and ideas relating to expo was attended by 285,300 peo- commercial pavilions, Shell’s of perception of the exposition the subject of the exposition, Fu- Kazangapov Turar Photo credit: ple, which is 40,757 visitors a day Children’s Lab, Children’s Park, space, located on the floors of the ture Energy. Read the full story on Page B3. INSIDE NATION ECONOMY&BUSINESS EDITORIALS OPINIONS NATION&CAPITAL Seventy percent of civil servants EIB provides $582 million clean energy Getting the balance right GRYSHCHENKO: Ukraine and Kazakhstan: The exhibition to be great success, support increasing meritocracy A2 financing over last five yearsA4 on religion A6 25 years of friendship and cooperation A7 says BIE official B1 Medical trains provide treatment for 28,000 Air Astana was built without state subsidies, Alash Orda turns 100 A6 KAUKENOVA: The role of EXPO 2017 in Japan Day at EXPO 2017 gives visitors residents in regions nationwide A2 says airline president A5 forming the country’s national brand A7 glimpse of Japanese culture, energy conservation efforts B6 US$ 1 = 326.70 KZT € 1 = 380.77 KZT 1 = 5.45 KZT A2 NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017 NATIONAL Seventy percent of civil servants NEWS IN BRIEF The General Prosecutor’s Office launched a pilot project on e-pro- tocol July 17 in cooperation with support increasing meritocracy the Ministry of Internal Affairs, knowledge of laws, personal skills nor’s Office). Based on the results reported Kapital.kz. The project is By Assel Satubaldina and competency, as well as pass an and with necessary adjustments, it in response to the need to provide interview. will later be introduced across the an Individual Identification Num- ASTANA – More than 70 per- In addition, candidates are eligi- country. ber to draw up a protocol for road cent of Kazakh civil servants sup- ble to bring independent observers International expert William traffic rules violations. “Three mil- port increasing meritocracy in the – deputies of all levels, media, and Aston commended Kazakhstan’s lion fines in the amount of more country’s civil service, Deputy representatives of nongovernmental efforts to enhance its civil service than 64 billion tenge (US$196.6 Chair of Kaz akhstan’s Civil Ser- organisations or the agency – to their system. million) were registered, which vice Affairs and Anti-Corruption interview, which supports transpar- “[The] 100 Concrete Steps pro- is 75 percent of all administrative Agency Aigul Shaimova told a ency and objectivity and excludes gramme is designed to ensure Ka- cases last year. The head of state July 20 briefing, citing an analysis the possibility of appointments zakhstan’s further comprehensive set a task to develop digital tech- conducted by the agency. based on factors other than merit. development and it is noteworthy nologies. At the first stage, we A comprehensive set of reforms Starting a civil service career that the first 15 steps of the pro- launched this project on electronic aimed at enhancing the country’s may not offer a high salary, which gramme concentrate on improving registration of protocols related to civil service is currently well un- sometimes serves as a demoti- the civil service system, because traffic violations,” according to the derway, in line with the 100 Con- vating factor for public officials, in any country, civil service is at office’s press service.