The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norwegian School of Economics and BI Norwegian Business School recently released the International Business report focusing on Kazakhstan. The project was launched in 1984 by the Innovation Norway, the Norwegian government’s company for innovation and development. The report is published annually focusing on a particular emerging market. This year’s report noted the country’s efforts to improve the business climate showed positive outcomes. It also emphasised the need for greater integration in global and regional markets, using the country’s strategic location and the transit potential. The report also identifies oil and gas, mining, agriculture and renewable energy as priority areas and construction, IT and tourism as emerging industries. “Kazakhstan and Central Asia remain undiscovered for most Norwegian companies. With this report, we hope the Norwegian business will get insight about the market and new opportunities in Kazakhstan,” said Innovation Norway Country Director for Russia Frode Moe.
A Kazakh delegation took part in the first meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) National Coordinators Council Aug. 20-23 in Moscow. The council oversees the implementation of the organisation’s high-level decisions. Kazakhstan’s SCO National Coordinator and Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Yerlan Alimbayev headed the Kazakh delegation. The participants discussed Russia’s presidency at the SCO that it assumed June 14 and preparations for the SCO prime ministers’meeting Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 in Tashkent.
Saudi Arabia’s Livestock and Agriculture Investment Company (SALIC) plans to visit Kazakhstan to examine investment opportunities in the country’s agricultural sector, said SALIC CEO Matthew Jansen during a meeting with Kazakh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Berik Aryn in Riyadh. Aryn briefed Jansen on the developments in Kazakh agriculture and the preferences provided to foreign investors. Founded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, SALIC has worked since 2012 investing in countries that “have a competitive advantage in contributing to the production of selected food products and their availability for export markets.”
Nur-Sultan will host the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart Sept. 18-20. The event will gather nearly 1,000 industry leaders from more than 60 countries. The Kazakh capital won the right to host one of Asia’s biggest international tourism events in November. The event provides an opportunity to expand business contacts and access tourism decision makers. Among the participants are Malaysia’s Ameriasa Tours, GetAboutAsia that provides travel offers for independent tourists and Hays Travel, which is the largest independent travel agent in the United Kingdom. The programme will also feature the Travolution Forum Asia and Content Marketing Forum scheduled for Sept. 18.
Kazakhstan’s Zhansaya Abdumalik claimed first place in Group A of the Vienna Chess Open Tournament Aug. 17-24. Nine hundred and seventy-two chess players from 57 countries, including 20 Grandmasters (GMs) and more than 30 International Masters (IMs), competed at the tournament, including 398 competing in Group A. During the nine rounds, Abdumalik earned seven points, the best result among women and the eighth in the general ranking. Abdumalik, who is the world’s 23rd among female players, also received a prize from Nana Alexandria, Georgian chess Woman Grandmaster and International Arbiter.
