№ 5 (49), 2011 - KazEnergy

actual«AstanaNew City»– specialeconomic zonewith the Industrialpark has beenestablishedthat proposea whole rangeof incentivesfor businessdevelopment.It attractedmore than 250companiesthat totallyinvested $10billion, including$4 billionof foreigninvestments.38 № 5 (49), 2011The city inspires wonder and is able tocharm everybody at first glance. Astana isrepresented by grandiose, glistening newbuildings that dominate the skyline formiles around. Some of them are real masterpiecesof art, for instance, 62-metre-highsilver pyramid named as Palace of Peaceand Reconciliation where Congress for Leadersof the World and Traditional Religionsis regularly held, Khan Shatyr megamall –the highest tent on Earth, and the splendidPresidential Palace.It is also a magnet for investments consolidatingits positions as leading business andinfrastructure center of Kazakhstan. By theway, the share of Astana in Kazakhstan’sGDP ($150 billion) increased from 1.5% toalmost 10%, and industrial output grewmore that sevenfold in just a decade.It is important that the Special economiczone - «Astana New City» with the Industrialpark has been established that propose awhole range of incentives for business development.It attracted more than 250 companiesthat totally invested $10 billion, including$4 billion of foreign investments. Suchworld-known companies, as General Electric,Alstom, Talgo and other, have productionassets there. Within the following fiveyears the city will implement 11 large-scaledinvestment projects worth $5 billion.Moreover, Astana becomes step-by-step aleading innovation hub of Kazakhstan, thatwill burst the industrial and innovative developmentof the Republic as a whole – thelong-term strategic objective for the nation.To fully use the innovative opportunities ofthe capital, «Astana Innovations» JSC hasbeen established that will coordinate effortsin that direction. But a real breakthrough isa creation of Nazarbayev University, openedas a result of the personal initiative of thePresident of Kazakhstan. It is the leadingresearch, educational and innovative centerof the country, positioned to become thenational brand, and it has real ambitions tobe among top universities of the world in aclose future.Astana strengthens its influence in internationalactivity and is well known as a hostplace for important international events, includingmajor congresses and forums.For instance, Congress for Leaders of theWorld and Traditional Religions, SCO summitsand others regularly take place there.Exactly in Kazakhstani capital, OSCE Summitunder Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship wassuccessfully held – one of the most importantinternational meetings devoted to thematters of strengthening mutual cooperation,trust and global security.The event - really historic. Representativesof 56 nations have visited Kazakh land inorder to participate in OSCE discussions. Asit generally known there were no any Organization’sconferences over last decade. Kazakhstan’sChairmanship contributed a newbreath to existence and policy of the OSCE.