Issekeshev: Competitiveness issues to become one of the priorities of the First President of Kazakhstan Foundation

The Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils has gathered in Kazakhstan. More than 200 participants, including 50 international experts from 16 countries, have gathered in the city of Nur-Sultan at the global innovation summit. Each year, leading economists, financiers, politicians, representatives of engineering and exact sciences discuss the most pressing issues. For example, a year ago in Malaysia, the main focus was on technology. This year, experts are focused on competitiveness issues.

Opening the forum, Deborah L. Wince-Smith, President of the GFCC, noted the competitive capabilities of Kazakhstan.

“Central Asia is at the center of a dynamic, growing, strong region. Therefore, now this region is undergoing tremendous economic transformations. We see in different parts of the world a new wave of investment to Kazakhstan. Your country is indeed an innovator to the future. Like any country in the world today, Kazakhstan faces new challenges and opportunities. The country has to solve social, technological, economic transformations. Nur-Sultan is a symbol of such a transformation. And not only due to its beautiful architecture, but also the desire to become a “smart city”. Today, global competitiveness is available to all countries at all stages of economic development. The most important resources for the future are knowledge, technology, capital and skills”, Deborah L. Wince-Smith said.

According to the speaker of the summit, Executive Director of the First President of Kazakhstan Foundation, Asset Issekeshev, today, in order to remain competitive, nations and cities need, first of all, to focus on the development of human resources.

“Creativity, a non-standard approach to solving emerging problems are appreciated. The times when success depended on the “diploma” or the ability to memorize the taught material were far behind. It is important to implement the principles of flexibility, active study, critical thinking, new communications. The new reality requires cardinal transformations in the approach to obtaining knowledge. Education ceases to be a privilege of youth and becomes a lifelong process”, Asset Issekeshev said.

According to him, studies in the framework of the UN Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) in 2018 showed that scientific and entrepreneurial talent (startups) plays a vital role not only in the SME sector, but also in large organizations.

“Startups, by their nature, are not only more mobile, but they have actually become a new economic class. They have become a serious source of skilled personnel over the past 5 years. So, in 2017, start-ups in the USA created 1.7 million jobs, while “old” firms created 336 thousand jobs. Therefore, we see that countries have launched a struggle to attract talents and startups”, A. Issekeshev emphasized.

Speaking about the relevance of the chosen topic of the summit, Asset Issekeshev noted the significant “shifts” in various areas of life over the past decade. According to him, there is a widespread introduction of technology, coupled with the loss of jobs; economic trends are changing, gaps between the rich and poor are widening, trade and military conflicts are continuing. In response to these challenges, competitiveness councils are actively working in a number of developed countries on the basis of cooperation between business, universities and scientists. In conditions of such instability, the role of these councils is important - to ensure the economic development and prosperity of their peoples.

 “The mission of the First President of Kazakhstan Foundation is to promote the sustainable development of the country and a competitive nation. Therefore, we, on behalf of Yelbasy, are launching several projects. And one of them is a scientific and practical study to increase country competitiveness, develop proposals for the state on a socio-economic model of sustainable inclusive growth. Thus, we, as the Fund, will deal with issues of increasing competitiveness”, he said.

According to the speaker, the Institute of World Economy and Politics will lead the implementation of this project. For this purpose, a Scientific Council has been created at IWEP, working in close contact with universities, scientists, businessmen and experts from various fields, the government and the National Bank of Kazakhstan.

“We’re planning together with leading businessmen, scientists to create a special dialogue platform - a platform for competitiveness. We will hold open discussions, round conferences, research projects”, Issekeshev concluded.

The participants of the summit spoke positively regarding the reforms being carried out by the state. At the same time, taking into account the geopolitical and geoeconomic situation in the world, they noted the need to continue the implementation of previously adopted programs. Including the National Plan - 100 concrete steps to implement five institutional reforms as a response to the global challenges and measures to join the 30 developed countries.

In this regard, Issekeshev told foreign experts what difficulties and barriers Kazakhstan has faced over the years of independence, that in the early stages of modernization, Kazakhstan experienced both hyperinflation and an acute budget deficit, that the number of unemployed reached 2 million people, 130 Kazakhstani enterprises stopped their work, and GDP decreased by 61%.

“Due to the reforms initiated by Yelbasy, we managed to achieve important results. GDP grew from 11 billion US dollars to 170 billion US dollars. 300 billion US dollars of direct foreign investments were invested in the country. Only under the Nurly Zhol program 12.5 thousand km of roads and 2.5 thousand railways were built. The country ranks 28th in terms of ease of doing business, and 59th in terms of global competitiveness index. Life expectancy reached 72.5 years”, Issekeshev emphasized.

According to him, Kazakhstan has launched advanced programs for the development of human capital: the Bolashak program, the opening of Nazarbayev University in the capital.

“More than 10,000 specialists were trained at the best foreign universities under the Bolashak program”, he said.

Roberto Alvarez, Executive Director of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, noted that Kazakhstan is a country that is dynamically developing in terms of innovation.

“It is very important for the world community to see the development directions of Central Asia. Since this region has enormous potential. And Kazakhstan is one of the most dynamically developing states in the region. It is important to create the future of the nation and its competitiveness by mobilizing all available resources in the modern economy. I know that Kazakhstan is a country that is dynamically developing in terms of innovation. You give future generations a good education, create conditions for attracting investments. All these measures are aimed at positive developments”, he said.

Asset Issekeshev also noted that now in Kazakhstan there are several key factors due to which today it is possible to radically change the worldview bounds of Kazakhstanis.

The first is urbanization within the cities of republican significance.

“Large cities act as “growth points” and magnets for talent. In Kazakhstan, such cities are Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Shymkent. Among these cities, Nur-Sultan is a pilot city, a frontier city in many areas of life, from education to the introduction of a smart city. The projects being implemented here, improving the quality and comfort of life of citizens, change their cultural landmarks and expand the boundaries of their competitiveness”, Asset Issekeshev said.

According to the speaker, the second frontier is Nazarbayev University.

“Nazarbayev University, which appeared several years ago, set an ambitious goal - to raise the level of youth education to the level of developed countries. The values ​​that are transmitted to students in the process of their education are the very force that distinguishes Nazarbayev University graduates from many others. They bring up openness of thinking and establish a feeling of “gluttony” for knowledge. Each level of training assumed challenges of a new level, which reinforced the desire for continuous growth in students. This is exactly what we want our youth to see”, Issekeshev told.

According to the speaker, the third frontier is the Astana International Financial Center.

“Within its framework, special jurisdiction has been introduced, innovative projects are launched, and integration into the international system is ensured. All these projects stimulate a change in the behavior of the population: new opportunities appear for them. Their value system is transforming: to be entrepreneurial, open, active citizens”, he concluded.

It should be noted that this is the 10th anniversary meeting, which is also being held for the first time in Central Asia.

Saltanat Sarina