World Monitor Magazine WM_November_2019_web | Page 10

DESTINATION KAZAKHSTAN
involved in the process of attracting
both investment in the economy of
Kazakhstan and assistance in the
export of Kazakhstani goods and
services to foreign markets.
Almaty provides a base for one-
third of the largest Kazakhstan
taxpayer companies – more than 30
multinational companies, 90% of bank
headquarters, 43% of joint ventures
and large international organizations.
Today, Almaty is a city of business
and private capital with a bent
toward a service structure within
its economy. The state’s share in
the city’s economy does not exceed
2.4%. The contribution of small and
medium-sized businesses is 39.5%,
that is, it is an oil-independent,
sustainable economy. In Almaty, 39
companies implemented projects,
most of which represent Russia,
Germany, China, Japan, India, and the
Republic of Korea.
The city of Almaty is convenient
for doing business because the
international community is actively
integrated here. Almaty also has a
developed infrastructure for various
tourism destinations. The world-
class hotels The Ritz-Carlton, Rixos,
Royal Tulip, Intercontinental Almaty,
Rahat Palace Almaty, Double Tree by
Hilton Almaty, Holiday Inn Almaty and
many hotels maintain international
management. Almaty’s calling cards
are among the most popular hotels
in the city – the symbolic Hotel
Kazakhstan on Dostyk Avenue and
Almaty Hotel in the heart of the city.
High competitive advantages allow
Almaty to independently position itself
in the national and world markets
as an international logistics centre.
Active work is underway to form the
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Central Transport and Logistics Centre,
which will be the largest in Central Asia,
organizing the activities of the Almaty
International Airport on the basis of
the ‘Hub’ principle. Additionally, there’s
a priority to establish a stronghold
of wholesale trade between China
and Russia as well as with other CIS
countries, Europe and Asia.
What is the role of the UN office
in Almaty and plans to strengthen
the image of the city as a
‘regional hub’ for international
organizations?
The idea of creating a UN Regional Hub
was first proposed by the President of
the Republic of Kazakhstan during a
meeting with UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon in September 2011.
The aim of the initiative is to create
a regional UN presence between
Istanbul and Bangkok. The ‘de facto’
UN Hub already exists in Almaty,
where there are 16 offices of UN
agencies. Only a legal form is needed.
The primary objective of the hub is to
direct the work of UN agencies in a
single direction for the development
of the region, to improve their
coordination through the creation of
a single structure that would enhance
interaction between UN agencies and
countries in the region.
The activities of the hub are divided
into four main areas: sustainable
development goals, humanitarian
assistance, emergency response,
and increasing resilience to external
influences. On October 23, 2018
in Almaty, a new UN building was
officially presented at 303 Bayzakova
Street, in which the Akim (or mayor) of
Almaty, the leadership of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, representatives of the
UN regional and country offices took
part. On May 1, 2019, the opening
of a new UN building was held with
the participation of the President of
the Republic of Kazakhstan, K.-Zh.K.
Tokaev.
The new UN building is one of the
most modern architectural objects in
Almaty, built with the highest safety
and environmental standards imposed
by UN agencies, and equipped with the
most advanced appliances, equipment
and furniture necessary for the
smooth operation of UN agencies in
Kazakhstan.
Thus, the opening and further work of
the hub will have a multiplier effect
on the activities of the UN throughout
Central Asia and Afghanistan. In
addition, this will increase the
attractiveness of Almaty for opening
new international structures and will
provide an impetus to the further
development of the corresponding
infrastructure of the city. The UN
Hub building is already becoming the
venue for international and regional
conferences and UN events organized
jointly with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Kazakhstan.
It is also worth noting that a number
of representative offices of foreign
states and international organizations
consider Almaty as a regional hub
and are exploring the possibility of
transforming from the representative
office of the embassy and opening a
consulate in Almaty. In addition, the
IMF will host the Regional Technical
Support Centre for Central Asia, the
Caucasus and Mongolia (RTAC), IFC, a
member of the WB group, which will
increase staff, and th ADB is studying
the issue of opening a Training
Centre.