Experts discussed digital approach for attracting foreign investors to Kazakhstan
In a special session dedicated to Digitalisation trend within the “Astana Finance Days 2021” conference hosted online, international experts discussed the role of digitalisation in development of investment opportunities in the new reality. The online discussion entitled “Digitalisation as a new trend of the global mobility in post-pandemic period” was joined by the representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Kazakh Invest, Astana Invest, Zerde Holding and the AIFC organisations.
Ainur Zhumatova, Head of AIFC Expat Centre, in her speech talked about the changes in business processes of the center: “As a client-oriented centre we have tried to do our best for our clients to cope with the consequences caused by the pandemic period through the introduction of digital approach. By creating a “one-stop shop” service at the initial stage, we have optimised the processes to make it available in “one visit”. Today, thanks to digital technologies, our clients will be able to get the services in “one click”.
Counselor to Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Minara Rakhanova, highlighted the importance of common efforts to improve the strategies for development of the digital sector and the future globalisation.
Zhandos Temirgali, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of NC Kazakh Invest, noted the importance of digitalisation for potential investors and the opportunities in the information and communication technologies sector that Kazakhstan is ready to offer today: “The importance of digitalisation of economies is undeniable. Besides its primary benefits such as better data collection, resource management, better customer experience, and better access to public services, digitalisation also brings secondary positive impacts on the economies such as accelerated development of human capital, reduced unemployment rates and better productivity in most of the other sectors of the economy.”
Another important issue is the role of the government and its ongoing work on integration of digital technologies in Kazakhstan. Thus, according to the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Zerde Holding, Marlen Sihayev, one of the main results of their work was the development of “e-government”, which ensured a leap in the UN rating of readiness for “electronic government” and the development of ICT education.
The topic of education was also raised by David Russell Gallo, Director of the AIFC Academy of Law, who shared the positive effects of the pandemic: wider outreach, high number of the participants, simplified logistics and mobility of the services provided.
The current situation changes business processes, and more companies are switching to a remote operating, digitalisation is a priority today in all areas of activity, including high-level priorities, such as healthcare, education, economy, business development and especially mobility. AIFC is also trying to contribute in Kazakhstan development projects using its advanced framework and infrastructure to continue to conduct business, with all possible measures taken to deliver the highest quality service, while at the same time mitigating respective impacts and protecting the business community, thereby influencing positive changes of business environment and investment climate in Kazakhstan.
Reference Information:
AIFC. The Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) was created by the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The constitutional law on the establishment of the AIFC was signed on December 7, 2015. AIFC’s goal is to create a leading center for financial services on the international level. The AIFC aims to assist in attracting investment into the country’s economy, create an attractive environment for investing in financial services, develop the securities market of the Republic of Kazakhstan and ensure its integration with international capital markets.
AIFC Expat Center. Unique and specialized “one-stop shop” institution designed to provide favourable entry and stay conditions for foreign nationals and to ensure their smooth integration into Kazakhstan society by providing a wide range of government and non-government services in English.
