AlmaU hosted "Kasip Alany", a motivational day on entrepreneurship
On September 18, 2019, Almaty Management University hosted one-day motivational entrepreneurship courses.
The main organizers of the event were Akimat of Almaty, “Atameken” National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and “Qolday” Center for Entrepreneurship. Almaty Management University provided an open platform for all participants in the event to exchange experiences and discuss new initiatives from executive bodies to support entrepreneurship.
The meeting was moderated by the Rector of AlmaU Kurganbaeva Gulmira Amanzholovna. In her opening speech, Gulmira Kurganbaeva noted the importance of creating an ecosystem of entrepreneurial education in Almaty and, as an example of a leader in business education, Almaty Management University clearly demonstrated the work of the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Business Incubator and Entrepreneurship Education Association, which includes 20 universities. In her speech, it was announced that this academic year the university prepares and trains students in such specialties as business administration in entrepreneurship and the second specialization (Minor) entrepreneurship. Along with this, in the framework of international cooperation, it is planned to open and implement the following master's programs in Innovation Management with Graduate School of Economics (Russia, Moscow), Master «Fashion Marketing and Strategy» with Northampton University (UK) and the Double Major bachelor program with Northampton University (BA). The keynote of the Rector’s speech was that, as a project, the student entrepreneurship ecosystem is aimed at developing entrepreneurial education, improving the entrepreneurial climate and developing the economy. It is gratifying that this year, startups were presented to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, as part of the project, and since 2017, work in this direction has been carried out in four regions of the country, such as Karaganda, Aktobe, Kostanay and Pavlodar.
The deputy akim of Almaty city Tuyakbaev Saparbek Kurakbaevich in his speech dwelt in detail on new initiatives to support entrepreneurship, namely, “Almaty Business-2025” program. The program includes training, financing, export support and creation of small industrial zones. Saparbek Tuyakbaev noted that 69 facilities were created in the industrial zone, for example, Smart Point and others, and the infrastructure was also established. Financing is provided through loans to Almaty-Finance and Info-Almaty and about 20 billion tenge is allocated at 10% per annum. At the same time, the participants of the courses asked interesting questions, so the future entrepreneur from the Alatau district of the city asked about the first steps towards opening his own business. There were many questions about the initiative to build and open kindergartens and schools, which are extremely necessary for the city. Saparbek Tuyakbaev spoke in detail about the allocated subsidies for the initiators. In the final part of his speech, the Deputy Akim of Almaty, Saparbek Tuyakbaev, noted that the issues of education, health care and IT-technologies were being analyzed and new innovative projects needed by the city of Almaty would be implemented.
The director of Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Almaty, Abilshaikov Nariman Baktybaevich, noting the high role of AlmaU in providing entrepreneurial education in the Central Asian region, thanked the organizers, speakers and participants for their active position. He made a very interesting case - a focus on export. Using the example of a German food product, he cited clear arguments why entrepreneurs in Almaty should pay attention to the production of food products and goods for export.
Also, according to the program of motivational courses, the managing director of “AB Restaurants” restaurant chain Askar Baitasov, actress, entrepreneur Gulsharat Dzhubaeva and the founder of Uchet.kz Maxim Baryshev spoke. They shared their successful experiences on how to occupy a niche in the city’s economy and be prepared for business mistakes. They covered topics such as “Can Almaty restaurants reach the Michelin level” and “Major mistakes in doing business” and “How to conquer the market”.
The event was attended by about 500 participants, among them both experienced and novice entrepreneurs, students of MBA programs, university students, deans, teachers, representatives of partner companies, and the media.
