Baibek informed on seven projects implemented in Almaty to create the most comfortable environment for the city residents

Almaty. 30 June. Kazakhstan Today - VI Innovation Forum is being held in Almaty where international experts from England, Israel, the USA, Denmark, executives of government agencies, representatives of the business community and NGOs are discussing use of innovative technologies to address the most pressing issues of the city. The main subject matters of the forum is Industry 4.0 concept, digital economy and introduction of Smart City technologies, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Addressing the forum participants, Bauyrzhan Baibek, Аким (Mayor) of Almaty, noted that due to the systemic support by the Head of State over the years of independence, Almaty has evolved into a large megapolis with non-resource-based economy, city of business and private capital, regional industrial and innovations hub, the city Akim's Press Service informed.

"Today, in a context of global competition for markets, leading megacities are moving from service cities to innovative smart cities. Smart Almaty concept is based on balance of interests of the economy, environment, and society. Based on the best world practices and needs of citizens, we identified the key areas. Jointly with IDC, an international company, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of maturity of Almaty as a Smart City, identified weaknesses and developed seven basic projects focused on systemic solutions of these issues. At the same time, we do not aim only at introduction of digital technologies. "Smart City" is transformation of approaches and culture of interaction between the city residents and authorities. Technology is only a tool for improving this interaction and increasing effectiveness of all management processes. As President Nursultan Nazarbayev said, "modernization is impossible without changing our habits and stereotypes." We are ready for changes, any creative ideas, offering all to move along this path together," Head of the megapolis said.

In particular, one of the priority projects is "Comfortable City" i.e. positioning Almaty as a city for people, not for cars. A city without barriers, including mental ones. Jointly with residents, the first sketches of pedestrian precincts, parks, squares have been developed as well as the concept of tram depot renovation, etc. This vector was chosen as part of "Almaty 2020" program, developed jointly with international experts with extensive participation of residents. This practice was noted by the Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council as the best among the Asia-Pacific region countries.

The city continues to implement a large-scale transport reform. To ensure transparency of transportation, transport payment cards were introduced, 1.3 million cards have been sold - this is 70% of the population. To unload the roadway, innovative Parkomats are being installed. Jointly with foreign consultants from Systra company, revision of the integrated road traffic management scheme is coming to an end. At the same time the allocated lines are being introduced; their length will reach 92 km this year. Construction of BRT has started; new comfortable buses are being purchased. From Orbita to the Green Market, a 21-kilometer bicycle track is being created; Almaty Bike rental system has been introduced with 50 stations installed, and another 150 to be opened by the end of October.

To increase openness of the government agencies, a pilot project - "Open Almaty" community liaison office was launched, where requests will be considered as a specific life situation. Today, requests are being received on-line, a call center and front office of Akimat (Mayor's Office) will be additionally opened in the autumn. Based on "one window" principle, residents will be received by the officers from Akimat and law enforcement agencies.

As the Press Service informed, the next direction is accessible services for the residents. As the practice shows, over 2 thousand complaints against the work of the Apartment Owners' Cooperative are received annually. Almaty "Apartment Owners' Cooperative Portal" has been launched, where an apartment owner can find out to which Apartment Owners' Cooperative the residential building belongs, its working hours, discuss regulatory documents drafts, and contact with questions. Rules were developed for spending Apartment Owners' Cooperative budgets, approving tariffs for maintenance and repairs, renting vacant premises and preparing for the heating season. A proposals package for the Law "On Housing Relations" has been submitted.

To provide the public with reliable information on the current expenditures of the institutions, suppression of illegal exactions and actions, "Open Budget" project is being implemented. This will also allow investors to analyze budgets allocated to urban projects, use them to develop their proposals based PPP principles.

In order to destroy the information monopoly by individual government bodies and officials, Big Data is being gradually formed. For example, the data have been disclosed at the "General Plan" portal "- schemes of red lines, capacity of thermal and electrical systems, water supply have been placed, which reduced the time for development of engineering projects by half.

One of the main priorities of the city development program is to increase security. In Almaty, a project for digital prevention and monitoring of violations was introduced five years ago. Using video cameras, the level of thefts in public places has significantly decreased; more than 2 million traffic violations have been recorded. For three years, the city's schools have video fixation systems. Scaling the project with connection to the kindergarten system is to be implemented based on PPP principles under a service contract.

In his speech, Baibek noted that today Almaty is a developed regional magnet, financial and tourist center. The high scientific and cultural potential, comfort of the urban environment attract the financial and human capital to the city. The recently published Worldwide Cost of Living rating called Almaty one of the most comfortable and inexpensive cities, attractive for living and working.

At the same time, Almaty is a city of young people, new ideas. The megapolis has a good infrastructure for innovative solutions - more than 80 research institutes, a third of the country's universities, where 140 thousand students are studying. 40% of the costs for scientific research in the country falls on our city.

Furthermore, Almaty is a city of business and private capital, regional industrial and innovations hub. Today, more than 80% of the city's economy is created by trade and services. One third of GRP is provided by small and medium businesses, where 7 out of 10 working Almaty residents are employed. GRP per capita is $ 17,500 in the city. Offices of more than 60 international organizations and transnational companies are based in the city.

Jointly with the UN, the work is underway to open the Regional Hub by the autumn of next year. The National Bank, as well as the headquarters of key Kazakhstani and foreign banks are based in Almaty. They provide access to credit resources. Thus, 63% of the country's loan portfolio have been granted in Almaty, of which $ 3 billion are loans for small and medium-sized businesses.

According to Akim of Almaty, human capital plays the main role in a postindustrial, innovative economy. "Almaty residents are creative, they have a spirit of entrepreneurship, and they love and know how to do business. Our residents are our main competitive advantage," Baybek added.

As Akimat explained, during the VI Innovation Forum, the specified subject matters are being presented and discussed, the cases are being considered for modernization and development of clusters and technology parks, new strategies and successful practices in the economy, implemented using digital telecommunications and smart cities. It is noteworthy that one of the speakers of this forum was the robot with the speech titled: "How the Internet, artificial intelligence and robotics will change the life quality of mankind in the next 10 years."

Let us remind, in his message "The Third Modernization of Kazakhstan: Global Competitiveness", Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, set the task to ensure implementation of the Third Modernization of Kazakhstan.

"It is necessary to create a new model of economic growth that will ensure global competitiveness of the country," the President specified. He noted the need to cultivate new industries created using digital technologies, and to give impetus to development of traditional basic industries - production sector, agro-industrial complex, transport and logistics, construction sector, etc.

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