Kazakhstan Hosts the Enactus World Stage: Students From 33 Countries Compete for the Title of Champion

Raimbek Batalov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Atameken NCE and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Enactus Kazakhstan, in his welcoming speech emphasized the importance of this forum for Kazakhstan:

"Today's forum is a unique opportunity for the business community to exchange ideas, establish contacts, and possibly launch joint projects. Business representatives from more than 30 countries have already visited the regions of Kazakhstan and were impressed by both the natural beauty and investment opportunities."

Mentioning Kazakhstan's measures to improve the investment climate and business environment in Kazakhstan, Gabidulla Ospankulov, Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan noted the country's global ambitions.

"Kazakhstan is not only the center of Eurasia, but also a key player in the development of business, logistics and technology. Our goal is to double the national economy by 2029 and attract $150 billion in foreign investment," said the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The three-day Enactus World Cup program began with the Business Collaboration Forum, organized with the support of the Atameken NCE. Business leaders from all over the world discussed opportunities for international cooperation, emphasizing the importance of Kazakhstan as a new center for the development of student initiative and business. Among the speakers are Ian Aitken, Chairman and Founder of Enactus Canada, George Tsiatis, CEO of Resolution Project, Dr. Mashego Mashego, Executive Director of Harmony Gold from South Africa, and Ivan Gasparetto, Director of Software Development at Bentley Systems.

Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, noted that such events contribute to the expansion of international trade relations and investment opportunities.

"We are proud to be members of such prestigious organizations as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Federation of World Chambers of Commerce. Through these networks, we open doors for trade, investment and technology exchange," Karimsakov said.

The honor of Kazakhstan at the cup is defended by the team of I. Zhansugurov Zhetysu University. Their Sweet Rainbow project, focused on growing a new variety of sweet corn with a high content of antioxidants, carotenes and vegetable protein, has already earned national recognition. Now the team is fighting for the title of world champion, representing Kazakhstan on the global stage.

On the eve of the event, delegations from other countries managed to visit some regions of the country in Mangystau and the Almaty region. Ian Aitken, Founder and Chairman of Enactus Canada, noted that the visit to Kazakhstan was an opening for many foreign guests.

"This is my first visit to Kazakhstan, and I was pleasantly surprised. This country is a real godsend for many participants who visited the regions of Kazakhstan for the first time. When I came to the Enactus World Cup in Astana, I realized that the things you do in your country will amaze their imagination, as they amazed mine," Ian Aitken shared his impressions.

As part of the World Cup, the guests of the capital were also introduced to the rich heritage of Kazakhstan at the cultural fair. The event will end with a competition among the finalists and the presentation of projects at the SDG Collaboration Hub, where the best student startups will have the opportunity to attract the attention of global business leaders.

FYI: The Enactus program has been developing student entrepreneurship for over 45 years. By now, young talented people within the framework of Enactus have already implemented about 4 thousand projects. According to statistics, more than 20% of the participants are engaged in entrepreneurship. The remaining 80%, having acquired practical skills, are successfully employed.