Realizing «Strategy 2050» tasks we will fulfill our national dream - Head of State
The event, held at the Palace of Independence, was attended by about 1500 scholars from different regions of the country as well as representatives of government agencies, national holdings, higher education institutions and research centers. The forum announced interim results of "Bolashak" for 20 years as well as identified new challenges of the program in the context of implementation of "Kazakhstan-2050" Strategy.
In his speech, the President, congratulated the audience with the 20th anniversary of "Bolashak" and noted that it was one of the "golden pages" of sovereign Kazakhstan's history.
"Kazakhstan intends to enter top 30 most developed states. This process involves not only the growth of GDP per capita. This all-encompassing program includes improving the quality of life and the development of human capital. Our economy is on the path of innovative industrialization", - he said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that in 1994 he gave good words to 187 fellows of the program before their leaving for study abroad.
"Today, the program participants amounted to more than 10 thousand people. "Bolashak" program has played a major role in the development of the country. First of all, it is a new footage for the economy, education, science, health, national culture and art. Every second graduate works in Kazakh companies, private and state-owned. To date, "Bolashak" generated about 2 thousand engineers and technicians. They are the workers in the field of innovative projects and technologies, metallurgy, telecommunications and energy. Implementation of industrial and innovation program is the creation of entirely new businesses to divert Kazakhstan's dependence on raw materials", said the President of Kazakhstan.
Nursultan Nazarbayev also stressed the importance of personal training for all regions of the country.
"Five years ago, at the forum devoted to the 15th anniversary of the program, I set the task to expand access to scholarships for young people living in the regions. At present, half of all participants are the residents of the regions. After graduating they are employed mainly in their hometowns. This is very important. All "Bolashak" students are being trained at leading universities of the world. All this indicates a high performance of the program", said the President of Kazakhstan.
The Head of State stressed that today the international program "Bolashak" has become the locomotive for education system.
"On the one hand, there have been established international technology transfer to economic and social space of Kazakhstan. On the other hand, owing to the Bolashakers the world learned more about Kazakhstan, our people, culture and traditions, possibilities and potential of the state. Through the program "Bolashak" we entered into the world system of training global elite. This is an important part of my plan to build a new generation of Kazakhstan's independence era. Opening in 2010 of a world-class Nazarbayev University was the beginning of turning Kazakhstan into a global exporter of knowledge. Today more than two hundred "Bolashak" graduates work at Nazarbayev University", said Nursultan Nazarbayev.
In his closing speech, the President of Kazakhstan emphasized that the global crisis will survive countries with strong industrial base.
"That is why we started the industrialization of our country. It is particularly important to develop physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics. They contain an inexhaustible potential for innovation. It is important to give the creative impetus for the state. We should create new laboratory with the most modern equipment, new system of governance and financing", said Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The President expressed confidence that the exhibition EXPO 2017 will be the starting point for the transition to "green" economy.
The President noted that Kazakhstan has large reserves of energy resources, but it is necessary to develop renewable energy sources.
"In the next decade hydrocarbons and peaceful atom will be of high demand on the planet. According to experts hydrocarbon era will still remain the next 50 years. But we need to look beyond the horizon. We should pay attention to controlled thermonuclear fusion and hydrogen energy. Its efficiency is 40 times larger than the known energy sources. I am talking about artificial photosynthesis, concentrated solar power, which is already being implemented in some countries. I want local scientists to be engaged in the research work", said Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Kazakh President stressed that "Bolashak" students and graduates to be involved in the formulation and implementation of advanced technologies.
"The success of our country depends on everyone and you are the part of its future. Congratulations to all on the upcoming national holiday - the Day of the First President. This is a day of great unity of our people. We are proud of peaceful coexistence of 130 nationalities. Keeping all our values we will enter top thirty of the most competitive countries. Realizing the tasks of "Strategy-2050" we will fulfill our national dream", concluded the President.