Today, on May 16th, the XII Astana Economic Forum (AEF) under the theme 
"Inspiring growth: people, cities, economies" has begun.

At the plenary meeting of the AEF-2019, the First President of the Republic of 
Kazakhstan - Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev announced that digital transformation 
is changing the face of our familiar economy, and mobile creative human capital 
is becoming the main driver of growth. "By 2030, about 375 million people 
around the world will need to undergo training and change their profession," 
said Nazarbayev.

He also shared the forecast that by 2050, 7 out of 10 people will be urban 
citizens residing in cities. "Therefore, investments now no longer address 
countries, but cities," explained Nazarbayev.

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, 
expressed that "Although we expect a reduction in global tensions in the next 
six months, we cannot be certain. We hope that the voltages that exist at the 
moment will be relaxed for certain reasons. And your mediation, perhaps, Mr. 
President Nursultan Nazarbayev, will help with this."

Regarding technology, "We are developing an artificial intelligence that will 
completely change our life," said President of the Republic of Armenia Armen 
Sarkissian.

"The innovations are about the expansion of human capital. To achieve success 
in this matter we must strengthen educational platforms and train qualified 
professionals," noted Vice-premier of State Council of People's Republic of 
China Han Zheng.

"Every nation can benefit from global economic growth," said Nobel Prize 
economics (2018), World Bank chief economist (2016-2018) Paul Romer.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, Herman Gref, ensures that "If 
you did not start yesterday, then today you are already late."

This year's AEF is unprecedented. In two days more than 50 sessions and events 
will take place - these are record numbers for the 12-year history of the AEF. 
Furthermore, for the first time, students and youth have the opportunity to 
take part in AEF Talks and meet Nobel laureates and politicians. Also for the 
first time, a round table was held with the participation of the International 
Monetary Fund for Ministers of Finance and governors of the central banks of 
the countries and the first Kazakhstan forum on the UN sustainable development 
goals.

Tomorrow, the Forum continues.

http://astanaeconomicforum.org 

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Source:  Astana Economic Forum