PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Useful Information
Kazakhstan has the population of 19.4 million people and the territory of 2,724,900 sq.km., making it the 9th largest country in the world. The national currency of Kazakhstan is tenge (KZT).
Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, and has the population of 1.35 million people. The altitude of Astana is around 350 meters above the sea level. The time zone in Astana is UTC+6.
Weather
The weather on during the INQAAHE Conference 2023, 29 May – 1 June, is expected to range from 24 to 27 degrees Celsius during daytime and from 11 to 16 C degrees Celsius during nighttime. Mostly sunny weather with some clouds is expected. However, the weather is expected to be quite windy with the average speed of wind reaching 13-17 kilometers per hour (according to AccuWeather).
Currency/credit card payments
Approximate currency exchange rates are 1 USD = 445 KZT, 1 EUR = 485 KZT at the moment. You can exchange foreign currencies (USD, EUR) in banks or currency exchange points (usually located in airports, hotels and shopping malls). Mainstream credit cards such as VISA and Mastercard are accepted in most venues.
Electricity
All power sockets in Astana provide a standard voltage of 220V with a standard frequency of 50Hz. Astana uses power outlets and plugs of type C and type F.
Safety
Astana, and Kazakhstan in general, are safe places to visit. Crime levels are low in general. It is safe to walk alone or in groups during daytime. It is advised to walk in groups during nighttime based on common sense precautions.
Transfers from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the airport
Airport taxi transfers
INQAAHE Conference 2023 participants are recommended to use official airport taxis or to request transfers from hotels.
Official airport taxis are situated on dedicated lines right outside the airport. Airport taxis are mostly white in color. Airport taxis should cost approximately 3,000-5,000 KZT one way (depending on the time of day, traffic conditions, etc.)
Please, be informed that airport taxis accept only cash and QR code payments by local banks. Airport taxis do not accept credit card payments.
Cash can be exchanged in currency exchanges at the airport or withdrawn from ATM machines.
The approximate currency exchange rates are: 1 USD = 450 KZT, 1 EUR = 500 KZT.
Hotel provided transfers
INQAAHE Conference 2023 hotels also provide transfers from and to the airport.
Hilton – 12,000 KZT one way, Toyota Camry 70
Wyndham Garden Inn – 11,000 KZT one way, Toyota Hiace (minivan)
Hampton by Hilton – 8,000 KZT one way, Toyota Camry
Transfers based on apps (similar to Uber)
There are several apps similar to Uber such as Yandex Taxi and InDriver functioning in Kazakhstan, which can be used for airport transfers.
Public bus transfers
The municipal bus stop is located in front of the Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport and provides passenger transportation on the bus routes #10 and #12 “Airport – Railway station”. The fare can be paid by cash, and costs 180 KZT.
The city express route of the bus #100 “International Airport – Triumphal Arch Mangilik El – Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) – Mangilik El Avenue - House of Ministries – Railway Station "Astana-Nurly Jol". For the express route, the fee is 250 KZT and can be paid by cash.
Please prepare the required amount of cash beforehand, as there is no any change in the bus. The operating hours of public buses from 06:00 until 23:00.
More information about the city transport: https://www.nn-airport.kz/pages/bus?category=bus.
Venue
INQAAHE Conference 2023 will take place at the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), Astana, Kazakhstan.
Photo of AIFC
Website: https://aifc.kz/en.
Address: C4.4 (Hall B), C4.3 (Hall D), 55/18, Mangilik El Avenue, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan.
Google map location (Location Link):
Closest bus stops:
• Mangilik yel avenue: bus station name "Astana Expo"; bus No. 43. After you get off the bus, please see the google map scheme or follow the link Google maps route:
• Turar Ryskulov street: bus station name “Perinital’nyi center”; buses No. 12, 40, 43, 47, 51, 53. After you get off the bus, please see the google map scheme below or follow the link Google maps route
• Kabanbai batyr avenue: bus station name "Nazarbayev University"; buses No. 10, 12, 18, 37, 40, 47, 51, 53. After you get off the bus, please see the google map scheme below or follow the link Google map route
• Please pay attention that city transport fee is 180 tenge by cash. Please make sure to prepare cash beforehand, as there is no change in the bus. The fee is paid to bus driver. Operating time of buses from 6 a.m. till 11 p.m.
Routes from recommended hotels to the conference venue
• Hilton Astana is set in the Expo 2017 Astana complex, this contemporary hotel is 6 km from Baiterek Tower and 9 km from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. Participants of the conference can get from Hilton Astana to Astana International Financial Center by walk. Please see the map below or follow the link Google maps route
• Wyndham Garden Astana is contemporary, upscale hotel with a part-glass facade lies next to the EXPO 2017 conference and exhibition center, 7 km from the Baiterek Tower and 9 km from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. Participants of the conference can get from Wyndham Garden Astana to Astana International Financial Center by walk. Please see the map below or follow the link Google maps route
• Hampton By Hilton Astana Triumphal Arch is located in the business district of Astana. A 17-minute walk from Expo 2017 Astana, the property is also 1.9 mi away from Bayterek Monument. The nearest airport is Astana International Airport, 5.6 mi from the property. Participants of the conference can get from Hampton by Hilton Astana to Astana International Financial Center by walk. Please see the map below or follow the link Google maps route
Social Programme of the INQAAHE Conference 2023
Monday, 29 May 2023
19:00-20:00 – Tour of «Nur Alem» Museum of the Future Energy at the Sphere (sponsored by the “Kazakh Tourism” National Company)
20:00-21:30 – Welcome Reception
Address: 55 Mangilik El Avenue, AIFC
Official website: https://qazexpocongress.kz/en/nur-alem
The most significant heritage of EXPO 2017 is the Nur Alem Future Energy Museum. The Future Energy Museum has become as a landmark visitor attraction in Astana. Nur Alem is the largest completely spherical structure in the world, 100 meters tall and 80 meters in diameter. The sphere weighs 13 thousand tons – twice the size of a famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. The area of the glass is equal to five football fields. Each piece of glass has its own shape and weighs up to 800 kilograms.
The Nur Alem Museum consists of eight floors. The “Acquaintance with Kazakhstan” zone is located on the first floor. The main types of energies – energy of space, sun, biomass, wind, water and kinetic energy are displayed from the 2nd to the 8th floors of the Museum.
Photo of Nur Alem Future Energy Museum
Tuesday, 30 May 2023
19:00 – Transfer from the conference hotels (Hilton Astana, Wyndham Garden Astana, Hampton by Hilton Astana) to “Farhi Hall”
19:30 – 23:00 – Gala Dinner in “Farhi Hall” (sponsored by “JSC National Company «KazMunayGas»”)
23:00 – Transfer from “Farhi Hall” to the conference hotels (Hilton Astana, Wyndham Garden Astana, Hampton by Hilton Astana)
Address: 16 Mangilik El Avenue
Official website: https://farhi-hall.kz
Farhi Hall is one of the premium venues for large banquets in Astana. The hall, with a capacity for up to 350 people, everything is provided for the convenience of guests – a recreation area on the ground floor, large screens, spacious parking zone.
The banquet menu consisting of national Kazakh and international cuisines is combined with a high level of service.
Wednesday, 31 May 2023
18.00 – Transfer from the conference hotels (Hilton Astana, Wyndham Garden Astana, Hampton by Hilton Astana) to «Astana Opera»
19:00 – 21:25 – "Madama Butterfly" Opera by Giacomo Puccini in Astana
Opera (sponsored by IQAA)
22.00 – Transfer from «Astana Opera» to the conference hotels (Hilton Astana, Wyndham Garden Astana, Hampton by Hilton Astana)
Address: Kunayev Street, 1
Official website: https://astanaopera.kz/en/afisha/98
Giacomo Puccini
Madama Butterfly
Opera in 2 acts
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Performed in Italian
(accompanied by synchronized Kazakh and Russian supertitles)
Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes (including one interval)
Full libretto in English is available at: http://opera.stanford.edu/Puccini/Butterfly/libretto_a.html.
The opera “Madama Butterfly” (“Cio-Cio-san”) is based on the American writer John L. Long’s short story, which was dramatized by D. Belasco. Puccini saw it when he was in London and the true-to-life story excited him. He suggested that librettists L. Illica and D. Giacosa write an opera libretto based on the drama. Puccini revised the opera, having shortened some pieces and splitting the second act into two separate acts. Performed with these minor changes three months later, the opera was a resounding success and quickly gained a solid reputation as one of the most popular contemporary operas.
The life story from faraway Japan responded to popular in the European arts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries attraction to exotica and artists’ desire to enrich their palette with new colours. However, Puccini did not set himself a special task to represent the national Japanese colour in the music. To represent a person's drama was the most important for him. The composer managed to not only keep but also deepen the content of the literary source while embodying this drama.
Photo of «Astana Opera»
Thursday, 1 June 2023
09:30 – 10:00 – Transfer from the Hilton Astana hotel to the universities
10:00 – 12:00 – Visit of the universities
12:00 – 13:00 – Lunch
Group 1 – Visit of the Nazarbayev University
Nazarbayev University is a modern, English-speaking research university located in Astana, the Republic of Kazakhstan’s capital and the heart of Eurasia. Admission and progression are entirely merit-based and integrate professor-led teaching and research starting on day one of studies. NU is providing a higher education that prepares graduates for success in an age of globalization and technological disruption. Graduates receive world-class degrees in earth sciences, digital sciences, public administration, educational leadership, engineering, medicine, and more. The Nazarbayev University is the country’s flagship academic institution with aspirations to become a global-level research university.
Photo of Nazarbayev University
Group 2 Visit of the M. Narikbayev KAZGUU University
The KAZGUU University named after M.S. Narikbayev is one the top humanitarian-law higher educational institutions in Kazakhstan. The university was established in 1994.
The mission of KAZGUU University – formation of a competitive humanitarian and legal elite of the country, devoted to the idea of national patriotism in the conditions of a possible choice and focused on solving the problems of advanced development of the most important areas of law, economics and science.
The university has 4 schools – the Higher School of Law (HSL), the Higher School of Humanities (HGSh), the International School of Economics (MSE) and the Business School (Business School).
13:00 – 17:00 – Astana city bus tour with tour guides, including the visit to Bayterek and Nurjol Boulevard, the Independence Square and the Astana Grand Mosque
17:00 – Transfer to the conference hotels (Hilton Astana, Wyndham Garden Astana, Hampton by Hilton Astana)
- Bayterek
Bayterek is one of the main symbols of Astana. "Bayterek" in Kazakh means "Tall poplar tree". Its architectural design is inspired by an ancient Turkic myth about the tree of life and a mythical bird Samruk: every year the bird lays its egg (the Sun) in the crevice between the branches of the poplar tree, symbolizing the arrival of summertime.
Photo of Bayterek
The Independence Square
Independence Square, located on Tauelsizdik Avenue in Astana, is the largest square in the city and serves as a venue for various cultural events such as festivals, concerts, parades and fares.
At the heart of the square stands the Kazakh Eli Monument, a 91-meter-tall stele made of white marble, with a rectangular base and decorative niches on each side. The stele features a gilded figure of the mythical bird Samruk on top.
The monument's bas-reliefs depict important milestones in the history of independent Kazakhstan, including the depiction of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the main facade. The snow leopards, which guard the Constitution, are national symbols of Kazakhstan.
Photo of the Independence Square
Astana Grand Mosque
The Astana Grand Mosque is a central mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan. It is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Astana Mosque has already been ranked one of the world’s ten largest mosques, with the total capacity of 235,000 worshippers.
The walls of the mosque and the inside of the dome are decorated with verses from the Quran and colorful patterns. The wall on the side facing the qibla is inscribed with the 99 names of Allah, illuminated with golden light from within. The mosaic wall is 100 meters long and 22.4 meters high and consists of 25 million glasses of different colors.
Photo of Astana Grand Mosque