REGULATIONS OF THE “OQ STARTUP” CREATIVE COMPETITION FOR THE BEST PROJECTS AMONG ETHNIC KAZAKHS ABROAD
I. Main Objective of the Competition
— The “OQ Startup” Creative Competition for the Best Projects is aimed at providing comprehensive support to projects in the fields of science, culture, IT, business, media, volunteering, as well as other creative and social fields.
— The main objective of the competition is to promote the original projects of Kazakh compatriots and ethnic Kazakhs living abroad in Kazakhstan, facilitate networking and the establishment of connections among participants, and support their creative initiatives.
II. Organization and Procedure for Conducting the Competition
— Kazakh compatriots aged 15–30 who are citizens of foreign countries are eligible to participate in the competition.
— Projects in the fields of science, culture, IT, business, media, volunteering, as well as other creative and social fields are accepted for the competition.
— To present their project, participants must submit the following materials:
1. Project Presentation
— A horizontally recorded video in MP4 or MOV format, no longer than 2 minutes, or a presentation in PPTX or PDF format, consisting of no more than 10 slides.
— The video or presentation must briefly and clearly present the main content and relevance of the project, its objectives, target audience, implementation methods, and expected outcomes.
2. Brief Project Description (PDF format)
The description must include the following information:
— project title;
— relevance of the project and the problem it aims to address;
— project objective;
— key project tasks;
— target audience (who the project is intended for);
— implementation mechanism and key activities;
— project implementation period;
— expected outcomes;
— resources required for project implementation.
If funding is required to implement the project, the participant must indicate the requested amount of funding and provide a detailed budget in the PDF document. The budget must specify the name of each expense item, quantity, unit cost, and total cost.
The submitted video or presentation should provide a concise and clear overview of the project, while the PDF description should provide a comprehensive explanation of the project.
Projects that have already begun implementation, are currently being implemented, or are planned for future implementation are eligible for participation in the competition.
If a project is already being implemented, the participant must provide information on its current results, achievements, and plans for further development.
For a planned project, its objectives, tasks, implementation stages, timeline, and expected outcomes must be clearly specified.
4. Submissions are accepted via email at Oqbaiqau@gmail.com.
5. Participants must submit their work, along with the following personal information — full name, citizenship, university and year of study, and age — by October 30, 2026.
6. By submitting their work, participants consent to its publication on the official website and social media platforms of Otandastar Qory (Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram).
7. Works are accepted in Kazakh, Russian, or English.
III. Competition Period
— Creative works will be accepted from September 30 to October 30, 2026.
— The judging panel will determine the winners within 30 days after the competition closes.
IV. Competition Results and Awards
Based on the results of the competition, the winners will receive the following awards:
— 1st Place: Laptop and diploma
— 2nd Place: Tablet and diploma
— 3rd Place: Smartwatch and diploma
— Special Recognition Prize: Bestemshe traditional board game and certificate of recognition.
Long Beach, May 15, 2026 – The Port of Long Beach, California, hosted the USA–Eurasia Transportation Forum, organized by the Consulates General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in California, with the support of the Port of Long Beach administration.
The forum brought together government officials, port authorities, business leaders, and transportation and logistics experts from the United States and Eurasian countries. The event aimed to advance trade and economic cooperation, exchange best practices, and develop new frameworks for collaboration in transportation infrastructure and freight.
The forum opened with welcoming remarks by the Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Long Beach, Dr. Noel Hacegaba, who expressed support for the initiative and underscored the Port’s readiness to develop new partnerships with Eurasian counterparts. On behalf of the Mayor of Long Beach, Long Beach’s inaugural Protocol Officer, Beril Unver, delivered welcoming remarks and emphasized the importance of strengthening the city’s international ties.
Delegations from the three countries, as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited in California, actively participated in the forum.
The Kazakhstani delegation included Consul General in San Francisco Nazira Nurbayeva, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Transport Zhanna Zholdasova, CEO of the Port of Quryq Yerkin Nygmetov, and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Arizona Hugh Hallman.
The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Elchin Allahverdiyev, Director of the Climate Diplomacy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, and Shahmar Hajiyev, Head of the International Relations Department of Azerbaijan Railways.
Georgia was represented by Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tamar Ioseliani and Lasha Abashidze, CEO of Georgian Railway JSC.
During the panel discussions, members of the Kazakhstani delegation presented the country's key infrastructure projects and transport-logistics potential. Highlighted initiatives included the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the expansion of the ports of Aktau and Quryq as critical Caspian Sea hubs, and the integration of Kazakhstan's transport infrastructure into global supply chains.
Forum participants expressed mutual interest in deepening cooperation between American and Eurasian partners in port infrastructure, logistics digitalization, and the development of multimodal transport corridors.
The forum confirmed the strong interest of the American business community in the transport and logistics opportunities of Kazakhstan and the Eurasian region, and the readiness of both sides to move toward concrete, practical cooperation.
Salt Lake City, April 28, 2026 — A Kazakhstani business delegation held a series of meetings in Salt Lake City on April 27–29 as part of a working visit aimed at further advancing Kazakhstan–Utah partnerships.
On April 27, the delegation met with Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson at the Utah State Capitol. The parties discussed cooperation in investment, urban development, critical minerals, advanced materials, higher education, and women’s entrepreneurship. An official invitation to visit the Republic of Kazakhstan was also extended to the Lieutenant Governor.
The delegation was led by Ruslan Berdenov, Director of the Almaty Development Center, and Kairat Bekenov, Chairman of the Management Board of Almaty Invest. They presented Almaty’s investment, industrial, and urban infrastructure potential. As Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty accounts for approximately 23 percent of the country’s GDP. Particular attention was given to Smart City infrastructure, high-tech manufacturing, tourism, and the development of the mountain and ski cluster.
Kazakhstan’s business community was represented by Aqniet Group, Das-Sauda, Meisster Group, Nero Group, and Center Elite NS. Opportunities for cooperation in education were presented by Serik Irsaliyev, President of Astana International University. The parties also discussed prospects for expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan’s higher education system, the University of Utah, and Southern Utah University.
As part of the visit, the delegation held business meetings with 47G, World Trade Center Utah, Bennett Group, Edison House, Neumont College of Computer Science, Provo Mining Association, the University of Utah, and Space Dynamics Laboratory. Following a series of negotiations, Kazakh and American companies agreed to begin drafting preliminary agreements in the fields of electronics, advanced materials, FMCG, and industrial development.
San Francisco, March 20, 2026 – For the first time, the Nauryz celebration with the participation of the Kazakh community was held at San Francisco City Hall. The event was organized by the Kazakh American Association of Silicon Valley, with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in San Francisco, in cooperation with cultural associations of the Iranian, Azerbaijani, Turkish, and Uzbek communities.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, in his welcoming remarks, highlighted the significance of Nauryz as a celebration of spring renewal and a symbol of peace, harmony, and mutual understanding. He also expressed his appreciation to the communities for building such cultural bridges. In particular, a certificate of recognition was presented to Zhuldyz Trimova, President of the Kazakh American Association of Silicon Valley, for her significant contribution to organizing the event at a high level.
In her remarks, Nazira Nurbayeva, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in San Francisco, emphasized the unique role of Nauryz in strengthening cultural ties between nations and preserving spiritual traditions. She also presented certificates of honors to several individuals for their significant contributions to the development and prosperity of the Kazakh community.
For the first time in the history of San Francisco City Hall, a traditional Kazakh yurt — a symbol of the nomadic civilization of the Kazakh people — was installed inside the building. The yurt attracted great interest from local residents and the broader American public. The festive program featured national music and dance performances from participating countries, as well as traditional cuisine. Representing Kazakhstan, Anel Murzagulova performed a traditional Kazakh dance, while Zhanibek Rysbek performed the kuis “Koroglu” and “Saryarka,” and Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, opera singer Azamat Zhyltirkozov, delivered a vocal performance.
The event was attended by around 500 representatives of U.S. official, business, and public circles, members of the foreign diplomatic corps, and Turkic diaspora communities.
San Francisco, February 19, 2026 – The city hosted a remarkable cultural event celebrating the richness of Kazakhstan’s national heritage. Through the powerful sounds of traditional instruments, the audience experienced the spiritual richness and artistic depth of Kazakh culture.
The event, organized by the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in San Francisco, brought together representatives of the Mayor’s Office, members of the cultural community, the diplomatic corps, and active members of the Kazakh diaspora. The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Consul General Nazira Nurbayeva and Mark Chandler, Director of International Affairs for the City of San Francisco.
The main goal of the cultural evening was to strengthen friendship and mutual cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States, while promoting the spiritual traditions of Kazakh culture.
The highlight of the evening was the internationally acclaimed Turan Ethno-Folk Ensemble. Recognized as a distinctive musical brand of the Turkic world, the ensemble warmly introduced American guests to the culture, rich history, and enduring spirit of the Kazakh people.
The ensemble’s tour across the United States was organized with the support of Hugh Hallman, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in the State of Arizona. This unforgettable evening, filled with music and emotion, left a lasting impression on all attendees. The ensemble’s concert tour continued in the State of Arizona
San Francisco, February 10, 2026 – The Otandastar Foundation invites compatriots living abroad and ethnic Kazakhs worldwide to participate in a free online dombra course. Course features:
Important requirement: Each participant must have their own dombra instrument.
Learning process: Registered participants will be divided into groups according to their skill level. Classes will begin in March 2026. The exact schedule will be shared with participants later. Spaces are limited. To participate, please complete the registration form using the link below:
For additional information: WhatsApp +7 700 671 90 33 (Maral), +7 705 664 72 11 (Zhandos)
San Francisco, February 4, 2026 – Supported by the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in San Francisco, a memorandum on aluminium alloy wheel production was signed in the presence of Roman Sklyar, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The project envisages the construction of a modern high-tech manufacturing facility with the participation of the Kazakh company Astana Motors, as well as international partners — Open Element, a Silicon Valley–based company, and Hands Corporation (Republic of Korea).
The project will contribute to deeper localization in the automotive industry, reduce import dependence, support the development of related sectors, and strengthen Kazakhstan’s industrial capacity. The new enterprise will become the first facility in Kazakhstan to produce aluminum alloy wheels with a full technological cycle, including the transfer of advanced engineering and manufacturing solutions. International partners emphasized that their choice of Kazakhstan as the project’s implementation site was driven by the country’s steadily growing automotive production.
The signing ceremony was attended by Nurlan Smagulov, Founder of Astana Motors; Beknur Nessipbayev, CEO of Astana Motors; Mustapha Akkari, Founder and CEO of Open Element; Seung Hyun Chang, Chairman of Hands Corporation; and Anar Makasheva, President of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union.
The implementation of this project forms part of Kazakhstan’s long-term strategy to become a major manufacturer and supplier of automotive components, serving not only the domestic market but also regional markets.
San Francisco, December 12, 2025 — The Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in San Francisco held a meeting with members of the Kazakh Association of PhDs in North America (KAPNA). The event welcomed distinguished guests: Dina Burkitbayeva — Founder of Freedom Biosciences; Darya Mikhailenko — Lead Chipset Power Lead at Google; and Assel Seitova — Founder of the Sisters’ Fund.
The highlight of the meeting was a special conversation with Dina Burkitbayeva, who shared her journey with young scholars from Harvard Business School to building a biotech company, followed by an engaging and thoughtful Q&A session with KAPNA members.
It was inspiring to see so much talent from Kazakhstan contributing to global research, technology, and social impact.
San Francisco, November 19, 2025 In the San Francisco Bay Area, the “Soyle” Kazakh speaking club has been launched with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan and in partnership with the Kazakh-American Association of Silicon Valley.
No matter how far from home we are, every Kazakh strives to stay connected to their culture, language, and identity. Created to bring community members one step closer to their homeland, the Kazakh speaking club has become a growing space dedicated to keeping the Kazakh language alive. And while there are many online resources for learning Kazakh, nothing compares to meeting compatriots face-to-face and speaking freely in a warm, welcoming environment.
The Club meets every Saturday in Palo Alto. Participants include not only members of the Kazakh diaspora, but also American citizens interested in learning the language. They are divided into two groups according to proficiency level. Classes are conducted by experienced and highly qualified teachers who not only teach the language, but also introduce participants to Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage and traditions. During sessions, participants get acquainted with the native sounds of Kazakh language, practice bargaining at the “bazaar”, recite tongue twisters and have a great time.
San Francisco, October 29, 2025 – During TechCrunch Disrupt international conference, nearly 80 startup founders from Kazakhstan gathered in Silicon Valley. The event, held in San Francisco, brought together more than 10,000 participants from 40 countries, all united by the shared goal of shaping the future of technology.
To support Kazakh founders during their visit, the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in San Francisco hosted a special event — Kazakhstan Startup Night. The event brought together leading investors and founders to share their experience and inspire the next generation of Kazakh entrepreneurs.
The program featured an open panel discussion with venture investors from Silicon Valley and a screening of the “Voice of Founders” video project. The networking session provided participants with an opportunity to exchange ideas, engage with like-minded innovators, and establish new professional connections.