Shell Kazakhstan Wins Prestigious Award for Driving Job Growth & Economic Diversification

Shell LiveWIRE strengthens local economies across the globe by promoting entrepreneurship. As the company’s flagship enterprise development programme, Shell LiveWIRE gives aspiring entrepreneurs opportunities to grow the knowledge, skills, networks, and resources they need to turn their business ideas into successful enterprises. These enterprises can then provide sustainable sources of income, create jobs, and drive innovation across the local economy. 

Sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, the annual AmCham Gala and Awards Ceremony celebrates companies for their commitment to advancing leadership, community service, and more. A coveted award category each year remains the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Category for large companies. This year’s CSR winner was Shell Kazakhstan, for outstanding achievements through its LiveWIRE programme. Through its LiveWIRE programme, Shell Kazakhstan successfully contributed to the economic diversification of the oil and gas dependent western region, helping create 337 jobs in 2018.

“This Award is a recognition of great team work and collaboration with our partners,” said Zhuldyz Galiakpar, Shell LiveWIRE Kazakhstan programme manager. “We are happy that among so many submissions from other large companies our programme is the one named as top programme for community service.”

Shell LiveWIRE Kazakhstan launched in western Kazakhstan in 2018. The programme partners with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to provide enterprise training and business support to early-stage entrepreneurs. Building upon their success in 2018, Shell LiveWIRE Kazakhstan expanded into Mangystau in May 2019 with a tourism-focused entrepreneurship programme. Shell LiveWIRE Kazakhstan also supported an information technology-focused cohort with seven Shell LiveWIRE entrepreneurs joining Astana Business Campus, one of Kazakhstan’s top IT incubators.

“Shell LiveWIRE Kazakhstan is designed to help grow young and innovative entrepreneurs in the areas of Shell presence,” said Galiakpar. “It is designed to close the gaps in existing entrepreneurial support ecosystem by providing high quality, tailor made individual consultancy support, training and networking.”

Shell LiveWIRE Kazakhstan will continue to support local entrepreneurship this year with training for entrepreneurs in western Kazakhstan.