Japan begins ‘Cool Biz' energy-saving casual wear campaign
The Japanese government began its annual "Cool Biz" campaign Tuesday to promote energy conservation in the workplace by dressing more casually.
The Japanese government began its annual "Cool Biz" campaign Tuesday to promote energy conservation in the workplace by dressing more casually, Kyodo reports.
Cool Biz, which calls for setting office air conditioners at 28 C, will run until the end of September, allowing officials at the central government to work without jackets and ties and wear polo shirts, sneakers and even Hawaiian aloha shirts.
The Environment Ministry introduced the initiative in 2005 and is also promoting its "Cool Share" campaign aimed at getting people together in air-conditioned common spaces including commercial facilities and cafes. It is also encouraging people to use "green curtains" by growing shade-producing plants.
Although it is not compulsory, if we reduce the use of air conditioning, we will be able to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions," said Shinji Isobe, head of the ministry's lifestyle policy office.
Private companies such as supermarkets and department stores also joined the initiative to combat global warming, with some planning to offer new fashion styles to help people spend the summer more comfortably.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry Bids Farewell to Latvian Ambassador
Images | Kazakh MFA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko received Ambassador of Latvia Irina Mangule on the occasion of the completion of her diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the meeting, the diplomats reviewed the outcomes of their joint efforts, highlighting the positive dynamics in the development of Kazakh-Latvian relations across political, trade and economic, cultural, humanitarian and other areas. They paid particular attention to strengthening intergovernmental dialogue, expanding business and educational ties, and enhancing cooperation within international organizations.
The Deputy Minister presented Irina Mangule with a Certificate of Honour on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, emphasizing her valuable contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and fostering mutual understanding between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Latvia.
In her turn, having completed five years of productive work in Astana, the Latvian Ambassador expressed sincere gratitude to the Kazakh side for the warm hospitality and expressed hope for the continued development of constructive partnership.
Deputy Minister Vassilenko extended his best wishes for Ambassador Mangule’s future endeavours.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakhstan and Mongolia Aim to Strengthen Transport and Logistics Cooperation
Images | Kazakh MFA
As part of his official visit to Mongolia, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu met with the country’s Minister of Roads and Transport, Borkhuu Delgersaikhan, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
The parties confirmed the high level of mutual understanding and emphasized the importance of deepening Kazakh-Mongolian cooperation in the field of transport and logistics.
The close geographical interconnectedness of Kazakhstan and Mongolia was noted, creating objective prerequisites for expanding the partnership. Current areas of cooperation were discussed, including rail and road transport, civil aviation, and the development of road infrastructure.
Special attention was given to the project of constructing the "Kazakhstan-Russia-Mongolia" highway, the implementation of which will reduce the route length between the two countries by more than 800 kilometers and help achieve the goal of increasing mutual trade turnover to 500 million US dollars.
The meeting also discussed the increase of export-import transportation through the supply of Kazakh grain and oilseed crops, as well as transport engineering products, including locomotives and passenger cars.
The Kazakh side noted that the implementation of joint projects would provide Mongolia access to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and other major Eurasian logistics corridors passing through Kazakhstan.
The interlocutors noted the positive dynamics in freight transportation by road and rail.
In the field of civil aviation, readiness was expressed to expand the geography of direct flights between Astana-Ulgii-Ulaanbaatar, which will contribute to the development of business and humanitarian ties.
Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their mutual commitment to developing international transport corridors and holding a trilateral meeting of the transport ministers of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia in China in July this year.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Seminar on Improving the Country’s Investment Climate was Organized in Astana
Images | Kazakh MFA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan together with the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan organized an "Open Doors Day" seminar at the site of the "Kazakh Invest" national company. The event was attended by deputy akims and deputy prosecutors of regions, representatives of government bodies and development institutions, as well as more than 1,000 business representatives who joined the discussion online, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
The purpose of the meeting was to address current issues related to improving the investment climate, increasing the efficiency of support for major investment projects, showcasing the capabilities of the National Digital Investment Platform (NDIP), and working through systemic issues faced by investors.
The seminar was opened by Gabidulla Ospanqulov, Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan. "Creating a modern digital infrastructure for investor support is key to the accelerated implementation of projects. The NDIP will reduce bureaucratic procedures, increase transparency, and simplify interaction between business and government agencies. This is an important step towards a more predictable and investor-friendly environment," he noted.
The General Prosecutor’s Office was represented by Madi Aikhimbekov, Deputy Head of the Service for the Protection of Public Interests. He provided detailed information about the prosecutor office’s work to protect investor rights, highlighting that more than 1,000 issues have been resolved with the involvement of supervisory authorities in recent years. Special attention was given to the mechanism for approving inspection activities regarding investors listed in the official register.
Madiyar Sultanbek, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of NC "Kazakh Invest" JSC, emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation: "Joint efforts by the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Kazakh Invest, and the General Prosecutor’s Office are enabling the creation of a stable and safe legal environment for doing business. The digitalization of processes and enhanced institutional support send a clear signal to investors about the government’s readiness for constructive cooperation."
During the event, the functionality of the NDIP was demonstrated, an analysis of case studies from the Unified Registry was presented, and regulatory updates adopted based on real-life project support cases were discussed.
In the Q&A session, investors raised a number of practical questions, which were addressed by government representatives. Several systemic issues affecting project implementation were taken under review by the General Prosecutor’s Office.
Business representatives highlighted the practical value of the event, stressing the importance of direct dialogue with government agencies and the ability to quickly receive clarifications on key project implementation questions. According to them, such formats not only identify existing barriers but also help jointly develop solutions to improve the business environment and build trust between investors and the state.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.