From the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Verny Capital sent USD 1 million to the republican foundation for combating coronavirus infection. Additionally, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation allocated 200 million tenge for the purchase of highly effective rapid tests, which were transferred to the Public Health Departments of Nur-Sultan and Almaty for free testing of risk-group citizens. Later, at the initiative of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, two mobile PCR laboratories were purchased and donated to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the peak of coronavirus infection in Kazakhstan, in June-July 2020, thanks to the efforts of trained teams of specialists from both laboratories, work was arranged to timely identify persons infected with COVID-19 in Almaty and Nur-Sultan.
After the dam break in the Makhtaaral region in May 2020, the philanthropist publicly announced the allocation of USD 6 million for the construction of 150 houses for affected families in the region. The large-scale construction of houses in Myrzakent settlement was the second project to provide housing for Kazakhstan citizens affected by disasters. A year earlier, 100 families who lost their houses during the explosion at the ammunition depot in Arys were provided with new houses.
The Narxoz University, which has been standing under Bulat Utemuratov's patronage since 2006, intends to become a leading provider of specialists in business, law and social sciences, as well as a hub of talents, which attracts the youth from the whole Central Asia for education, researches, sharing knowledge and experience. Over USD 40 million was invested in modernization of the educational process, engaging international experts, equipment of the University, as well as development of the sports and social infrastructure.
«The University transformation was one of the most important non-commercial social projects for us, because creation of a worthy educational system and a fundamental base established on the best world practices is important for the country's economic development», — Utemuratov said.
Since 2016, the Verny Capital Group of Companies has acted as a sponsor of the scholarship program for 270 gifted students of the Narxoz University. 20 students received the Bulat Utemuratov’s scholarships “Future Business Leaders”.
Another charity educational project is successful in Kazakhstan, i.e. the network of Haileybury British schools in the cities of Almaty and Nur-Sultan. Students of the Haileybury Kazakhstan are the winners of international academic, sports and creative competitions, and school leavers enter the best universities of the world.
In 2007, Bulat Utemuratov has become the President of the Tennis Federation of Kazakhstan. In 2017, his efforts for tennis development were recognized by the premiums of the International Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation "for outstanding achievements in tennis development in Kazakhstan”. In October 2020, Kazakhstan was for the first time entrusted to hold the prestigious tennis tournament ATP 250 Astana Open in Nur-Sultan. The efforts of the Tennis Federation to organize the tournament during the pandemic in compliance with all sanitary and hygienic standards were highly appreciated by the ATP.
Bulat Utemuratov is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and from October 2019 he is one of four Vice Presidents of ITF.
Total amount of the funds allocated by the philanthropist for tennis development in Kazakhstan, namely, formation of national teams, running the national and international competitions, development of children’s tennis and construction of tennis infrastructure is about USD 85 million.
The Team Kazakhstan Project deserves special attention, since it gives the chance to Kazakhstan athletes to consolidate themselves among the best players. This is a unique sports school created to form its own tennis reserve players in the national teams of the Davis Cup and the Federation Cup. In general, about 40 international tournaments of ITF, ITF futures, ITF Juniors, ATF and ATP Challenger are held annually in Kazakhstan.
«Creation of infrastructure, development of children's tennis and hard work of a professional team of managers and coaches led Kazakhstan tennis to a qualitatively new international level. I am sure that using this approach in other sports will allow Kazakhstan becoming one of the main centers for holding significant sporting events, including world ones», — Bulat Utemuratov summarized 10-year work as the head of the Tennis Federation.
Bulat Utemuratov actively supports culture and art. He is the Chairman of the Board of Guardians of the Foundation for Ballet and National Dance Development and Support, supports the Foundation named after Kazakhstan musician Batyrkhan Shukenov, finances the republican competition of wooden and brass wind instruments and scholarships for talented young students of music schools and universities throughout the country. Regular exhibitions of Kulanshi Center for Contemporary Art are held under his patronage at the Forte Bank Kulanshi Art Space. Bulat Utemuratov is a honorary guardian of the Nazarbayev Foundation. Bulat Utemuratov was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of Almaty" in September 2020 for his contribution to the development of Almaty and charitable assistance provided during the coronavirus pandemic.
