“Go Viral Festival 2019” concluded on Sunday after three days of very interesting and successful discussions, debates and training workshops on media, business, culture and technology. The event was held at the Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) in Almaty and was organized by the U.S Embassy in Kazakhstan.

The Festival brought together leading experts, trainers and innovators from Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the United States. This year’s Festival had four themes: Media, Business, Culture and Technology.

The organizers expected 2000 visitors. They were not wrong as hundreds turned up to the KBTU and attended dozens of workshops, seminars, panel discussions and training sessions during the three days. Media gurus, journalists, IT experts and business leaders traveled to Almaty to participate in the Festival.

Packed simultaneous sessions took place from morning to evening on the main stage in the Round Hall, small stage and workshop rooms. Documentaries and interesting films were screened in the specially created open theater. Musical performances were also part of the Festival.

Training workshops and seminars on media literacy, news verification methods, audience identification, research methods in journalism, creation of media content in the age new technologies, role of social media platforms were very informative for media students and also for working journalists who attended those sessions.

Penal discussions and interactive talks on business, covering local and global issues, strategies, were quite popular among the audience. Business leaders and experts informed aspiring future entrepreneurs about the latest trends in the business world and provided the audience with useful tips and tools.

“It is awesome, thank you U.S Embassy, thank you Go Viral, thank you KBTU”, commented an excited student from Afghanistan.

Jazeera, a local university student said: “Whenever I passed outside the historical building of KBTU, I always wanted to see it from inside, now I have done this and it’s so cool”.

The Festival was jointly opened by the U.S Ambassador to Kazakhstan William H. Moser and KBTU Rector Mr. Kenzhebek Niyazovich Ibrashev on Friday 14 June.