Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture to provide farmers with free seeds

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a new seed production programme in which farmers will be offered free high-quality seeds and required to return...


Yakutia’s National Library promotes Kazakh literature

ASTANA – The Kazakh Literature and Culture Centre opened March 15 in the National Library of Russia’s Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) under the international project initiated by...


Samarkand, South Kazakhstan entrepreneurs agree to establish joint ventures

ASTANA – Representatives of the Umar Company from Samarkand city in Uzbekistan recently visited the South Kazakhstan region and agreed to establish joint enterprises with businesses from...


Astana to celebrate Nauryz in grand style

ASTANA – Nauryz, an ancient holiday symbolising spring revival, is always celebrated by Kazakh people with grandeur. The festivities in the capital, including concerts and exhibitions, will...


Skier wins Kazakhstan’s first gold medal at Paralympic Games

The Kazakh National Paralympic team recently won its first gold medal in the history of the Paralympic games with Alexander Kolyadin’s winning gold in the men’s 1.5km...


Smart technologies transform education, healthcare in Pavlodar region

ASTANA – The Pavlodar region is building its smart cities by introducing 74 education, healthcare, culture and social projects as part of the Digital Kazakhstan initiative, reported...


Kazakh National Bank presents consumer-friendly home loan programme

ASTANA – The Kazakh National Bank recently presented the 7-20-25 mortgage programme, which will provide soft conditions for every citizen with official income to purchase housing. The...


Kazakh Senate Chairman, Indonesian President discuss Islamic finances and congress of world religions

A meeting with the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo was a central event of Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit...


New York real estate baron to return assets to Kazakh BTA Bank

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank will receive assets and money worth $38.3 million after reaching an amicable agreement with Joseph Chetrit, an American developer and former partner...


Tokmadi sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for murdering former BTA Bank chair

ASTANA – Muratkhan Tokmadi was sentenced March 16 to 10 1/2 years in a maximum-security prison for murdering the chair of the BTA Bank Yerzhan Tatishev during...


Central Asian heads of state discuss regional challenges in Astana

ASTANA – Leaders of five Central Asian states met March 15 in Astana in such a format for the first time in 10 years to address regional...


Value of Astana Process recognised during int’l ministerial meeting on Syria

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted a March 16 trilateral ministerial meeting of the guarantor states within the framework of the Astana Process on Syria, which was...


Kazakhstan announces conference on Afghan gender equality

Ambassador-at-large of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs Stanislav Vassilenko proposed during a March 8 United Nations Security Council meeting on Afghanistan a three-pronged approach to bringing...


Kazakh film producer presents “Unfriended: Dark Web” at South by Southwest Film Festival

ASTANA – Kazakh producer Timur Bekmambetov and Blumhouse Productions CEO Jason Blum presented a horror film titled “Unfriended: Dark Web” at the March 9-18 South by Southwest...


Kazakh consumers see small seasonal price hikes for agricultural products

ASTANA – Prices for socially important food products have increased 0.7 percent since the beginning of the year. The largest increases have been in Astana (102.2 percent),...


Development Bank of Kazakhstan continues investing in non-primary economy

ASTANA – The Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), a subsidiary of Baiterek National Holding, plans to invest 405 billion tenge (US$1.3 billion) into projects in 2018 related...


Vegetable oil production launches in East Kazakhstan region

ASTANA – Tag-Tin is the latest Kazakh company to use state financing to increase production to compete with foreign producers. The company is planning to build a...


Construction to begin in July on gas pipeline serving Astana, Karaganda, regions

ASTANA – Construction on the Saryarka gas pipeline, intended to bring gas to Kazakhstan’s capital and central and northern regions, will be launched in July, Kazakh Minister...


Nazarbayev recognises Tajik President’s efforts to deepen bilateral relations during meeting in Astana

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev awarded Tajik President Emomali Rahmon during a March 14 meeting in Astana the Order of “Parasat” for achievements in deepening Kazakh-Tajik relations....


Fugitive banker Ablyazov’s movement banned in Kazakhstan

ASTANA ­– The Kazakhstan Prosecutor General’s Office announced March 13 that Astana’s Yessil District Court has determined the so called “Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan” (DCK) unregistered movement...


Social initiatives help Kazakhs share in country’s growing prosperity

The global economy’s return to healthy growth after the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 is a major reason for optimism. Every country, including many like Kazakhstan...


Cooperation prospects and security challenges for Central Asia

Today, we are witnessing a change in the existing world order. It is increasingly characterised by stronger regional blocs and geopolitical confrontations. In these conditions, we see...


FC Astana defeats FC Kairat for Kazakhstan Super Cup

ASTANA – The Kazakh football season began March 4 with the FC Astana vs. FC Kairat Super Cup match. Astana, the country’s champion, scored a 3-0 win...


Bulgarian Stoilov appointed as head coach of Kazakhstan’s national football team

ASTANA – Stanimir Stoilov has been appointed as the new head coach of Kazakhstan’s national football team. The Bulgarian specialist, who made impressive achievements with FC Astana...


New train freight line connects the Netherlands, China via Kazakhstan

ASTANA – A new railway service connecting Amsterdam and China’s Yiwu was launched March 7 within the Belt and Road initiative. The 11,000-kilometre route passes through Germany,...


Kazakh boxer Daniyar Yeleussinov goes pro

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer and Olympic champion Daniyar Yeleussinov recently announced that he is turning professional and is expected to sign a contract with the British promoter...


Switching to Latin alphabet further opens Kazakhstan to the world

In October 2017, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree, which was amended recently, on the phased transition of the Kazakh alphabet from Cyrillic into Latin...


Astana Business Campus supports entrepreneurs, promotes innovations

ASTANA – Astana Business Campus, project  of the Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System (NURIS), seeks to develop the knowledge-based economy in Kazakhstan by equipping entrepreneurs with...


Expanding Kazakh-Indonesian economic relations is top priority, says Indonesian ambassador

ASTANA – Expanding economic relations between Kazakhstan and Indonesia is the top priority of Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Rahmat Pramono, he told The Astana Times in an...


Astana physician gathers team for free surgeries

ASTANA – Plastic surgeon Magzum Ongarov is planning to gather a team of fellow Kazakh specialists to provide treatment for low-income and foster children. He announced the...


Kazakhstan to quadruple five-year budget to fight terrorism

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will more than quadruple its budget to $837 million in the next five years to fight terrorism and extremism, said National Security Committee Deputy...


East Kazakhstan offers investment-ready opportunities, promotes health tourism

ASTANA – The East Kazakhstan region is seeking investors to develop travel projects and become a top medical tourism destination. The Astana Times interviewed the region’s tourism...


Kazakhstan signs Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

ASTANA – On the day of the 26th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s accession to the United Nations – March 2, an official ceremony for signing the Treaty on...


Zhaina International Women’s Forum discusses female entrepreneurship, empowerment

ASTANA – The March 4 Zhaina International Women’s Forum in Astana attracted more than 600 participants from Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Malaysia and the U.S. to discuss...


Berlin hosts annual Economy Day of Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The annual Economy Day of Kazakhstan business forum took place in Berlin Feb. 26 at the initiative of Kazakh Ambassador to Germany Bolat Nusupov. The...


KazSat system earned Kazakhstan $15.5 million in 2017

ASTANA – The KazSat national satellite communication system brought $15.5 million in income and replaced $37.2 million worth of imports in 2017 due to the reduced use...


Public figures, regional film industry discuss gender equality during FemAgora week in Almaty

ASTANA – Prominent public figures and members of the film industry from around Central Asia gathered March 8-10 in Almaty to discuss gender issues during FemAgora gender...


Astana launches pilot project to provide fee-based school buses for first time

ASTANA – Astana recently moved closer to providing for the first time transportation for its schoolchildren with the March 5 launching of the Mektep (School) Bus pilot...


Atameken focuses on integrating digital technologies as corruption-fighting measure

ASTANA – The Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and civil service and anti-corruption agency will focus on integrating digital technologies as a corruption-fighting measure, according to a...


Kazakhtelecom builds largest Internet of Things network in CIS

ASTANA – Kazakhtelecom has completed the first stage to build the largest M2M/Internet of Things (IoT) network utilising LORA, Zigbee and LTE technologies in the Commonwealth of...


Astana adds 18,000 hectares to city limits

ASTANA – Astana Maslikhat (local city administration) deputies recently approved the addition of 18,129 hectares to the capital’s city limits. The newly incorporated area will accommodate 211,000...


Kazakhstan to launch music, theatre and literary initiatives to modernise country’s global image

ASTANA – As part of Kazakhstan’s national effort to modernise its image globally, the country plans to launch a Theatre Laboratory initiative, a Literary Belt initiative and...


Investment ministry to review regulations to improve Kazakhstan’s investment attractiveness

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Investment and Development hopes to improve the country’s attractiveness to investors by reviewing current labour, tax and customs laws. “This year...


Kazakh instant noodles producer seeks to capture domestic market

ASTANA – With state support, more and more companies start production of essential goods, successfully competing with foreign products. KAZBRAND used the state support to construct high-tech...


Toll systems to be installed on main Kazakh highways

ASTANA – Installing toll systems on Kazakh and international highways is the main priority of the Nurly Zhol infrastructure development state programme, said Minister for Investment and...


Mangistau region farmers utilise green energy

ASTANA – Farmers in the Mangistau region are reflecting Kazakhstan’s emphasis on renewable energy by incorporating renewable energy sources into their operations. The Khanbekgul farm, which includes...


Central European, Central Asian foreign ministers launch new dialogue platform in Budapest

ASTANA – Seizing the occasion of its presidency at the Visegrad Group and standing by its “V4 Connects” motto, Hungary convened the first meeting of foreign ministers...


Meinhardt Group to assist Kazakhstan in next phase of development

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in his address to the nation on Jan. 10, put forward an inspiring vision for the next phase of the country’s economic...


Kazakh designers demonstrate collections at London’s Silk Road Fashion Show

ASTANA – Young Kazakh designers Zhanar Kainarbayeva and Aizhan Salimbayeva presented their works in London at last month’s Silk Road Fashion Show. The event introduced modern Central...


Kazakhstan launches new system to track alcohol, oil product production, distribution

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is launching an automatic system to track the production and distribution of alcohol and oil products called eSapa. The controlling devices – counters –...


Chocotravel, Aviata.kz to merge to compete in int’l online air, rail ticket market

ASTANA – Major Kazakh online air and railway ticket sales providers Aviata.kz and Chocotravel plan to merge to better compete in the international market, inform.kz reported recently....


AIFC Expat Centre offers English-language relocation assistance, hopes to attract foreign workers

ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Expat Centre provides English-language services, including visa and work permits, tax payments, consultations on healthcare, education, transport and accommodations...


Zhambyl region to focus on seven agricultural development priorities

ASTANA – The Zhambyl region will focus on seven priorities to develop the region’s agricultural sector, Regional Agriculture Department Head Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said during a recent meeting...


Gender equality is important element of success, says UN Women Representative in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – On the eve of the March 8 International Women’s Day, United Nations (UN) Women Representative in Kazakhstan Elaine Conkievich spoke with The Astana Times about...


Teacher of the Year named among nation’s 100 New Faces

ASTANA – Biology teacher Alexander Kintsel, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, believes the most important quality every teacher should possess is love and passion for working...


Georgia and Kazakhstan exchange tourism, business, logistic experience

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation led by Almaty Akim (Mayor) Baurzhan Baibek and Georgian administration headed by First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy and Sustainable...


Kazakh FM, officials brief foreign diplomats on national tourism effort

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is joining efforts with other government agencies to promote inbound and domestic tourism in Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov announced...


Nazarbayev announces Kazakhstan to lower mortgage costs, reduce taxes on low-wage workers and provide more microloans, among other initiatives

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced March 5 what he called “Five Social Initiatives,” including tax breaks for low-income workers and greater access to education, that are...


Former expat shares Kazakh experience in ‘Vagabond Chronicles’

ASTANA – “Kazakhstan, chroniques vagabondes” (“Vagabond Chronicles”), by French writer Aude Ceccarelli, is based on her three-year work and living experience in Almaty. It gives a glimpse...


Club 28 Petel volunteers knit woollen clothing for premature newborns

ASTANA – The volunteers of the Club 28 Petel (28 Loops) project gather in seven countries around the world to knit boots, hats, cardigans and toys for...


Brazilian businesses seek stronger Kazakh ties in mining, construction, technology

ASTANA – A delegation of business people from Brazil, including top management from the Optimal Capital Partners company, met with Kazakh officials and entrepreneurs to promote increased...


New route to transport passengers from Kazakhstan to Turkey on high-speed train

ASTANA – The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) high-speed railway route initiated last fall will transport Kazakhs to Turkey and Europe by the end of the year. “One of the...


Tumar: Kazakh-styled champlevé jewellery

ASTANA – Tumar is the first and only Kazakh brand of national-style silver jewellery using the champlevé enamelling technique. The company has an online store (www.mytumar.kz) where...


Loans vary among Kazakh cities and regions

ASTANA – Where one lives in Kazakhstan apparently helps to determine what he or she will buy using credit, according to ranking.kz. Residents of the capital take...


EBRD to invest $244 million in Kazakh renewable energy projects

ASTANA – The Eurasian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to invest approximately $244.2 million in Kazakh renewable energy sources (RES) attracting private and international financial...


Visually challenged pianist named one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces

ASTANA – Saida Kalykova, one of the nation’s 100 New Faces, is the only Kazakh citizen holding an academic degree in music. The pianist and composer, a...


Haileybury Astana launches International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

ASTANA – Haileybury Astana introduced the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme March 1 designed to incorporate a more holistic approach to students’ academic and personal development and...


National preschool classes launch postponed until 2020

ASTANA – The launch of national preschool courses to prepare children to enter first grade has been postponed until 2020 to allow new textbooks to be prepared...


Seven milk farms to be built in North Kazakhstan region

ASTANA – Seven milk farms capable of producing 10,000 tonnes of product will be constructed in different districts of the North Kazakhstan region to provide job opportunities,...


Kazakh construction companies introduce blockchain contracts

ASTANA – Ualikhan Nysanov is the latest Kazakh businessperson to incorporate blockchain into his business model. As the developer of AIDA Service, the construction company owner is...


Kazakh Invest launches call centre, CRM system for investors

ASTANA – Kazakh Invest is seeking investors to implement 17 projects worth $16.4 billion this year as part of the 2018-2022 national investment strategy, said Kazakh Invest...


Damu Fund supports Kazakh geneticist in dental invention

ASTANA – Kazakh genetic scientist Bauyrzhan Aituov has made a breakthrough in the incipient treatment of cavities. His technology, called InnoDent, features biocompatible implants that stimulate the...


Band brings American Bluegrass music to the Kazakh steppe

ASTANA – On a cold winter night, one of the capital’s pubs is swept away by the sounds of bluegrass music, which seems unusual for the surroundings....


EU, Kazakh officials call for stronger cooperation at Brussels forum

BRUSSELS – Kazakh government officials and high representatives of European Union institutions discussed prospects for Kazakhstan-EU cooperation in light of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA)...


Astana mayor sees major social, ecological, urban planning and development programme changes

ASTANA – Capital Akim (Mayor) Asset Issekeshev is proud of his city. The latest project, a light tram network from the airport to the new railway station...


Kazakh domestic pharmaceutical production up 79.8 percent in 2017

ASTANA – The Kazakh pharmaceutical industry increased production of the country’s most popular medications by 73.1 percent with production increasing 79.8 percent over 2016. Prices for pharmaceutical...


EBRD supported 177 SMEs and 62 female entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan in 2017

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kazakh government provided subsidies for management consulting services last year to 177 small and medium-sized enterprises...


Kazakh domestic carmakers increase sales 43.2 percent

ASTANA – Kazautoprom Union of Auto Companies published January’s results of new motor car and light commercial vehicle sales. Kazakh customers purchased 3,122 cars spending $73.9 million, a...


Boraldai Saka burial mounds welcome tourists in Almaty

ASTANA – Tourists to Almaty now can visit the Boraldai Saka burial mound archaeological complex, which in addition to the ancient necropolis showcases the reconstructed burial mound...


Kazakh movie about National Guard hero premieres

ASTANA – “Sixth Post,” a feature film about the courage and heroism of National Guard soldiers, premiered recently in the capital. The picture is based on the...


Kazakhstan makes ‘meaningful progress’ in extractive industry transparency, report suggests

ASTANA – The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) determined Feb. 13 that Kazakhstan has made meaningful progress overall in implementing the EITI Standard. The decision was made...


Kazakhstan strives to become corruption-free country

Today, we are becoming more and more aware of the problem of corruption in our country. In the past, we used to talk about how big and...


Astana’s 20th anniversary programme to include art festivals

ASTANA – The programme to celebrate Astana’s 20th anniversary this year will include performances by more than 500 artists from around the world. “The Parade of Capitals...


U.S. forensic experts rule out fatal accident in Tokmadi case

ASTANA – Specialists from the United States invited to Kazakhstan to reconstruct the crime scene in the Tokmadi case recently concluded that the gun in question could...


Kazakhstan removed from list of most corrupt countries

ASTANA – Kazakhstan improved its ranking nine spots to 122 and was removed from the list of the world’s most corrupt countries on the recently released 2017...


Radicalisation, drug trafficking, environment are key EU-Central Asia security challenges, say experts and officials

ASTANA – Fighting terrorism and extremism, including radicalisation, tackling drug and arms trafficking as well as environment and water management issues are among key security challenges faced...


YBYRAI Young Programmers’ League – first step in world of high technologies

In the digital era, the rapid development of which we are now witnessing, everything is changing: the economy, the state system and even society. At the forefront...


Digital Kazakhstan: transforming through modern technology

The Digital Kazakhstan state programme was approved in December 2017. It is an important programme that aims to improve the standard of living of every Kazakh citizen...


Kazakh skier’s bronze medal more than 20 years in the making

PYEONGCHANG – Kazakh Winter Olympic Team Head Coach Yelena Kruglykhina said recently that Kazakh skier Julia Galysheva’s Olympic bronze medal in PyeongChang in the moguls was more...


Astana FC makes incredible comeback in Europa League match against Portugal’s Sporting

The return match of Europa League’s 1/16 round between Kazakhstan’s Astana FC and Portugal’s Sporting ended in a 3-3 draw in Lisbon on Feb. 22. The fate...


New humanitarian knowledge in light of Fourth Industrial Revolution

In April 2017, a policy article “Course towards the future: modernisation of Kazakhstan’s identity” by President Nursultan Nazarbayev was published. Among many, there is one specific project...


Kazakhstan proposes developing roadmap for Kazakh-EU cooperation

BRUSSELS – Kazakhstan has suggested developing a roadmap to implement the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between the nation and the European Union (EU) and its...


Linguistic taste of time

Linguistic scholars rarely step into the spotlight of the nation’s historic events. Their everyday research work is routine and monotonous and may seem boring and ordinary for...


TCO reaches record-high oil production in 2017, seeks to expand in 2018

ASTANA – Last year was a milestone for Tengizchevroil (TCO), the Chevron-led joint venture operating the Tengiz oil and gas field in Atyrau region, as the company achieved...


Cardiac surgeons conduct artificial heart transplant

ASTANA – The specialists of the National Scientific Cardiac Surgery Centre conducted Kazakhstan’s first artificial heart transplant Oct 19, 2017 for a 60-year-old Pavlodar native, kazakh-tv.kz reports....


Venerable Kazakh confectionery aims to edge out imports with local sweets

ASTANA – Bayan Sulu, a Kazakh confectionery based in Kostanai, produces 31 percent of local sweets and is launching new products to replace imports and boost exports....


Kazakhstan supports latest UN report’s call for gender equality

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is committed to the type of gender equality called for in the UN Women report published February 14, UN officials said. “Kazakhstan has also...


Kazakhstan adopts new version of Latin-based Kazakh alphabet

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev amended his Oct. 26, 2017 decree concerning the transition of the Kazakh alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin script, which if kept, would...


Two new eco-friendly trams added to ‘tram capital of Kazakhstan’

ASTANA – Pavlodar Tram Management recently put into operation in Pavlodar the first two of 23 eco-friendly, climate-equipped trams as part of Pavlodar’s ongoing Public Transport Development...


Bank Astana introduces microbusiness loans for entrepreneurs

ASTANA – Bank Astana recently introduced microbusiness loans for entrepreneurs, reported Forbes.kz. The loans are up to 3 million tenge (US$9,330) for a maximum of 24 months....