China’s Development Bank registers at AIFC

ASTANA – Astana International Financial Centre’s (AIFC) Financial Services Regulatory Committee recently registered the Development Bank of China, which makes it the 10th participant of the centre....


Kazakhstan’s external debt increases $75 billion in 10 years

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s external debt has increased $74.6 billion to $168.9 billion in the past ten years as of October 2017, according to Kazakh National Bank press...


Kazakh Agrotechnical University to be country’s centre for agro-sector digitisation

ASTANA – Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University will become the scientific and methodological centre for digitisation in the agro-industrial sector, university rector Akhylbek Kurishbayev said at a Feb....


Kazakh association takes initiative to create rules of the game on crypto-currency market in EAEU

ALMATY – Organisers of the Feb. 16 International Crypto Conference 2018 in Almaty said their goal was to become a “translator of the Eurasian view on the...


Kazakh figure skater participates in Olympic Channel documentary

ASTANA – Kazakh Figure skater Denis Ten, the bronze medallist at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, was the first athlete shot for the Game Breakers documentary series produced...


Red Cross and Red Crescent conference slated in Almaty

ASTANA – The Kazakh Red Crescent Society, which provides social and humanitarian assistance, first aid classes and training and prepping for natural disasters, will hold its European...


Kazakhstan’s 2014 figure skating medal winner Denis Ten comes up short in PyeongChang

PYEONGCHANG – Kazakhstan’s Sochi Olympics bronze medal winner Denis Ten found himself in 27th place here overall after his figure skating performance at the PyeongChang Games, failing...


Tokmadi pleads guilty to murdering BTA Bank chief in 2004

TARAZ – Muratkhan Tokmadi, a former gang member turned businessman, pleaded guilty Feb. 16 to murdering chairman of the board of the BTA Bank Yerzhan Tatishev in...


Kazakh champion FC Astana loses to Portugal’s Sporting in UEFA Europa League

ASTANA – FC Astana lost 1-3 to Portugal’s Sporting in the Europa League’s round of 16 competition. The match was of historical importance for Kazakhstan: no Kazakh...


New government website allows citizens to submit documents electronically

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens are now able to provide residence certificates to government agencies and other property information through a government website rather than in paper format....


Kazakh special economic zones do not justify state support, need to be improved

ASTANA – The Ministry for Investment and Development recently determined that special economic zones are not justifying the state support they receive and has called for increased...


Ust-Kamenogorsk – major industrial and tourism centre

ASTANA – Ust-Kamenogorsk, a city in eastern Kazakhstan with a population of more than 300,000, is a must visit destination for someone starting his or her journey...


Kazakh competitive cheerleading gaining recognition abroad

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s cheerleading achievements are mounting and the sport is developing in the country, President of the country’s Federation Union of Cheerleading and Cheer Sport (KUC)...


Alageum Electric expands export borders

ASTANA – Alageum Electric, one of Kazakhstan’s major electrical engineering companies, offers a wide range of products and services. The company not only provides power transformers to...


Abai Arena multifunctional complex construction starts in Semey

ASTANA – Construction has started on Abai Arena, a complex with an entertainment and sports centre in the new district in Semey. The facility is dedicated to...


Entrepreneur inspires Kazakh teenagers

ASTANA – Askhat Abzhanov, an entrepreneur from Stepnogorsk, is the founder of Zhana Urpak (“new generation” in Kazakh) Leadership School in Almaty. The school conducts various trainings...


Kazakh citizens will soon be able to enter UAE without visas

ASTANA – Starting March 10, citizens of Kazakhstan will be able to enter the United Arab Emirates without visas. This was reported by the head of the...


Imantau: pearl of Blue Mountains in North Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Imantau natural zone, in the North Kazakhstan region, is popular with tourists keen on fishing and camping. Its low mountains, beautiful lake and dense forests...


Kazakhstan to offer some medical services for purchase within national healthcare programme

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to launch by 2020 a set of additional health benefits within its national healthcare programme, which citizens can pay for themselves or with...


Garage incubator selects 14 projects ahead of Astana Hub accelerator launch

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital recently hosted the launch of Garage incubator seeking to provide a platform for start-up development ahead of the upcoming launch of Astana...


Kazakhstan’s prison population drops dramatically in criminal justice reform breakthrough

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has made what officials called an “incredible” leap forward on the prison index, moving from the third-ranked country in the world in terms of...


Kazakhstan joins Global Happiness Coalition

ASTANA –Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently formed the Global Happiness Coalition. Initiated by the UAE, the coalition aims to...


Precision agriculture technology, digitisation introduced to boost productivity

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture has presented plans to focus this year on introducing precision technology and intensive irrigation, livestock development and renewing agricultural machinery....


Mangistau eagle hunters to open falconry school

ASTANA – Mangistau region’s berkutchi, or eagle hunters, plan to open their own falconry school in Tushybek village in an effort to preserve the ancient tradition, reported...


Kazakh Investment Ministry to focus on manufacturing, exports and labour productivity

ASTANA – The Ministry for Investment and Development will concentrate this year on manufacturing, focusing on export-oriented sectors and labour productivity under the Accelerated Industrial and Innovative...


Kazakh economy grows 4 percent in 2017 on increases in manufacturing, non-extraction industries

ASTANA – The Ministry of National Economy leadership outlined Kazakhstan’s economic results for 2017 and shared its plans for the current year at a Feb. 12 press...


Oilfield service companies seek state support to increase competition in industry

ASTANA – The Union of Kazakhstan Oilfield Service Companies wants to increase the involvement of domestic businesses and state support for the $45 billion in projects underway...


North Kazakhstan region to welcome 767 families from south

ASTANA – More than 3,400 people, or 767 families of migrants and “oralmen” (ethnic Kazakhs who have immigrated back to Kazakhstan since its independence), will move to...


Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve – on the way to Great Silk Road

ASTANA – Picturesque Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve has developed tourist routes and launched a tulip festival as part of the Great Silk Road cluster revival. Far from the...


Kazakh singer named most popular singer of the year in China

ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen is gaining popularity worldwide and was named Most Popular Singer of the Year for the second year in a row at...


Kazakh Labour and Social Protection Ministry to focus on self-employed workforce, digitisation

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Labour and Social Protection will focus on formalising the self-employed workforce and continue digital transformation in the field in 2018, according...


Kazakh Ministry of National Economy to cut public debt, boost tax to GDP ratio

ASTANA – Decreasing Kazakh public debt to 23.7 percent by 2022 using eurobonds and Islamic Sukuk securities and other priorities for economic development, including privatisation, industrial development,...


Phased plan developed to transfer Kazakh alphabet to Latin script

ASTANA – A draft action plan has been developed detailing the phased transfer of the Kazakh alphabet to Latin script by 2025. Sacral Geography of Kazakhstan, a...


Young dombra player among those who inspire nation

ASTANA – Nineteen-year-old dombra player Alexey Lodochnikov has been named one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces. An ethnic Russian, the gifted educator at Kachirsky children’s home in...


Kazakh, French cooperation produces successful cement plant in Zhambyl region

ASTANA – The Jambyl Cement plant near Mynaral in the Zhambyl region, the first in Kazakhstan to use the dry method for cement production, is currently the...


Green Bridge Partnership Programme offers tool for Paris Climate Agreement implementation

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, in his state-of-the-nation address earlier this year, as a priority, underlined the importance of increasing requirements for energy efficiency and energy saving...


Kazakhstan loses heartbreaker to Spain in European Futsal Championship semifinals

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national futsal team reached the European Championship semifinals in Slovenia carrying high expectations, given their 2016 European Championship bronze medal, but fell to Spain...


Kazakh short-track skater carries flag at Olympics opening ceremony

PYEONGCHANG – The 2018 Winter Olympic Games kicked off in PyeongChang, South Korea, with the Feb. 9 opening ceremony. The Kazakh flag was carried by short-tracker Abzal...


Dialogue platform for Kazakh state and civil society sets agenda for 2018

ASTANA – This year’s first meeting of the Dialogue Platform on the Human Dimension, involving the Foreign Ministry, public authorities and civil society, was held in Astana...


First virtual museum launches in Taldykorgan

ASTANA – The first virtual museum in Kazakhstan recently launched in Taldykorgan, 24.kz reported. A group of young artists created the “Zhetysu 360” project under the Digital...


Kazakhstan’s UN Security Council presidency marks significant step in country’s development

In foreign policy terms, Kazakhstan can look back at many achievements over the last 26 years. It has forged, almost from scratch, excellent relations with nations across...


TSE Art Destination opens in Astana, holds first modern art exhibit

ASTANA – TSE Art Destination, which combines a modern art gallery, educational centre and experimental art lab, seeks to make art an indispensable part of capital life....


Freestyle skier wins bronze, Kazakhstan’s first medal at Pyeongchang

PYEONGCHANG – Kazakhstan freestyle skier Yulia Galysheva won Kazakhstan’s first medal at the 2018 Olympics, taking bronze in the individual moguls. The Kazakh athlete was considered one...


Kazakhstan’s foreign aid systems are maturing, integrating with foreign policy, says official

ASTANA – Not many know that Kazakhstan has been providing aid to other countries for the last two decades. A few years ago, the country adopted a...


Kazakh mathematician suggests solution to famous Millennium Prize problem

ASTANA – Aset Durmagambetov, eminent mathematician and scientist, recently proposed his version of a solution to Riemann hypothesis, one of Millennium Prize Problems. The solution is particularly...


Kazakh government to devote $61.4 million annually to develop AIFC

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will devote approximately 20 billion tenge (US$61.4 million) annually over the next three years to develop the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and the...


AIFC to launch exchange, court and arbitration centre in 2018

ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which opened Jan. 1, is set to register companies and launch its exchange, court and arbitration centre this year....


History of dombra exhibition opens in Atyrau

ASTANA – An exhibition recently opened in Atyrau’s local history museum on the history of the Kazakh folk instrument, dombra. A dombra is a round and flat...


Face recognition system launched in Astana administration building

ASTANA – The Astana city government recently launched a facial recognition system to identify people entering Astana’s government administration building and hopes to launch the technology in...


Kazakhstan launches online platform to monitor greenhouse gas emissions

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Energy and the World Bank recently launched an online platform to monitor and report greenhouse gases (GHG) emission sources. “Kazakhstan’s emissions...


New York Times articles, Khan Academy educational materials to be translated into Kazakh

ASTANA – Popular New York Times articles and educational materials from the global education nonprofit Khan Academy will be soon available in the Kazakh language, KazContent Board...


Golovkin named ambassador of First International Boxing Forum

ASTANA – Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin, the WBC, WBA (Super), IBF and IBO middleweight champion was named ambassador of the first international boxing forum held in early February...


60-year-old Aktau fitness buff goes viral, challenges youth to match his exercise routine

ASTANA – The video of 60-year-old Zheksen Ayupov from Aktau city in western Kazakhstan doing an ab roller wheel exercise recently went viral on Kaznet. Born in...


Kazakh land, culture inspire graphic designer

ASTANA – The fairy tale illustrations of Kazakh-born artist Svetlana Popova, known under the pseudonym Veta, fascinate at first sight. Looking at them, children and adults are...


Kazakhstan improves ranking on Open Budget Index

ASTANA – Kazakhstan received 53 points in 2017, compared to 51 the previous year, in the Open Budget Index (OBI) ranking. The rating uses a 100-point scale...


Kazakh-Malaysian relations are strong after 25 years, says Malaysian ambassador

ASTANA – One year after celebrating their 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Malaysian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Syed Mohamad Bakri recently told The Astana Times the two countries...


Kazakhstan to introduce world standards for laboratory practice

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to implement the principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), which will allow the results of testing in Kazakhstan’s laboratories to be recognised...


Nazarbayev wants National Bank to put an end to ‘pervasive’ theft in banking sector

ASTANA – Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev lamented the “pervasive theft of the state’s and people’s money” at the Feb. 9 extended government meeting he chaired. “When are...


Extended Kazakh government meeting sums up results of 2017, outlines errors

ASTANA – Members of the Kazakh government reported to President Nursutlan Nazarbayev during the Feb. 9 extended government meeting, outlining the key outcomes of 2017 and setting...


Pundits, publications predict medals for Kazakhstan at Winter Olympics

ASTANA – International media and experts expect Kazakh sportsmen to win medals in mogul and 50K Mass Start at the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea. The...


Eagle hunting competition keeps ancient tradition alive

ASTANA – Some of the best eagle hunters from across Kazakhstan met Feb. 2-4 in the Urdzhar district of the East Kazakhstan region to compete in the...


Kazakhstan moves up one spot to 41st on 2018 Index of Economic Freedom

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy moved up one spot to 41st on the recently released 2018 Index of Economic Freedom annual report published by the Heritage Foundation. It...


Five-star hotel, recreation areas to open this year on Alakol Lake

ASTANA – Two recreation areas and a five-star hotel will open this year on Alakol Lake. The construction of a railway station and repair work on area...


Official Almaty travel guide explores city in 72 hours

ASTANA – The Visit Almaty tourist information centre presented the Almaty 72 project Feb. 6 for tourists and business travellers visiting the city for up to 72...


What Nazarbayev Hopes to Achieve

The 10 priority tasks that President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced on Jan. 9 indicate that the statesman is in a hurry to modernise Kazakhstan. The resourceful leader knows...


Air Astana sees 22 percent revenue increase in 2017

ASTANA – Air Astana’s passenger traffic grew 12 percent and revenues 22 percent in 2017 after declines in 2015 and 2016. The airline carried 4.2 million passengers...


Astana Opera presents concert of French Impressionist composers

ASTANA – The Forte-Trio ensemble will present an evening of French chamber music entitled “L’Impression” Feb. 9 at the Astana Opera House in the capital. The musicians...


Kazakh investment and development ministry hopes proposed law will improve product quality controls

ASTANA – The responsibilities for product quality control should be divided among government ministries, as only 77 percent of goods produced in 2017 complied with quality regulations,...


EU, EBRD programme offers services to Central Asian SMEs

ASTANA – A new Regional Small Business Programme (RSBP) launched by the European Union (EU) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Almaty Jan. 30...


Ten HC Barys facts from 10th KHL season

ASTANA – Despite the fact that the 10th regular Continental Hockey League (KHL) Championship is not over yet, for the fans of Astana Barys it has become...


New app helps Kazakhs be more eco-friendly in personal waste management

ASTANA – Almaty residents now have their own recycling guide. The Tazalyk app, developed and created by three university students, has a map showing the location of...


Almaty hosts International Digital Kazakhstan summit

ASTANA – Investments in human capital play a key role in developing the digital industry. State officials, businesspeople and scientists at the Feb. 2 International Digital Kazakhstan...


Kazakh medical organisation should incorporate corporate governance policies, says health minister

ASTANA – Kazakh medical organisations should be headed by professional managers, said Healthcare Minister Yelzhan Birtanov at a Feb. 6 government meeting. He reported on measures to...


Kazakhstan to face off against Croatia in Davis Cup quarterfinals

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s men’s tennis team beat Switzerland in the first round of the Davis World Cup, held Feb. 2 to 4 at National Tennis Centre of...


Kazakhstan among world’s leaders in civil aviation security, minister says

ASTANA – Kazakhstan recently passed an audit of aviation security of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, joining the world’s leading nations in civil aviation security, said Minister...


Kazakh National Business Roadmap helped create 17,000 SME jobs in 2017

ASTANA – More than 17,000 jobs were created last year as part of the Business Roadmap 2020 programme aimed at supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),...


Construction to begin this year on $1.6 billion beltway around Almaty

ASTANA – The Kazakh government plans to build a $1.6 billion beltway around the city of Almaty to reduce traffic in the city limits and decrease air...


Kazakh bank loan portfolios decline for fourth straight year

ASTANA – The loan portfolio among Kazakh banks declined 12 percent, and assets 5 percent, in 2017. Fifteen of 32 banks operating in the country had a...


Eurasian PMs outline digital priorities, economic cooperation at Almaty meetings

ASTANA – The Eurasian Economic Union’s (EAEU) digital agenda and mechanisms for implementing policies were the main topics of the Feb. 2 meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental...


Kazakh window factory utilises German technology

ASTANA – New apartment complexes are appearing in the city nearly every day. Thousands of new windows appear with them, a large proportion supplied by Funke Kunststoffe....


Centre to teach advanced agricultural techniques to be established in Kostanai region

ASTANA — An agrotechnical hub for specialists in that field will be created in the Kostanai region, Deputy Akim (Governor) of Kostanai region Meirzhan Myrzaliyev told a...


Digitisation, nurturing favourable business climate among Kazakhstan’s 2018 macroeconomic objectives

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s government and National Bank will focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability; ensuring a favourable business climate; developing economic sectors, including digitisation; and developing transport and...


Kazakhstan prosecutes 320 people for corruption, returns $43 million to national economy in 2017

ASTANA – The Kazakh Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption Agency registered 1,835 corruption-related crimes in 2017 and prosecuted 320 individuals, according to agency chair Alik Shpekbayev. The...


Bekmambetov’s new film “Search” claims award at Sundance Film Festival

ASTANA – Kazakh producer Timur Bekmambetov’s new film “Search” won the Audience Award and Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. North America’s...


GGG, Canelo rematch scheduled for May 5

WBC, WBA (Super), IBF and IBO middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo”Alvarez have signed a contract for another fight, according to anofficial announcement by the...


Polpharma Group to invest $37 million to digitise, automate Shymkent pharmaceutical plant

ASTANA – Poland’s Polpharma Group will invest an additional $37 million to digitise and further automate production at its Shymkent Chimpharm plant in South Kazakhstan. “The construction...


Mazhilis approves bill on public procurement procedures for NGOs

ASTANA – The draft law “On Amendments to Legislative Acts on Activities of Nonprofit Organisations” was approved in its first reading Jan. 31 in the Mazhilis (lower...


Paediatric heart surgeon among nation’s 100 New Faces

ASTANA – Gulzhan Sarsenbayeva, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, is among those who conducted pioneer research in paediatric heart surgery. “I am one of the few...


Kazakh government addresses measures to promote competition

ASTANA – The Kazakh government is continuing efforts to reduce activities for state and quasi-public companies in order to protect and promote competition in the country. Last...


Raising awareness of inclusive education is crucial for its development, says Nazarbayev University professor

ASTANA – By 2020, 70 percent of Kazakh schools will provide inclusive education. In an interview with The Astana Times, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education (NU...


Kazakh Agriculture Ministry to digitise state agricultural services, conduct technology renewal

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture is seeking to incorporate advanced agricultural technologies in the search for digital solutions to boost the nation’s economy as it...


Kazakhstan launches sales of uniquely numbered, lettered license plates

ASTANA – Drivers in Kazakhstan can now reserve and purchase uniquely numbered license plates through the Government for Citizens Corporation front offices. This service was launched by...


Kazakh Literature and Culture Centres open in Washington, New York City

ASTANA – The Kazakh National Academic Library is continuing its international project to promote Kazakh literature by opening centres in different countries. Seventeen centres have been launched...


Development Bank of Kazakhstan funds wind energy farm to open in 2019

ASTANA – The Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK) is financing CATEC Green Energy’s construction of a wind power plant near the capital. The initial section, with a...


Astana hosts forum on social entrepreneurship as model for societal change

ASTANA – What is behind a global social enterprise? What are the trends and challenges in social entrepreneurship? What lies at the core of socially-driven activities? The...


New agreement allows Kazakhstan to place bonds through Euroclear

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Finance, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and Euroclear Bank SA (Euroclear) have signed a memorandum on cooperation to develop a...


Atlantic Council panel discusses Kazakh President’s visit to the United States

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s latest visit to the United States, its assessment and outlook were discussed Jan. 26 at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC....


Honesty, swiftness and courtesy needed for KazPost to succeed

“Honesty, swiftness and courtesy” – this is our motto for the coming year. We want to achieve the goal of becoming the number one service company in...


Historical parallels

On Jan. 18, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev chaired one of the flagship events of the nation’s presidency of the UN Security Council – a high-level briefing themed...


Kazakh agricultural sector ripe for development

The tasks set by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in his state-of-the-nation address to the people of Kazakhstan aim at bringing the country to a whole new level...