- Thursday, 2 April, 2026
- Almaty 75 °F / 24 °C
- Astana 63 °F / 17 °C
I have served as ambassador of Israel to Kazakhstan twice, in the periods between 1996-2002 and 2008-2012. Thanks to this, I am able to analyse the changes...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s GDP grew 4.2 percent in the first six months of the year due to the growth of main indicators in industry, construction, agriculture, transportation,...
ASTANA – FC Astana, Kazakhstan’s Premier League title holders, overcame resistance in two matches with FK Spartaks Jurmala to reach the next qualifying round of the UEFA...
July 22, 2017 is a special date in the modern history of Ukrainian-Kazakh relations as it marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between...
ASTANA – Kazakh TV, which broadcasts to more than 118 countries, is the nation’s first satellite channel aiming to report about the country and its achievements. Director...
ASTANA – Kazakh exports increased 37.6 percent in the first half of 2017, Kazakh Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov announced at a recent government meeting. “In...
ASTANA – Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov said July 18 that the indicator of gross domestic product is planned to expand with new parameters taking into...
ASTANA – More than 70 percent of Kazakh civil servants support increasing meritocracy in the country’s civil service, Deputy Chair of Kazakhstan’s Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption...
ASTANA – In a dramatic comeback, the Astana Arlans defeated the Cuba Domadores 6-5 July 15 to end the World Series Boxing’s (WSB) seventh season. With the...
ASTANA – U.K. Department for International Trade Minister of State for Trade and Investment Greg Hands visited Astana July 18 to meet with government officials, attend EXPO...
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has announced plans to develop a legislative base regulating cryptocurrency transactions for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region...
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan will maintain a 10.5-percent base rate with a corridor of +/- 1 percent, the Bank announced recently. The annual inflation...
ASTANA – The capital is offering the public an opportunity to enjoy a concert at the Astana Opera House July 21 featuring Austrian Gustav Mahler’s famous Symphony...
ASTANA – Urban leaders gathered for the 25th International Assembly of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Capitals and Major Cities July 13-14 to discuss a new programme...
ASTANA – Astana will welcome Hollywood stars for the 13th International Eurasia Film Festival to take place in Kazakhstan’s capital July 22-28. Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich, Adrien...
ASTANA – This year Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced a wide-ranging policy “Course towards the future: modernisation of Kazakhstan’s identity” outlining steps for modernisation of social norms....
ASTANA – One-hundred-seventy-four individuals started their own businesses and 384 loans were granted in the first half of this year as part of the second direction of...
ASTANA – More than 82,000 people were employed in the first half of 2017 under the third direction of the Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship Development Programme....
ASTANA – Cook, seamstress, accountant, hairdresser, electrician and welder are among Kazakhstan’s most popular vocational specialties, according to Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection Birzhan Nurymbetov....
ASTANA – Fifteen-year-old Taraz resident Isaac Mustopulo, who is committed to helping Kazakh children with special needs receive a full-fledged education, participated in the Human Library under...
ASTANA – The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Foreign Ministers Council adopted during its July 17 meeting in Minsk Belarus measures to counter information technology crimes and...
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently hosted a seminar to increase the potential of Afghanistan’s civil servants and representatives of non-governmental organisations as part...
ASTANA – “Following the Partisan Paths,” an exhibit created by photo reporter Tatyana Alexenko featuring approximately 44 unique World War II photographs, opened July 14 at the...
ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier and a leading airline in the Central Asian region, was built without state help, said company president Peter Foster in...
ASTANA – The nearly 140 children without parents who have found shelter in the 240-bed Atyrau Sabyr Kazybayev foster home will soon be calling somewhere else “home.”...
ASTANA – Visitors and residents arriving at a new Nurly Zhol train station in Astana can now use Astana Taxi services right at the train station to...
ASTANA – Americans Michael and Debbie Campbell have found the key to a harmonious post-retirement existence. Living a nomadic lifestyle has allowed the couple to travel to...
ASTANA – Entrepreneurs from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries will no longer need to travel to China, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan to purchase goods, as Central Asian...
ASTANA – The Mangystau region Akimat (regional administration) signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian company Reach Energy as part of the Kazakhstan – Malaysia business forum,...
ASTANA – In connection with the increased cases of children falling from buildings because of windows that give way, doctors recommend changing the design of plastic windows...
ASTANA – High-level representatives of the Islamic world confirmed their participation in the first Summit on Science and Technology in Astana during the 44th session of the...
Religious faith has had a hugely positive impact. It helps people make sense of life as well providing comfort at times of distress. Even more importantly, the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan confirmed July 12 its commitment to agreements between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries to reduce oil production until...
ASTANA – A play called “Is It Easy to Be a Queen?” and staged by the State Korean Theatre of Musical Comedy, won the Best Performance award...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, will host Aug. 27 the International Athletics Marathon of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building...
ASTANA – Abu Dhabi-based Al Hilal Bank is expanding its range of services and launching Islamic banking products for individual customers, according to forbes.kz. In the medium...
ASTANA – Switzerland is ready to share its financial sector and budget management experience, said Swiss Federal Councillor and Federal Department of Finance head Ueli Maurer during...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China signed $160 million in agreements July 11 during the Kazakh-Chinese Agriculture Investment Forum held as part of a two-day visit to the...
ASTANA – Kazakh radioecology experts and representatives of non-governmental organisations recently discussed the rehabilitation of land at the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the use of green...
ASTANA – The Latvian pavilion held the international conference “Prospects of global transport communication. Eurasian potential” July 11 in the framework of the Week of Transit and...
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed bilateral political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation July 12 in the Akorda presidential residence....
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov during the July 11 Ministerial Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna expressed support...
ASTANA – International experts and city planning specialists and heads of large construction companies discussed urban development and shared international and local expertise at the July 7...
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov spoke about using artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose and treat oncological diseases at a July 11 government meeting. “Together...
ASTANA – Principal Soloist of the Astana Opera and Kazakh Honoured Worker Medet Chotabayev recently made his debut as Pollione in Vincenzo Bellini’s opera “Norma” at Austria’s...
ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate recently adopted a law to consolidate energy transmission companies to increase their reliability, according to the press service of the Ministry of...
ASTANA – This March, Kazakhstan and Hungary marked the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The common roots and historical ties between the two nations have always served...
On the eve of the official visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to the Kazakh capital on July 11-12, The Astana Times spoke with Kazakhstan’s ambassador in...
ASTANA – “Kazakhstan and Germany – 25 Years of Partnership: Cooperation in Energy, Technology and Raw Materials” was the topic of the 20th anniversary meeting of the...
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan and Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis discussed July 10 in Astana bilateral trade and economic cooperation in the light and food industries,...
More than 300 schoolchildren are taking part in the national robotics competition of the World Robot Olympiad which took place July 3-4 in Astana. Young talents competed...
ASTANA – EXPO 2017 received its one millionth visitor July 11. Approximately 1.8 million tickets have been sold and 921,293 people visited the exhibition in the first...
ASTANA – Italian cyclist and Astana Pro Team member Fabio Aru and Danish teammate Jakob Fuglsang recently climbed to second and fifth respectively in the overall standings...
ASTANA – More than 200 children enjoyed a train tour around the country July 2-11. The project was initiated by Fund of Social Projects supported by Kazakhstan...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently signed the Law On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Road Traffic, according to...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced July 3 the opening date for low enriched uranium (LEU) bank in Kazakhstan will be Aug. 29. “August 29 marks...
ASTANA – Thirty-eight couples were married July 5 in the lead up to Astana celebrating its 19th birthday. The annual ceremony took place at Atameken cultural centre,...
ASTANA – EXPO 2017 played host to the celebration of several more countries’ national days last week, in this round Venezuela, Latvia and Azerbaijan. Venezuela marked its...
ASTANA – Two of the three Kazakh football clubs that began their campaigns in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds in late June and early July have...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national flag carrier Air Astana presented July 6 the documentary “Air Astana: Connecting Destinies” that captures the lives of Kazakhs living abroad. The premiere...
ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry and Kazakhstan’s Chief Editors Club announced July 10 the winners of the Fourth International “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media”...
ASTANA – A variety of cultural events took place July 6 in Astana as the capital celebrated its 19th birthday. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev kicked off July...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the First Congress of Honorary Consuls of Kazakhstan, dedicated to the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic...
ASTANA – The Kazakh President’s Special Envoy on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov visited Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine July 4-8,...
ASTANA – Participants of the fifth round of the Syrian talks wrapped up an inconclusive second day at the negotiating table in Astana July 5, after attempting...
ASTANA – Kuryk international ferry port on the Caspian Sea, which started operation in the beginning of the year, has received 93 ships and more than 400,000...
ASTANA – The Almaty Employment and Social Programmes Department has doubled its funding this year compared to 2016 to provide social support for people with disabilities. The...
ASTANA – Approximately 125 pianists, violinists and cellists from 20 countries demonstrated their accomplishments June 15-25 at the 10th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. The event,...
ASTANA – What are the prospects of using blockchain? How can genetic profiling transform lives? Why are robotics classes popular in the country? To learn about the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has the potential for renewable energy throughout its sprawling land, especially in the form of wind and small hydro power plants. As a result,...
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently thanked Kazakh scientists and forest rangers for creating the man-made forest belt that surrounds the city. “I would like to...
ASTANA – Astana’s international airport has been renamed Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in honour of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The name change follows a large-scale renovation resulting in a...
ASTANA – Kids sports seem to be largely developing in Kazakhstan’s regions through the introduction of different activities. Enthusiasts from Kostanai created their own Derby Football Academy...
ASTANA – On July 2, the residents of Almaty celebrated their annual Alpiniada at the Shymbulak Ski Resort outside the city. The festival, a massive joint climb...
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek has proposed extending the open skies regime to next year to attract more foreign tourists to the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s government approved June 27 a Concept of Tourism Development until 2023, which incorporates international best practices in state support of tourism and reconfigures some...
ASTANA – The United Nations opened its EXPO 2017 pavilion during the expo’s recent UN Day celebrations. Kazakhstan was named in January a non-permanent member of the...
The Aktobe region Akimat and United Energy Aktobe have agreed to build a wind generator production plant in the region’s industrial zone. Aktobe Akim (Governor) Berdybek Saparbayev...
ASTANA – Baby girl Muslima Samatkyzy born May 11 to a family from Taldykorgan, in the Almaty region was recently identified as Kazakhstan’s 18 millionth citizen. “All...
ASTANA – Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund is one of the world’s 20 most transparent sovereign wealth funds, according to the U.S.-based Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, a...
ASTANA – Kazakh national companies’ net profits increased 2.7 times in first quarter 2017 over first quarter 2016, reaching 131.6 billion tenge (US$407.8 million). A combination of...
ASTANA – The government has allocated a record 12.2 billion tenge (US$37.8 million) to attract foreign investment in 2017, reports Finprom.kz. The financing will develop industrial zones...
ASTANA – Fermerskaya produkciya (Farm products) agricultural cooperative, composed of 20 farmers from Tselinograd district and Yereymentau and Bulandy districts in Akmola region, is a way for...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev met July 3 with the heads diplomatic missions and representations of international organisations accredited in the country. The meeting, which also included...
ASTANA – The office of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security will open in Astana by the end of the year, Kazakh Vice Minister of National Economy...
On June 30, the Shymkent Refinery commissioned a large process facility, which is the isomerisation unit for light gasoline fractions with a pre-hydrotreating block and produced the...
ASTANA – World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said during the June 26-27 “Tourism and Future Energy: Unlocking low-carbon growth opportunities” conference in Astana that Kazakhstan...
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced at the recent Fifth World Kurultai of Kazakhs that Kazakhstan’s population had reached 18 million. “In 1991, when Kazakh independence...
ASTANA – Tamikrest gave a concert featuring incredible guitar mastery as part of their world tour June 24 during the Spirit of Astana, an ethnic music festival...
ASTANA – EXPO 2017 features nightly music, laser shows and dancing featuring more than 150 performers. All of the artists are local and were chosen during a...
ASTANA – Italy and Kazakhstan have been loyal trade partners for more than 25 years and the business council established in 2007 provided insight into the economies...
ASTANA – Serbia marked its National Day June 28 with cultural events and films about the country, as well as an entertainment programme with stars such as...
ASTANA – Sixteen senators representing 14 regions as well as Astana and Almaty were elected June 28 to the upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament in elections...
ASTANA – An exhibit featuring the Tutankhamun collection and artefacts of ancient Egypt opened June 24 at the National Museum of Kazakhstan, giving locals and guests the...
ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, won the Best Airline in Central Asia and India award at the June 20 Skytrax World Airline Awards at the...
ASTANA – Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester officially opened June 26 the British national pavilion at EXPO 2017 as part of the National Day of Great Britain...
This year America’s Fourth of July Independence celebration will be shared with hundreds of other countries and countless guests on the other side of the world at...
As a country, Kazakhstan has set its sights firmly on the future. The continued modernisation of the economy and society is rightly seen as essential to provide...
ASTANA – Prominent Kazakh diplomat Nurlan Onzhanov presented his book “Peacemaker: The Syrian Knot” during a June 29 international conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic...
ASTANA – The international conference “Modern Approaches in Managing Socially Significant Diseases. Diabetes Mellitus” addressed June 28 the prevalence and risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases, in...
