Exhibition opens marking 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s accession to UN

ASTANA – The “Kazakhstan and the United Nations: Interaction for Peace” exhibition has opened in the Museum of the Library of the First President of Kazakhstan to...


Astana Ballet Theatre premiers “Walpurgis Night”

ASTANA – The “Walpurgis Night” ballet premiered March 17-18 at the Astana Ballet Theatre in the capital. The ballet was staged by Honoured Artist of Russia, People’s...


Our relations are based on mutual respect, says Uzbek ambassador in Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is paying a state visit to Astana March 22-23, one of his first foreign trips as the new leader of his country.Ahead of...


Kazakhstan welcomes results of Syria meeting in Astana, as Russia, Iran and Turkey issue joint statement

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan issued a statement March 16 welcoming the outcomes of another international meeting on Syria held March 14-15 as...


Kazakhstan is fascinating place for freelancers, experts believe

ASTANA – The Heritage Foundation recently rated Kazakhstan 42nd in economic freedom and Numbeo, the international information portal, ranked the nation as the 119th most affordable country...


Exhibition dedicated to 25 years of Kazakh-Russian relations opens in Astana

ASTANA – A month-long exhibition titled “Kazakhstan and Russia: a strategy of eternal friendship” dedicated to 25 years of diplomatic relations opened March 16 at the National...


New concept for renting houses in Astana

ASTANA – Local entrepreneurs have set new trends in the hospitality industry in recent years, as the Kazakh capital has become a top tourism and business destination...


Almaty region national parks undergo general improvements, new routes to be added

ASTANA – A new road map is to be developed, while some old ones will be revised and new routes will be added for tourists in national...


EBRD set to refresh cooperation with Uzbekistan under its new leadership

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Uzbekistan are set to re-engage on a new level. During EBRD’s Mar. 15-17 visit to the...


Kazakh director wins short feature award at Barcelona film festival

ASTANA – Twenty-six-year-old Kazakh actor and director Olzhas Nurbayev recently won Best Director at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival for his short film “The Boon” shot in...


Astana to be positioned as one of leading platforms for Islamic finance, says AIFC governor

ASTANA – The future and prospects of Islamic finance in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), as well as investment opportunities, Islamic capital market development and other...


KAZGUU provides additional scholarships to gifted students

ASTANA – KAZGUU University (Kazakh Humanities and Law Institute) allocates 80 million tenge (US$251,440) every year for tuition fee concessions, educational grants and scholarships for gifted students...


Air Astana, Lufthansa passengers can use single code to fly on both airlines

ASTANA – Air Astana and Lufthansa signed March 15 a codeshare agreement to increase from 7 to 14 the number of weekly flights between Kazakhstan and Germany....


Leroy Merlin to invest $31 million in first supermarket in Almaty

ASTANA – French giant in gardening, retailer Leroy Merlin is building the first of three supermarkets in the Almaty region and plans to invest $31 million in...


Baiterek Rocket and Space Complex set to launch in 2025

ASTANA – The future of the Baiterek Rocket and Space Complex project at the Baikonur Cosmodrome depends on Russia developing a new Phoenix carrier rocket which will...


Astana Process guarantor states reaffirm commitment to strengthening Syrian ceasefire

ASTANA – Russia, Iran and Turkey reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating and strengthening the ceasefire regime in Syria during a fresh round of peace talks March 14-15...


Kazakh freestyle skier wins silver at World Championships

ASTANA – Yulia Galysheva gave Kazakh sport lovers another reason for joy by winning a silver medal in the women’s dual moguls competitions at the 2017 FIS...


Finland, Kazakhstan have great potential for cooperation in clean energy, envoy says

ASTANA – Over 25 years of diplomatic ties, Kazakhstan and Finland’s strong and peaceful relationship has grown more intense, Finnish Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ilkka Raisanen said in...


Kazakhstan can be transit hub between Southeast Asia and Europe  

ASTANA – An agreement on a free trade zone between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will increase the flow of goods between these countries, said...


Parcel delivery service now available in Kazakhstan, through an app

ASTANA – Takebs, positioned as the world’s fastest parcel delivery service, has launched in Kazakhstan. The app is available in 11 languages on the IOS platform and...


Baiterek Holding finances construction of hydroelectric power plant

ASTANA – BRK Leasing, a subsidiary of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), has begun financing construction of the Turgusun hydroelectric power plant on the Turgusun River...


Barys has early Gagarin Cup success, stumbles at home

ASTANA – HC Barys had a successful first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, beating Traktor from Chelyabinsk. For the overall victory in that series, it was...


Astana to host another international meeting on Syria

ASTANA – Astana will host another round of talks on settling the conflict in Syria within the Astana Process March 14-15. High-ranking delegations from Russia, Turkey and Iran...


Kazakh FM informs Parliament on Astana’s work on UNSC, priorities in Central Asia

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov informed the members of the Mazhilis (lower house) of Parliament about the nation’s priorities as a member of the United...


Kazakh President signs amendments to Constitution into law

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan March 10. The law “On introducing amendments and additions to...


New Silk Road will become mutual aid system benefiting all players, expert believes

ASTANA – Wade Shepard, the author of “Ghost Cities of China,” is currently working on his new book about the New Silk Road, China’s effort to strengthen trade ties with...


Film chronicling Kazakh domestication of wild horses to be released in 2018

ASTANA – A Canadian producer plans to release a film titled “Equus” about the history of horse domestication in the Central Asian region, announced Minister of Information...


Government to launch additional 410 agricultural cooperatives to assist small farms

ASTANA – Four-hundred-and-ten agricultural cooperatives will be established in 2017 to support small and medium-sized farms. The cooperatives will help farms buy equipment, store and transport products,...


Government allocates $3.2 billion to boost banking sector

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently signed a decree, effective immediately, allocating 1.1 trillion tenge (US$3.2 billion) to improve the nation’s banking sector.  The document was published on...


Industry experts optimistic about introduction of autonomous vehicles in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Iveco representative in Kazakhstan Lorenzo Bernardeli said he was optimistic about the future of autonomous vehicles in Kazakhstan during an international forum in Astana, according...


Authorities consider building pipeline to fully supply Astana with natural gas by 2021

ASTANA – KazTransGas and government officials are reviewing a feasibility study to build a pipeline that would fully supply natural gas to Astana residents by 2021. Within...


Trade and exhibition centre featuring Kazakh goods opens in Astana

ASTANA – EXPO pavilion, a special trade and exhibition centre exclusively featuring goods made by Kazakh producers, has opened in the capital. The main goal of the...


#YesSheCan exhibition features women in rare occupations

ASTANA – The UN Women and Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan public Fund raised the issues of women’s participation in the country’s economic life and the rights...


European Investment Bank expected to provide 200 million euro to KazAgro

ASTANA – The European Investment Bank is going to provide 200 million euros to KazAgro to modernise grain storage facilities, purchase agricultural machinery and assist with the...


Kazakh government intends to take action to resolve problem loans

ASTANA – The Kazakh government is trying to relieve banks of non-performing loans by transferring bad debts from the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the country’s central bank,...


S&P reaffirms RBK Bank’s rating

ASTANA – The Standard & Poor’s recently affirmed RBK Bank’s long-term and short-term counterparty credit ratings at the B-/C level, a press release of Bank RBK reported....


Young author from Kyzylorda creates more than 40 fairy tales

ASTANA – Altynai Berik is a fifth-grader from Kyzylorda whose name became known throughout the nation last year when President Nursultan Nazarbayev presented her with a book....


Kazakhstan prepares to export domestic gas to China in 2017

The Kazakh Ministry of Energy plans to start exporting domestic gas to China this year. At present, 18,000 kilometres of main and 30,000 kilometres of distribution gas...


To ensure security, Central Asian countries need to strengthen cooperation within region and beyond, scholar says

ASTANA – Central Asia is a historically important region comprised of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, the north-western part of China and some regions of...


Kazakh President congratulates women on International Women’s Day

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated March 7 the women of Kazakhstan on the upcoming International Women’s Day, noting the invaluable role of women in...


Astana Arlans secure third straight win of World Series of Boxing season

ASTANA – The Astana Arlans boxing club, part of the Astana Presidential Professional Sports Club, beat the China Dragons 5-0 in a March 4 World Series of...


Kango Jumping Park opens in Astana’s new Mega Silk Way Mall

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s largest and newest mall, Mega Silk Way, had a technical opening March 6, as some stores are already operational and others are still under...


Astana hosts Battle of the Bars competition

ASTANA – Battle of the Bars, the prestigious calisthenics tournament, was held March 5 in the capital’s Khan Shatyr shopping centre. Hosted in major cities and countries...


Kazakh anticancer drugs waiting to prove treatment efficiency in humans

ASTANA – Professors from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) and experts at Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology plan to conduct studies to prove the efficiency...


Kazakhstan to increase agricultural exports 10 percent in 2017

ASTANA – The Ministry of Agriculture intends to increase exports 10 percent in 2017 over last year’s $2.1 billion total, First Vice Minister Kairat Aituganov recently announced....


Healthcare minister reports positive trends in vaccinations, infant mortality

ASTANA – For the first time in the post-Soviet space, Kazakhstan has begun vaccinating children against pneumococcal infection, said Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov at an expanded...


Kazakh football season starts as Kairat beats Astana to claim Super Cup

ASTANA – The new football season kicked off in Kazakhstan March 4 at Almaty’s Central Stadium. The country’s two top teams of the last few seasons, Astana...


British leather goods with Kazakh soul

ASTANA – Aiman Sagatova, also known by her artistic nickname Vasya, created Kazakhsha Leather Art Studio almost three years ago in Aldershot, England. After working as an...


Ammunition plant to launch operations in Karaganda this year

ASTANA – Construction of the ammunition factory in Karaganda will be completed in December, according to Kazinform. Construction companies had difficulties with ground water, which caused a...


Women’s contributions give Kazakhstan reason to celebrate

Foreign visitors, particularly from Europe and North America, are often surprised to find that Women’s Day is both a public holiday and national celebration in Kazakhstan. While...


Kazakh Parliament approves dozens of amendments to Constitution

ASTANA – The bill “On introducing amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan” was approved March 6 in the second reading at a...


Fitch confirms Samruk-Energy’s BB+ rating

ASTANA – International agency Fitch Rating has evaluated Kazakhstan’s Samruk-Energy long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) in foreign currency at the BB+ level and its prioritised unsecured rating...


Kazakh filmmaker’s latest project creates new wave of independent documentary culture

ASTANA – Young and ambitious filmmaker Kanat Beisekeyev released “Bala,” a film about Kazakh children adopted by American families, in late February. The documentary touches on a...


Constitutional reforms bill introduced to Parliament, passes first reading

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev introduced March 3 to a joint meeting of the chambers of the Parliament the bill “On introducing amendments and additions to...


Kazakh student opens social café as supportive workplace for mentally challenged youth

ASTANA – A young and aspiring Nazarbayev University student is set to open a social café paving the way out of isolation for people with mental health...


Flying blind with Air Astana

It was a nightmarish moment for us passengers on Air Astana flight KC0942 on the evening of Tuesday Feb. 21 when two minutes after take-off from Heathrow...


Young chef introduces molecular gastronomy to Astana

ASTANA – Kairat Amanbayev, also known as Kai Aman, is the 25-year-old chef and founder of Resto Studio – Modernist Cuisine, a trendy new place on the...


In Kazakhstan, 35 of 40 presidential powers to be redistributed under final draft proposal

ASTANA – Thirty-five of a proposed 40 presidential powers would be redistributed to other branches of government under the final draft of proposed constitutional amendments designed to...


Kazakh Government approves construction budget for National Pantheon, Kuryk port

ASTANA – The Kazakh government approved Feb. 21 a resolution to implement the state budget for 2017-2019. The budget includes the construction of the National Pantheon and...


Medical implants to be produced with support from East Kazakhstan region

ASTANA – Businesses supported by funding from the East Kazakhstan region are set to launch production of medical implants developed by local scientists, 24.kz reports. “The region’s...


FM confirms Kazakhstan’s human rights and disarmament priorities in Geneva

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov outlined once again Kazakhstan’s priorities in human rights, democratisation and disarmament processes in a high-level segment session of the UN...


What Central Asia can offer as tourist destination

ASTANA – Throughout the centuries, Europe has been reigning supreme as the world’s most visited tourist destination. As of 2015, France topped the list of the most...


Institute of Diplomacy contributes to developing foreign service and promoting national interests

ASTANA – Innovative approaches have transformed foreign policy in recent years. Digital diplomacy is a modern and technological dimension of foreign policy, used as a new soft...


Samruk Kazyna calls on investors, international companies for cooperation

ASTANA – The Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund held an event Feb. 27 for nearly 300 representatives of the diplomatic corps, major international companies, banks and investors. Top...


Kazakh fashion designer offers custom-made tailoring in New Zealand

ASTANA – A 34-year-old Kazakh-born tailor is bringing fashion trends to the streets of Auckland. Asya Sadyrova has made clothing for beauty contest participants and offers custom-made...


Non-profit launches to assist, promote Kazakh-language journalists

ASTANA – A new non-profit organisation launched in January to help journalists working in Kazakh-language media improve their professional skills. More than 70 people attended the Feb....


Kazakh-French business ties strong at 25-year mark in relations

ASTANA – In the past two and a half decades, Kazakhstan and France, though separated by a great distance, have maintained friendly, cordial and cooperative relations. This has allowed the...


Kazakh finance minister pledges to cut red tape for business

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Finance is planning to reduce inspections and ease the bureaucratic pressure related to doing business in the country. The information came...


Kazakhstan, Russia reaffirm nuclear energy development cooperation

ASTANA ­– Kazakhstan and Russia last October signed an updated memorandum of understanding to cooperate on nuclear energy projects during a meeting in Astana. The memorandum focuses...


Philanthropy indicator of society’s maturity, say corporate charity forum participants

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the first corporate charity forum Feb. 24-25 organised by Samruk Kazyna Trust social development foundation. The event served as a unique dialogue platform...


Kazakhstan finishes fourth in Asian Winter Games

SAPPORO – Kazakh athletes took fourth place in the team standings at the Asian Winter Games (also known as Asiad), held Feb. 19-26 in Japan. In total,...


Kazakh President, ATOM Project Hon. Ambassador nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Honorary Ambassador of The ATOM Project Karipbek Kuyukov along with the international organisation Global Zero have been nominated for...


Nazarbayev, Putin note potential for expanding ties during Almaty meeting

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral cooperation and international issues Feb.27 in Almaty. During the meeting, Nazarbayev stressed the close and...


Kazakh Deputy PM notes increased bilateral trade during meeting with Uzbek President

ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participated in the 16th session of the joint intergovernmental commission...


Short film by Kazakh director to be shown at Cannes Short Film Corner

ASTANA – The “UltiO” short film directed by promising filmmaker Dias Azimzhanov has been accepted to the Cannes Short Film Corner, according to the Bolashak Association website....


Kazakhstan, Vietnam agree cargo transportation along key international route

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company and Vietnam Railways agreed Feb. 20 to cooperate in container transport along the Vietnam – China –...


At UNSC, Kazakh diplomats call for unimpeded food delivery to South Sudan

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) called for unimpeded access for humanitarian organisations to deliver food to South Sudan and offered...


Kazakhstan’s commitment to UN remains strong after 25 years of membership

Twenty-five years ago was a time of major change in the United Nations. The break-up of the Soviet Union saw applications from new countries charting their own...


Participants upbeat about EXPO 2017 preparation progress

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital brought together delegations from more than 100 countries Feb. 22-23 to touch base on the preparation progress for EXPO 2017, the international...


Pilot programme to teach Kazakh in Russian-language schools to launch in 2018

ASTANA – A pilot programme to teach the Kazakh language in Russian-language schools will launched in 2018, said Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev at a...


Constitutional reform: what can Kazakhstan learn from international experience?

President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently announced Kazakhstan will pursue constitutional reforms. The reforms will give more powers to the parliament and the government while the President will look...


Kazakh officer awarded UN medal for peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire

ASTANA – Kazakh Armed Forces Captain Assylkhan Amangaliuly recently received the United Nations Medal for impeccable and exemplary fulfilment of requirements for military observers for a peacekeeping...


New comedy film from Kazakh director tells simple story of difficult relationship

ASTANA – “Kelinka Tozhe Chelovek” (“Daughter-in-law is a Human, too”), a small budget comedy from Kazakh director Askar Uzabayev, was scheduled for a Feb. 23 release. The...


Ust-Kamenogorsk hairstylist wins international competition in Paris

ASTANA – Ust-Kamenogorsk hairstylist Vladimir Dubinin recently won the Haute Coiffure Française (HCF) Trophy 2017, which is an annual international hairdressing competition in Paris. The competition has...


Marriott’s top chef brings new flavours to Astana

ASTANA – Executive Chef Hery Sudarmanto has introduced a multi-cuisine concept to the Astana Marriott restaurants. His extensive work experience in the Middle Eastern countries such as...


UCMAS School in Kazakhstan extends mental math to children with visual impairments

ASTANA – UCMAS (Universal Concepts of Mental Arithmetic Systems) Mental Math School keeps revealing stunning results of children’s cognitive abilities. Kazakh students demonstrate their brain skills to...


Kazakhstan launches first ODA project in Afghanistan, with support from UNDP and Japan

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation presented the country’s first official development assistance (ODA) project to the Afghan government Feb.12-17 in Kabul. The project seeks to strengthen the...


Kokshetau: the area of blue lakes

ASTANA – Kokshetau is one of the most beautiful cities in Kazakhstan. The administrative centre of the Akmola region, it has a population almost 160,000 and territory...


BIE officials, EXPO 2017 organisers and commissioners meet in Astana

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted Feb. 22-23 the EXPO 2017 third international participants’ meeting, the main and final event on the eve of the international specialised...


Kazakh domestic violence rate decreases

ASTANA – Within the last five years, the number of domestic violence crimes in Kazakhstan decreased by 35 percent, Minister of Internal Affairs Kalmukhanbet Kassymov said during...


Expert consults citizens on IPO investments as privatisation advances

ASTANA – Forex Club information and analysis centre head Nikolai Ivchenko has advised citizens to invest funds intelligently when purchasing national companies’ shares at initial public offerings...


Astana airport terminal construction nears completion

ASTANA – The project to build a new 60.2 billion tenge (US$188.7 million) terminal for the capital’s airport is being implemented. However, the terminal construction requires 20...


Kazakhstan offers ‘Astana platform’ as venue to resolve conflicts beyond Syria

NEW YORK – Kazakhstan believes the Astana platform, which recently demonstrated its usefulness in talks on Syria, can be used more widely as a venue for efforts...


Day of Gratitude – a celebration of Kazakhstan’s multiethnic society

ASTANA – The Day of Gratitude was celebrated for the first time last year. President Nursultan Nazarbayev established the holiday for people of different ethnic groups living...


Barys Astana to Play Traktor Chelyabinsk in First Round of Gagarin Cup

ASTANA – HC Barys finished fifth in the regular season of the Eastern Conference of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) and progressed to the Gagarin Cup playoffs...


Kazakh athletes placed fourth following three days at Asian Winter Games in Japan

SAPPORO – The VIII Asian Winter Games are taking place in Sapporo, Japan between Feb. 19 and 26. This Asiad, as the games are also known, is...


Parliamentarism is pillar of democratic state

Hayk Babukhanyan, chairperson of the Armenian Constitutional Rights Union Party, deputy of the Armenian National Assembly and deputy chairperson of the Commonwealth of Independent States Inter-parliamentary Assembly...


Astana Arlans beat Russian Patriots, Uzbek Tigers in WSB kickoff

ASTANA – The Astana Arlans, the two-time World Series Boxing (WSB) winner, has started the franchise’s new season with two impressive victories – 3-2 over the Russian...


Kazakh Boxer Zhanat Zhakiyanov wins WBA (Super), IBO world champion titles

ASTANA – Kazakh professional boxer Zhanat Zhakiyanov recently claimed the World Boxing Association (WBO) title of Undisputed Champion and the International Boxing Organization (IBO) title of world...


Kazakhstan’s Senate Speaker Tokayev addresses Munich Conference, urges security cooperation

ASTANA – Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told a panel discussion at the Feb. 18 Munich Security Conference that it is...