Golovkin ranks among top 10 boxers in world, fights among best of decade

NUR-SULTAN – U.S. website Business Insider ranked Kazakhstan’s Gennady Golovkin ninth on its list of the 15 best boxers in the world right now. The list was released Dec....


Shymkent to launch third industrial zone next year

NUR-SULTAN – Zhuldyz, Shymkent’s third, 306-hectare industrial zone, will be launched next year, reported Akim (Mayor) Yerlan Aitakhanov at a Dec. 25 press conference in the city. A 136-hectare...


Kazakh men’s sitting volleyball team to hold joint training camps before Paralympic qualifiers

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s men’s sitting volleyball team participated in a joint training camp Dec. 16-22 in Riga, Latvia. The athletes also plan to participate in training camps in Egypt,...


AIFC Court, IAC consider five cases in 2019

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana International Financial Centre Court (AIFC Court) and International Arbitration Centre (IAC) considered five cases in 2019. The achievement was significant compared to the experiences of...


Kazakhstan mandates online cash registers starting in 2020

NUR-SULTAN – All taxpayers who use traditional cash registers were to switch to online machines by the end of 2019, for beginning in 2020 all cash payments are to...


Kazakhstan to increase social sector support in 2020

NUR-SULTAN – The government hosted a press conference Dec. 25 to share the country’s plans for next year, including increasing support for entrepreneurs and the social sector, reported the...


After Bek Air crash, survivors helped each other, locals rushed to offer aid

NUR-SULTAN – In face of chaos and tragedy immediately after a Bek Air plane crashed Dec. 27, survivors, locals and emergency services worked together to help those injured in...


Kazakh government reviews 2019 legislation results, sets plan for 2020

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government reviewed Dec. 30 the results and implementation of the legislation plan for 2019, including tightening several crime punishments and determined the plan for 2020....


Nur-Sultan ambulance to begin New Year with modern emergency vehicles, more effective contact centres

NUR-SULTAN – Akim (Mayor) Altai Kulginov and Healthcare Minister Yelzhan Birtanov reviewed the Capital Ambulance Station’s working conditions during a Dec. 25 business visit to the facility. The service...


‘Cinderella’ premieres at Astana Ballet

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Ballet premiered “Cinderella” Dec. 20-22, a two-act ballet based on the music of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. “Cinderella” is the second fairy tale in the theatre’s...


Astana Opera conductor Alan Buribayev presents Letters from Italy

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Opera principal conductor Alan Buribayev will present Letters from Italy opera and symphony concert Jan. 6 in the capital. The concert is based on the stories...


Nur-Sultan hosts Museums of Kazakhstan: Global competitiveness international forum

NUR-SULTAN – The international forum, Museums of Kazakhstan: Global Competitiveness, was hosted recently by the Kazakh National Museum and dedicated to its fifth anniversary. Vice Minister of Culture and...


Astana Financial Services Authority, Securities and Exchange Board of India sign cooperation agreement

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for mutual cooperation and technical assistance,...


Kazakh government approves new draft Ecology Code to toughen penalties for environmental offenses

NUR-SULTAN – The government approved a new draft Ecology Code during the Dec. 24 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin. The Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural...


Italian investors launch renewable energy project in Aktobe Region

NUR-SULTAN – Italian investor Eni launched Kazakhstan’s largest wind power production project Dec. 18 in the Aktobe Region. The $100-million effort is also supported by Kazakh Invest and General...


Yevgeny Vakhtangov Theatre to perform at Astana Opera 

NUR-SULTAN – The Yevgeny Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre will perform for the first time on the Astana Opera Grand Hall stage in 2020, reported Astana Opera press centre. The...


Twelve dead after Bek Air plane crash near Almaty, Tokayev announces Dec. 28 national day of mourning 

NUR-SULTAN – Twelve people died after Bek Air flight No. Z2100 from Almaty to the capital crashed during take-off, 7:22 a.m., Dec. 27, reported the Civil Aviation Committee press...


KMF mandates EMGA to secure new $30 million financing from Europe’s leading development finance institution EIB to support businesses in Kazakhstan

SPONSORED CONTENT The European Union continues to deliver on recent policy announcements to boost the business climate in Kazakhstan. As an example, the European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed to...


Business news in brief

The Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund purchased the remaining 50 percent of the Ekibastuz condensing power plant, meaning Kazakhstan now completely owns the facility, reported inbusiness.kz Dec. 13. The...


National news in brief

The government has approved the state health development programme 2020-2025, reported Primeminister.kz. The public health service will be modernised to promote a healthy lifestyle among the population. Authorities allocated...


External news in brief

Secretary of State Krymbek Kusherbayev met with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Director General Audrey Azoulay in Paris to explore current and future prospects for cultural...


Economic news in brief

Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin hosted the Dec. 19 government meeting regarding the country’s green economy transition, where participants discussed construction of a gas pipeline to supply Nur-Sultan, reported...


Winter family recreation site opens in Nur-Sultan’s Botanical Garden

NUR-SULTAN – NS Family WinterFest, a recreational ice town, has opened in the capital’s Botanical Garden, reported the city akimat (city administration). “The Botanical Garden is a special place...


At year-end, ratings confirm Kazakhstan’s progress, note areas for further work

When taking stock of the last 12 months, it is always helpful to have independent analysis of the direction a country is taking. The last few days have seen...


Le Shapalaque Comics achieves new heights, plans growth 

NUR-SULTAN – Le Shapalaque Comics is a growing project that seeks to influence its audience and attract attention to social and political problems. “Since the last interview [with The...


Domestic car production Kazakhstan’s fastest growing industry in 2019

NUR-SULTAN – KazAvtoProm, the Kazakh automobile industry union, has published results from the country’s automakers for the first 11 months of the year. They found that 45,208 vehicles (including...


Kazakh start-ups win funding at SAP UP competition in Russia

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh start-ups Kishkentai and Kid Security won funding as prizes in the SAP UP competition in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 18. “We were in Moscow for three days....


Amendment obliges agriculture graduates to work three years in rural areas

NUR-SULTAN – Beginning in 2020, agricultural university graduates studying under the rural youth quota system will be required to work in the country’s rural areas for three years. The...


Kazakhstan’s Golden Man finishes global tour

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s famous Golden Man, the burial suit of a roughly third-century BCE Saka warrior, has finished his tour of world museums. His travels, the Procession of Altyn...


Kazakhstan hosts Qazaq Kuresi wrestling world championship

NUR-SULTAN – Aktobe hosted the Qazaq Kuresi (Kazakh national wrestling) World Championship Dec. 17, with 200 athletes competing for the title. “Holding a home World Championship for us is...


Tax-free shopping pilot project launches in Almaty

NUR-SULTAN – Global Blue, Europe’s tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, officially launched Dec. 8 in Almaty. Tax-free shopping is part of the state strategy to attract visitors by...


Kazakhstan ranks 50th out of 189 countries in Human Development Index 2018

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan was ranked 50th out of 189 countries and UN-recognised territories in the Human Development Index (HDI) according to the newly launched United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s...


Kazakh Olympic gold medallist visits Oslo Ski Museum 

OSLO – Three sports legends – Vladimir Smirnov, Sten Stensen and Vegard Ulvang – delivered emotional remarks at the Kazakhstan – Norway: Sports Diplomacy exhibit launch Dec 14. in...


Kazakh President directs improvements to nation’s universities 

NUR-SULTAN – Government officials discussed their dissatisfaction with the education level at certain higher education institutions and ways to implement improvements. Operations at five Kazakh universities were recently halted. ...


Altai Kulginov becomes capital Athletics Federation president

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakhstan Athletics Federation elected capital Akim (Mayor) Altai Kulginov as president of the city’s Athletics Federation during its Dec. 11 conference, reported the akimat website. “Given...


Kazakh President announces major political reforms package

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced a package of significant political reforms, including on sensitive topics like public assembly, during the second meeting of the National Council of...


Indy Guide promotes Central Asia as travel destination, website supports local hosts

NUR-SULTAN – An adventure honeymoon in his native country turned into a business idea for ethnic Kazakh Atahan Tosun and his wife, Alexandra. In 2015, the Swiss couple founded...


Kairat wins Kazakhstan Futsal Cup

NUR-SULTAN – Almaty Futsal Club (AFC) Kairat defeated Taldykorgan FC Jetisu 4-3, Dec. 18, to win the Kazakhstan Cup 2019, reported prosports.kz. “A tough match, very interesting for the...


Qaz Carbon to satisfy domestic and export demands

NUR-SULTAN – Funding from new investors has given second life to the former Karaganda foundry in the country’s biggest region. Large-scale modernisation of the Qaz Carbon plant has provided...


Nur-Sultan hosts first domestic light industry congress

NUR-SULTAN – The capital hosted the country’s first domestic light industry congress Dec. 11. The event demonstrated the potential of state, business and non-government organisation (NGO) partnerships. The congress...


Kazakhstan marks Industrialisation Day, awards best producers

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan celebrated Industrialisation Day and honoured the country’s best domestic producers Dec. 13 during the Altyn Sapa annual awards ceremony, reported the prime minister’s press service. The...


High-quality ingredients, manual preparation are key to Bambino ice cream, says company founder

NUR-SULTAN – Bambino ice cream has one main goal – to amaze people’s taste buds with high quality, organic ice cream. The pink brand is one of the most...


UN committee adopts youth resolution on disarmament and non-proliferation

The First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly at its recent 74th session adopted the resolution Youth, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. The resolution recognises the role of young people...


Kazakhstan allocates 10 scholarships for Uzbek students

NUR-SULTAN – Maksut Narikbayev KAZGUU University has allocated 10 scholarships to secondary school graduates from Uzbekistan, KAZGUU CEO Talgat Narikbayev announced Dec. 6. “These scholarships show that higher education...


Kazakhstan ready to play proactive role in global dialogue, FM tells ASEM meeting

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is ready to play a proactive role in the global dialogue, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi Dec. 16 at 14th ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Foreign...


Akim notes economic growth in annual report on Nur-Sultan’s development

NUR-SULTAN – Akim (Mayor) of Nur-Sultan  Altai Kulginov presented the annual report on the socio-economic development of the Kazakh capital Dec. 18. Kulginov noted the positive dynamics demonstrated in...


Kazakh President reshuffles key government positions

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Dec. 18 signed several decrees relieving some politicians and senior officials from their posts and appointing others, reported akorda.kz. The President’s decree relieved Darkhan...


SCAT Airlines launches flights to Medina and Jeddah

NUR-SULTAN – SCAT Airlines has initiated its first regular flights connecting Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia. Trips from Almaty to Medina and Jeddah launched Nov. 30. “SCAT Airlines has operated...


Kazakh men’s beach volleyball team advances to final of Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s men’s beach volleyball team won two games against the Indian team in Visakhapatnam, India, Dec. 16 and advanced to the final of the Asian Beach Volleyball...


Kazakhstan to publish Jan. 1 list of medications covered by national healthcare system

NUR-SULTAN – The list of medications covered by the reformed Kazakh healthcare system will be publicly available Jan. 1, said Ministry of Healthcare Committee for Control of Goods Quality...