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...


Astana Hub company creates medical apps to save lives, improve doctor-patient interaction

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Hub-based Vienna company develops innovative medical applications that enable patients to receive urgent care in an emergency or prevent problems during pregnancy. The company created the...


UN diplomatic exhibit opens in Kazakh capital

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh National Museum with the support of the United Nations opened Dec. 10 a diplomatic photo and video exhibit dedicated to Kazakhstan’s Independence Day and the museum’s...


Warm Winter student initiative provides needy children with winter clothes for sixth year

NUR-SULTAN – Since 2014, students at the capital’s Nazarbayev University (NU) have helped provide children from large, low-income families with winter clothing through the Warm Winter programme. The idea...


AIFC Academy of Law presents first graduates

NUR-SULTAN – The first class of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Academy of Law to successfully complete Foundations Programme for Future Lawyers was awarded certificates Dec. 9. For...


Kazakh students seek degrees in best UK universities

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh students in the United Kingdom are pursuing their degrees in some of Britain’s highest ranked universities, reported Studying-in-UK.org. Approximately 458,490 international students study in the U.K.,...


Yuliya Galysheva wins silver at Freestyle Ski World Cup in Taipei

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh professional freestyle skier Yulia Galysheva won a silver medal Dec. 14 in moguls at the 2019-2020 International Ski Federation (FIS, Fédération Internationale de Ski) Freestyle Ski...


Kazakhstan to accede to convention against tax evasion

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will accede to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The Mazhilis (lower chamber of Parliament) ratified the convention Dec. 11 for implementing measures...


Processing industry, services, construction drive Kazakh economic growth in 2019

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh economy grew 4.4 percent in the first eleven months of 2019, driven primarily by the country’s processing industry, services sector and construction, said Minister of...


Kazakhs returned from Syria convicted of terrorism, sentenced to years in prison

NUR-SULTAN – On Dec. 11, Nur-Sultan Specialised Inter-District Criminal Court convicted 14 Kazakh men returned from Syria of working for terrorist organisation, the Islamic State or DAESH, and sentenced...


AMEN Animation Film Festival features works of young Kazakh artists

NUR-SULTAN – The capital hosted the AMEN Animation Film Festival Dec. 11 featuring the work of young Kazakh artists. “This festival will be one of the significant actions that...


Kazakh domestic tourism shows steady growth, reports Statistics Committee

NUR-SULTAN – Domestic tourism has grown 9.8 percent in 2019, external tourism is on the decline and Almaty is the country’s most popular destination, according to the Kazakh Statistics...


Stipends to be increased equally for all students, says Minister of Education and Science

NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry of Education and Science will increase undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students’ stipends by 25 percent beginning Jan. 1, reported Minister of Education and Science Askhat...


Kazakh capital to have unified design code

NUR-SULTAN – The capital Department of Architecture, City Planning and Land Relations has presented a unified design code for the city, according to its website. The new system will...


Anti-Corruption service centre opens in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – Antikor Ortalygy service centre, the Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency model for providing transparency, opened Dec. 12 in the capital. The department is the only law enforcement agency in...


More than five million passengers to travel on Air Astana and FlyArystan this year

NUR-SULTAN – Air Astana Group expects that more than five million passengers will travel this year on Air Astana and its low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan, reported the company’s press service....