Kazakh President Outlines MDG Successes, Calls for Portions of Defence Budgets to be Diverted to Development

NEW YORK – President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan took the floor at the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda on Sept. 27, describing...


In Multilateral Meetings in New York, Kazakh FM Promotes Regional Approach to Regional Challenges

NEW YORK – In numerous multilateral meetings that Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov attended in New York as part of the 70th United Nations General Assembly he...


Astana Street Names Provide Historical Guide for Residents

ASTANA – Small and big, central and distant, old and new, Astana’s streets hold lessons in history and geography for those who recognise their names. According to...


Kazakh Medical System Serves Citizens, Medical Tourists

ASTANA – Around 5,000 citizens from more than 30 countries received medical treatment in Astana clinics over the last three years. The Chairman of the Board of...


At UN, Nazarbayev Proposes Developing Global Strategic Initiative to Be Implemented by 2045

NEW YORK – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the General Debate of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) in...


Insurance Fund Created to Ensure Kazakh Travelers are Able to Return from Abroad

Vice Minister of Investment and Development Albert Rau recently announced the creation of a new insurance fund for Kazakh tourists travelling abroad at the beginning of next...


Almaty City Instagram Account Seeks to Improve Public Services

The Almaty city akimat (city administration) recently created an Instagram account to respond to citizens’ complaints about issues including trash collection, fallen trees, open sewers and clogged...


The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty Announces Club for Newlyweds

ALMATY – The Ritz-Carlton Almaty launched its new Wedding Club on Sept. 1. Club members – couples who have held a wedding in the hotel – are...


Kitschy Soviet-Era Restaurant Popular in Astana

ASTANA – Capitalism has been moving quickly around Astana since the city became the capital 17 years ago. Many things have changed as a result, including the...


Foreign Tourism Partners Optimistic about Kazakh Tourism Market

ASTANA – Despite the unstable economic situation that resulted from the devaluation of the tenge, Kazakhstan’s tourism sector is supported by optimism and hope from foreign tourism...


Annual National Cuisine and Culture Festival Kicks Off in Almaty

ASTANA – The third annual Festival of Kazakh National Cuisine and Traditions and Cultures of the Peoples of Kazakhstan called Toi Kazan was held recently at Almaty’s...


Almaty Hosts 2015 Capital of Islamic Culture Int’l Artistic Festival

ALMATY –  Prior to the city day celebrations, the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports treated citizens to a festival of artistic groups and individual performers from...


Government, NGOs, Universities Unite to Help Trafficking Victims in Astana

ASTANA – Makhabat Sadykova, a 20-year-old student in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Nazarbayev University, was introduced to the disturbing criminal activity of human...


Mare’s Milk Producers Confident about Drink’s Domestic, Int’l Future

ASTANA – Businessmen and scholars of the Zhambyl region promote Kazakh nano kumis and are confident that the traditional beverage of nomads will conquer the entire world....


‘One Belt, One Road’ Initiative Will Extend Regional Prosperity

Even a generation ago, the Silk Road would have seemed to most people little more than a fascinating, if long-lasting, episode in history. It may have been...


EBRD Launches Women in Business Programme, Offers Credit to Female Entrepreneurs

ASTANA – The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a 3.7 billion tenge (US$14.1 million) credit line for women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, the bank...


Brazil, Argentina, Chile Say Ready to Participate in EXPO 2017

SANTIAGO – Some of South America’s largest nations, including Brazil, Argentina and Chile, announced this month that they will participate in EXPO 2017 in Astana. The announcements...


Turning Grey into Gold

Just a few decades ago, the population of the Asia-Pacific region was dominated by the young. Now, as birth rates have dropped and life expectancies improved, the...


Kazakh Diaspora Chooses Unique Ways to Maintain Identity

ASTANA – Kazakh diaspora in diverse parts of the world chose different ways of maintaining their identity and traditions. Associations and student communities organise various events to...


Silicon Valley Companies Demonstrate Strong Interest in EXPO 2017, UNDP Confirms Participation

SAN FRANCISCO –EXPO 2017 Commissioner and Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Rapil Zhoshybayev completed his ten-day trip to the U.S. with visits to New York and San...


Kazakhstan Addresses Security Challenges through Collective Efforts, Top Official Says

How would you describe the level and the focus of cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for that matter,...


Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol and China’s Economic Belt of the Silk Road: Confluence of Goals

Modern Kazakhstan, located in the central part of Eurasia, is a transit link in the system of multilevel interconnections of Asia and Europe. It is known that...


Energy Ministry Decreases Five-Year Oil Production Forecast

The Kazakh Ministry of Energy has decreased its oil production forecast through 2020 by 11.5 percent. The new forecast has production reaching 92 million tonnes in 2020....


Kazakh Businessmen Wary of Changes in Tax Laws

ASTANA – The head of Kazakhstan’s Lawyers and Entrepreneurs Association Munavara Paltasheva proposed to suspend changes in the tax regime for Kazakhstan’s small and medium businesses for...


Barys Starts 8th KHL Similar to Previous Early Season Efforts

Twelve games into the Continental Hockey League’s (KHL) eighth season and with 60 games to play, the Astana Barys hockey club’s early performance has been similar to...


Successful Italian Restaurateur Sees “Enormous Potential” for Business in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The mentality of the people and the enormous potential were the two big reasons that compelled Enrico Nappini to do something he has not regretted:...


Country Advances Green Energy Movement with Solar, Battery Projects

ASTANA – Two major renewables projects have been announced recently in Kazakhstan: the provision of solar panels to a 50 megawatt solar power plant and a project...


General Director of KING: Race for Efficiency has Started

In this exclusive interview, General Director of the Astana-based Kazakh Institute of Oil and Gas (known by its Russian acronym KING) Dastan Kozhabekov discusses the challenges the...


Astana Improves Transport System, Introduces Innovations

ASTANA – As Astana expands, traffic jams are becoming routine and trips through the small but growing capital are taking longer and longer. With the city’s population increasing, a...


Astana, Almaty Among Top 10 Most Visited Cities by Russian Tourists

ASTANA – Almaty and Astana have been among the top 10 most visited cities by Russian tourists this year, according to a survey by Russian website Travel.ru....


Astana Pro Team Rider Wins Vuelta a España

ASTANA – Astana Pro Team’s Fabio Aru recently won the 70th Vuelta a España. It was the first grand tour win for the 25-year-old, who finished second...


Kazakh Weightlifters Win Six Medals at Senior Asian Weightlifting Championship

ASTANA – Kazakh weightlifters earned three gold and three bronze medals at the recent 26th Senior Women’s and 45th Senior Men’s Asian Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand. Kazakh...


Vietnam Considers Visa-free Regime for Citizens of Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Vietnam’s Tourism Association President Nguen Huu Tho announced during a recent meeting with Kazakhstan’s Ambassador in Vietnam Beketzhan Zhumakhanov that Vietnam is considering introducing a...


Qatar to Build Rehabilitation Centre for the Victims of Nuclear Testing in Semey

ASTANA – Director of the Nursultan Nazarbayev Fund for Education, Culture and Social Programmes and Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) Deputy Kanat Saudabayev and Qatar Minister of...


Kazakh Military Demonstrates Remote Firing System at Russian Arms Expo

Representatives of the Kazakh military-industrial complex took part in the Sept. 9-12 10th Russia Arms Expo 2015, an international arms, military equipment and ammunition exhibition in Nizhny Tagil,...


EBRD Urges Region-Specific Diversification of Kazakhstan’s Economy

ASTANA – Whiteshield Partners, under a programme of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Kazakhstan government, presented a report Sept. 17 with consultancy...


FM Takes to Twitter to Tempt Kerry with Kazakhstan’s Apples

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the U.S. engaged in a bit of “treatplomacy” on Sept. 18, with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov and U.S. Secretary of State...


Tenge Rallies Against Dollar Following National Bank Intervention

ASTANA – After sliding to nearly 300 tenge to the dollar on Sept. 16, the National Bank of Kazakhstan intervened and the tenge has rallied to trade...


Nazarbayev Visits Sochi, Attends Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Sochi, Russia, on Sept. 15–16 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attend the 12th Forum of Interregional...


Top UN Officials: Global Nuclear-Test Ban Urgently Needed

NEW YORK – An informal meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly marked the 2015 observance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests on Sept. 10...


Kazakhstan Brings Message of Dialogue, Pragmatic Solutions to Int’l Issues, Says Deputy FM

ASTANA – Kazakhstan brings to the international stage – and soon, it hopes, to the UN Security Council – an ethos that eschews conflict, that is always...


Kazakh Cardiac Surgeons Share Experience with European Colleagues

ASTANA – The unique surgical methodology to implant Heart Mate 3, a left ventricular assist device, was shown Sept. 2-3 during master classes at the National Research...


Start-up Initiative Brings Kazakh Apps to Market

Young and talented programmers Arman Suleimenov, Almas Tuyakbayev and Zhanserik Kenes are enlarging their business after the team received a $20,000 grant in February as the winners...


Astana Opera to Premiere ‘Abai’ This Month

ASTANA – A grand début of “Abai,” the story of Kazakh poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbayev, will be held Sept. 25-26 at the Astana Opera. The modern...


CSTO Member State Presidents Discuss Regional Security in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE­ – The presidents of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Council member states met in Dushanbe Sept.15 to discuss regional security, organisational operations and the results...


Kazakh Energy Minister Praises IAEA, Notes Kazakhstan’s Global Noproliferation Work at IAEA 59th General Conference

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Energy Vladimir Shkolnik told the Sept. 14-18 59th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna that Kazakhstan...


Invataxi Marks Progress, Introduces Future Plans

Invataxi, a special free taxi service for passengers with disabilities, was established in Almaty in 2009 after the Sabi charity fund purchased 14 specially-equipped Volkswagen Caddys and...


Instagram – Astana’s Online ‘Yellow Pages’

ASTANA – The addiction of social media is not lost on Kazakhstan. Among all popular social platforms in the country, the highest growth rate is among Instagram...


Kazakhstan, Tajikistan Sign Agreement on Strategic Partnership

DUSHANBE – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev paid an official visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Sept. 14, during which several cooperation agreements between the two countries were...


Kazakhstan Increases Crime Fighting Cooperation with the Nations of the Americas

ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate recently passed the law “On ratification of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.” This law is meant to improve...


Astana’s Ark of Taste Conference Seeks to Preserve National Dishes

ASTANA – In today’s fast-paced world, having a quick bite has become a regular thing. Food courts are overpopulated with fast-food outlets and people often pay little...


Nine-Year-Old Kazakh Boy Does 550 Push-Ups, Breaks Record

ASTANA –Nine-year-old Amir Makhmet celebrated the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate by doing an equal number of push-ups and breaking his previous record in the process....


Ski Federation Eager to Start Season under New Management

ASTANA – The winter season is right around the corner and unfortunate as it may seem for some, winter sports lovers are surely excited. For Ski Federation...


Rail Company Seeks State Support to Establish ‘Hotel on Wheels’

ASTANA – The Turan Express passenger rail company recently sought state support from the Kazakh Ministry of Investment and Development to launch a “hotel on wheels.” “We...


Two Kazakh Wrestlers Win Bronze, Gain Olympic Bids at Las Vegas World Wrestling Championships

ASTANA – Two Greco-Roman wrestlers from Kazakhstan brought medals home from the recent World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas and earned the right to compete in the...


British-Kazakh Society, Air Astana Marathon Brings Together More Than 500 Runners

ASTANA – The streets of Astana served as the course Sept. 13 for a charity marathon organised by the British-Kazakh Society (BKS) and Air Astana. Kazakh Prime...


Kazakh Eli Square Transformed into Historic Village for Anniversary of Kazakh Khanate

ASTANA – Astana’s Kazakh Eli Square was the site of most of the Sept. 11–13 celebrations of the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate. More than 1,500...


IAEA Reviews its Work at General Conference; Kazakh Delegation Presents Its Efforts on Nuclear Energy, and Security

ASTANA – The 59th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference opened in Vienna on Sept. 14 and will continue until Sept. 18, the...


70th Anniversary of the UN and Kazakhstan’s Bid for UN Security Council: Time for Younger Nations to Have Louder Voice

On Sept. 15, the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly kicks off in New York. A record number of heads of state are expected to...


Let Our Ancestors Inspire Us, Nazarbayev Says on 550th Anniversary of Kazakh Khanate

ASTANA – Giving due credit to our ancestors’ deeds inspires our responsibility to the future, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at a special grand meeting dedicated to the...


Draft Budget Reveals Lower Growth Expectations

ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan expects gross domestic product growth of 2.1 percent in 2016, 3.6 percent in 2017 and 2.9 percent in 2018, according to...


President Makes New Government Appointments

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev made new appointments to government positions on Sept. 11, reported the press service of the Akorda presidential residence. Former Deputy Chairperson...


Astana Celebrates 550th Anniversary of Kazakh Khanate, Holds CCTS Summit

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrated the 550th anniversary of the formation of the Kazakh Khanate on Sept. 11 with a number of events throughout the capital. President Nursultan...


President Welcomes Crew from International Space Station

ASTANA ­– On Sept. 12, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan personally met Soyuz TMA-16M crew Gennady Padalka of Russia, Aidyn Aimbetov of Kazakhstan, and Andreas Mogensen of...


New State Corporation to Deliver More Documentation Services in One Place

ASTANA – During a presentation before the Kazakh Parliament of the draft law “On amendments and additions to some legislative acts concerning the provision of public services,”...


US Focus on Central Asia Waning as Nation’s Security Interests Dissipate, Warn Experts

ASTANA – United States security interests in the region are dissipating along with the country’s focus on Central Asian and Kazakhstan policy, said U.S. scholars at the...


Kazakh FM Opens 2015-2016 KAZGUU Academic-Diplomatic Club Session

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov launched the Aug. 8 opening of the 2015-2016 session of the KAZGUU University Academic-Diplomatic Club. He shared his...


Men’s Grooming Intends to Occupy Niche in Country’s Beauty Industry

ASTANA – Although men’s grooming is usually considered to be a modern fashion wave, its origins trace to ancient Egypt where it became an inherent part of...


Deputy PM Sagintayev Outlines Kazakh Proposals to Address Water Challenges in Central Asia

Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev took part in the Sept. 7 conference in Berlin on water and good neighbourly relations in Central Asia. The event,...


Government Proposes Introducing Mandatory Health Insurance

ASTANA – Implementing mandatory social health insurance will improve the quality and availability of medical services in Kazakhstan, reported the press service of the nation’s Ministry of...


FM Idrissov Briefs Diplomatic Corps on 550th Anniversary of Kazakh Khanate

ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov held a briefing Sept.8 dedicated to the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the foundation of the...


Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Discusses Financial Stability in Belarus Meeting

ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev took part in the recent meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Grodno in Belarus, reported primeminister.kz....


Military Forces Readiness Testing Begins in Five Regions of the Country

ASTANA – At the instruction of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, on Sept. 8, sudden military readiness testing started in five...


Tourism Industry Hurt by Transition to Free-Floating Tenge Exchange Rate

ASTANA – In late August, Kazakhstan transitioned to a free-floating exchange rate and the government announced a shift to inflation targeting. As a result, the National Bank...


Children from Orphanages Participate in Almaty Ping Pong Competition

Children from orphanages No. 1 and No. 2 demonstrated their ping pong skills Sept. 5 during a competition coordinated by the Almaty international sports organizing committee, reported...


Caspian Basin Ready for Further Development, Energy Official Says

ASTANA – “The most powerful sedimentary cover (platform) is in the Caspian Basin and presumably reaches a depth of 20–25 kilometres. The Eurasia project has an ambitious...


Int’l Ethnic Cultures Festival Has Spectacular Opening in Astana

ASTANA – The capital city’s Tlep Qobiz Sarayi concert hall opened the history and culture international festival of ethnic cultures contest Sept. 2. The three-day jubilee was...


Astana Street Musicians Perform for People, Fun and Money

ASTANA – Despite pressure from local law enforcement bodies, guitar and saxophone performers play and sing in an underground crossing and near the Yessil River. They are...


Kazakhstan Dominates ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships

ASTANA – Kazakhstan topped the team rankings at the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) Championships with five gold medals, as fighters, who also fight for Astana Arlans, won...


Akmola Car Repair Plant an Example of Kazakh Industrial Success

ASTANA – Akmola Car Repair Plant is the only one of its kind in Kazakhstan. Despite the fact that the plant successfully operated during the Soviet Union...


First Kazakh Armed Forces Military Observer Returns from Western Sahara

ASTANA – Captain Temirlan Musapirov, the first Kazakh Armed Forces officer to travel to Western Sahara as part of the United Nations (UN) mission in Western Sahara,...


No Need to Sacrifice Your Health for Cheap Products

Over time, an economy may experience changes in imports and exports, and this can lead to a balance of payments disequilibrium (deficit or surplus). Under a floating regime, the...


Bolat Zhamishev: Deficit of Tenge Liquidity in Kazakhstan’s Market

Bolat Zhamishev, chairman of the board of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), recently spoke with “Liter” national daily newspaper about the results of the bank’s activities,...


Kazakh Officials Step Up Measures to Combat New Synthetic Drugs

ASTANA – To help identify and stem the flow of new illegal synthetic drugs, Kazakhstan plans to intensify international work on seizure, timely notification and the creation...


Kazakhstan Draws with Iceland 0:0, Loses to Czech Republic 1:2 in Group A UEFA EURO 2016 Qualifier

ASTANA – Iceland recently drew with Kazakhstan and advanced to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) EURO 2016 with two games still remaining in Group A....


On ISS, Cosmonauts Launch Research Programmes

ASTANA – With the Sept. 4 arrival of the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft at the International Space Station (ISS), Expedition 45 Soyuz Commander Sergei Volkov of the Russian...


Celebrating Kazakh Khanate’s Anniversary, We Honour Our History and Identity

It was the English writer, Charles Dickens, who once wrote, “Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or...


Government Eliminates Some Fuel Price Controls, Price Increases Expected

ASTANA – Fuel prices are expected to rise in Kazakhstan following First Deputy Prime Minister Bakhytzhan Sagintayev’s announcement that the government would stop regulating the prices of...


Kazakh Biotechnologist Helps Create At-Home STD Test, Mass Production May Begin in 2016

ASTANA – The Hoope, a home detection kit to diagnose sexually transmitted diseases that was the brainchild of a team including Kazakh biotechnologist Damel Mektepbayeva, is expected...


Allowing National Currency to Float Is Economically Sensible Decision

After the turmoil of the last few years since 2007, it would be comforting to believe that the global economy is due a period of stability. But...


U.S. Participation in Astana EXPO 2017 Discussed during Commissioner’s Visit; World Bank Confirms Its Participation

WASHINGTON – Government agencies and private companies discussed opportunities for U.S. participation in EXPO 2017, which will be held in Astana, as Expo National Commissioner and First...


Kazakh Factory Produces School Uniforms that Protect from Cell Phone Radiation

ASTANA – One domestic factory is sewing clothing for school pupils that manufacturers believe protects wearers from the electromagnetic radiation of mobile phones, Khabar.kz reported Aug. 17....


National Bank Says Dedollarisation Is Inevitable

ASTANA – Kazakhstan transitioned to a free-floating exchange rate and Aug. 20 the tenge dropped 26 percent against the dollar. National Bank Chairman Kairat Kelimbetov noted he...


Kazakh Schools Welcome Nearly 336,000 First Graders

ASTANA – Students throughout the country gathered for a traditional ceremony Sept. 1 to celebrate the beginning of the new school year. Approximately 336,000 children went to...


Photographer’s Controversial Work Acknowledged with International Award

ASTANA – Young Kazakh photographer Veronica Lerner snapped a shot of her grandmother sitting on the stool in her kitchen almost uncovered. The artist’s work was shown...


EAEU Nations, China to Share Customs Information

ASTANA – Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) nations and China will share customs information on transit goods, reported Belta. The agreement was reached according to the results of...


Belarus Prepares to Take Part in EXPO 2017

ASTANA – The organising committee on the preparation of the Belarusian national pavilion for EXPO 2017 has been set up, Kazinform reported recently. The relevant resolution was...


Chevron Provides State-of-the-Art Equipment to Astana Medical Institutions

Chevron provided ten children’s medical hospitals and educational institutions in Astana with state-of-the-art equipment at a ceremony held at the city Children’s Hospital No. 2 on July...


Theatre Director Ersain Tapenov Says Kazakh Theatre Scene Changes Dramatically

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s classic theatre scene has changed quite a bit since the Soviet Union times, but the classical masterpieces of William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, Evgenii Brusilovskii,...


Kyrgyz Community Centre Draws Brotherly Ties with Kazakhstan Closer Through History

ASTANA – The two brotherly ethnic groups of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan share many common grounds and a long-time history. The cuisine, culture, musical instruments and even the...