Kazakh Tourism launches tour for Chinese travel bloggers  

NUR-SULTAN – Thirteen of China’s most influential travel, lifestyle, fashion and shopping bloggers and public opinion leaders arrived in Almaty Nov. 13 to tell their followers about Kazakhstan. The...


EU launches three new programmes in Central Asia

NUR-SULTAN – Three programmes promoting regional integration in Central Asia were launched at the EU’s regional conference on Enhanced Integration for Prosperity in Central Asia Nov. 28. “We are...


Tokayev signs law making ministers and governors responsible for corruption among subordinates 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law making ministers and akims (governors) responsible for corruption among their direct subordinates Nov. 28. The law introduces amendments that will...


FC Astana beats Manchester United

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Football Club beat the U.K.’s Manchester United 2-1 Nov. 28 in a Europa League fifth group match in the capital. The win was Astana’s first in...


Almaty region leads Kazakhstan in investment projects

NUR-SULTAN – The Almaty region is implementing the most investment projects in the country, with 34 projects worth $3.8 billion planned for the next few years, the Kazakh Invest...


Kazakhstan hosts International Turkic Writing Revival Day

NUR-SULTAN – Almaty, Kyzylorda and the capital hosted International Turkic Writing Revival Day events Nov. 25, reported the Kazakh National Museum press service. The date is linked to Danish...


Kazakhstan celebrates Day of First President

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan celebrated the Day of the First President Dec. 1 with concerts, thematic exhibitions and firework displays. The holiday, established in recognition of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s achievements, has...


Akmola Region governor organises first investors’ hour to improve region’s investment climate

NUR-SULTAN – Akmola Region Akim (Governor) Yermek Marzhikpaev organised the first investor hour and personal entrepreneurs’ reception Nov. 27 at the Atameken Regional Chamber of Entrepreneurs.  During the informal...


Barys HC celebrates 20th anniversary with 5-1 win over Dynamo Minsk

NUR-SULTAN – The capital’s Barys Hockey Club celebrated its 20-year anniversary and honoured its greatest players in a pregame ceremony Dec. 1 at Barys Arena. The jerseys worn by...


‘Ayka’ honoured at China’s Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers film festival

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh-made and Oscar-shortlisted film “Ayka” continues to win the hearts of international audiences, this time in China, where the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers festival recognised...


Campaign against domestic violence underway in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – The national awareness raising campaign, “16 Days Against Violence,” launched in the Kazakh capital Nov. 25. The campaign aims to promote human rights work on maternity and...


Nur-Sultan hosts Not Just a Movie International Short Films Festival

NUR-SULTAN – Not Just a Movie International Short Films Festival, a collaborative project of Vosmerka.kz and the Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in Kazakhstan, opened Nov. 29 in the capital. For...


Tokayev, Zheenbekov hold talks on wide-ranging cooperation, EAEU in Bishkek

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid an official visit to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Nov. 27 for negotiations with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Zheenbekov. “We strive to find and develop new...


Kazakh social workers to start adaptation course for children returned from Iraq

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s humanitarian operation on Nov. 27 brought 14 children back to their homeland from an Iraqi prison, where they have been living for two years with their...


Kazakhstan repatriates 14 children from Iraq

BAGHDAD – Kazakhstan returned 14 children from Iraq Nov. 27 after a nearly nine-month-long effort by the Kazakh government with the support of Iraqi officials. The mission, which included...


Kazakh athlete wins gold medal at UAE Jiu-jitsu Championship 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh athlete Moldir Mekenbayeva won a gold medal at the World Professional Adult and Para Jiu-jitsu Championship Nov. 16-24 in Abu Dhabi.  “This year, the world championship’s...


Astana Ballet finishes first California tour

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Ballet performed for the first time on the United States West Coast Nov. 19-22, reported its press service. Three California cities – Los Angeles, San Diego...


Inclusion support office opens at Nur-Sultan school

NUR-SULTAN – The inclusion support office opened Nov. 27 at new school-lyceum No. 88 is the sixth under the Every Child Deserves a School project launched by the Bolashak...


Baiterek Holding creates favourable investment climate, suggests ways to minimise risks in Kazakh market

NUR-SULTAN – Baiterek National Managing Holding attracts investments by ensuring support to foreign investors from the initial stages of project development through implementation, Baiterek Chair Aidar Arifkhanov told The...


Baikonur to be designated free economic zone 

NUR-SULTAN – A free economic zone will be created at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to attract tourists to the world’s first and largest operational space launch facility, Kyzylorda Region Akim...


Thirty-one agreements worth $2.3 billion inked at Almaty Investment Forum 2019

ALMATY – Thirty-one agreements worth $2.3 billion were signed between governmental bodies and the business community Nov. 27 at Almaty Investment Forum 2019. The major deals included an $11.3-million...


Business news in brief

The Nur-Sultan Department for Investment and Enterprise Development has devised a programme allowing large retailers to obtain soft loans in exchange for maintaining prices on certain products, reported inbusiness.kz...


External news in brief

The Kazakh capital will host Dec. 10-12 the 14th round of the Syrian peace talks, Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov announced Nov. 25. The talks brokered by Iran,...


Yerzhan Maksim places second in Junior Eurovision Song Contest

NUR-SULTAN – Yerzhan Maksim, a young talent representing Kazakhstan at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Gliwice, Poland, took second place in the competition, scoring 227 points. Maksim,...


Kazakhstan’s economic diplomacy: on solid footing and with clear goals in mind

Our country pursues a peaceful and friendly foreign policy towards all states with which it has established diplomatic relations. There are no substantive contradictions in the area of political...


First Presidents’ Day celebrates Nazarbayev, the people and the nation

When First President’s Day was celebrated across Kazakhstan last December, the country had no idea of the historic events which lay just ahead.  Just more than three months later,...


Now is the time to accelerate gender equality in the Asia-Pacific 

Great strides have been taken to empower women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing adopted an ambitious global agenda to...


PIAAC releases results of international survey of adult skills

NUR-SULTAN – The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) published Nov. 15 an update to its 2013 report as the results from the third round of...


Bashkir Ethno-Cultural Centre promotes Bashkir culture

NUR-SULTAN – Akbuzat Bashkir Ethno-Cultural Centre in the capital, though relatively new, is active and motivated to promote its culture and traditions, especially among the youth. In an exclusive...


National news in brief

The number of Kazakh children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) could reach close to 60,000, according to experts at the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, which implements the Autism. One World...


Economic news in brief

Kazakhstan’s local budget revenues jumped 19.4 percent in the first nine months of 2019 to a record 4.2 trillion tenge (US$10.89 billion). The revenue plan was exceeded in all...


Nur-Sultan’s embassies donate baskets of national products as sponsors present gifts to Dec. 1 Christmas Charity Bazaar

NUR-SULTAN – The Ambassadors Spouses Astana (ASA) association presented baskets of products and goods donated by embassies and sponsors for the 12th Christmas Charity Bazaar at the Basket Day...


Kazakh, Swiss presidents discuss cooperation opportunities

NUR-SULTAN – Swiss President Ueli Maurer and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed international and business cooperation opportunities Nov. 22 during the former’s visit to the Central Asian country.   “The...


Kazakh Tourism, Almaty announce new joint mountain tourism office

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Tourism company and the akimats (administrations) of the city of Almaty and the Almaty Region announced Nov. 22 that they will launch a unified mountain...


EBRD to finance Kurty-Kapshagai highway reconstruction

NUR-SULTAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and KazAvtoZhol have signed a 34.5 billion tenge (US$89 million) loan agreement for the Kurty-Kapshagai road project. The signing...


Almaty city authorities present urban greening draft master plan 

NUR-SULTAN – Almaty Akim (Mayor) Bakytzhan Sagintayev reviewed a draft master plan on urban landscaping Nov. 13 based on the results of expert studies. The plan involves planting millions...


Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs seeks volunteers to help keep public order, search for missing persons

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs is working to increase citizen involvement in protecting public order. The effort includes creating a volunteer law enforcement movement and optimising...


Nazarbayev’s book on Kazakhstan’s nuclear disarmament translated into Norwegian

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Embassy in Norway presented the Norwegian translation of First President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s book “The Epicentre of Peace” Nov. 21 at the House of Literature in...


Three Kazakh films included in Golden Globe Awards long list 

NUR-SULTAN – The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which presents the Golden Globe Awards, recently published its long list in the Foreign Language Film category, reported Kazinform. The list...


QazTrade to launch website supporting Kazakh exporter

NUR-SULTAN – QazTrade will launch export.gov.kz in December, a website providing a wide range of services for local and foreign businesspeople, reported primeminister.kz. The QazTrade centre operates on the...


Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan begin construction of fibre-optic link under Caspian Sea

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin and Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov officially launched construction of a fibre-optic line between the countries under the Caspian Sea Nov. 19...


Nur-Sultan’s new international composers contest discovers young talents

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh capital drew 115 composers under 35 years old from 24 countries to compete in the first New Music Generation international composers’ competition in Zhambyl Zhabayev...


First eight months of Tokayev’s presidency put spotlight on gradual civil society, business support and public engagement reforms

NUR-SULTAN – The first eight months of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s term have been marked by developing and implementing new approaches and solutions towards strengthening a socially oriented and...


Kazakh Mazhilis approves stiffer sentences for sexual offenses, other crimes

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Mazhilis approved Nov. 20 in first reading new amendments to the country’s criminal code to stiffen penalties for various crimes. The amendments follow Kazakh President...


Three Kazakh films featured at Asian World Film Festival 

NUR-SULTAN – Three Kazakh films, “The Golden Throne” by Rustem Abdrashov, “The Guardian of the Light” by Yermek Tursunov and “The Secret of a Leader” by Farkhat Sharipov, were...


Kazakhstan’s digital transformation has a $578 million positive effect 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s digital transformation has had a $578 million positive economic effect, reported the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry press service. As a result of...


Kazakhstan wins Davis Cup doubles match after sudden player change

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh tennis players Alexander Bublik and Mikhail Kukushkin won the first doubles match against the Netherlands at the Davis Cup in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 20, reports Olympic.kz....


Russian, Kazakh and US scientists publish study showing how to save $3 billion per year on electricity 

NUR-SULTAN – Russian, Kazakh and U.S. scientists published a joint study on the causes of electricity losses Nov. 14 that aims to save up to $3 billion per year...


UNICEF analysis of Kazakhstan’s children finds progress in child mortality, education, gaps in inclusion, nutrition

NUR-SULTAN – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) presented its analysis of the situation of Kazakhstan’s children Nov. 19 in Nur-Sultan. The analysis observes the country’s achievements, including progress...


Earthquake risk map to highlight vulnerable areas, guide building renovations in Almaty 

NUR-SULTAN – Almaty city authorities have examined the city’s buildings to create a risk map to let people know which residential buildings can and should be renovated or redesigned...