Kazakh PM reviews pilot project launching medical insurance 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin reviewed the results of the pilot implementation of Mandatory Social Medical Insurance (MSMI) in Karaganda Region Nov. 18, according to his office....


UN Women adopts action plan to localise Central Asian gender equality commitments

NUR-SULTAN – Central Asian countries adopted a joint action plan to accelerate progress on gender equality targets across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a Nov. 13 expert meeting...


Kazakh football team beats San Marino in EURO 2020 qualifying game, loses to Scotland

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh football team defeated the team from San Marino 3-1 Nov. 17 in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) EURO 2020 qualifying game.  “First of...


Kazakh Ministry of Finance, banks discuss taxing cashless payments

NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry of Finance is in negotiations with the Kazakh banking community regarding taxing cashless payments, said National Bank Chairperson Yerbolat Dossayev Nov. 13, reported Zakon.kz. The...


Kazakh government to allocate almost $13 billion to support teachers 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s new draft law on the status of teachers envisages the allocation of 5.2 trillion tenge (US$12.9 billion) for wage increases, bonuses for pedagogical skills and classroom...


Kazakhstan, EAEU to tighten control over dairy production in 2020

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government will tighten controls over dairy production starting Jan. 1 as part of the new Eurasian Economic Union Technical Regulation on the safety of milk...


Kazakh AVANGAR defeats Syman Gaming cyber athletes at WESG Central Asia, both qualify for WESG Asia

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh AVANGAR cybersport club won Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), defeating Syman Gaming at the Nov. 16-17 World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) Central Asia 2019 in Almaty....


Almaty Airport may be sold to Turkish-French TAV Airports Holding

NUR-SULTAN – Istanbul-based TAV Airports Holding may purchase Almaty Airport, currently owned by private company Venus Airport Investment B.V, said Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Beibit Atamkulov....


Kazakh Senate ratifies extradition treaty between Kazakhstan, Ukraine

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Senate ratified the Law On Ratification of the Extradition Agreement between Kazakhstan and Ukraine Nov. 7. The new terms will allow the countries to exchange...


Kazakh-Italian cooperation offers immense unexplored opportunities, says top Italian official

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and Italy can offer each other huge opportunities for growth – it is just a matter of time until the two build stronger relations, said Italian...


PetroKazakhstan commits to employ health and safety, environmental protection

NUR-SULTAN – PetroKazakhstan Oil Products (PKOP) reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and health of its employees as well as to protecting the environment, putting these outcomes among its...


Kazakh-Italian business forum generates investment interest from Italian businesspeople

NUR-SULTAN – The Nov. 13 Kazakh-Italian Business Forum demonstrated the interest among Italian businesspeople in investing in the Central Asian country. “I am very happy that the Kazakh business...


Kazakhstan has strong basis for new technologies, needs specialists for development, says Accenture executive 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has a strong basis for adopting new technologies, but there is a need for more specialists able to develop them, said Accenture Managing Director Anton Musin...


Naming children after events is trend in Kazakhstan, say researchers 

NUR-SULTAN – Researchers curious about trends in Kazakh baby names have determined national events play a significant role when parents make their choices, reported factcheck.kz. Using data from the...


SIPRI Director: Water management must take priority in Central Asian cooperation

NUR-SULTAN – Water management should be the focus of Central Asian cooperation, particularly in the face of climate change, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Director Dan Smith said Nov....


IMF statement notes continuing Kazakh economic growth, need for strengthened monetary policy 

NUR-SULTAN – While Kazakhstan’s economic growth remains strong, its fiscal framework, monetary and exchange policy should be strengthened, reported the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2019 Article IV Mission Staff...


New business platform, cooperation agreements to bring Kazakhstan, EU closer

BRUSSELS – The leadership of Kazakhstan is committed to further strengthening cooperation with the European Union, and with the start of work by the new European Commission and the...


Sudden snowstorm snarled traffic, caused accidents in Kazakh capital 

NUR-SULTAN – More than 200 people in Kazakhstan’s capital sought medical help over a few freezing, snowy days in the city in mid-November, zakon.kz reports. Local authorities mobilised all...


Kazakh capital hosts True or False Media Championship

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh capital hosted the True or False Media Literacy Championship Nov. 16, reported the akimat (city administration) website. The project, aimed at improving young people’s media...


Fourth version of Kazakh Latin script will preserve language purity, linguists say

NUR-SULTAN – Scientists from the Baitursynov Institute of Linguistics and specialists involved in the working group on script transition presented the fourth version of the Kazakh alphabet in Latin...


Unique English language school in Kazakh capital teaches English through music 

NUR-SULTAN – Scott’s Music Room, a unique English language school based in the capital, offers interactive classes delivered by British music teacher and founding director Joe Scott. Preston-born Scott...


Kazakh Tourism takes 22 tour companies on informational tour of the country  

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Tourism, which oversees the nation’s travel industry, has made another push to bolster domestic tourism. Its second information excursion ended Nov. 9, reported the company press...


Baikonur modernisation projects brought closer to fruition at Space Days in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is open to industrial cooperation in producing telecommunication satellites as well as common commercial projects at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin said during...


Kazakh President calls for abolition of mandatory registration of foreign visitors 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the country to end its requirement that foreign visitors register with migration authorities, saying at an Oct. 29 meeting in Almaty...


Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Theatre to perform for first time in Kazakhstan 

NUR-SULTAN – The Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre will present Alexander Borodin’s opera “Prince Igor” Nov. 29 and Alexander Glazunov’s ballet “Raymonda” Dec. 1 at the Astana...


Digital Bridge start-up competition judges impressed with Kazakh start-up ecosystem

NUR-SULTAN – Although they face financial challenges, the future of Kazakh start-ups is bright, noted judges at the Digital Bridge start-up competition. The panel included Angel Labs investor accelerator...


FameLab Kazakhstan accepts applications from talented science enthusiasts

NUR-SULTAN – FameLab Kazakhstan is looking for smart, creative and charismatic individuals who can explain seemingly complex scientific concepts in a clear and easy way in just three minutes....


Kazakh, Turkish businesses ink deals worth $1.5 billion

NUR-SULTAN – Istanbul hosted the Kazakh Turkish Business Forum Nov. 10, where companies from the two countries signed 18 documents worth $1.5 billion to develop infrastructure, industry, transport and...


Kazakhstan to tighten hiring practice for foreign workers, counter wage imbalance 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will tighten the laws regulating the process of hiring foreign workers, after inspections led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection identified labour and migration...


Astana Club presents top 10 risks for Eurasia in 2020

NUR-SULTAN – International experts presented the report on global risks in 2020, which assesses and attempts to forecast the most essential dangers for Eurasia, Nov. 11 as part of...


Nazarbayev proposes way to create Greater Eurasia

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed specific ways to create a Greater Eurasia at the Nov. 12 at the fifth meeting of the Astana Club in the...


Astana Club discusses Eurasian region’s role in future of global security

NUR-SULTAN – The fifth annual Astana Club meeting started Nov. 11 with the “World (Dis)Order: Who writes the history of the future” discussion of international politics and Eurasia and...


Kazakhstan, Russia agree to forge interregional cooperation

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening interregional cooperation, as the two countries signed 17 documents on infrastructure, trade and economy, among other areas, at their...


Qatar Airways to launch flights to Kazakhstan in December

NUR-SULTAN – Qatar Airways is set to launch direct flights to Kazakhstan connecting the Kazakh capital, Almaty and Qatar capital Doha under the open skies regime introduced Nov. 1...


Kazakh legionnaire’s hat trick helps his club win Norway’s cup

OSLO – Kazakh athlete and national team member Iskander Nugmanov, playing this season for Oslo’s Ready club, completed a hat trick in the club’s win over Ullern. The capital...


Improvement in rankings no reason for complacency

In the first years after independence, Kazakhstan made major strategic decisions which, with hindsight, can be seen to have had a huge role in shaping the history of the...


National news in brief

The government will submit 16 draft laws to Parliament in 2020, according to Primeminister.kz. The draft plan was developed taking into account the strategic objectives of Kazakhstan’s First President...


Business news in brief

The Ministry of Finance has discussed the possibility of introducing fiscal transaction registration with the National Bank and Kaspi Bank, reported vlast.kz. The Kaspi Gold bankcard offers the option...


External news in brief

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Omsk to participate in the Kazakh-Russian Interregional Forum, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The forum, also attended by Russian and Kazakh...


Young Kazakh scholars change science perceptions through blog 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh researcher Amina Mirsakiyeva and 20 of her colleagues have launched an Instagram account to share their knowledge and experience with like-minded women in science. The team,...


National Security Committee releases film about Kazakh citizen who returned from Syria

NUR-SULTAN – The National Security Committee released the film “Accusation and Regret” on its YouTube channel about a Kazakh citizen who returned from Syria. Bakhtiyar Ibrayev tells the story...


All goods produced in Kazakhstan can be very competitive internationally, minister says

NUR-SULTAN – In his recent wide-ranging interview with the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper, Bakhyt Sultanov, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan since June 2019, shared his views on efforts...


Majilis approves 2020-2022 draft budget 

NUR-SULTAN – The Majilis (lower chamber of Parliament) approved the draft law of the 2020-2022 national budget at its Oct. 23 plenary session.  The main principle is to consistently...


From Sultan to Nur-Sultan: public talk series on Kazakh capital history kicks off with Altynov lecture 

NUR-SULTAN – A series of capital history public talks, organised by the Fading.TSE Nur-Sultan history project, started Oct. 25 with a guest lecture by regional historian Assylbek Altynov. “We...


Kazakh ice cream brand enters international market

NUR-SULTAN – Balmuzdak, the largest ice cream and frozen goods producer in the Turkestan Region and one of Kazakhstan’s leading manufacturers, will soon supply its products to Kyrgyzstan, Russia...


Kazakh entrepreneurs produce innovative product that clears oil from soil and air 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh entrepreneurs have produced an innovative product that clears oil spills from soil and air, reported Forbes.kz Oct. 30.  The product was developed by Kazakh National University...


Economic news in brief

Kazakhstan advanced seven spots to 44th place in the Brand Finance annual ranking of 100 national brands. The country sits between New Zealand (45th) and Iran (43rd) and ahead...


Kazakhstan losing $11 million monthly due to Russia’s restrictions on coal transit to Ukraine

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is losing $11 million monthly due to Russia’s restricts coal transit to Ukraine through its territory, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration press...


Kazakhstan plans to develop its brand in global meat market

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh entrepreneurs plan to promote their own breed of cattle starting next year through the Kazakh Whiteheaded Breed International Council. Plans to create the council began after...


Kazakhstan to conduct population census in October 2020

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will conduct a comprehensive population census in October 2020. The nationwide survey will be the third since the country’s independence in 1991, with the others conducted...