Kazakh government to allocate nearly $59 million to develop Imantau-Shalkar mountain lake resort

NUR-SULTAN –The Kazakh government is planning to direct 22.8 billion tenge (US$58.73 million) to develop the Imantau-Shalkar mountain lake resort in the North Kazakhstan region, said Entrepreneurship and Tourism...


Kazakhstan shows positive model of integration, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

NUR-SULTAN – How can a country ensure social integration for national minorities? Why is a state language key for integration? How do digital media help to ease inter-ethnic tensions?...


Kazakhstan’s Vinokurov wins Ironman 70.3 World Championship division in Nice

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Olympic cycling champion and Astana Pro Team General Manager Alexander Vinokurov won the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in the 45-49-year division in Nice. The triathlon competition...


National news in brief

Kazakhstan has adopted a road map to promote exporting non-primary goods and services. The plan eliminates internal and external barriers, which will reduce the negative factors and consequences faced...


Economic news in brief

Non-cash payments on Kazakh issuers’ cards within and beyond the country doubled to 6.3 trillion tenge (US$16.24 billion) from January-July, reported ranking.kz. Until 2019, the share of international payment...


Kazakh President’s state-of-the-nation address sets right course for country’s future

The first state-of-the-nation address Sept. 2 from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underlined how Kazakhstan is confidently beginning the next stage of its development. On the economy, public services, quality of...


External news in brief

Kazakhstan presented the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) ratification instrument to the United Nations (UN) Secretariat Aug. 29 in New York. The official ceremony, which coincided...


Experts predict shrinking smartphone sales will recover in Kazakhstan, globally by 2020

NUR-SULTAN – Smartphone sales declined in China, Kazakhstan and the United States in the second quarter of the year, reported Finprom.kz. Experts expect a recovery in global sales in...


Business news in brief

A pilot project on a tax-free shopping for foreigners will be implemented in Almaty’s Esentai Mall to boost tourist inflow and purchasing power, reported the Ministry of Finance State...


Kazakhstan’s e-sports AVANGAR CS:GO team wins $150,000 and second place at Berlin Major

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s AVANGAR Counter-Strike team finished in second place at the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, having lost to Denmark’s Astralis 2-0 in the Sept. 8 grand final. “One...


European Union and Central Asia: New Partnership in Action

The European Union (EU) has been engaged with the five countries in Central Asia from the very moment they gained their independence in the early 1990s. During that period...


Kazakhstan has potential for additional reductions of greenhouse gas emissions

The efforts of countries for sustainable development are especially relevant today when the entire system of international relations is facing new global challenges. Today, opportunities for cooperation between states...


Kazakh renewable energy and tin industries are ones to watch, oil and gas are still safe bet for investor, says Norwegian study

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh renewable energy and tin industries are potential growth sectors and oil and gas are still a safe bet for investors, according to the latest Norwegian...


Kazakh artist exhibits Tengrianism-inspired paintings

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh artist Nazym Rakhimberdiyeva presented her Tengrianism-inspired (ancient Turkic faith) paintings Aug. 20 at her individual “Tengri of three worlds” exhibition in Almaty, reported mix.tn.kz. “I got...


Kazakhstan starts vaccinating adult population against measles

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will begin to vaccinate the adult population against measles in September, announced Lyudmila Byurabekova, the chairperson of Committee for Quality and Safety of Goods and Services...


WBA restores Beibut Shumenov’s World Champion title

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh professional boxer Beibut Shumenov (18-2, 12 KOs), a multiple-time world champion in two weight classes, has regained his previous world champion standing according to the updated...


International rideshare company Bolt launches operations in Kazakh capital

NUR-SULTAN – Bolt, a major European transport platform, began operating Sept. 4 in the capital. Several thousand drivers have already started working. “More than 25 million users in more...


Kazakh President calls for gradual reforms in first National Council of Public Trust meeting

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the Sept. 6 first meeting of the National Council of Public Trust that reforms are needed to improve life and government in...


Ukrainian archaeologist solves mystery of ancient silk cloth

NUR-SULTAN – A Ukrainian archaeologist recently solved the mystery of an ancient silk cloth from the era of the Golden Horde found in 2008 on the site of an...


Government to improve conditions in Kazakh penal colonies by 2023

NUR-SULTAN – No Kazakh correctional colony meets international standards and measures will be taken to improve conditions, said Deputy Prosecutor General Marat Akhmetzhanov at an Aug. 28 roundtable in...


Kazakhstan to develop New Professions Atlas

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Labour and Social Protection confirmed the decision to create a New Professions Atlas (NPA) during the Aug. 28 meeting of the National Council...


Kazakhstan’s social media sensation and pink-coloured lake is just two hours from the capital

NUR-SULTAN – Social media is flooded with images of Lake Kobeytuz, which has turned pink. The waterway is conveniently located two hours of driving from the capital and visitors...


Kazakh President, officials deny rumours China will transfer 55 old factories to Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – President Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev refuted during the Sept. 6 first meeting of the National Council of Public Trust that China would be transferring 55 of its...


Kazakhstan’s e-sports AVANGAR Counter-Strike team advances to Berlin Major’s semifinals

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s AVANGAR Counter-Strike team advanced Sept. 5 to the semi-final stage of the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, taking down France’s Team Vitality 2-1 in the opening match...


Kazakh capital to host October 2019 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology (KazIOR) will host the 2019 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit Oct. 15-17 in the capital, reported uicc.org. “Reducing the number of...


Kazakh President proposes award to recognise Asian writers

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed at the recent first Forum of Asian Countries’ Writers in Nur-Sultan to establish the Asian Giant International Literary award. Tokayev called for...


Kazakhstan temporarily suspends use of Japanese tuberculosis vaccination

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has temporarily suspended use of a Japanese tuberculosis vaccine, said Ministry of Healthcare Committee for Quality Control and Safety of Goods and Services Chairperson Lyudmila Byurabekova...


Kazakh sisters seek to instil love of art with Instagram-based business

NUR-SULTAN – Two sisters, Arna Jan and Dana Sarsenbayeva, launched in August the Instagram-based brand Uncool.Store, which promotes art appreciation and freedom from societal boundaries. “We labelled our brand...


Kazakhstan must tighten its monetary policy, says National Bank head

NUR-SULTAN – Existing global economic trends dictate a tighter monetary policy in Kazakhstan, said Kazakh National Bank Head Erbolat Dossaev Aug. 27. He named lowering global demand and uncertainty...


Kazakh Government provides compensation to thousands of nuclear weapons tests victims

NUR-SULTAN – Approximately 3,000 compensations have been paid to Kazakh nuclear test victims since the beginning of the year. They were provided by Government for Citizens, a single public...


Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency presents new logo, emblem

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency recently presented its new logo and emblem in the capital. The agency sought to create a logo that was “simple, adaptable, universal and...


Kindergarten for children with special needs appeals for financial support 

NUR-SULTAN – A kindergarten in the nation’s capital for children with special needs, including those on the autism spectrum, is appealing to the public for funding to stay open....


Lack of standardisation poses problems for halal industry in CIS, notes conference

NUR-SULTAN – Participants at a recent conference in the Kazakh capital discussed the difficulties of introducing standards in the halal industry in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reports...


Judicial reforms, more local control among issues addressed in state-of-the-nation address

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed his commitment during his Sept. 2 state-of-the-nation address to create a more inclusive government and continue the reforms begun by Kazakhstan’s First...


Kazakh government to increase social spending 2.9 percent by 2022

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government will increase social spending 2.9 percent by 2022, said Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Alikhan Smailov Aug. 27. He also outlined...


Kazakh capital’s industrial production grows 17.5 percent in January-July

NUR-SULTAN – Industrial production in the capital grew 17.5 percent in January-July, including a 16-percent increase in manufacturing, said Nur-Sultan Akim (Mayor) Altai Kulginov at a Sept. 3 meeting...


Kazakh Invest initiates four projects worth $217 million in first half of 2019

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Invest supported implementing four projects worth $217 million and construction and installation works for 12 projects worth $1.7 billion in the first half of 2019. Thirty-four...


Kazakh ministers present information on new pro-teacher laws on Knowledge Day

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh ministers celebrated Knowledge Day Sept. 1 by visiting schools to speak about the new bill on the status of the teacher and patriotism in schools. Prime...


Kazakhstan appoints Elvira Azimova new Human Rights Commissioner

Diana Vassilenko NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Senate unanimously approved Sept. 2 former Deputy Minister of Justice Elvira Azimova as the new Human Rights Commissioner of Kazakhstan. The rights commissioner, which...


Capital Rotarians need $15,445 to complete second inclusive playground 

NUR-SULTAN – Rotary Club of Astana hopes to finish building the second Kunshyaq inclusive playground in the capital by the end of September and is seeking six million tenge...


Kazakh government to prepare by Sept. 7 plan to implement state-of-nation address

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government will prepare by Sept. 7 a plan to implement the initiatives presented by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Sept. 2 state-of-the-nation address. It was...


Kazakh government explores structural changes to economic sectors to increase GDP growth

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government and the Accounts Committee will examine state holdings and national companies to determine if structural changes are needed to increase GDP growth, said First...


Kazakh President’s first state-of-nation address emphasises public involvement in government, say experts

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first state-of-the-nation address focused on constructive public dialogue as a basis for a stable and prosperous Kazakhstan, experts say. “President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation...


Tokayev’s first state-of-the-nation address sets tone for socially oriented and business friendly state

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his first state-of-the-nation address as the head of state at the Sept. 2 joint session of the Kazakh Parliament. The hour-long address...


Kazakhstan, Russia to manufacture Mi helicopters in Almaty

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development (MIID) Roman Sklyar and Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov discussed implementing joint projects during an Aug. 27...


Public response generally positive to Kazakh President’s first state-of-the-nation address

NUR-SULTAN – People in Kazakhstan shared their thoughts online and with The Astana Times regarding President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Sept. 2 first state-of-the-nation address. Tokayev was elected President June 9...


New Kazakh compulsory medical insurance to expand healthcare access, says medical expert

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s compulsory medical insurance system, which will come into force Jan. 1, 2020, will provide everyone with sufficient medical care, noted Tatyana Tsechoyeva, the Central Railway Hospital...


People should be faithful to their motherland, country of residence, says Cossack community leader

NUR-SULTAN – People should be faithful to their motherland and country of residence, said Kazachya Volnitsa Cossack community leader Semyon Rakov. After serving in the Kazakh Armed Forces for...


Kazakh climber wins bronze at IFSC Climbing World Championships

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh mountain climber Rishat Khabibullin won a bronze medal Aug. 21 at the 2019 International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Climbing World Championships. The third-place finish made him the...


Banking sector reforms are critical to developing Kazakh economy, says EBRD President

NUR-SULTAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has an extensive portfolio of 262 projects in Kazakhstan, has invested nearly $9.1 billion since the country’s independence...