- Friday, 13 February, 2026
- Almaty 21 °F / -6 °C
- Astana -2 °F / -19 °C
As per the forecasts, Kazakhstan experienced a 4.3 percent gross domestic product (GDP) increase during 2014, according to the Chairman of the Statistics Committee of the Ministry...
The final agreement was recently reached between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan on construction of the underwater section of the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM), according to Azerbaijan Minister...
ASTANA – Professor and Rector of the Kazakh University of Arts and founder of Eurasian Symphony Orchestra Aiman Mussakhodzhayeva spoke about the orchestra’s plans for the 2015...
ASTANA – Akim (Mayor) of Astana Adilbek Dzhaksybekov identified the main vectors of the capital’s development at the first staff meeting in early January. The Nurly Zhol...
ASTANA – Secretary of State of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova called for the international promotion of Kazakhstan’s model of interethnic tolerance last month at the expanded meeting of...
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov and his Venezuelan counterpart Delcy Rodriguez signed a memorandum on political consultations Jan. 16 during the latter’s first visit to...
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev assessed the state of the national economy and financial sector during a Jan. 15 meeting at the Akorda on the nation’s...
Any business or industry in a developed economy that ignored good waste management practices would soon find itself deep in trouble. Competitors who had reduced costs by...
ASTANA – The Kazakh-Spanish film “Los Olvidados de Karagandá” won an accolade in the Documentary Film Competition, receiving a diamond award of the California Film Awards 2014....
ASTANA – Presidents of Kazakhstan and Ukraine Nursultan Nazarbayev and Petro Poroshenko spoke on the phone on Jan. 15 to discuss current situation in Ukraine and a...
Barys Astana held a number of regular season matches in the Continental Hockey League championship on the New Year Eve and after the New Year. On Dec.25,...
The long-awaited Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the single market for goods, services and labour uniting Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, has taken effect, though dire conditions in...
ASTANA – The Central Communications Service (CCS) hosted a briefing on key trends in innovative and technical development in Kazakhstan on Jan. 9. The briefing was attended...
ASTANA – The 12th Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) summit will be held in Almaty on May 19-21, the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) announced. A memorandum...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is home to more than 130 ethnic groups. Millions perished in the vicious repression led by then-Soviet strongman Joseph Stalin in the 1930s that...
ASTANA – Poland is seeking to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan in various fields, according to Jacek Kluczkowski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland in Kazakhstan. In his...
ASTANA – Sabina Altynbekova, 18, is a member of Kazakhstan’s women’s junior national volleyball team. She hails from the West Kazakhstan city of Aktobe. She shot to...
GAITHERSBURG, MD – Kazakhstan launched a new official tourism website, Kazakhstan.travel, in June, with information in English, Kazakh and Russian on the country’s culture, history and geography...
ASTANA – On Jan. 7, the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) announced the removal of 36 kilogrammes (approximately 80 pounds) of highly...
This season Kazakhstan enjoys surprisingly warm weather, perfect for engaging in winter sport activities, such as visiting a snow ski resort “Altaic Alps” in the eastern Kazakhstan....
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has sent $400,000 worth of aid to the southeastern regions of Ukraine weathering a humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of the military conflict there,...
ASTANA – Eight Kazakhstan universities were included on the list of best universities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, according to British company QS Quacquarelli Symonds’ December...
Three crews in the car category and one crew in the truck category are representing Kazakhstan at the Jan. 4-17 Dakar Rally 2015 in South America. The...
ASTANA – Amid the ongoing pressure and sanctions between the West, Russia and Ukraine, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan said recently that he holds out hope for...
ASTANA – Remote electronic monitoring of convicts is underway in Kazakhstan, as the new criminal and penal codes adopted in early July went into effect Jan. 1....
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree on Dec. 26 introducing the new anti-corruption strategy for 2015-2025 initiated by the Nur Otan party in July of...
KARAGANDA REGION – The Kyzylarai mountain oasis and Shabanbai-bi Village in Central Kazakhstan were named among the world’s 100 most sustainable tourist destinations last year. “The oasis...
GAITHERSBURG, MD – Kazakhstan’s film industry is one of the mechanisms the young country is using to define its own image on the international stage. Through scholarships...
KYZYLORDA – The Passenger Transportation company launched on Dec. 29 a new high-speed passenger train that will cut the travel time between Astana and Kyzylorda by one...
PAVLODAR – The launching of a new greenhouse complex in Pavlodar that is forecast to produce 1,600 tonnes of tomatoes per year, along with other vegetables, is...
As Kazakhstan develops its medical competence, with advances in bariatric, cardiac and neurosurgery in the last few years, as well as laser eye surgery and general transplant...
Shakhtar Football Club Secondary Coach Berik Rakhimbekov completed a one-year internship in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil as part of the state-supported programme at the Olé Brazil Academy. The...
On the threshold of the Rio Olympics in 2016 and as athletes vied for slots at the World Series of Boxing (WSB), Astana Arlans Head Coach Marat...
The delegations from Almaty and Beijing, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games candidate cities, presented their three-volume bid books in Lausanne, Switzerland Jan. 6 for consideration by the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s continued efforts to promote multi-directional foreign policy by introducing a visa-free regime in 2014 with 10 countries which are big investors in its economy...
ASTANA – Performances of “Spartacus” will highlight the first appearance by the Astana Opera ballet troupe at the Teatro Carlo Felice, the ancient theatre and principal opera...
ASTANA — Relatively mild winter temperatures this year in Astana have allowed city residents to enjoy the city’s outdoor ice skating facilities. “We wanted to enjoy every...
ASTANA – Many people claim that nowadays, chivalry is dead; such a statement may seem true anywhere besides at Historical Medieval Battles (HMB). At HMB, different fighting...
The treaty creating the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) took effect Jan. 1, 2015, with economic borders between Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia becoming significantly thinner. Kyrgyzstan is...
Many adults, especially parents, want to educate their children about politics, but most of them confuse learning politics with induction into a political agenda or belief. Yet...
ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov stressed the strategic importance of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy as he summarised the outcomes of the nation’s foreign policy...
In his state-of-the-nation address, “Nurly Zhol: The Path to the Future,” President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that falling oil prices would lead to a decrease in budget revenues....
Performers and bands from Kazakhstan, India, Spain, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Egypt and other countries took part in the International Folk Music Festival in the Egyptian city of Faiyum...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Dec. 31 the acceptance by the country of the five former detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, citing...
ASTANA – Astana might be hosting a critical summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany to seek lasting solutions to the months-long conflict in...
ANKARA – Calling their countries strategic partners and brotherly nations, Kazakhstan’s and Turkey’s foreign ministers announced their intentions to further deepen bilateral political and economic ties, including...
ASTANA – The Government and the National Bank of Kazakhstan will seek to achieve real economic growth in the country of 4-5 percent next year, the two...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev, summing up the results of the first five years of the industrialisation programme on Dec. 25, confirmed that new industries, import substitution...
It is a little over a year since Kazakhstan formally announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-2018. And it has...
As the year 2014 drew to a close, we interviewed Askar Shakirov, Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), to talk about achievements and challenges in this critical...
The Constitution of our country defines Kazakhstan as a democratic, secular, legal and social state. From the first days of independence the country’s leadership has paid great...
ASTANA – The year 2014 was full of memorable sports stories involving Kazakh athletes. The Astana Times has chosen a few to highlight for our year-end sports...
GAITHERSBURG, MD – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has agreed to provide a five-year loan of 10 billion tenge (US$54.7 million) to Kazakhstan’s Bank CentreCredit...
Astana Embassies End 2014 with Concerts, Cultural Events, Receptions Belgian Embassy Organises Sax Concerts in Kazakh Capital As part of the bicentenary anniversary celebration of Adolphe Sax’s...
Kazakhstan is a country rich in oil and natural beauty. But to reach its aspirations under the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, it may be missing one vital resource...
ASTANA – “Zhusan,” a one-act ballet telling a story of the Great Steppe, premiered Dec. 10 and 11 on the stage of the Astana Opera. The performance...
A new book, “Kazakhstan, the Centre of Eurasia,” was presented during the recent Fair Più Libri Più Liberi (More books, more freedom), one of the major Italian...
The history of European migration and settlement was in the limelight at the international conference, “The Great Migrations: The Colonisation of Europe,” held at the initiative of...
To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence, the Dina Nurpeisova Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments from Atyrau held a major concert on Dec. 15 at UNESCO...
ASTANA – More than 400 representatives of government, nongovernmental and youth organisations, the Parliament of Kazakhstan, culture, sports and the Kazakhstan 2050 National Movement attended a recent...
The Football Federation of Kazakhstan presented Spaniard Carlos Martorell Bakes during a Dec. 20 press conference as the new coach of Kazakhstan’s youth football team (U-17). Bakes...
Almaty City Akim (Mayor) Akhmetzhan Yessimov said during a Dec. 19 Central Communications Service briefing that hosting the Winter Olympics in Almaty in 2020 would be profitable...
You are quite likely to be reading this with a fair share of your thoughts occupied with preparations for a Christmas dinner or a New Year’s party....
SHYMKENT – Rixos Khadisha Shymkent, the first ever five star hotel in South Kazakhstan, opened with great fanfare on Dec. 20. The grand opening of the hotel...
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Kiev on Dec. 22 for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and other officials seeking to reinvigorate bilateral political and...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held his annual end-of-year news briefing covering a broad range of areas from the situation in Ukraine to Kazakhstan’s economic stimulus package,...
HELSINKI – As Finland celebrated the Day of the Peacemaker last month, The Astana Times interviewed former President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari to talk...
ASTANA – Recognising the need to help build a more efficient and sustainable civil society in Kazakhstan, members of the Kazakh Parliament, representatives of various government ministries,non-governmental...
ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan will allocate 178 billion tenge (US$977.75 million) in 2015 and a further 143.3 billion tenge (US$787.14 million)in 2016 from the country’s...
In recent decades, Kazakhstan has become a rightful member of economic society. Moreover, our country is always advancing its leadership in all directions: political, economic and other...
Skiing is a sport that is popular around the globe and Almaty is quickly becoming known for its world-class skiing facilities. This city ringed by snowcapped peaks...
The recent 3rd International Conference on Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons has shown an encouraging trend – the growing realisation by the world community of the urgent...
ASTANA – Miquel Riera, the international sport director of FC (Football Club) Astana 1964, seeks to promote Kazakh players in Europe, especially in Spain. He has worked...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held his annual end-of-year news briefing covering a broad range of areas from the situation in Ukraine to Kazakhstan’s economic stimulus package,...
VIENNA – While attending the third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna from Dec. 8-9, artist Karipbek Kuyukov made a lasting impression...
ASTANA – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Kazakhstan recently commended the state’s actions to advance the economy’s potential through additional fiscal stimulus from the National...
The Astana EXPO 2017 National Company and Belarus Republican Union of Tourist Organisations signed a memorandum of partnership during the Dec. 11-12 visit of a Kazakh delegation...
“The number of the prison population in Kazakhstan reduced by 4 percent,” Kazakh Deputy Prosecutor General Zhakip Assanov said at the Dec. 12 second forum on prison...
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov held a meeting with Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kohir Rasulzoda on Dec. 15. They discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including...
A total of 13,543 property legalisation applications amounting to 103.3 billion tenge (US$562.86 million) had been received by Dec. 11 by the local executive commissions charged...
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so said the Chinese philosopher Laozi . He was a wise man. For those who heeded his...
ASTANA – Among the numerous nationalities that live in Kazakhstan, there is a very small community that has lived through some of history’s darkest times to preserve...
ATHENS – Greek government and Athens city officials joined more than 300 guests at Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens on Dec. 15 to celebrate the Kazakh Day...
The company Digital City Showcases recently announced the launch of its new Urban Infokiosk project, which will install self-service, touchscreen information terminals in shop windows that will...
ASTANA – At a regular government meeting on Dec. 4 led by Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, improving Kazakhstan’s standing in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) was...
ASTANA – Astana Akim (Mayor) Adilbek Dzhaksybekov explained to the public on Dec. 11 some of the features of the city’s 36 new public buses. The new...
ASTANA – The Dec. 14 7th Winter Charity Ball at Radisson Hotel Astana raised 13 million tenge (US$70,815) for educational programmes for children from orphanages and low-income...
A new high school opened on Dec. 9 in the 12th district of Aktobe is expected to address three-shift education in the region and allow students from...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov and his Chinese counterpart, Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang approved and signed $14 billion worth of accords on...
ASTANA – The Kazakh language is now among the offerings of the Google Translate online global translating system, founder and director of theWikiBilim Public Foundation Rauan Kenzhekhanuly...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan “strongly condemns the act of terrorism committed in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Dec. 16,” the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in...
ASTANA – Several important memoranda, including a memorandum to deepen atomic cooperation, were signed Dec. 14 during the official meeting of the Kazakh-Chinese Council, where Kazakh Prime...
WASHINGTON, DC – Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov visited the United States on Dec. 10-11 to meet with top American officials to advance bilateral relations and discuss...
ASTANA – The heads of the governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) states met in Astana’s Palace of Independence on Dec.15 to examine ways to deepen...
Yulia Galysheva of Kazakhstan won the gold medal in dual moguls at the freestyle skiing World Cup races Dec. 13 in Ruka, Finland. Galysheva finished ahead of...
ASTANA – Rixos President Astana held a Friend’s Party for partners and colleagues Dec. 11 as a way to show gratitude for their camaraderie and cooperation. The...
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will lend the equivalent of $30 million in the local currency, the tenge, to Kazakhstan’s Eastcomtrans rail company to...
Italian government and business leaders expressed interest in EXPO 2017 during a Dec. 9-10 visit to Rome by Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Rapil Zhoshybayev. During the...
The Big Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD) project concept was presented Dec. 9 to British investors at the headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)...
The Civil Service Reform Project, an EU-funded project with an overall budget of 4.6 million euros, has delivered seminars on best practices in civil service management in...
