Capital considers building rehabilitation centre for children with disabilities

NUR-SULTAN – Capital Akim (Mayor) Altai Kulginov recently raised the question of opening a new centre for individuals with disabilities after visiting the city’s social services centre. Its specialists...


New Kazakh programme allows students to earn tuition funds, course credit for volunteering

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Information and Social Development will launch in September a programme allowing Kazakh students to receive course credit and funds to pay tuition in...


Kazakh capital to host 2019 UNWTO Urban Tourism Global Summit on SDGs

NUR-SULTAN – The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Nur-Sultan Akimat (city administration) will organise the eighth UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism under the Smart Cities,...


Kazakh finance ministry aims to reduce the country’s shadow economy to 15-17 percent of GDP

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Finance aims to reduce the country’s shadow economy to 15-17 percent of the gross domestic product, which is the level exhibited among Organisation...


Golovkin to fight Derevyanchenko for his old world title

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh professional boxer Gennady Golovkin will now have the chance to win back his old title with a fight against Ukrainian professional boxer Serhiy Derevyanchenko as a...


EBRD projects in Kazakhstan focus on small business, women’s entrepreneurship and investment environment

NUR-SULTAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested more than $9.1 billion through 261 projects in the economy of Kazakhstan as of July. In 2015,...


FlyArystan reaches 200,000 passenger milestone in three months

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s first and only low-cost airline FlyArystan, which launched its first flight May 1 from Almaty to Nur-Sultan, recently carried its 200,000th passenger. The airline also reported...


Teachers, waiters among most popular and in demand jobs in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The most numerous professions in Kazakhstan are secondary school teachers, accountants and store clerks, according to a labour market statistical analysis of the first-semester of 2019 data...


Kazakh capital to acquire 100 new electric buses

NUR-SULTAN – One hundred additional electronic public buses will begin operating in the capital by the end of the year. “The working group formed under the city accelerator is...


Kazakh wrestler wins silver medal at international tournament in Poland

NUR-SULTAN – Nurkhozha Kaipanov won Aug. 4 the silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the Vaclav Tsiolkovsky International Tournament in Warsaw, Poland, reports Olympic.kz. It was the ninth medal...


First Central Asian Triathlon Association race to be Oct. 5 in Shymkent and Tashkent

NUR-SULTAN – The Central Asian Triathlon Association (CATA) will host its first race under CATA auspices Oct. 5 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, according to an announcement following...


New Kazakh ministry will focus on environment, preventing poaching and managing water resources

NUR-SULTAN – The newly established Kazakh Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources will focus primarily on developing the county’s Environmental Code, establishing mechanisms to fight poaching and deforestation...


Kazakh Government approves new legislative, executive roadmap to attract investment

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government approved July 30 a new roadmap outlining legislative and executive measures to attract foreign investment, Zakon.kz reports. The roadmap also outlines measures to be...


Kazakhstan urges United States, Russia to resolve INF Treaty issues

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan remains hopeful the United States and Russia will negotiate and resolve their problems concerning the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty through existing bilateral and multilateral platforms,...


Kazakhstan to participate for second time in Junior Eurovision Song Contest

NUR-SULTAN – The finalist of “The Voice Kids” in Russia Yerzhan Maksim will represent Kazakhstan at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019, said Kazakh Minister of Information and Social...


Seventh Tour of Almaty professional bike race will take place Aug. 30-31

NUR-SULTAN – Central Asia’s largest professional cycling race, Tour of Almaty, will take place Aug. 30 and 31. The race will be the seventh time Kazakhstan’s largest city has...


Kazakhstan’s national unity model is unique, an example to other countries, says Turkish community leader

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s public consensus and nationwide unity model is unique and valuable and sets an example for many countries, Kyzylorda Region Turkish community leader Gulchin Geidarova told the...


Astana Opera announces new series of concerts at chamber hall in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – Local musicians will present famous and rarely performed works by Kazakh, foreign and contemporary classical composers this August at the chamber hall of the Astana Opera House...


AIFC FinTech Hub participates in Startup Nation festival in Thailand

NUR-SULTAN – Fintech Hub, which is part of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), participated in the recent Startup Nation festival in Bangkok, Thailand. Fintech Hub presented three startups,...


Selection for Kazakhstan’s presidential personnel reserve begins

NUR-SULTAN – Selection for the Presidential Personnel Reserve, which President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev talked about in his election programme, “Well-being for all! Continuity. Justice. Progress” will begin Sept. 1. For...


New Kazakh presidential assistants, domestic policy head appointed

NUR-SULTAN – Aida Balayeva and Maulen Ashimbayev were appointed July 22 and July 30, respectively, as assistants to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Gani Nygymetov was appointed July 30 as...


Tiny house rental business in Kazakhstan emphasises design over size

NUR-SULTAN – The tiny house movement has reached the world’s largest landlocked country, enabling inhabitants of homes under 100 square metres to lead simpler lives. Although home sizes tend...


Kazakhstan finishes 90 percent of repairs to Arys damaged by munitions explosion

NUR-SULTAN – Ninety percent of reconstruction and repair in Arys was complete as of Aug. 2, after the town was heavily damaged June 24 by a large explosion at...


Kazakh machine-building enterprises produce equipment worth $1.4 billion

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh machine-building enterprises produced 553 billion tenge (US$1.4 billion) in goods in the first half of 2019. The products are nearly 100-percent localised and offer a wide...


Latest FinReview report confirms Kazakhstan attracted quarter of a trillion dollars in FDI over 10 years

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has attracted $250 billion foreign direct investments (FDI) in the last ten years, according to FinReview’s recent analytical review of the country’s investment policy. Overall, nearly...


Nur-Sultan cuts budget on LRT construction by $350 million

NUR-SULTAN – The Nur-Sultan Akimat (city administration) recently cut $350 million from the budget to build a new light rail train system, Nur-Sultan Mayor Altai Kulginov announced recently. The...


Bronze Age grave and gold items found in Karaganda Region

NUR-SULTAN – Archaeologists found the remains of a young man and woman and gold jewellery from the Bronze Age while studying Kyzyltau Cemetery in the Shetsky District of the...


Enbek state programme adds new mechanisms for gaining employment

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Enbek state programme has added new mechanisms for gaining employment, reported First Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Yerzhan Zhilkibayev on July 29....


Shavkat Rakhmonov becomes first Kazakh MMA fighter to sign UFC contract

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh MMA fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov became July 31 the first Kazakh MMA fighter to sign a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Khabar 24 reports. “The...


Businesspeople, officials advance plans to continue Alakol Resort’s development

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government is investing in the Alakol Lake coastal zone and its infrastructure. Entrepreneurs and state body representatives recently discussed the prospects and challenges of developing...


Kazakh machine building sector sees consistent growth

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh car manufacturing increased by 13.4 percent to 553 billion tenge (US$1.4 billion) in the first half of 2019. During that period, 128 projects worth 367 billion...


Kazakh housing sector investment through Nurly Zher programme increases 15 percent

NUR-SULTAN – Investment in Kazakhstan’s housing sector through the Nurly Zher housing programme increased 15.5 percent in the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period in...


$139 million in metallurgy, renewable energy projects launched in Karaganda Region

NUR-SULTAN – Two projects on metallurgy and renewable energy worth $139 million were launched in the first half of the year in the Karaganda Region with Kazakh Invest support,...


Inclusive innovation consortia programme promotes social innovations, encourages responsible entrepreneurs and business leaders

NUR-SULTAN – Entrepreneurs and start-ups seeking to improve the quality of people’s lives, especially for groups with limited access to resources, have an opportunity to participate in the inclusive...


Kazakh manufacturer makes premium halal leather shoes affordable

NUR-SULTAN – Z SHOES is a year-old Kazakh company that domestically produces premium quality, affordably priced halal natural leather shoes and accessories for men, women and children. The company...


Iraqi, Lebanese delegations to join Astana Process Syrian talks as observers

NUR-SULTAN – Delegations from Iraq and Lebanon will participate as observers in the 13th round of Astana Process Syrian talks Aug. 1-2 in Nur-Sultan, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign...


Gross output in farming grows 10.5 percent in six months, reaches $2.76 billion

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh farming sector grew 10.5 percent in its gross output in the first six months of 2019 and produced 1.063 trillion tenge (US$2.76 billion) worth of...


National Oncology Research Centre construction to be completed by 2021

NUR-SULTAN – Construction of the National Oncology Research Centre in the capital is scheduled for completion by March 2021, reported primeminister.kz following Prime Minister Askar Mamin’s July 27 visit...


Kazhgaliyev National Conductors Contest laureate is among Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces

NUR-SULTAN – Yerlan Baktygerey, laureate of first Kazhgaliyev National Conductors Contest, is among Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces. Among his accomplishments, he led the Astana Academic Philharmonic symphony orchestra. Born...


5,051 families to return to repaired homes in Arys, says Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development

NUR-SULTAN – Five thousand and fifty-one families may return to their repaired homes in the town of Arys, which was heavily damaged June 24 by a large explosion at...


Economic news in brief

As of June, the number of small companies operating in Kazakhstan had increased 7.9 percent in the last 12 months to 158,700. The figure represents 37 percent of all...


National news in brief

Nur-Sultan will host the third International Renewable Energy Summit Sept. 25 as part of Kazakhstan Energy Week Forum. The event will gather more than 300 delegates to discuss renewable...


New EU strategy on Central Asia identifies challenges, optimises opportunities, says EU ambassador in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The new Central Asia Strategy, devised by the European Union (EU) addresses new realities of Central Asian countries and encourages cooperative solutions, Head of the EU Delegation...


Business news in brief

Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, which will acquire another 50-percent share in Inter RAO’s Ekibastuz-2 Power Station, will own all its shares by year’s end, reported Sk.kz. The price...


External news in brief

Kazakhstan participated in the international Operation Spider Web July 8-12 as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO’s) Anti-Drug Strategy Programme for 2018-2023. The operation had, for the first...


One-day, nationwide clean-up effort nets more than 15,000 tonnes of garbage across Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – A one-day, nation-wide volunteer effort to clean parks, ponds, riverbanks and coastal regions on July 27 collected 15,044 tonnes of garbage across 4,071 hectares of land, Minister...


Shymkent becomes 31st city to join EBRD Green Cities programme for urban sustainability

NUR-SULTAN – Shymkent recently became the 31st city to join the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) $1.11 billion Green Cities urban sustainability programme, reports mfa.gov.kz. The programme...


Kazakhstan and India move toward new horizons of cooperation

As is well-known, India is the most populous democracy and the sixth largest economy in the world with a GDP of 2.69 trillion. U.S. analysts predict India, currently the...


NU students utilise 3D printer in design of electric scooter, plan to commercialise it

NUR-SULTAN – Nazarbayev University (NU) students recently designed a new model of an electric kick scooter using a 3D printer to create some details at Nazarbayev University Research and...


High Court in London renews arrest warrant for fugitive Kazakh banker 

NUR-SULTAN – The High Court in London issued a new arrest warrant July 25 for former BTA Bank Board of Directors Chairperson Mukhtar Ablyazov, reported the bank’s press service....