Astana: The City of Peace international conference addresses smart city initiatives

ASTANA – In the past 20 years, the city has become the largest scientific, cultural and business centre in Kazakhstan. To mark the 20th anniversary of the nation’s capital,...


Developing Astana as innovative hub is natural step, experts believe

ASTANA – The capital’s potential to become an innovative hub for finance, trade and transportation was discussed by Kazakh and foreign experts during the June 5 Astana: The City...


Zhambyl region initiates investment projects to boost industrial sector

ASTANA – Eight investment projects estimated at 16.9 billion tenge (US$51.1 million) will be launched this year in the Zhambyl region, according to the regional industrial-innovative development department. The...


Foreign Investors Council focuses on modernisation efforts

ASTANA – The 31st plenary session of Kazakhstan’s Foreign Investors’ Council themed “Accelerated modernisation” discussed digital transformation, new technologies and prospects for further economic growth at a June 6...


58 enterprises in Kazakhstan utilise renewable energy, says energy minister

ASTANA – Fifty-eight Kazakh enterprises currently use renewable energy sources (RES) with a total capacity of 352 megawatts, figures expected to reach 68 facilities and approximately 490 megawatts by...


Government for Citizens simplifies, shortens real estate registration procedures

ASTANA – Government for Citizens State Corporation intends to simplify real estate registration and reduce the times it takes, reported board chair Abylaikhan Ospanov at the May 23 Central...


Kazakh government boosts e-commerce development

ASTANA – Kazakh e-commerce turnover has reached 101 billion tenge ($304.6 million) in the first five months of 2018, with 2.9 percent in retail trade turnover, according to Kazpost....


Shchuchinsk hosts finals of nationwide SportFest student athletic competition

ASTANA – Five-hundred and twenty-eight of Kazakhstan’s best student athletes competed May 31 through June 5 in the finals of the nationwide SportFEST competition in Shchuchinsk in northern Kazakhstan....


Conference praises 20 years of Astana’s development, sets new goals

ASTANA – Kazakh and foreign politicians and experts gathered June 5 for Astana: The City of Peace international conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh capital. The...


International championship-winning coach from Ukraine takes reins at FC Astana

ASTANA – Roman Grigorchuk, former manager of Latvia’s Ventspils, Ukraine’s Chernomorets and Azerbaijan’s Gabala, has now been appointed head coach of FC Astana.The Ukrainian has extensive experience working with...


Kazakh President congratulates graduating class at Nazarbayev University

ASTANA – In 2018, 811 students graduated from Nazarbayev University, as more than 140,000 students are graduating from high schools nationwide. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev attended the June 1...


Kazakhstan’s importance as global political player is growing, says German envoy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s non-permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council, its hosting of the Astana Process Syrian peace talks and contributions to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear deal...


CIS heads of government discuss cooperation in Dushanbe

ASTANA – Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) heads of government, including Kazakh Prime Minster Bakytzhan Sagintayev, discussed economic interaction and cooperation within the Commonwealth in areas such as energy...


Astana tourism official discusses capital’s 20th anniversary celebrations

ASTANA – As Astana approaches its 20th anniversary July 6, Astana Convention Bureau Director Saniyar Aitekenov recently spoke to The Astana Times about events and celebrations related to the...


Bukhtarma Reservoir offers energy and entertainment

ASTANA – The Bukhtarma water reservoir in East Kazakhstan region is more than just one of the five largest artificial reservoirs in the world. Surrounded by the Altai Mountains...


One of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces focuses on women’s rights

ASTANA – An accountant by occupation, the true calling of Assemgul Urazayeva, one of the Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, is in charity and the social sphere. She promotes family...


AIFC announces plan to speed foreign investment in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) announced at a May 30 business conference in Astana plans to help reduce bureaucratic delays experienced by foreign investors. “We are...


Businessman suspected of fraud extradited from Germany

ASTANA – Lider Nefteprodukt KZ Company Director Bakhyt Ibragim suspected of embezzlement was recently extradited from Germany at the request of Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office and Anti-Corruption Agency, prokuror.gov.kz...


Foreign students’ forum examines ways to implement Ruhani Zhangyru programme

ASTANA – More than 500 people participated in a May 29 foreign students’ forum at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) to discuss the Ruhani Zhangyru (Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s...


Astana Mayor announces capital improvements: separate waste collection, new schools, sport centres

ASTANA – A waste-processing plant using French technology will be launched in 2019 through a public-private partnership, part of Astana’s major push toward establishing a comprehensive separate waste collection...


Kazakhstan in consultations on easing OPEC oil output reduction agreement, says minister

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is consulting other producers on the potential easing of a 2016 oil output reduction agreement between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC...


Brussels court lifts freeze on $21.5 billion of Kazakhstan’s National Fund assets

ASTANA – The Court of First Instance in Brussels, Belgium recently lifted the preliminary block on access to Kazakhstan’s National Fund assets of $21.5 billion and held that there...


OTOSOTR: WWII monodrama to be performed in UK and US

ASTANA – OTOSOTR (On the Other Side of the River), directed by Tatyana Kim and performed by Kazakh actor Anatoliy Ogay, has been included in the official programme of...


National Bank: Kazakh citizens buying fewer US dollars

ASTANA – The National Bank reported a sharp decrease in May in the demand for U.S. dollars. Last month, Kazakh citizens purchased 23.4 percent fewer dollars compared to April....


Spirit of Tengri Festival opens June 2 in Almaty

ASTANA – The sixth International Festival of Contemporary Ethno Music, known as the Spirit of Tengri, will kick off June 2 in Almaty, reported Tengrinews. The two-day open-air event,...


2,000 Almaty residents examined for meningitis

ASTANA – Responding to the eight fatal cases of meningitis registered this year, approximately 2,000 Almaty residents will be examined for the disease. Kazakh healthcare heads are confident the...


Drugoi Ty national sports challenge starts June 4

ASTANA – Drugoi Ty (Another You), Kazakhstan’s 21-day national sports challenge, will kick off June 4. The campaign, sponsored by the Samruk Kazyna Trust Social Development Foundation, has the...


Paper nomads: Almaty residents warm to book crossing

ASTANA – Book crossing, a social movement aimed at the mass distribution and exchange of books, is gaining popularity in Almaty. All it takes to join the movement is...


Astana city to add more parks, bike lanes and athletic fields

ASTANA – The city akimat (administration) is responding to resident requests for increased landscaping, public infrastructure and recreational facilities with plans to build additional thematic parks and squares. “It...


International arts and culture journalists tour Kazakh attractions

ASTANA – Fifteen international journalists toured Astana and Almaty city as well as the Almaty and Mangistau regions May 24-31, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service reports. The group...


Police officer, father of 11 among Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces

ASTANA – Galym Arystanbayev, a 40-year-old senior sergeant in the Zhambyl region police department, is the father of 11 children who believes in the importance of unity within a...


Kazakhstan marks National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev honoured the millions of victims of famine, forced labour, deportation and other consequences of decisions made by the Stalin-led Soviet government in the...


Cambridge University, British Council to support translating Kazakh literary works

ASTANA – An anthology of modern Kazakh literature will be translated into the six official UN languages and published by Cambridge University with the support of the British Council....


Kazakh Invest board chair says right approach to attracting foreign investment will unlock Kazakhstan’s potential

ASTANA – In the first four months of 2018, the Kazakh Invest national company attracted 42 new investors that will invest $7 billion in the nation’s projects due to...


Officials report on children’s summer recreation programmes

ASTANA – At least 2.5 million children will be provided with recreational activities during summer vacation, said Kazakh Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev during the May 29...


Karaganda resident creates exoskeleton to help individuals with physical challenges

ASTANA – Novice Karaganda inventor Vyacheslav Litvinov has produced portable rehabilitation exoskeletons intended for individuals with locomotor apparatus damage and those who have lost the ability to move independently,...


Kazakh vice minister of agriculture identifies six key problems

ASTANA – First Vice Minister of Agriculture Arman Yevniyev indicated six key problems in the country’s agricultural sector during a May 29 government meeting. The issues include low labour...


Kazakhstan prepares for newly adapted social health insurance

ASTANA – Kazakh Healthcare Minister Yelzhan Birtanov has proposed new approaches to the free medical care and medical benefits package under the compulsory social health insurance system, reported priminister.kz....


Almost 150,000 graduate from Kazakh secondary schools

ASTANA – The last bell sounded May 25 in Kazakhstan secondary schools, marking the end of required education and the start of adult life for more than 147,000 students...


Business News in Brief

Kazakhstan’s first liquid fertiliser plant, worth 50 million tenge (US$153,150), was launched in the North Kazakhstan region, reports inform.kz. The plant, capable of producing 140 tonnes of liquid fertiliser...


Economic News in Brief

Trade turnover of agricultural products and processed goods between Kazakhstan and China totalled $345 million in 2017, reported kazakh-tv.kz, a 32-percent increase compared to 2016. Kazakh exports to China...


External News in Brief

The National Museum of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan National History Museum launched the Legacy of the Great Steppe: Jewellery Art Masterpieces exhibition in Baku as part of the Golden Man...


National News in Brief

A Community Council responsible for overseeing the implementation of Kazak President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Five Social Initiatives was recently established the Karaganda region. Its members represent political parties, the Assembly...


Kazakhstan’s nuclear legacy and importance of CTBTO

I am coming from Kazakhstan, the country which inherited around 1,500 nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union making it the 4th biggest nuclear arsenal in the world at the...


Kazakhstan’s Samal Yeslyamova wins Cannes Best Actress award

ASTANA – Kazakh actress Samal Yeslyamova won the prestigious Best Female Actress award at the 71st Cannes Film Festival for her role in “Ayka” directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy. The...


KADEX 2018 results in numerous defence contracts

ASTANA – KADEX 2018, the fifth international weapons systems and military equipment exhibition, was held May 23-26 at the military sector of Astana International Airport. “Our country, as you...


Kazakh citizens can protect data access through egov.kz

ASTANA – Blocking personal data on egov.kz, the e-government website,will soon be available to Kazakh citizens, reported Government for Citizens State Corporation head Abylaikhan Ospanov at a Central Communications Service...


SCAT Airlines launches Astana-Vilnius route

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s SCAT airlines based in Shymkent launched May 27 a new Astana-Vilnius, Lithuania service. The four-hour-and-40-minute Boeing-737 flights depart Thursdays and Sundays with economy return fares starting...


Astana Arlans beat British Lionhearts, advance to fifth WSB final

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Astana Arlans defeated the British Lionhearts May 26 in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) semi-final. It will be the Arlans’ fifth appearance in the final....


Day of Remembrance heals and strengthens

An appreciation of a nation’s history by its citizens is critical to its strength and success. It builds and maintains the shared sense of identity and common purpose, which...