WIP Astana – city’s new type of public space

ASTANA – Probably many passers-by have noticed a stage next to the Keruen Shopping Mall. A special open-air space with the 80 seats and LED screen suddenly appeared in...


Qatar’s new energy horizons reflected at expo pavilion

ASTANA – The Qatari pavilion is hard to miss, for its glaring steel heads fidgeting in the wind attract the attention of many from afar. It is nearly impossible...


Almaty entrepreneur brings indoor gardening to Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Sometimes, starting a business in an unknown industry means instead of competitors, you develop collaborators. Citygarden Company head Diana Kemel and her team want to bring gardens...


Bike for Peace activists to visit Astana on Int’l Day against Nuclear Tests

ASTANA – Six riders with the international organisation Bike for Peace (BfP) started a tour along the Bishkek-Almaty-Astana route Aug. 20 in advance of the Building a Nuclear Weapon-Free...


Astana hosts swimming race for children with disabilities

ASTANA – A swimming competition involving children with disabilities took place Aug. 17 in Astana. The Kazakh association of parents of children with disabilities organised the event with the...


Korgalzhyn eco-tours provide authentic and affordable travel experience

ASTANA – The Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, one of Kazakhstan’s major attractions, occupies almost 550,000 hectares in two regions about 130 kilometres southwest of the capital. It is included in...


World renowned jazz musicians perform in festival in Astana

ASTANA – Internationally-recognised jazz performers gathered in Astana for the Aug. 15-17 JAZZIA 2017 International Jazz Festival. The festival was part of EXPO 2017. “JAZZIA is three days of...


Kazakh National Bank cuts base rate to 10.25 percent

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has reduced the base rate to 10.25 percent with a corridor of +/-1 percent, according to an Aug. 21 press release. “The...


National Bank should prevent inflation growth, Nazarbayev says

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev during an Aug. 14 meeting with National Bank Chairman Daniyar Akishev noted that the country’s free floating national currency exchange rate is working and...


Local companies will be obliged to report greenhouse gas emissions

ASTANA – Domestic industrial enterprises will be obliged to provide online data on greenhouse gas emissions, said Kazakh Vice Minister of Energy Gani Sadibekov at the Aug. 18 interdepartmental...


More than 250 projects worth $5.1 billion launched in first two years of industrialisation plan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan launched 258 projects worth 1.7 trillion tenge (US$5.1 billion) in the first two years of its second five-year industrialisation plan. The plan is meant to diversify...


Kazakh, Austrian commission discusses energy, environmental protection and infrastructure

ASTANA – The Aug. 22 eighth session of the Kazakh-Austrian intergovernmental commission on economic, agricultural, environmental, industrial, technical and technological cooperation discussed bilateral cooperation in energy, mining, environmental protection,...


Barys begins 10th KHL season with roster of fresh faces

ASTANA – Barys Astana will begin the regular season of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) on Aug. 24 without some of its key players: the snow leopards will play...


“My father’s friend” – a lesson in parenthood

On Aug. 22, my dear father Marat Zhumagulov would have turned 60. The following story is from the series of my interesting memories of him. I hope you’ll enjoy...


UNICEF hosts hackathon, talks at EXPO 2017

ASTANA – Team Insaai from Kokshetau, which developed an ethno-style mobile gaming app in three languages, took first place at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) “Innovating for Children...


Hungary celebrates National Day at EXPO 2017, highlights shared cultural traditions

ASTANA – The Hungarian pavilion celebrated National Day Aug. 18 with a varied cultural programme. To commemorate the ethnic and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Hungary that have been...


Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan sign first military cooperation plan

ASTANA­­ – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed their first Military Cooperation Plan during a recent meeting between Kazakh Minister of Defence Colonel General Saken Zhasuzakov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev...


Kazakhstan and Afghanistan improve ties

ASTANA ­­– Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah travelled to Kazakhstan Aug. 19 to unveil Afghan National Day at EXPO 2017 and meet with the country’s high officials and business...


Kazakh boxer claims WBC Youth World Light Heavyweight Title

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Ali Akhmedov recently became the WBC Youth World Light Heavyweight champion by beating previously undefeated 23-year-old American Curtis Hill Jr. in Austin, Texas. Hill had...


Kazakh MFA, Chief Editors’ Club award foreign media contest winners

ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry and Chief Editors’ Club awarded Aug. 21 the winners of the Fourth International Kazakhstan through the Eyes of Foreign Media Contest. Authors from...


Kazakh oil export revenues have increased 53 percent in 2017

ASTANA – Almost 80 percent of all oil produced in the country is exported. The revenues of the Kazakh budget from the export of crude oil increased 53 percent...


Charity Tour de Burabay marks fifth anniversary, raises $481,000

ASTANA – Charity Tour de Burabay, an annual cycling ride for charity, gathered 1,500 people Aug. 19, including 718 participants along with professional cyclists, sports and government representatives, to...


Government to equip hospitals with medical information systems by 2019

ASTANA – All medical organisations in Kazakhstan will be provided with information systems by the end of 2018, said Vice Minister of Healthcare Alexei Tsoi. He said the Ministry...


Chinese entrepreneurs to build solar power plant in South Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Chinese entrepreneurs plan to build a 200 MW solar power plant in the Otyrar district of the South Kazakhstan region, according to Chinese company Qingdao Beihai representative...


America’s options in Afghanistan and why Kazakhstan should care

This autumn, the War in Afghanistan will slip into its sixteenth year. America’s Afghan War, which currently serves as one of several theatres in the global war on terrorism,...


Celtic FC crushes Astana 5-0, nearly eliminates its chances to advance in champions league

ASTANA – FC Astana suffered a major 0-5 defeat from Celtic FC in the first match of the UEFA Champions League playoffs on Aug. 16. It was the second...


Experts gather at Nazarbayev University, discuss economic diversification and good governance

ASTANA – Nazarbayev University hosted the Good Governance and Economic Diversification in Resource-Rich Economies conference Aug. 17-19, bringing approximately 40 participants and eminent academics and speakers to the Kazakh...


A milestone in nuclear non-proliferation: IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan

The long-awaited launch of the Low Enriched Uranium Bank on Aug. 29 is a bright spot in what has been a gloomy period of increasing international tension. It is...


Confronting nuclear dangers

The goal of eliminating nuclear weapons from this planet received a timely boost this year with the successful negotiation of a Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in...


National Geographic features new documentary about Astana’s city structures

ASTANA – “Megastructures: Astana, City of the Future,” National Geographic’s new documentary about the capital’s architectural structures, premiered as part of EXPO 2017. The film includes interviews with expo...


Italian stunt person creates breathtaking bicycle videos in Astana

ASTANA – Italian stunt person Vittorio Brumotti, known for his road bike cycling tricks, was in the capital this month to shoot several exciting new videos. A computer science...


EXPO 2017 will not be extended beyond Sept. 10 closing date

Despite urging from Astana area businesses, EXPO 2017 will not be extended past its scheduled Sept. 10 closing date, Astana EXPO 2017 national company director of public relations Sergei...


Nazarbayev stresses need to create agricultural science centre

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed to Rector of the Kazakh National Agrarian University (KazNAU) Tlektes Yesspolov the need to create a national science centre in the field of agriculture....


National investment strategy seeks 26% foreign investment increase in five years

ASTANA – The Kazakh government approved Aug. 15 a national investment strategy for 2018-2022 which seeks to increase foreign investments 26 percent in five years and create a more...


EXPO 2017 numbers show economic, promotional impact

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 has had a significant economic and promotional impact, including increased product sales, restaurant visits and thousands of social media and news organisation mentions. So far,...


Kazakh, Bolivian foreign ministers sign political declaration in Astana

ASTANA – During his first official visit to Kazakhstan, Bolivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Fernando Huanacuni Mamani met Aug. 17 with Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev and Foreign Minister...


Pierre Cardin to present his new collection in Astana

ASTANA – World-famous designer Pierre Cardin will arrive in Astana Sept. 1 to present his new collection designed specifically for Kazakhstan. The show will last three days and feature...


Almaty 2017 Winter Universiade recognised as best in competition’s history

ASTANA – The Expert Council of International University Sports Federation (FISU) has recognised the Winter Universiade in Almaty as the best in the history of international student competitions, according to an...


Education ministry is prepared for coming academic year, reports minister

ASTANA – Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan Yerlan Sagadiyev presented a report Aug. 15 on preparations for the new 2017-2018 academic year and assured his ministry is...


Kazakh TV takes viewers on a tour of modern Kazakhstan with ‘Invite Me’

ASTANA – Kazakh TV’s new show, “Invite Me,” unveils Kazakhstan through the eyes of foreigners as Robert Boyd of Australia visits the country’s most interesting destinations at the invitation...


Pugwash movement: how world scientists have stood against nuclear war

In July 1955, eleven internationally renowned scientists signed the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, which laid the foundations of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. The movement’s first conference took...


Globalink Kazakhstan: from humble beginnings to infinite opportunities

ASTANA – Soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the entire Central Asian region became uncharted territory. Many young, ambitious entrepreneurs faced the challenge...


ATOM Project ambassador pleads to recognise nuclear threat, stand up against it

ASTANA – The people of Kazakhstan have multiple stories to share on the eve of the Aug. 29 International Day against Nuclear Tests, because this day is part of...


Kazakhstan’s Constitution: from Soviets to democratic values

On August 30, 1995, the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted. The current constitution is the supreme act in Kazakhstan’s system of law. It has the highest...


Kazakhstan’s defence industry increases its competitiveness, company official says

ASTANA – What happened to Kazakhstan’s defence industry after the collapse of the USSR? How did it manage to establish a new military equipment production? What is the Kazakh...


Akmola region attracts investments to processing industry, promotes export commodity production

ASTANA – The Akmola region administration set an ambitious task to implement numerous projects with foreign investment participation to bring innovation and boost industry profits. The Astana Times interviewed...


African countries celebrate National Day with energetic dances, coffee and tea tastings

ASTANA – The African countries participating in EXPO 2017 celebrated the continent’s National Day Aug. 15 by featuring dance and musical performances as well as extensive discussions between young...


Exhibition dedicated to Bauyrzhan Momyshuly opens in Almaty

ASTANA – An exhibition dedicated to the Hero of the Soviet Union, Kazakh national hero and great military leader Bauyrzhan Momyshuly recently opened in Almaty. His personal belongings are...


Turkey proposes visa-free regime with Kazakhstan for migrant workers

ASTANA – Turkish Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci proposed during the recent Kazakh-Turkish business forum a visa-free regime for migrant workers between Turkey and Kazakhstan, Astana TV channel reports....


New rules seek to improve emergency medical response

ASTANA – New rules for emergency medical care will provide high-quality emergency medical assistance, according to Vice Minister of Healthcare Lyazzat Aktayeva. “Now there are four categories for emergency...