Italy’s EXPO 2017 pavilion showcases nation’s history, achievements

ASTANA – The nearly 900-square metre Italian pavilion is one of the largest at EXPO 2017. The average visit lasts about 20-30 minutes, which top Italian officials assure is...


Romanian FM visits Kazakhstan to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations, attends National Day at EXPO

ASTANA – Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Viorel Meleșcanu visited Kazakhstan July 27-28 to mark the 25th anniversary of Kazakh-Romanian relations and participate in Romanian National Day at...


Rail cargo transportation grows 13 percent in first six months of 2017

ASTANA – Kazakh rail cargo transportation grew 13 percent in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016, reaching 128 million tonnes, announced the Kazakhstan...


Arabic calligraphy exhibition opens at National Library

ASTANA – An exhibition of Arabic calligraphy opened in the National Academic Library initiated by the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Research Centre for Islamic History,...


Astana, Paris through lens of travel photographer Loïc Lagarde

ASTANA – Paris-Astana, a solo exhibit of notable French travel photographer Loïc Lagarde, opened July 13 at the Has Sanat Art Gallery. The works are expected to be included...


Kazakh bank merger to boost modernisation, say experts

ASTANA – Bank consumers are becoming pickier, requiring a wide range of services provided online instantly. Unfortunately, Kazakh banks can’t keep pace with Russian financial institutions, let alone Western...


Arnasai – eco-friendly weekend getaway for leisure and knowledge

ASTANA – The Arnasai Green Technology Centre, also known as the “Eco-friendly village,” promotes organic agriculture and spreads the culture of conserving and preserving natural resources. The summer season...


Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture develops map of agro processing enterprise locations

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture has developed a map of its agro processing enterprise locations in order to boost the sector’s growth and increase import substitution, according...


National concept provides positive indicators for South Kazakhstan’s tourism development

ASTANA – Approximately 700,000 tourists have visited Turkestan this year, said Akim (Mayor) of the city Alipbek Usserbayev at a July 24 press conference in the regional capital of...


Institutional reforms have improved public services access, transparency, says government official

ASTANA – Implementation of institutional reforms under the 100 Concrete Steps programme outlined by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2015 have increased the transparency of and access to public...


Kazakh Kurultai in Tyumen region brings 5,000 people together

ASTANA – The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan’s delegation from the country’s northern region took part in a July 22 Kurultai of Kazakhs in the Tyumen region. The...


Almaty’s FC Kairat to undergo significant changes, says team’s chairman

ASTANA – In a recent interview on the FC (Football Club) Kairat website, supervisory board chairperson Kairat Boranbayev lambasted the recent unsatisfactory results of the team and pledged to...


Bank of Astana named country’s Best Consumer Digital Bank

ASTANA – Global Finance has named Bank of Astana as Kazakhstan’s Best Consumer Digital Bank. The financial institution was among the first round of winners in the upcoming 2017...


Wheelchair Repair Centre opens in Astana

ASTANA – A wheelchair repair and maintenance centre has opened in Astana. The Inva project, created at the Public Association of People with Limited Abilities DOS Independent Life Centre...


Kazakh high schooler wins gold at International Mathematical Olympiad

ASTANA – Kazakh high school student Amir Mokhammed-Ali won gold at the 58th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held July 12-23 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to Tengrinews. The...


2,000-year-old settlement to open in Shymkent

ASTANA – An archaeological open-air museum will open in the ancient settlement of Shymkent, the regional city administration press service reported in late July.   The remains of an...


Entrepreneur develops Kazakh foods stores in Russia

ASTANA – Five years ago, Yelena Kondakova founded Baursak, a shop in Russia featuring Kazakh goods. Her business became a huge success and now there are eight stores, including...


1,200 musicians perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at Astana Opera

ASTANA – Approximately 1,200 musicians performing Austrian Gustav Mahler’s famous Symphony No. 8 led by Astana Opera chief and world-famous conductor Alan Buribayev made a splash July 21 at...


Kazakh team rider takes fifth in Tour de France

PARIS – Captain of Astana Pro cycling team Fabio Aru finished the world-famous Tour de France race in fifth place overall. Aru’s finish follows a particularly challenging Tour for...


EXPO 2017 reaches halfway point, welcomes one and half millionth visitor

ASTANA – Halfway through EXPO 2017, the international exhibition has welcomed one and a half million visitors, according to an expo national company press release. Almost two weeks earlier,...


Morocco’s first Ambassador to Kazakhstan focuses on political dialogue, economic relations

ASTANA – Morocco established its first embassy in Kazakhstan at the end of 2016, almost 25 years after diplomatic relations were first established. Morocco’s first Ambassador to Kazakhstan Abdeljalil...


The role of EXPO 2017 in forming Kazakhstan’s national brand

EXPO 2017 gives Kazakhstan a chance to promote its brand in the world and improve the perception of many aspects of the country’s development. EXPO 2017, held this summer...


Hollywood stars in town for Eurasia International Film Festival

ASTANA – With Hollywood stars like Adrien Brody, Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich in attendance, this year’s Eurasia International Film Festival has attracted quite a bit of attention. The...


EIB provides Kazakhstan half $1 billion clean energy financing over last five years

ASTANA – The European Investment Bank (EIB) provided more than 500 million euros in loans to Kazakhstan for its renewable and clean energy initiatives over the last five years,...


Japan Day at EXPO 2017 gives visitors glimpse of Japanese culture, energy conservation efforts

ASTANA – The EXPO 2017 Japan pavilion gave expo visitors during the July 22 Japan Day a glimpse of Japanese culture. The event was titled “Become a Samurai of...


New Alakol Lake airport opens, meant to boost tourism

ASTANA – A new airport opened July 21 in Usharal to make Alakol Lake more accessible for tourists. The airport is the latest effort to boost tourism at the...


Medical trains provide treatment for 28,000 residents in regions nationwide

ASTANA – The Salamatty Kazakhstan and Densaulyk medical train teams provided medical examinations for approximately 28,000 residents including more than 5,193 children during a 96-day period, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy...


Kazakh-Korean cooperation promotes investment climate, addresses foreign investors’ concerns

ASTANA – The Korean Association of Kazakhstan held a Kazakh-Korean Cooperation Forum July 20 to demonstrate the country’s real potential to foreign investors, help resolve essential issues in doing...


EXPO 2017 chance to showcase Kazakh contributions to technology, inventor says

Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, is serving as host this summer for EXPO 2017. Inventors, companies and scientists throughout the world are presenting their research and vision of the...


Chinese businessperson plans to export Almaty apples to China

ASTANA – Chinese businessperson Jin Xiau Ming intends to supply Almaty Aport apples to China. Although he has never seen Almaty apples, he has repeatedly heard of this famous...


Kazakhstan establishes national tourism development company

ASTANA – The Kazakh government recently launched the Kazakh Tourism National Company to develop the sector and attract investment. “The first task for the company is to promote the...


Kazakh minister urges citizens to save money for housing

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek recently urged the government to encourage citizens to save money to buy housing. According to the minister, House Construction...


EXPO 2017 to be great success, says BIE official

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 has only been open five of its 13 weeks, yet based on the early attendance figures Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Deputy Secretary General Dimitri...


Centennial of first attempt to create modern-type Kazakh government reason to reflect on national statehood

The centenary of the Russian Revolution is rightly a major event in the global calendar this year. Tsar Nicholas II’s overthrow and the eventual emergence of the Soviet Union...


Historical notes about Kazakh-Israeli cooperation

I have served as ambassador of Israel to Kazakhstan twice, in the periods between 1996-2002 and 2008-2012. Thanks to this, I am able to analyse the changes that have...


Kazakh GDP grows 4.2 percent in first half of 2017

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s GDP grew 4.2 percent in the first six months of the year due to the growth of main indicators in industry, construction, agriculture, transportation, warehousing and...


FC Astana passes first round of UEFA Champions League qualifications, to meet Legia Warsaw

ASTANA – FC Astana, Kazakhstan’s Premier League title holders, overcame resistance in two matches with FK Spartaks Jurmala to reach the next qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League....


Ukraine and Kazakhstan: 25 years of friendship and cooperation

July 22, 2017 is a special date in the modern history of Ukrainian-Kazakh relations as it marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our states....


Kazakh TV focuses on country’s promotion

ASTANA – Kazakh TV, which broadcasts to more than 118 countries, is the nation’s first satellite channel aiming to report about the country and its achievements. Director Andrei Tarakov...


Kazakh exports increase almost 40 percent, as economy grows 4.2 percent in first half of 2017

ASTANA – Kazakh exports increased 37.6 percent in the first half of 2017, Kazakh Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov announced at a recent government meeting. “In January-May of...


Kazakhstan to include social, environmental aspects in measuring GDP

ASTANA – Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov said July 18 that the indicator of gross domestic product is planned to expand with new parameters taking into account the...


Seventy percent of civil servants support increasing meritocracy

ASTANA – More than 70 percent of Kazakh civil servants support increasing meritocracy in the country’s civil service, Deputy Chair of Kazakhstan’s Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption Agency Aigul...


Astana Arlans win record third WSB title

ASTANA – In a dramatic comeback, the Astana Arlans defeated the Cuba Domadores 6-5 July 15 to end the World Series Boxing’s (WSB) seventh season. With the win, the...


UK eager to boost trade with Kazakhstan, says official

ASTANA – U.K. Department for International Trade Minister of State for Trade and Investment Greg Hands visited Astana July 18 to meet with government officials, attend EXPO 2017 and...


AIFC to develop ecosystem to enable CIS blockchain solutions

ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has announced plans to develop a legislative base regulating cryptocurrency transactions for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region in conjunction...


National Bank maintains 10.5-percent base rate

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan will maintain a 10.5-percent base rate with a corridor of +/- 1 percent, the Bank announced recently. The annual inflation rate matches...


1,200 musicians to perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at Astana Opera

ASTANA – The capital is offering the public an opportunity to enjoy a concert at the Astana Opera House July 21 featuring Austrian Gustav Mahler’s famous Symphony No. 8....


Astana to become most attractive city in Eurasia by 2020, says mayor

ASTANA – Urban leaders gathered for the 25th International Assembly of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Capitals and Major Cities July 13-14 to discuss a new programme of sustainable...


Hollywood stars to arrive in Astana for Eurasia Film Festival

ASTANA – Astana will welcome Hollywood stars for the 13th International Eurasia Film Festival to take place in Kazakhstan’s capital July 22-28. Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich, Adrien Brody, Bai...


Smithsonian Institution presents online exhibition of famous Kazakh geographer and ethnographer

ASTANA – This year Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced a wide-ranging policy “Course towards the future: modernisation of Kazakhstan’s identity” outlining steps for modernisation of social norms. As one...