Government employment, training policies show positive results

ASTANA – One-hundred-seventy-four individuals started their own businesses and 384 loans were granted in the first half of this year as part of the second direction of the Productive...


State programme helps employ more than 80,000 people

ASTANA – More than 82,000 people were employed in the first half of 2017 under the third direction of the Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship Development Programme. As part...


Most popular vocational specialties in Kazakhstan include cook, seamstress, accountant

ASTANA – Cook, seamstress, accountant, hairdresser, electrician and welder are among Kazakhstan’s most popular vocational specialties, according to Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection Birzhan Nurymbetov. He presented...


Taraz student to unveil education system for children with special needs

ASTANA – Fifteen-year-old Taraz resident Isaac Mustopulo, who is committed to helping Kazakh children with special needs receive a full-fledged education, participated in the Human Library under the Perception...


CSTO foreign ministers adopt measures to curb IT crime during Minsk meeting

ASTANA – The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Foreign Ministers Council adopted during its July 17 meeting in Minsk Belarus measures to counter information technology crimes and approved a...


Afghan civil servants trained in public administration as part of Kazakhstan’s development assistance

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently hosted a seminar to increase the potential of Afghanistan’s civil servants and representatives of non-governmental organisations as part of Kazakhstan’s...


Pavlodar hosts photo exhibit about Kazakh soldiers in World War II

ASTANA – “Following the Partisan Paths,” an exhibit created by photo reporter Tatyana Alexenko featuring approximately 44 unique World War II photographs, opened July 14 at the Bagayev Memorial...


Air Astana was built without state subsidies, says airline president

ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier and a leading airline in the Central Asian region, was built without state help, said company president Peter Foster in an interview...


Lone Atyrau foster home closes, all children find new homes

ASTANA – The nearly 140 children without parents who have found shelter in the 240-bed Atyrau Sabyr Kazybayev foster home will soon be calling somewhere else “home.” The facility...


Astana Taxi launches at new Nurly Zhol train station

ASTANA – Visitors and residents arriving at a new Nurly Zhol train station in Astana can now use Astana Taxi services right at the train station to get to...


Senior Nomads travel international neighbourhood, learn valuable lessons

ASTANA – Americans Michael and Debbie Campbell have found the key to a harmonious post-retirement existence. Living a nomadic lifestyle has allowed the couple to travel to more than...


Kazakhstan creates online platform for wholesale trade in Central Asian region

ASTANA – Entrepreneurs from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries will no longer need to travel to China, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan to purchase goods, as Central Asian region trade...


Kazakhstan and Malaysia ink memorandum of understanding to attract more investments

ASTANA – The Mangystau region Akimat (regional administration) signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian company Reach Energy as part of the Kazakhstan – Malaysia business forum, according to...


Doctors, legislatures alarmed that increased number of children falling from loose windows

ASTANA – In connection with the increased cases of children falling from buildings because of windows that give way, doctors recommend changing the design of plastic windows to protect...


Islamic world representatives confirm participation in Astana science and technology summit

ASTANA – High-level representatives of the Islamic world confirmed their participation in the first Summit on Science and Technology in Astana during the 44th session of the Council of...


Getting the balance right on religion in secular Muslim-majority state

Religious faith has had a hugely positive impact. It helps people make sense of life as well providing comfort at times of distress. Even more importantly, the compassionate values...


Kazakhstan confirms commitment to OPEC agreement to cut oil production

ASTANA – Kazakhstan confirmed July 12 its commitment to agreements between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries to reduce oil production until April 2018....


Festival of ethnic theatres promotes interaction, mutual cultural enrichment

ASTANA – A play called “Is It Easy to Be a Queen?” and staged by the State Korean Theatre of Musical Comedy, won the Best Performance award at the...


Astana to host SCO and CICA International Athletics Marathon

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, will host Aug. 27 the International Athletics Marathon of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in...


Al Hilal Bank expands services in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Abu Dhabi-based Al Hilal Bank is expanding its range of services and launching Islamic banking products for individual customers, according to forbes.kz. In the medium term, the...


Switzerland shares financial experience with Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Switzerland is ready to share its financial sector and budget management experience, said Swiss Federal Councillor and Federal Department of Finance head Ueli Maurer during his July...


Kazakhstan, China ink $160 million in agricultural agreements

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China signed $160 million in agreements July 11 during the Kazakh-Chinese Agriculture Investment Forum held as part of a two-day visit to the capital by...


Experts discuss nuclear rehabilitation, green technologies in nuclear energy at EXPO 2017

ASTANA – Kazakh radioecology experts and representatives of non-governmental organisations recently discussed the rehabilitation of land at the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the use of green technologies in...


Latvian EXPO 2017 pavilion holds international transport conference

ASTANA – The Latvian pavilion held the international conference “Prospects of global transport communication. Eurasian potential” July 11 in the framework of the Week of Transit and Logistics at...


German President makes first visit to Astana, meets with Kazakh President

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed bilateral political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation July 12 in the Akorda presidential residence. It was...


FM Abdrakhmanov briefs OSCE ministerial meeting on Kazakh security positions, plans

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov during the July 11 Ministerial Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna expressed support for Austria’s...


Urban planning specialists discuss Astana development at Astana Urban Forum

ASTANA – International experts and city planning specialists and heads of large construction companies discussed urban development and shared international and local expertise at the July 7 First Urban...


Kazakh doctors to launch pilot programme using AI to treat cancer patients

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov spoke about using artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose and treat oncological diseases at a July 11 government meeting. “Together with the...


Astana Opera’s Chotabayev debuts in Graz Opera

ASTANA – Principal Soloist of the Astana Opera and Kazakh Honoured Worker Medet Chotabayev recently made his debut as Pollione in Vincenzo Bellini’s opera “Norma” at Austria’s Graz Opera....


Kazakhstan begins consolidating domestic energy transfer companies

ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate recently adopted a law to consolidate energy transmission companies to increase their reliability, according to the press service of the Ministry of Energy. “The...


Hungary, Kazakhstan share “common past, dynamic present, promising future,” envoy says

ASTANA – This March, Kazakhstan and Hungary marked the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The common roots and historical ties between the two nations have always served as a...


Kazakh, German partnership is versatile, says Kazakh ambassador

On the eve of the official visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to the Kazakh capital on July 11-12, The Astana Times spoke with Kazakhstan’s ambassador in Berlin, Bulat...


Berlin Eurasia Club anniversary meeting highlights energy, economic cooperation

ASTANA – “Kazakhstan and Germany – 25 Years of Partnership: Cooperation in Energy, Technology and Raw Materials” was the topic of the 20th anniversary meeting of the Berlin Eurasian...


Latvian President visits Astana, attends EXPO 2017

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan and Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis discussed July 10 in Astana bilateral trade and economic cooperation in the light and food industries, agriculture, tourism,...


National round of World Robot Olympiad takes place in Astana

More than 300 schoolchildren are taking part in the national robotics competition of the World Robot Olympiad which took place July 3-4 in Astana. Young talents competed in three...


EXPO 2017 welcomes one millionth visitor

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 received its one millionth visitor July 11. Approximately 1.8 million tickets have been sold and 921,293 people visited the exhibition in the first month, said...


Astana Pro Team cyclist Fabio Aru second overall after nine Tour de France stages

ASTANA – Italian cyclist and Astana Pro Team member Fabio Aru and Danish teammate Jakob Fuglsang recently climbed to second and fifth respectively in the overall standings following the...


More than 200 children take part in train trip adventure across country

ASTANA – More than 200 children enjoyed a train tour around the country July 2-11. The project was initiated by Fund of Social Projects supported by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy...


New traffic enforcement laws approved

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently signed the Law On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Road Traffic, according to the press...


Nazarbayev announces opening date for LEU bank in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced July 3 the opening date for low enriched uranium (LEU) bank in Kazakhstan will be Aug. 29. “August 29 marks the International...


Thirty-eight couples marry on Astana Day

ASTANA – Thirty-eight couples were married July 5 in the lead up to Astana celebrating its 19th birthday. The annual ceremony took place at Atameken cultural centre, where every...


National Days of Azerbaijan, Latvia and Venezuela Held at EXPO 2017

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 played host to the celebration of several more countries’ national days last week, in this round Venezuela, Latvia and Azerbaijan. Venezuela marked its National Day...


Kairat, Irtysh Make it to UEFA Europa League’s Second Qualifying Round

ASTANA – Two of the three Kazakh football clubs that began their campaigns in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds in late June and early July have made it...


Air Astana presents documentary about Kazakhs living abroad

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national flag carrier Air Astana presented July 6 the documentary “Air Astana: Connecting Destinies” that captures the lives of Kazakhs living abroad. The premiere coincided with...


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

ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry and Kazakhstan’s Chief Editors Club announced July 10 the winners of the Fourth International “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media” contest. Authors...


Astana celebrates 19th birthday

ASTANA – A variety of cultural events took place July 6 in Astana as the capital celebrated its 19th birthday. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev kicked off July 4 the...


Astana Hosts First Congress of Honorary Consuls of Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the First Congress of Honorary Consuls of Kazakhstan, dedicated to the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service July...


Kazakh presidential envoy tours Middle East, holds political consultations

ASTANA – The Kazakh President’s Special Envoy on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov visited Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine July 4-8, where he...


Little progress in Syria peace talks but negotiators agree to continue Astana meetings

ASTANA – Participants of the fifth round of the Syrian talks wrapped up an inconclusive second day at the negotiating table in Astana July 5, after attempting to finalise...


Kuryk ferry port to take one million tonnes of cargo by year’s end

ASTANA – Kuryk international ferry port on the Caspian Sea, which started operation in the beginning of the year, has received 93 ships and more than 400,000 tonnes of...