Almaty doubles assistance to people with disabilities

ASTANA – The Almaty Employment and Social Programmes Department has doubled its funding this year compared to 2016 to provide social support for people with disabilities. The department has...


Winners named in International Tchaikovsky Youth Competition in Astana

ASTANA – Approximately 125 pianists, violinists and cellists from 20 countries demonstrated their accomplishments June 15-25 at the 10th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. The event, held for...


Understanding technology brings more benefits, says young scientist

ASTANA – What are the prospects of using blockchain? How can genetic profiling transform lives? Why are robotics classes popular in the country? To learn about the top digital...


Ukrainian business people show investment interest in Yereimentau wind farm

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has the potential for renewable energy throughout its sprawling land, especially in the form of wind and small hydro power plants. As a result, the European...


President thanks scientists, forest rangers for creating Astana as ‘Green Belt’

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently thanked Kazakh scientists and forest rangers for creating the man-made forest belt that surrounds the city. “I would like to thank the...


Astana International Airport renamed in honour of President

ASTANA – Astana’s international airport has been renamed Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in honour of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The name change follows a large-scale renovation resulting in a much expanded...


Children learn to love sports at Derby Football Academy

ASTANA – Kids sports seem to be largely developing in Kazakhstan’s regions through the introduction of different activities. Enthusiasts from Kostanai created their own Derby Football Academy in their...


Thousands join Alpiniada in Almaty mountains for Astana Day

ASTANA – On July 2, the residents of Almaty celebrated their annual Alpiniada at the Shymbulak Ski Resort outside the city. The festival, a massive joint climb of a...


Minister proposes extending Astana’s open skies regime

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek has proposed extending the open skies regime to next year to attract more foreign tourists to the capital. “The...


Kazakh government approves tourism development concept

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s government approved June 27 a Concept of Tourism Development until 2023, which incorporates international best practices in state support of tourism and reconfigures some established tourist...


UN opens EXPO 2017 pavilion during UN Day celebrations

ASTANA – The United Nations opened its EXPO 2017 pavilion during the expo’s recent UN Day celebrations. Kazakhstan was named in January a non-permanent member of the UN Security...


Wind generator production plant to be built in Aktobe

The Aktobe region Akimat and United Energy Aktobe have agreed to build a wind generator production plant in the region’s industrial zone. Aktobe Akim (Governor) Berdybek Saparbayev and enterprise...


Identity of Kazakhstan’s 18 millionth citizen revealed

ASTANA – Baby girl Muslima Samatkyzy born May 11 to a family from Taldykorgan, in the Almaty region was recently identified as Kazakhstan’s 18 millionth citizen. “All the way,...


Samruk Kazyna ranks among world’s most transparent sovereign wealth funds

ASTANA – Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund is one of the world’s 20 most transparent sovereign wealth funds, according to the U.S.-based Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, a global organisation...


National companies of Kazakhstan boost their net profit 2.7 times

ASTANA – Kazakh national companies’ net profits increased 2.7 times in first quarter 2017 over first quarter 2016, reaching 131.6 billion tenge (US$407.8 million). A combination of increased income...


Kazakhstan devotes record funding to attract foreign investment

ASTANA – The government has allocated a record 12.2 billion tenge (US$37.8 million) to attract foreign investment in 2017, reports Finprom.kz. The financing will develop industrial zones and parks...


Farmers unite to sell their products online

ASTANA – Fermerskaya produkciya (Farm products) agricultural cooperative, composed of 20 farmers from Tselinograd district and Yereymentau and Bulandy districts in Akmola region, is a way for them to...


Nazarbayev meets diplomatic corps on 25th anniversary of Kazakh diplomatic service

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev met July 3 with the heads diplomatic missions and representations of international organisations accredited in the country. The meeting, which also included top officials...


Islamic Organisation for Food Security office to open by end of year

ASTANA – The office of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security will open in Astana by the end of the year, Kazakh Vice Minister of National Economy Yernar Bakenov...


Shymkent refinery completes first stage modernisation

On June 30, the Shymkent Refinery commissioned a large process facility, which is the isomerisation unit for light gasoline fractions with a pre-hydrotreating block and produced the first certified...


Kazakhstan has huge tourism potential, says UNWTO Secretary General

ASTANA – World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said during the June 26-27 “Tourism and Future Energy: Unlocking low-carbon growth opportunities” conference in Astana that Kazakhstan has great...


Kazakhstan population reaches 18 million

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced at the recent Fifth World Kurultai of Kazakhs that Kazakhstan’s population had reached 18 million. “In 1991, when Kazakh independence was declared,...


Astana hosts ethnic music festival

ASTANA – Tamikrest gave a concert featuring incredible guitar mastery as part of their world tour June 24 during the Spirit of Astana, an ethnic music festival held in...


EXPO 2017 features nightly music, laser shows and dancing

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 features nightly music, laser shows and dancing featuring more than 150 performers. All of the artists are local and were chosen during a casting call...


Italian engineering companies eye benefit of EXPO 2017 meetings

ASTANA – Italy and Kazakhstan have been loyal trade partners for more than 25 years and the business council established in 2007 provided insight into the economies and needs...


Serbians celebrate National Day as part of EXPO 2017, promote energy for all concept

ASTANA – Serbia marked its National Day June 28 with cultural events and films about the country, as well as an entertainment programme with stars such as Jela Cello...


Kazakh Senate elections fair and transparent, say international observers

ASTANA – Sixteen senators representing 14 regions as well as Astana and Almaty were elected June 28 to the upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament in elections which international...


Ancient Egyptian artefact exhibit opens in Astana

ASTANA – An exhibit featuring the Tutankhamun collection and artefacts of ancient Egypt opened June 24 at the National Museum of Kazakhstan, giving locals and guests the chance to...


Air Astana named Best Airline in Central Asia and India

ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, won the Best Airline in Central Asia and India award at the June 20 Skytrax World Airline Awards at the Le Bourget...


Duke of Gloucester unveils British pavilion at EXPO 2017

ASTANA – Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester officially opened June 26 the British national pavilion at EXPO 2017 as part of the National Day of Great Britain in Kazakhstan....


Celebrating U.S.-Kazakhstan Ties at World EXPO 2017

This year America’s Fourth of July Independence celebration will be shared with hundreds of other countries and countless guests on the other side of the world at EXPO 2017...


Kazakhstan finds its future without losing its past

As a country, Kazakhstan has set its sights firmly on the future. The continued modernisation of the economy and society is rightly seen as essential to provide our citizens...


Book on Kazakh President’s peacemaking initiatives presented in Astana

ASTANA – Prominent Kazakh diplomat Nurlan Onzhanov presented his book “Peacemaker: The Syrian Knot” during a June 29 international conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service. Foreign...


Int’l expert community addresses risks of chronic non-communicable diseases

ASTANA – The international conference “Modern Approaches in Managing Socially Significant Diseases. Diabetes Mellitus” addressed June 28 the prevalence and risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases, in particular diabetes,...


Foreign policy experts praise 25 years of Kazakh diplomacy

ASTANA –Diplomats, politicians and diplomacy experts from Kazakhstan and abroad praised the country’s quarter-century of diplomatic efforts at a June 29 conference in Astana held on the eve of...


Liquefied petroleum gas becoming very popular among Kazakh drivers

ASTANA – Kazakhstan drivers continue to convert their vehicles to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption. In 2016, LPG sales increased by 43 percent, while gasoline sales fell by 5...


Kazakhstan and America at the Creation

From the outset of its modern independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has been a close and valued American partner. I will share with you a personal perspective on how the...


Prosecutor General’s Office introduces crime activity map

ASTANA – An interactive crime map on the basis of Krisha.kz, an online home search service, was launched June 20 with the participation of Legal Statistics and Special Records...


Astana moving closer to becoming smart city

ASTANA – The idea of smart cities is gaining ground around the world, and specifically in Kazakhstan, which intends to keep up with the trend. With the capital’s intention...


AllurGroup ships first batch of Kazakh-manufactured cars to Tajikistan

ASTANA – AllurGroup shipped June 24 the first batch of 55 Chinese-designed JAC cars worth almost $600,000 to Tajikistan, according to the company’s website. “The instrument of export trade...


Gas exchange trading to begin in Eurasian Economic Union

ASTANA – The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is set to start a roadmap launching gas exchange trading in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The decision was announced at the...


Kazakhstan creating criminal DNA database

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has begun creating a DNA database of individuals who have committed serious crimes, said Astana Institute of Forensic Expertise biological and chemical examination laboratory head Inkar...


EBRD supports inclusive economic development in Kazakhstan’s remote regions

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced plans to promote its economic inclusion strategy by signing a new investment project in the capital June 22...


U.S.-Kazakhstan relations: a case for people-to-people diplomacy

If you ask American ambassadors what resources and program they cannot do without, almost every single one will answer, “Our exchange programs that provide people-to-people experiences”. Encouraging people-to-people programmes...


Neighbours, parties to conflict in Syria discuss terrorism, reaching solution at Eurasian Media Forum

ASTANA – Representatives of different sides in the Syrian crisis were joined by Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov to discuss the ongoing conflict in Syria and the role of...


Kazakh, Hungarian foreign ministers discuss cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto discussed bilateral relations and international issues June 26 in Astana. Abdrakhmanov noted...


Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation

The fourth edition of the Istanbul Conference on Mediation will take place on June 30 with the theme of “Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation.” Experts, diplomats, practitioners and...


After a quarter-century, Kazakhstan’s foreign service has much to be proud of

Since the dawn of independence, consistency, predictability and the multi-vector character of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy under the leadership of its First President, Nursultan Nazarbaev, have been its unique features,...


More than 300,000 people have attended EXPO 2017 in two weeks, numbers keep growing

ASTANA – More than 300,000 people have visited EXPO 2017 since its opening, said Astana EXPO 2017 National Company Chairperson Akhmetzhan Yessimov at a June 23 media forum. “The...


Astana offers audio tours

ASTANA – Free walking tours with a help of audio guide were recently launched at the Nurzhol Boulevard and the embankment of the Yessil River, according to the Astana...