Historical Buildings of the New Capital

ASTANA – The history of the capital city of Kazakhstan is revealed through some of the old buildings quietly standing on the busiest streets and avenues of Astana’s old...


The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty, Hosts Art Exhibition for Children

ASTANA – An art exhibition featuring paintings created for the third annual charity auction “I Want to Live!” was opened Sept. 28 at The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty, the hotel announced....


Representatives of Syrian Opposition Meet in Astana

ASTANA – Representatives of the Syrian opposition held a fresh round of consultations in Astana Oct. 2–4. Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Askar Mussinov and Director of the French Centre...


Ust-Kamenogorsk Air Quality Improvement Project Completes First Phase

ASTANA – The first of four projects financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Kazakh government to improve air quality in Ust-Kamenogorsk has been completed....


Asia as Possible Home for UN: Far-Fetched, but Worth Considering

At the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed the idea of moving the UN headquarters to Asia. He recalled...


Kazakhstan Seeks to Create Highly Qualified Professionals

Our country points out qualitative education as one of its main priorities, and lately Kazakhstan has been very active at the national level improving the quality of qualified staff...


Bolashak Alumni Reunion Conference and Education Fair 2015 – Comments from Foreign Partners and Participants

Gintarė Diliūnienė, International Programme Coordinator, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences: First of all, let me express my sincere gratitude for the honour to be here with you and...


Kazakh B-Boy Wins Red Bull Breakdancing Eastern European Final

ASTANA – Nikolai Chernikov, also known as Killa Kolya, won the Eastern Europe final of the Red Bull BC One breakdancing competition held in Tbilisi, Georgia on Sept. 5....


EAEU Bank Chiefs Discuss Currency Policy in the Region

ASTANA – An advisory board on the monetary policy of the central banks of Customs Union and Single Economic Space member states recently reviewed the economic situations in those...


Government to Discontinue Support for Non-competitive Agricultural Enterprises

ASTANA – Minister of Agriculture Assylzhan Mamytbekov recently announced that the government will continue subsidies for healthy agricultural businesses, but will no longer support non-competitive agricultural enterprises. “The concern...


Kazakh Railway Delegation Visits China, Meets with Local Officials

A delegation of Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), headed by company President Askar Mamin participated in the Second International Logistics Forum China – the Silk Road,...


Kazenergy Forum Explores Energy’s Role in Sustainable Development, Sees Forecasts of Rising Oil Prices

ASTANA – The theme of this year’s Sept. 29 – Oct. 1 Kazenergy Eurasia Forum was “New Horizons of Energy: Prospects of Cooperation and Investments,” but it also acknowledged...


ZIBROO, Sportswear Made in Kazakhstan

After creating the Kazakhstan national team uniform for the 2011 Asian Winter Games, the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the upcoming Almaty Winter Universiade to take place in 2017, local...


Kazakhstan Increases Meat Export to EAEU States

ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan plans to become a leading meat exporter to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the world market. In Soviet times, Kazakhstan provided up...


Private Investment in National Housing Savings Bank Won’t Hurt Existing Depositors, Says Bank

ASTANA – New private investment in the Housing Construction Savings Bank of Kazakhstan will not negatively impact the existing deposits of Kazakh citizens, the bank announced in a recent...


Kazakhstan’s Children’s Philharmonic Opens Season with ‘Kambak Shal’

ASTANA – The first season of Kazakhstan’s Children’s Philharmonic opened with the children’s opera “Kambak Shal” at Astana Congress Hall Oct. 1. Kazakh composer Zholan Dastenov wrote the opera...


Kazakhstan Intends to Export Oil Production Equipment

ASTANA – In spite of the current condition of oil production in the world, Kazakhstan continues to develop its oil production engineering industry and intends to export oil production...


Nazarbayev, Obama Reaffirm Strategic Partnership During New York Meeting

NEW YORK – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and U.S. President Barack Obama had a bilateral meeting in New York on Sept. 29 to discuss international issues and bilateral trade, investment,...


Kazakh-Led Effort on Regional Migration Offers Example for Europe, Say Experts

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Almaty Process, a two-year-old effort to enhance cooperation on legal and illegal migration in Central Asia, is bearing fruit and the region can...


FM Idrissov Shares Kazakh Approach to Int’l Issues During UN Security Council Open Debate

NEW YORK – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov took part in the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security...


CrossFit Takes Off in Astana

ASTANA – The fitness industry in Kazakhstan is constantly growing, offering an ever-increasing range of activities. Residents and tourists can now find almost any type of sport they want...


The Aral Sea Experiences Second Birth

The Aral Sea can regain its lost status of the country’s harbour thanks to the successful implementation of the regional project on managing the Syr Darya’s riverbed and preserving...


Finnish Trade Minister, Major Business Leaders Visit Kazakhstan to Build Relationships

ASTANA – Minister for Foreign Trade of Finland Lenita Toivakka will lead a major business delegation on a trip to Kazakhstan from Oct. 4–7 to deepen economic cooperation and...


Kazakhstan Achieves its Highest Ranking on Global Competitive Index

ASTANA – According to the results of the Global Competitiveness Report for 2015-2016, Kazakhstan holds 42nd place among 140 countries in competitiveness, the best result in the history of Kazakhstan’s participation...


Turkmen Fine Arts Exhibition Opens in Astana

ASTANA – The “World of Turkmen Painters” exhibition of works of fine art opened in the National Museum of Kazakhstan on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s...


Kazakhstan, Japan Call for Early Entry into Force of CTBT

NEW YORK – Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and numerous other top officials and diplomats...


Notary, Banking and Tax System Among Doing Business Challenges in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Running a private business can be a challenge itself, while running a business in a foreign country doubles or even triples the pressure. The Astana Times decided...


Statistics Show Increase in Kazakh Airlines’ Safety

ASTANA – According to international statistics, flying in Kazakhstan has become safer. The percentage of activity compliance of Kazakhstan’s civil aviation has grown by 18 points, said Beken Seidakhmetov, head...


Kazakh President Outlines MDG Successes, Calls for Portions of Defence Budgets to be Diverted to Development

NEW YORK – President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan took the floor at the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda on Sept. 27, describing his country’s...


In Multilateral Meetings in New York, Kazakh FM Promotes Regional Approach to Regional Challenges

NEW YORK – In numerous multilateral meetings that Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov attended in New York as part of the 70th United Nations General Assembly he sought to...


Astana Street Names Provide Historical Guide for Residents

ASTANA – Small and big, central and distant, old and new, Astana’s streets hold lessons in history and geography for those who recognise their names. According to Zakon.kz, before...


Kazakh Medical System Serves Citizens, Medical Tourists

ASTANA – Around 5,000 citizens from more than 30 countries received medical treatment in Astana clinics over the last three years. The Chairman of the Board of the National...


At UN, Nazarbayev Proposes Developing Global Strategic Initiative to Be Implemented by 2045

NEW YORK – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the General Debate of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) in New York...


Insurance Fund Created to Ensure Kazakh Travelers are Able to Return from Abroad

Vice Minister of Investment and Development Albert Rau recently announced the creation of a new insurance fund for Kazakh tourists travelling abroad at the beginning of next year. The...


Almaty City Instagram Account Seeks to Improve Public Services

The Almaty city akimat (city administration) recently created an Instagram account to respond to citizens’ complaints about issues including trash collection, fallen trees, open sewers and clogged ditches. The...


The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty Announces Club for Newlyweds

ALMATY – The Ritz-Carlton Almaty launched its new Wedding Club on Sept. 1. Club members – couples who have held a wedding in the hotel – are given access...


Kitschy Soviet-Era Restaurant Popular in Astana

ASTANA – Capitalism has been moving quickly around Astana since the city became the capital 17 years ago. Many things have changed as a result, including the food enjoyed...


Foreign Tourism Partners Optimistic about Kazakh Tourism Market

ASTANA – Despite the unstable economic situation that resulted from the devaluation of the tenge, Kazakhstan’s tourism sector is supported by optimism and hope from foreign tourism partners offering...


Annual National Cuisine and Culture Festival Kicks Off in Almaty

ASTANA – The third annual Festival of Kazakh National Cuisine and Traditions and Cultures of the Peoples of Kazakhstan called Toi Kazan was held recently at Almaty’s Alatau Skiing...


Almaty Hosts 2015 Capital of Islamic Culture Int’l Artistic Festival

ALMATY –  Prior to the city day celebrations, the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports treated citizens to a festival of artistic groups and individual performers from the Organisation...


Government, NGOs, Universities Unite to Help Trafficking Victims in Astana

ASTANA – Makhabat Sadykova, a 20-year-old student in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Nazarbayev University, was introduced to the disturbing criminal activity of human trafficking in...


Mare’s Milk Producers Confident about Drink’s Domestic, Int’l Future

ASTANA – Businessmen and scholars of the Zhambyl region promote Kazakh nano kumis and are confident that the traditional beverage of nomads will conquer the entire world. The realisation...


‘One Belt, One Road’ Initiative Will Extend Regional Prosperity

Even a generation ago, the Silk Road would have seemed to most people little more than a fascinating, if long-lasting, episode in history. It may have been the route...


EBRD Launches Women in Business Programme, Offers Credit to Female Entrepreneurs

ASTANA – The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a 3.7 billion tenge (US$14.1 million) credit line for women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, the bank announced Sept....


Brazil, Argentina, Chile Say Ready to Participate in EXPO 2017

SANTIAGO – Some of South America’s largest nations, including Brazil, Argentina and Chile, announced this month that they will participate in EXPO 2017 in Astana. The announcements followed a...


Turning Grey into Gold

Just a few decades ago, the population of the Asia-Pacific region was dominated by the young. Now, as birth rates have dropped and life expectancies improved, the population is...


Kazakh Diaspora Chooses Unique Ways to Maintain Identity

ASTANA – Kazakh diaspora in diverse parts of the world chose different ways of maintaining their identity and traditions. Associations and student communities organise various events to celebrate Nauryz...


Silicon Valley Companies Demonstrate Strong Interest in EXPO 2017, UNDP Confirms Participation

SAN FRANCISCO –EXPO 2017 Commissioner and Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Rapil Zhoshybayev completed his ten-day trip to the U.S. with visits to New York and San Francisco. If...


Kazakhstan Addresses Security Challenges through Collective Efforts, Top Official Says

How would you describe the level and the focus of cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for that matter, in fighting...


Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol and China’s Economic Belt of the Silk Road: Confluence of Goals

Modern Kazakhstan, located in the central part of Eurasia, is a transit link in the system of multilevel interconnections of Asia and Europe. It is known that the internal...