Almaty Café Opens with Mentally Challenged Employees

ASTANA – The Training Café, an eatery staffed by 20 individuals with mental illness, opened recently in Almaty. The project, financed by the Soros Foundation, is organised by the...


Kazakhstan Loosens Domestic Antimonopoly Laws

ASTANA – Amendments to liberalise the Kazakh antimonopoly regulation were signed into law May 5 by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Known as “On Introduction of Amendments and Additions to Certain...


Fireworks, Musical Parade Help Celebrate Astana’s Birthday

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Astana Art Fest, a festival showcasing modern art and technologies under the themes of fire energy, water energy and air energy. Nurly Zhol...


Kazakhstan Chooses Winners of Second International Journalism Contest

ASTANA – On the eve of Astana Day, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry and the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan announced the winners of their second international journalism contest, “Kazakhstan...


Indian PM Visits Kazakhstan, Meets President Nazarbayev, Addresses NU Graduates

ASTANA – On July 7-8, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Kazakhstan, meeting the leadership of the country, delivering an address at Nazarbayev University, attending a business forum...


Plans for 26 Projects, 12 MOCs Signed at Kazakh-Indian Business Forum

ASTANA – A Kazakh-Indian business forum with the participation of Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi took place in Astana on July...


Traditional Performances, Modern Design Mark Astana’s 17th Anniversary Celebration

ASTANA – Astana Day, the annual combined celebration of the birthday of Kazakhstan’s capital city and the President who has shaped its modern form, was marked this year by...


Chevron Empowers Women of Akmola Oblast to Do Business

The economic empowerment of women and the promotion of small- and medium-sized businesses are important elements of Chevron’s social investments in Kazakhstan. In 2015, Chevron launched a new social...


Almaty Celebrates Alpiniad Fest with Mass Climbing of Abai Peak

More than 250 people celebrated Alpiniad July 4 by climbing Abai Peak in the Zailiisky Alatau mountain range. The organisers dedicated the event to the 170th anniversary of the...


DHL, KTZ Express to Provide Increased Connectivity Between China, CIS, Europe

ASTANA – DHL Global Forwarding and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) Express have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide greater rail connectivity between China, Kazakhstan and the countries of...


EBRD to Loan $60 Million to Local Vegetable Oils Producer

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide Aktobe-based vegetable oils producer Savola Foods with a tenge loan equivalent to $60 million, the bank announced...


SCO Defence Ministers Discuss Expanding Cooperation

A meeting of defence ministers of member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) took place in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 30, the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan announced....


International Economic Centre to Be Set Up in Kostanai

Chairman of the Public Association of Germans in Kazakhstan Alexander Dederer recently announced that an international economic centre is going to be opened in the city of Kostanai in...


Kazakh Epee Fencers Win Gold at Asian Fencing Championships

Kazakh epee fencers won gold at the 2015 Asian Fencing Championships, which took place in Singapore on June 20-25, reported Tengrinews. The Kazakhstan men’s team, represented by Elmir Alimzhanov,...


President Nazarbayev Receives Kyrgyz Order of Friendship

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev was awarded the Order of Manas of the first degree by President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev during his working visit to Astana...


Kazakh-Indian Relations on the Rise

Trends of modern global geopolitical development show a significant increase of the role of Asian countries, some of which come to the forefront and affect the issues of international...


Kazakh Cosmonaut to Join Next Trip to International Space Station

ASTANA – Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov will be included in an expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), announced President Nursultan Nazarbayev on July 3. “According to an agreement...


Debutantes Take Floor for Seventh Opera Ball in Almaty

The finest opera singers in the world were applauded June 27 during the Seventh Opera Ball, one of the most significant and pompous cultural events in Kazakhstan. The event...


Kazakh Presidential Reforms Outline Modernisation Trend for Other CIS countries

Kazakhstan has entered a new phase of development – institutional transformation. A big and intensive work within the five institutional reforms and Plan of the Nation of 100 concrete...


German Society for Int’l Cooperation Shares Development Assistance Experience

ASTANA – As the current global federal enterprise for international cooperation in the field of sustainable development, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) is supporting the German federal...


Astana’s Growth and Development Mirror the Nation’s

One of the most significant achievements of independent Kazakhstan was the birth of the new capital. Transfer of the capital opened a new page in Kazakh history, which marked...


Book Chronicling Nazarbayev’s Efforts to Bring Peace in Ukraine Released

ASTANA – “The Peacemaker,” a new book dedicated to the activities of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to help advance the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, was presented July...


Rehabilitation of Rural Areas Required to Ensure Country’s Competitiveness

International trade argues that prosperity has rarely, if ever, been achieved or sustained without trade. It also plays a role in many other domains, including jobs, the environment and the fight against...


Astana Is Powerful Symbol of Kazakhstan’s Progress

Creating a successful new capital city is an enormous challenge. Putting the physical infrastructure in place is, of course, highly complex, requiring vision, detailed planning and commitment. But ensuring...


17th Astana Day to Feature Festivals, Competitions and Concerts

ASTANA – The state’s capital is going to celebrate Astana Day on July 4-6 with several days of festivals, competitions and concerts by world renowned and national stars. The...


Calls for Broader Cooperation Define Astana Anti-Extremism Conference

ASTANA – Over two days of presentations and dialogue, participants at the Central and South Asian Regional Conference on Countering Violent Extremism called for more tools to support collaborative...


Kazakhstan Expands Visa-Free Regime up to 19 Countries, Extends It to End of 2017

ASTANA – On June 26, the government of Kazakhstan issued a resolution expanding the number of countries included in a trial visa-free regime and extended that regime until Dec....


EBRD Provides $50 Million Loan to Kazakh Food and Beverage Producer

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide a $49.2 million loan in local currency to Kazakh food and beverage producer RG Brands, the bank...


In Twitter Chat, Kazakh FM Covers Ukraine, Afghanistan, EXPO 2017, Visa Free Regime

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov held a live Twitter chat with Internet users July 1 on the eve of the Day of Diplomatic Service. Announcements about the...


Revised EU Strategy Increases Budget, Flexibility in Central Asia Relations, Says EU Rep

ASTANA – The European Union’s revised Strategy for Central Asia provides increased engagement with the region through more flexible cooperation formats and a budget for bilateral and regional cooperation...


Hollywood Actor and Martial Arts Master Steven Seagal Comes to Astana

ASTANA – Famous Hollywood actor, director and producer Steven Seagal has arrived in Astana to take part in the First International Festival of Martial Arts, which will be held...


2,500 Kazakh Structures Need Urgent Seismic Retrofitting

According to Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Emergency Situations of the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs Vladimir Becker, 2,500 buildings across the country require a seismic retrofit. The...


Analytics School to be Established under the Library of First President

Deputy Director of the Library of the First President Timur Shaymergenov announced during a recent Central Communication Service (CCS) media briefing in Astana plans to establish an analytics school...


Astana Hosts Global Conference on Ecosystem Services, Transitioning to a Green Economy

ASTANA – An international conference focused on ecosystem services and the transition to a green economy took place in Astana on June 24. This event was organised by the...


Ongoing Sleeping Sickness Investigation Intensifies

ASTANA – Per the instructions of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbayev paid a visit to the Yessil and Zharkainsky districts June 25, where the village...


Regional Conference Against Violent Extremism Opens With Calls for Broader Cooperation

ASTANA – A global assessment of what constitutes a terrorist group, sanctions against states that support them, a global database of extremist content online and a mechanism for removing...


Second Stage Completed in Steppe Eagle 2015 Peacekeeping Exercise, New Nations Participate

ASTANA – The second phase of the Steppe Eagle 2015 peacekeeping exercises was completed June 25 at Iliskiy training area near Almaty, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Defence press...


Almaty Hard Rock Cafe Grand Opening Attracts Russian Rock Bands

Hard Rock Cafe, the world famous chain of theme restaurants, has enlarged its presence around the globe by opening a venue in the heart of Almaty. Although the eatery...


In Milan, Nazarbayev Announces Extension of Visa Free Regime for 20 Countries

MILANO – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev announced that his country will extend and expand the trial visa-free regime announced last year and due to end this July. Now, citizens...


Expedition Launches to Visit Previous Kazakh Capitals

ASTANA – An international expedition to highlight the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate and the upcoming Astana Day on July 6 has been launched in Uralsk, BNews.kz reported...


Air Astana Adds Seven Planes for International Flights

The largest Kazakh aviation company Air Astana signed an agreement on June 16 in Paris-Le Bourget to lease seven aircraft, including two A320neo, one A321neo and four long-range A321neo...


Energy-Saving Kazakh Startup Ranked Among Top 10 at Singapore Startup Summit

ASTANA – An innovative Kazakh startup with a product that prevents electricity from being wasted was ranked among the top ten at this year’s Echelon Asia Summit in Singapore...


Almaty Listed among World’s Top 350 Cities for Purchasing Power

ASTANA – Almaty has entered the top 350 cities in the world in terms of purchasing power and is first among large cities in the Commonwealth of Independent States...


Rural Development Programme Helps Almaty Farmers Employ Innovative Technologies

Almaty region farmers recently demonstrated the success of their harvest of agriculture grown with innovative technologies, zakon.kz reported on June 22. “Today, we are holding a seminar titled ‘Technology...


Czech Development Cooperation Experience Could Be Useful for KazAID

ASTANA – The Czech Republic is a relatively young actor in the community of nations rendering development assistance beyond its borders. It has already accumulated more than two decades...


Past, Present and Future of Kazakh Volleyball

Kazakh volleyball player Bakhytzhan Baitureyev is one of the pioneers of the sport, and has carried the title of best player of the continent. He also guided Kazakhstan’s women’s...


Southern Thai Tourism Destinations Hope for Direct Flights from Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Two of southern Thailand’s biggest tourism centres, Phuket Province and Koh Samui of Surat Thani province, joined the “Amazing Road Show to Kazakhstan 2015” campaign to open...


Sagymbayev Appointed Astana Barys First Head Coach from Kazakhstan

Despite the fact that hockey season ended a few weeks ago, news about Astana’s favourite team sport is exciting fans in the midst of summer. News recently spread quickly...


New City Centre to Be Built in Karaganda

ASTANA – A new city centre in Karaganda will be built under the corresponding city development plan accepted at a recent meeting. The effort will be directed by Karaganda...


New City Tour Busses Help Visitors Rediscover Shymkent

Tourists and locals wishing to see the sights of Shymkent this summer can tour the urban area aboard one of two new double-decker busses. Purchased by Zhibek Zholy, the...