Kazakhstan’s government plans to issue a sovereign Eurobond this year, after putting off a plan to raise $1 billion last year. The bond would be Astana’s first entry onto...
A moratorium on inspections of small and medium-sized businesses will not affect every organisation in Kazakhstan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Kazakhstan National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Zangar...
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko met March 5 in Moscow to discuss Customs Union and Common Economic Space integration, as well...
AKTAU – Thanks to a 60 million tenge (about US$329,000) loan, young entrepreneur Yevgenia Tamozhnikova has the opportunity to develop her business, create additional jobs in her printing centre...
ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan held a briefing on March 6 concerning religious freedom in Kazakhstan for the diplomatic corps and representatives of accredited international...
ASTANA – After commissioning its fourth refinery, Kazakhstan will stop importing high-octane fuel and will be able to export oil to its southern neighbours, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan....
ASTANA – Construction of the architectural complex for EXPO 2017 in Astana will begin this May, Deputy Chairman of the Astana EXPO 2017 Company Bekzhan Kulbayev announced on March...
Almaty sixth-grade music student and violinist Malika Bekturova recently won the eighth Alexander Glazunov International Competition of Violinists and Cellists in Paris. The competition was held in the concert...
ASTANA – Talks over a so-called host country agreement between Kazakhstan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the country to host an international bank of low-enriched uranium...
ASTANA – In 2014, the Kazakh government will continue to work on improving its World Bank Doing Business ranking, following a comprehensive plan. The country’s biggest stumbling block is...
ASTANA – The Samruk Kazyna National Welfare Fund announced at a meeting of fund companies on Feb. 26 that it will focus in 2014 on implementing the elements of...
The recent announcement by Kazakh Oil and Gas Minister Uzakbai Karabalin that Kazakhstan’s oil and gas resources will adequately supply the country’s energy resources through the next half century...
UST-KAMENOGORSK – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev viewed State Programme of Accelerated Industrial-Innovative Development (SPAIID) projects on a working trip to the...
ASTANA – The Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan and the European Union project on modernising and reforming Kazakhstan’s civil service have collaborated to create distance-learning...
In his state-of-the-nation address “Kazakhstan’s Path to 2050: Common Goals, Common Interests, Common Future,” President Nursultan Nazarbayev set specific tasks, among them is increasing the efficiency of the mining...
WASHINGTON, DC – Gradual and incremental changes will ensure greater popular participation in political processes, leading to evolutionary democratic changes in the countries of Central Asia as the middle...
ALMATY REGION – The Sonar 2014 national falconry tournament dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Nur Otan party was held recently in the Yenbekshikazakh district of the Almaty...
PAVLODAR – Melzhan Sydykov is a senior teacher in the department of vocational training of the Pavlodar Pedagogical Institute who says his vocation is to teach young people to...
The National Bank of Kazakhstan’s recent decision to devalue the tenge by 19 percent was an unwelcome surprise for institutional investors and the local market. “Most investors were caught...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is “deeply concerned with the current developments in Ukraine”, the country’s foreign ministry said in a March 3 statement adding that “further escalation of tensions may...
Only 100 days. It’s hard to believe it’s so close. It seems like only yesterday that Brazil was confirmed as the 2014 FIFA World Cup host nation. I remember...
ASTANA – The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs has received about 1,625 complaints from businesses this year. Despite a wide range of government programmes focused on reducing administrative barriers and...
SHYMKENT – A first-of-its-kind carpet factory recently opened in Shymkent. “I like working here; it feels as if you are in a carpet gallery. At lunchtime, I sometimes walk...
ASTANA – The government is working hard and methodically to efficiently use funds and respect transparency in procuring medicine and medical equipment. This issue was discussed at a meeting...
Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, spoke about the diverse portfolio of Europe’s major...
ASTANA – The Feb. 7 to Feb. 23 Olympic Games in Sochi once again were watched by people from every corner of the Earth and demonstrated the discipline, determination...
The global market for rare earth elements used in the production of cell phones, flat screens, electric cars and other technology is valued at $3-5 billion and demand is...
Having inherited moribund economy and outdated production capacities from the Soviet Union and being generously endowed with natural resources, Kazakhstan faced a developmental conundrum: how to exploit the natural...
ASTANA – A benefit evening for young Astana poet Aliya Demeisenova was held in the capital’s Black Duck restaurant on Feb. 22. Poetry readings have been held every month...
French IVECO BUS company and Kazakhstan Astana LRT signed an agreement in February on the delivery of 350 natural gas powered IVECO buses to Kazakhstan’s capital Astana. Currently, about...
ASTANA – Akim (Mayor) of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov reviewed the city’s progress and discussed economic goals at a public meeting in Astana on Feb. 19. Major achievements include growth...
ASTANA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is working with the national government on a joint programme to improve the competitiveness of the East Kazakhstan region through the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan calls on all countries to work to strengthen the global nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament regime and to reaffirm their commitments to key treaties in this area,...
The government of Kazakhstan has set fixed prices on bread wheat, the country’s Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov said on Feb.17 in Astana at a meeting addressing recent orders given...
Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Nurlan Nigmatulin visited Azerbaijan on Feb. 19-21 to promote parliamentary ties and the cooperation between the two countries generally. He...
ASTANA – Life expectancy in Kazakhstan has increased to more than 70 years on average as the government continues efforts to improve the healthcare system, the country’s Minister of...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national boxing team won the Four Countries-2014 boxing tournament, which ended here Feb. 20. In the tournament’s final round, Kazakh boxers defeated the Russian team with...
ASTANA – Travel companies in Kazakhstan are developing tour packages for foreign visitors wishing to attend the Astana Piano Passion festival of classical music this May. The festival, which...
ASTANA – A 100-volume series of Kazakh folklore called “Babalar Sozi” (Kazakh for The Words of Ancestors) was presented at the National Academic Library of the Ministry of Culture...
ASTANA – The work of painter Zhanetta Nauruzova, an artist from Aksu, in the Pavlodar region, is being showcased in the Has Sanat Gallery in an exhibition that will...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Bank held a briefing on Feb. 18 to deny rumours of the alleged imminent bankruptcy of three second-tier banks. Bank Chairman Kairat Kelimbetov issued an...
“The Ministry of Justice was selected as a developer to formulate a draft entrepreneurial code,” Minister of Justice Berik Imashev announced on Feb. 20 at an expanded meeting of...
SOCHI – Kazakh figure skater Denis Ten won bronze in the men’s individual competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics, Kazakhstan’s best Olympic figure skating result ever and the first...
To become a major regional exporter of agricultural products, Kazakhstan must provide domestic farmers with direct access to long-term financing and markets. This should be supported by an effective...
The agro-industrial complex is one of the most promising sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy. Few states have comparable potential for agricultural development, and it is already clear that with the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been working vigorously to promote gender equality and the country’s efforts have ranked it 32nd out of 136, according to the 2013 Global Gender Gap...
The government of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating a model for modernising inefficient district heating and...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev reviewed what still needs to be done to implement the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy at the Feb. 14 government meeting as ministers reviewed economic situation...
ASTANA – The Tourism Industry Committee of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan has identified five regional clusters for tourism in Kazakhstan. They will be developed...
ALMATY – A filter for purifying drinking water using nanostructured minerals developed at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Science and Technology Park may be presented at EXPO 2017 in...