New Uzbek President’s state visit to Kazakhstan sees relations soar

ASTANA – Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed bilateral relations during Mirziyoyev’s March 22-23 first state visit to Kazakhstan. His visit, accorded the highest status,...


Kazakhstan to modernise hundreds of post offices

ASTANA – A new, modernised post office was officially opened in Almaty March 16, the fourth such upgraded post office in the city. Fourteen more are set to be...


Nauryz celebrated throughout capital, nation

ASTANA – Numerous celebrations have been held around Astana for the Nauryz holiday. On March 16-17, the programme started with the festival for people with limited abilities “A creation...


South Kazakhstan region to supply 20,000 tonnes of meat to Iran each year

ASTANA – Iranian investors plan to do big business in South Kazakhstan in meat – they’re planning to buy 20,000 tonnes per year from the region, Kapital.kz reports. The...


Qazaq Air launches new route between Astana and Shymkent

ASTANA – Qazaq Air will introduce March 26 a new flight route between Shymkent and Astana. “Shymkent is one of the most densely populated and, at the same time,...


South Kazakhstan region entrepreneur launches commercial nut garden operation

ASTANA – South Kazakhstan region resident Tanabai Shyntasov plans to create a commercial nut garden. The entrepreneur has already planted seedlings of fruit trees and grapes in the Saryagash...


Being a woman and doing business in Central Asia

ASTANA – Being a businesswoman and a housewife at the same time is really arduous – in a society in which most household chores are still the province of...


Kazakh writer pens novel chronicling three generations of Almaty residents

ASTANA – A new Kazakh novel about love and three generations of Almaty residents in an historic retrospective of the 20th century was recently presented in Almaty in honour...


EXPO 2017 road shows kick off in Asia, Europe and Middle East

ASTANA – Numerous road shows promoting EXPO 2017 have launched in Astana and will be held across Asian, European and Middle Eastern states. The road shows will provide detailed...


British expert visits KTZ to share experience within IOSH-EBRD project

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the nation’s state-owned railway and logistics operator, is exchanging experience with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the British-based organisation for...


First film by Kazakh director Salamat Mukhammed-Ali to premiere in North America

ASTANA – The 2017 American adaptation of “Diamond Cartel,” directed by Kazakh filmmaker Salamat Mukhammed-Ali, will premiere in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia for the first time...


Almaty photographer reveals how simple hobby turned into career

ASTANA – The breathtaking pictures of exotic marine life taken by Almaty resident Nadezhda Kulagina took the fourth and sixth places in the wrecks category of the 2017 Underwater...


Mystery shoppers to be used against corruption

ASTANA – The Kazakh Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption together with the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan are looking for ways to solve the country’s corruption problem. Civil...


Kazakh experts improve safety at research reactor

ASTANA – International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts recently announced that Kazakh scientists have improved the safety of Kazakhstan’s research reactor after that agency reviewed recent modifications. “The research...


New international tourism route through Kazakhstan to launch in April

ASTANA – A new international tourism route passing through Kazakhstan will be launched in April, Marat Igaliyev, head of the Tourism Industry Department of the Kazakh Ministry of Investment...


Kazakh diaspora share joy of celebrating Nauryz with people around them

ASTANA – Nauryz, an ancient eastern holiday celebrated March 22 in many Middle and Central Asia countries, is one of the favourite holidays for Kazakh people. The event is...


Turkestan welcomes guests and receives status of Cultural Capital of Turkic World

ASTANA – The ancient historic, architectural and religious town of Turkestan welcomed thousands of guests March 21, including an official delegation from 22 Turkic and other countries, as it...


UNICEF Innovation Laboratory Opens in Almaty

ASTANA – The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has opened a laboratory aimed at improving the quality of life of children through the development and integration of...


International brands succeeding, expanding on Kazakh market

ASTANA – Global brands, such as Starbucks and H&M, have entered the Central Asian market and are outperforming some local companies. “H&M will launch an aggressive takeover of Kazakhstan...


Exhibition opens marking 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s accession to UN

ASTANA – The “Kazakhstan and the United Nations: Interaction for Peace” exhibition has opened in the Museum of the Library of the First President of Kazakhstan to mark the...


Astana Ballet Theatre premiers “Walpurgis Night”

ASTANA – The “Walpurgis Night” ballet premiered March 17-18 at the Astana Ballet Theatre in the capital. The ballet was staged by Honoured Artist of Russia, People’s Artist of...


Our relations are based on mutual respect, says Uzbek ambassador in Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is paying a state visit to Astana March 22-23, one of his first foreign trips as the new leader of his country.Ahead of the upcoming...


Kazakhstan welcomes results of Syria meeting in Astana, as Russia, Iran and Turkey issue joint statement

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan issued a statement March 16 welcoming the outcomes of another international meeting on Syria held March 14-15 as part of...


Kazakhstan is fascinating place for freelancers, experts believe

ASTANA – The Heritage Foundation recently rated Kazakhstan 42nd in economic freedom and Numbeo, the international information portal, ranked the nation as the 119th most affordable country in which...


Exhibition dedicated to 25 years of Kazakh-Russian relations opens in Astana

ASTANA – A month-long exhibition titled “Kazakhstan and Russia: a strategy of eternal friendship” dedicated to 25 years of diplomatic relations opened March 16 at the National Museum of...


New concept for renting houses in Astana

ASTANA – Local entrepreneurs have set new trends in the hospitality industry in recent years, as the Kazakh capital has become a top tourism and business destination in Central...


Almaty region national parks undergo general improvements, new routes to be added

ASTANA – A new road map is to be developed, while some old ones will be revised and new routes will be added for tourists in national parks’ in...


EBRD set to refresh cooperation with Uzbekistan under its new leadership

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Uzbekistan are set to re-engage on a new level. During EBRD’s Mar. 15-17 visit to the Central Asian...


Kazakh director wins short feature award at Barcelona film festival

ASTANA – Twenty-six-year-old Kazakh actor and director Olzhas Nurbayev recently won Best Director at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival for his short film “The Boon” shot in Los Angeles....


Astana to be positioned as one of leading platforms for Islamic finance, says AIFC governor

ASTANA – The future and prospects of Islamic finance in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), as well as investment opportunities, Islamic capital market development and other issues, were...


KAZGUU provides additional scholarships to gifted students

ASTANA – KAZGUU University (Kazakh Humanities and Law Institute) allocates 80 million tenge (US$251,440) every year for tuition fee concessions, educational grants and scholarships for gifted students who have...


Air Astana, Lufthansa passengers can use single code to fly on both airlines

ASTANA – Air Astana and Lufthansa signed March 15 a codeshare agreement to increase from 7 to 14 the number of weekly flights between Kazakhstan and Germany. The increase...


Leroy Merlin to invest $31 million in first supermarket in Almaty

ASTANA – French giant in gardening, retailer Leroy Merlin is building the first of three supermarkets in the Almaty region and plans to invest $31 million in the outlet....


Baiterek Rocket and Space Complex set to launch in 2025

ASTANA – The future of the Baiterek Rocket and Space Complex project at the Baikonur Cosmodrome depends on Russia developing a new Phoenix carrier rocket which will begin in...


Astana Process guarantor states reaffirm commitment to strengthening Syrian ceasefire

ASTANA – Russia, Iran and Turkey reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating and strengthening the ceasefire regime in Syria during a fresh round of peace talks March 14-15 in Astana....


Kazakh freestyle skier wins silver at World Championships

ASTANA – Yulia Galysheva gave Kazakh sport lovers another reason for joy by winning a silver medal in the women’s dual moguls competitions at the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski...


Finland, Kazakhstan have great potential for cooperation in clean energy, envoy says

ASTANA – Over 25 years of diplomatic ties, Kazakhstan and Finland’s strong and peaceful relationship has grown more intense, Finnish Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ilkka Raisanen said in a March...


Kazakhstan can be transit hub between Southeast Asia and Europe  

ASTANA – An agreement on a free trade zone between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will increase the flow of goods between these countries, said Kazakh Ambassador...


Parcel delivery service now available in Kazakhstan, through an app

ASTANA – Takebs, positioned as the world’s fastest parcel delivery service, has launched in Kazakhstan. The app is available in 11 languages on the IOS platform and by mid-March...


Baiterek Holding finances construction of hydroelectric power plant

ASTANA – BRK Leasing, a subsidiary of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), has begun financing construction of the Turgusun hydroelectric power plant on the Turgusun River in the...


Barys has early Gagarin Cup success, stumbles at home

ASTANA – HC Barys had a successful first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, beating Traktor from Chelyabinsk. For the overall victory in that series, it was enough for...


Astana to host another international meeting on Syria

ASTANA – Astana will host another round of talks on settling the conflict in Syria within the Astana Process March 14-15. High-ranking delegations from Russia, Turkey and Iran have confirmed...


Kazakh FM informs Parliament on Astana’s work on UNSC, priorities in Central Asia

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov informed the members of the Mazhilis (lower house) of Parliament about the nation’s priorities as a member of the United Nations Security...


Kazakh President signs amendments to Constitution into law

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan March 10. The law “On introducing amendments and additions to the Constitution...


New Silk Road will become mutual aid system benefiting all players, expert believes

ASTANA – Wade Shepard, the author of “Ghost Cities of China,” is currently working on his new book about the New Silk Road, China’s effort to strengthen trade ties with Europe and...


Film chronicling Kazakh domestication of wild horses to be released in 2018

ASTANA – A Canadian producer plans to release a film titled “Equus” about the history of horse domestication in the Central Asian region, announced Minister of Information and Communications...


Government to launch additional 410 agricultural cooperatives to assist small farms

ASTANA – Four-hundred-and-ten agricultural cooperatives will be established in 2017 to support small and medium-sized farms. The cooperatives will help farms buy equipment, store and transport products, provide veterinary...


Government allocates $3.2 billion to boost banking sector

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently signed a decree, effective immediately, allocating 1.1 trillion tenge (US$3.2 billion) to improve the nation’s banking sector.  The document was published on the portal...


Industry experts optimistic about introduction of autonomous vehicles in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Iveco representative in Kazakhstan Lorenzo Bernardeli said he was optimistic about the future of autonomous vehicles in Kazakhstan during an international forum in Astana, according to the...


Authorities consider building pipeline to fully supply Astana with natural gas by 2021

ASTANA – KazTransGas and government officials are reviewing a feasibility study to build a pipeline that would fully supply natural gas to Astana residents by 2021. Within a month,...