Kazakhstan Airlines Suspend Flights to Egypt

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has suspended tourist flights to Egypt due to safety concerns following the crash of a Russian passenger plane that killed 224 people Oct. 31. The Committee...


‘Kazakh Khanate’ Series and Film to Be Released during 2016 Nauryz Celebrations

ASTANA – The 10-episode “The Kazakh Khanate” cinematic series and a motion picture based on the series will be released during the spring 2016 Nauryz celebrations, said Arman Asenov,...


Domestic Alcohol Excise Taxes to Increase by 15 Percent

ASTANA – The Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) approved on Nov. 11 changes made by the Senate to the Law “On amendments and additions to some legislative acts...


Government to Sell Agricultural Lands for 600 Billion Tenge

ASTANA – Vice Minister of National Economy Kairbek Uskenbayev announced at a recent Central Communications Service (CCS) briefing amendments made to the Land Code of Kazakhstan and a government...


Turkmenistan’s Pipeline Strategy: Building a Diversified Export Infrastructure

Turkmenistan has huge mineral wealth, including reserves of natural gas that are estimated to be the fourth largest in the world. However, when the country became independent, it lacked...


Kazakh Symbol the Golden Eagle is Critically Endangered

The golden eagle, the symbol of Kazakhstan, is critically endangered. Although the bird was included 30 years ago on the Red List of Kazakhstan, an inventory of threatened species...


Nazarbayev Visits French Embassy in Astana, Expresses Condolences

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the Embassy of France in Astana Nov. 16 and left a note in the book of condolences opened after the Paris...


The Great Gain Not the Great Game: How Kazakhstan is Charting its Own Course in the World

It is a sign of Central Asia’s and Kazakhstan’s increasing role and importance in the world that more and more is written about our region. But what is striking –...


Astana Media Forum Discusses Complexities in Reporting on Ethnic Issues

ASTANA – The second Media Forum of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) on Nov. 12 covered important issues regarding Kazakhstan’s inter-ethnic unity and the quality and...


Kazakh YouTube Channel Gains Success

ASTANA – Saspens, Kazakhstan’s biggest YouTube channel, is the creation of Andrey Burnyakov. The 23-year-old from Karaganda launched his channel in November 2014 and now has more than 840,000...


Almaty Tech Garden CEO Shares Prospects for Kazakh Startups at TechConnect Forum

ASTANA – Almaty Tech Garden CEO Sanzhar Kettebekov shared the prospects for developing Kazakh startup projects Nov. 12 during TechConnect Astana, the first major tech forum in Central Asia....


Minister of Agriculture Proposes Measures to Protect Domestic Market

ASTANA – The Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) held Nov. 9 a governmental hour on the topic of improving the efficiency of subsidisation in the agricultural complex. Minister of...


Almaty Approves Construction of Modern Art Museum

ALMATY – Local patrons from the Museum of Modern Art Public Foundation received approval from the Almaty Planning Council for the construction of a modern art museum in the...


Kazakhstan’s Largest Transport, Logistics Centre Presented in Astana

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s largest transport and logistics centre (TLC) was launched with an official presentation Nov. 12 attended by city Akim (Mayor) Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, Minister for Investment and Development...


Astana Condemns Terror Attacks in Paris, Offers Condolences to French People

ASTANA – Kazakhstan strongly condemns the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris and declares the unacceptability of terrorism in all its manifestations, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said...


President Signs Five New Laws: Local Police Forces to Be Established, Agricultural Lands to be Privatised

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed five legislative acts as part of the implementation of the 100-step Plan of the Nation that is the vehicle for enacting...


Kazakh PM, FM Address Newly Established Astana Club, Stress Commitment to Win-Win Cooperation in Central Asia

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov addressed Nov. 11 the closing session of the first meeting of the Astana Club,...


Tenge Devaluation Benefits Major Kazakh Exporters

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s switch to a free-floating exchange rate – and, thus, a weaker tenge – will help Kazakh companies stay competitive against Russia and China, the nation’s biggest...


Biofuels and Climate Change: Challenges of Paris Conference

On the eve of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in November-December 2015...


Moscow Holds Abai Reading

The Moscow House of Veterans of Wars and Armed Forces recently held “The Binding Time Thread,” a literary and musical evening dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the birth...


Kazakhstan’s Top Skier Eager to Start New Season

ASTANA – The International Ski Federation (Fédération Internationale de Ski or FIS) World Cup will begin Nov. 27-29 in Ruka, Finland. On the threshold of the new season, The...


EXPO 2017 Expands Country Participation List

A Kazakh delegation led by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and EXPO 2017 Commissioner Rapil Zhoshybayev paid a working visit to Jordan Nov. 2, Saudi Arabia Nov. 4-5...


Annual Diplomatic Christmas Charity Bazaar Opens Ticket Sales

ASTANA – Astana’s annual Diplomatic Christmas Charity Bazaar will have more embassies than ever participating this year – 52 in all – and hopes to top the 19 million...


London Stock Exchange to Help KASE Create Financial Hub in Astana

ASTANA – During the official visit of the Kazakh delegation led by President Nursultan Nazarbayev to London on Nov. 3, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) and the London Stock...


Kazakhstan to Establish Special Islamic Financial Company

ASTANA –A special Islamic financial company is to be established in Kazakhstan to issue sukuk – Islamic bonds, according to interfax.kz. “The National Bank has developed amendments to the...


Flydubai to Service Astana, Increases Flights to Central Asian Destinations

ASTANA – United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline Flydubai will increase the number of its flights to the Central Asian region. The Dubai-based airline will be Kazakhstan’s first two-flight-per-week UAE...


FC Astana Fights to Second Consecutive Kazakhstan Championship, Beats Aktobe at Home 1:0

ASTANA – The Astana Football Club (FC) beat Aktobe 1:0 on Nov. 8 to win its second consecutive national championship in Astana. FC Astana bombarded Aktobe with attacks from...


Media Executive Says Freedom, Diversity of Talents Key for Society to be Creative

How do governments encourage creativity to promote innovation-oriented policies? How do businesses advance in technology-driven economies? These questions are frequently asked by Kazakhstan’s private and public sector professionals in...


Nauryz Taikazany Monument to be Constructed on Nazarbayev Street in Kazan

A monument representing a huge taikazan, or cup, may be constructed on Nazarbayev Street in Kazan, a large port on the Volga River and the capital of the Republic...


My Brother, Dias Omarov

Prominent Kazakh sports journalist Dias Omarov turned 75 in October. The Astana Times offers a short, firsthand essay about this personality prepared by his brother, Timur Omarov, a professor...


Nazarbayev, Business Leaders Visit UK, Ink $5 Billion in Agreements

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to London on Nov. 3-4, resulted in agreements worth more than $5 billion across fields such as energy, pharmaceuticals, aviation and financial consulting. During...


Health Technology Assessment to Promote More Effective Budgetting, Says Expert

ASTANA – A meeting of the council of international experts held Nov. 2-3 at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva served as an opportunity to discuss the...


New EBRD Regional Report Predicts Lower Economic Growth for Much of Central Asia

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is predicting lower growth for most of Central Asia in its most recent Regional Economic Prospects report, forecasting average...


Nazarbayev Visits France, Improves Business Ties, Addresses 38th UNESCO Conference

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid an official visit to France Nov. 5-6 to meet French President François Hollande and hold talks with representatives of French business and political circles,...


Astana’s Citylove Does What It Does Best and Encourages All Do the Same

ASTANA – When The Astana Times covered the city’s live music scene in its previous issue, the band Citylove stood out. Compared to the average Kazakh or Russian pop...


Online Registration Opens for Almaty Marathon

ASTANA – The Almaty Marathon, the annual charity marathon, which is to be held in Almaty Nov. 21 starting from the Park of the First President and finishing at...


International Association of Public Transport Opens Its Liaison Office in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Chairman of Astana LRT (Light Rail Transportation) Talgat Ardan and Deputy Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Mohamed Mezghani signed an agreement during...


Tenge Falls to 300 per Dollar, No Intervention from National Bank

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s currency, the tenge, fell to 300 per dollar in trading Nov. 5, reaching the low previously set in mid-September after the currency was allowed to free-float...


Four Kazakh Cities Join UNDP-GEF Sustainable Cities Project

ASTANA – The akims (mayors) of Taraz, Shymkent, Temirtau and Lisakovsk cities of Kazakhstan officially signed memoranda of understanding with the UNDP-Global Environmental Facility (GEF) project Nationally Appropriate Mitigation...


Kazakh Senate Passes Law Bringing Astana Int’l Financial Centre Closer to Reality

ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate passed a draft constitutional law Oct. 5 “On International Financial Centre Astana.” The bill is focused on establishing the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which...


Kazakhstan, EBRD Sign Transport, Infrastructure, SME Support Financing Deals in London

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced three major financing deals to support small business development, road infrastructure and public transport in Kazakhstan Nov. 3....


Astana Ties Atletico Madrid at Home

ASTANA – With a dramatic last minute save, FC Astana held Atletico Madrid to a 0-0 tie in a home match in Astana Nov. 3. With two games to...


Taiburil Scholarship Programme Supports Talented Students, Plans to Expand

The awards ceremony for the Taiburil monthly scholarship winners was held Oct. 31 in Almaty. The programme, supported by second-tier banks such as Kaspi Bank and Kazkommertzbank, as well...


Astana Residents to Choose Best Health Professionals

ASTANA – The heads of Astana’s Health Administration have called on city residents to actively participate in “The Best Doctor” and “The Best Nurse” campaigns. Citizens’ opinions will be...


Electrodes Production Launched in Zhambyl Region 

TARAZ – A 70 million tenge (US$250,000) plant to produce electrodes was launched in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region in October 2015. There is a great demand in Kazakhstan’s construction field...


Aidyn Aimbetov: Younger Generation Still Interested in Space Exploration

Aidyn Aimbetov, Kazakhstan’s third cosmonaut and a colonel in the country’s Air Force, travelled to the International Space Station Sept. 2 as part of an international crew. He remained...


In Astana, Kerry Promotes Stronger Ties in Economy, Security

ASTANA – It was a visit full of symbolism. It ranged from the presentation of the famous savoury and fragrant Almaty Aport apples to a foreign dignitary who was...


Milan Passes EXPO Flag to Astana at Closing Ceremony

Kazakhstan’s pavilion was ranked in the best three for opening theme and content, it was announced at the closing ceremony for EXPO 2015 in Milan Oct. 31, the press...


President Signs New Civil Procedure Code

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev publicly signed the new Civil Procedure Code (CPC) of Kazakhstan Oct. 31. The code introduces changes to procedures in investment, civil and other disputes...


Kazakh Blogosphere Presents New Type of Media for its Audience

ASTANA – As the number of Internet users rises, online publications are becoming more and more popular. In the age of new technologies, any kind of information is available...