The Short, Colourful Lives of Spring Steppe Flowers

ASTANA – The hardy souls who stick out one of Astana’s long and frigid winters can count on at least one reward: when the snows finally melt in April...


Business News in Brief

Acting Deputy General Director of Gazprom Neft Kazakhstan Marat Malatayev reported April 15 that the company is currently considering the issues for Euro-4 domestic refineries gasoline quality in 2016....


Economic News in Brief

Chairman of the Committee on Statistics of the Ministry of National Economy Alikhan Smailov spoke at an April 15 media briefing about the main indicators of Kazakh socio-economic development....


External News in Brief

Over the past 10 years, Kazakhstan has invested $900 million in Singapore’s economy, while the inflow of direct investment from Singapore into Kazakhstan’s economy amounted to more than $60...


National News in Brief

All necessary measures are being taken in Kazakhstan to develop the languages of various ethnic groups living in the nation, said Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbayev at a recent...


Kazakhstan, Turkey Discuss Regional, International Cooperation

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Akorda presidential residence on April 16. The two presidents discussed strengthening cooperation in trade, the...


Kazakh-Specific Keyboards Expected by End of 2015

A recently patented keyboard with comfortable positioning of Kazakh letters will be produced in Almaty and is expected by the end of the year, according to project curator Medet...


New Social Network Meant to Increase Kazakh Law, Financial Knowledge

ASTANA – A new website, www.1ccc.kz, has been created by the Financial Academy to increase Kazakh citizens’ understanding of the law and financial literacy. “The social network is a...


Almaty to Host Sixth French Film Festival

ALMATY – The latest sophisticated, vibrant and daring films from France will be showcased beginning April 23 during the sixth French film festival “Le cinéma français aujourd’hui.” The four-day event,...


Development Assistance Key to Eliminating Support for Extremists

As we look around the world, violent extremism and terrorism has never been a greater threat. In parts of the Middle East and Africa, for example, it has fuelled...


Chinese Company Plans to Construct New Oil Refinery in Mangistau

The Chinese company CITIC, which recently launched the first bitumen plant in Mangistau, is planning to finance the construction of a new oil refinery in the region, according to...


Kazakhstan-Turkey Strategic Partnership Can Serve as Example

From the first days of independence, Kazakhstan has held an open and balanced foreign policy. The country established friendly relations with many countries of the world. Turkey has a...


Marriott Seeks New Partners, New Local Relationships with Open Day

ASTANA – The Marriott Astana opened its third floor event facilities to all comers during its Open Day on April 13, an event intended to demonstrate the hotel’s event...


Contest Names Best Children’s Literature Authors

Kazakhmys Corporation and the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan recently announced the winners of the Balausa competition to select the best literary work in the Kazakh language for children...


UN Development Programme Allows Oralmans Teach Fellow Oralmans

ASTANA – Individuals who were once students are now serving as teachers.   Classes in Russian and computer literacy, provided under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), are being...


State Archive to Present Book Chronicling 20th Century History of Kazakhstan’s Jewish Community

ASTANA– Apresentation of the book “History, Memory,People,” which depicts the losses of Kazakhstan’s Jewish community in the 20th century, will be hosted by the Central State Archive April 28...


Astana Hosts First National Blue-Collar Skills Championship

ASTANA – More than 70 blue-collar workers from 15 regions of the country gathered in Astana April 9-11 to show their skills in welding, IT management, catering, hairdressing, plastering,...


Forbes Kazakhstan Establishes Architectural Innovation Award

In light of the coming international exhibition EXPO 2017, which will largely focus on sustainable development and the face of energy in the future, Forbes Kazakhstan business magazine decided...


World War II Veterans Council, Veterans of Foreign Wars Discuss Ways to Honour Veterans

ASTANA – Representatives of the Council of World War II Veterans, Home Guard and Kids of the War and the U.S.-based Veterans of Foreign Wars recently met virtually to...


State to Allocate 35 Billion Tenge to Support Mechanical Engineering

The state will allocate 35 billion tenge to support domestic mechanical engineering, First Vice Minister of National Economy Marat Kussainov said at the Central Communications Service briefing on April...


More Than One Million Square Metres of Rental Housing to be Built Before 2020

ASTANA – As part of the country’s regional development programmes, 1.4 million square metres of rental housing is scheduled to be built over the next four years, First Vice...


In First Speech since Lausanne Deal, Iran’s Zarif Says No Imposed Solution Can Be Sustainable

ASTANA – On April 13, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif started his official two-day visit to Astana, beginning with a lecture in English at the Kazakh State University...


Kazakhstan, Hungary Create Joint Agricultural Development Fund

Kazakhstan established an agricultural development fund during Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban’s recent visit to Astana, the KazAgro press service reported. KazAgro established the fund jointly with the Hungarian...


Karaganda Methane Production Project to Provide Gas to Astana, Karaganda Region

ASTANA – A methane production project has been launched in the Karaganda coal basin that will help supply gas to the Astana and Karaganda region and in the process...


Kazakhstan, Iran Discuss Bilateral Cooperation, Regional Security

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev received visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Akorda presidential residence on April 13, emphasising that Kazakhstan sees Iran...


President Explains Kazakhstan’s Specific Economic Challenges at Youth Forum

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed a youth forum on April 10, drawing attention to Kazakhstan’s achievements during its years of independence and the importance of strengthening the...


Kashagan to Start Production in 2017, Says Royal Dutch Shell Report

ASTANA – Production at Kazakhstan’s giant Kashagan offshore oil field is expected to restart in 2017, Royal Dutch Shell stated in its 2014 annual report. “After the start of...


Kazakh Naval Force Celebrate 22nd Anniversary

Twenty-two years ago, the Kazakhstan Navy was established as part of the Armed Forces of a new independent state.  The corresponding presidential decree was issued on April 2, 1993,...


Kazakh Middle Class Should Become Active in Stock Investments, Say Experts

ASTANA – Stocks aren’t a cultural element in Kazakhstan as in the U.S. and many other Western countries. Experts and private investors, however, consider that the situation should be...


Nazarbayev University Commercialisation Office Supports Domestic Innovation

ASTANA – At Nazarbayev University, the drive to research and innovate is being balanced and informed by the need to create practical, marketable products – a process that is...


Kazakhstan, South Korea Work Together in Healthcare

Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Berdybek Saparbayev met with a delegation from the Republic of Korea on March 26 to sign memorandums and discuss ongoing cooperation efforts. The delegation...


Bolashak Recipients Discuss Life after Graduation

The Bolashak International Scholarship Programme is one of Kazakhstan’s most successful educational initiatives. The programme sends some of Kazakhstan’s best and brightest college students to study abroad at the...


Job Fair Connects the Disabled to Jobs

ASTANA – The Employment Centre of the Astana Akimat (city administration) recently hosted a job fair for people with disabilities in order to provide them with job opportunities. “It...


Kazakhstan’s Unique History Informs Global Anti-Nuclear-Weapons Stance

The current international geopolitical stage and the global economic situation are in the midst of complex times. This period is especially difficult because of the new political and military...


Rail-Air Connection Can Bring Goods from China to Europe Quickly

In December 2014, the KTZ Express joint stock company implemented the Rail-Air project to transport goods from China to Europe quickly. In an interview with this newspaper, President of...


Pottery Maker Speaks of Passion for Art and Country

The Kulanshi Modern Art Centre conducted master classes in pottery making and jewellery design March 25 during the Nauryz holidays. The free classes attracted more than 140 people. Yerbolat...


Events in Washington Address Renewed U.S. Policy on Central Asia, Geopolitics in Region

ASTANA – Over two days last week, three events – academic and political – in Washington D.C. addressed geopolitics and strategy in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, following the news...


Kazakh Beauty Wins Grand Prix at Face of Central Asia Model Contest

Astana-based model Innara Yusupova of Astana’s Ok-Models won Grand Prix during the March 17-20 Face of Central Asia model contest and is now preparing to represent Kazakhstan at the...


Nazarbayev: South Kazakhstan Has Potential to be Fruit, Vegetable Powerhouse

The South Kazakhstan region has the potential to become a major fruit and vegetable producer, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said during a visit to the region on March 27, according...


Hockey Star Thoresen Talks Almaty’s Olympic Chances, his Place among Current Greats

This season, Astana Barys defender, Canadian-born Kevin Dallman, who once again plans to play for Kazakhstan’s national team at the World Cup, crossed the 300-point mark in his Continental...


Almaty Little League Baseball Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Chingiz Bura, president of the Almaty Little League, gave an exclusive interview to The Astana Times. An Almaty native and entrepreneur, Bura is aiming to revitalise the baseball scene...


TCO Plans to Press Ahead with Expansion at Tengiz Despite Low Oil Prices

ASTANA – The twofold drop in oil prices on the world market didn’t change the investment strategy of Tengizchevroil. The company, a joint venture between Chevron (50 %), ExxonMobil...


National Women’s Ice Hockey Team Remains Undefeated, Gets Promoted to Division I

The Kazakhstan national women’s ice hockey team finished the fourth International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournament Division 2A held March 30 – April 5 in Dumfries, Scotland undefeated and...


Bolashak Switches from One-Year to Six-Plus-Six Month Language Training System

The Bolashak’s Centre for International Programmes (CIP) and the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan recently announced that they would be switching from the current one-year abroad language...


Kazakhstan Seeks Italian Business Involvement in Innovation Programme, Says Ambassador in Rome

Italy is one of Kazakhstan’s main European trading partners and the third overall after the Russian Federation and China. Trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $16 billion. Kazakh...


Czech Ambassador Seeks to Share Kazakh Culture with her Countrymen

ASTANA – Czech Ambassador Eliška Žigová is in Kazakhstan to help bring this country and hers together – or, more specifically, to bring Czechs of all kinds to the...


Kazakhstan Increases Budget for Spring Field Work

A total of 60 billion tenge (US$320.98 million) has been allocated from the state budget this year for spring fieldwork, which is 20 billion tenge (US$107.67 million) more than...


Kussainov Tours Country with Campaign Meetings

ASTANA – Self-nominated candidate for the April 26 early presidential election Abelgazy Kussainov has launched his election campaign across the country and his election headquarters, headed by Rustem Zholaman,...


Astana Welcomes Lausanne Agreements on Iranian Nuclear Programme

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on April 3, commending the news of a consensus reached at the P5+1 talks with Iran in Lausanne,...


Agreements with Iran Show Engagement Not Exclusion Give Chance for Development

The news last week from Switzerland of a political framework agreement reached at the talks over Iran’s nuclear programme is a major step forward. No one should underestimate the...