Netflix Series ‘Marco Polo’ Shot in Kazakhstan to Premiere in December

ASTANA – An international television series that, in part, features Kazakhstan as the backdrop for the adventures of the great explorer Marco Polo is set to premiere in December....


Kazakh FM Backs New Asian Security Concept, Outlines Steps to Stronger CICA at Anniversary Event

ASTANA – Voicing support for the new Asian security concept proposed by China, Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov called for more contact between members, more organisational institutions and other...


The Redlights Shake Up Moscow Rock Music Festival

The Astana-based rock band, The Redlights, won the grand prix at Indyushata 2014, the rock music festival that took place in September. The musicians performed seven music tracks from...


Oskars Bartulis: I Don’t Mind Being Called Askar

Latvian hockey star and Astana Barys player Oskars Baruis recently played his first match with Barys against Metallurg from Novokuznetsk. Following the match, Bartulis spoke with The Astana Times...


Officials Support Breeding of Tazy Hunting Dogs

More than 150 dogs from eight regions were inspected for their hunting merits on Sept. 22 in the Malaya Timofeevka village near Astana. The inspection was  organised by the...


British-Kazakh Legal Cooperation Should Be Enhanced

I am delighted to be making my first visit to Kazakhstan, a country with which the U.K. has a rapidly growing bilateral relationship. It is also my first opportunity...


Kazakhstan’s Market Economy: Key Milestones and Achievements

In my new book, “Kazakhstan’s Emerging Economy: Between State and Market,” I study the type of market economy that has evolved in Kazakhstan since 1991 by focusing on the...


Kazakhstan, Russia Launch Hydrocarbon Initiative, Move Forward with Plans to Build Nuclear Power Plant

The presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia launched a new hydrocarbon development initiative as they met in Atyrau, Kazakhstan on Sept. 30. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Russian...


Kazakhstan Increases Funding for UN-Managed Civil Service Hub

ASTANA – The Kazakh government has agreed to provide $14 million in funding over the next three and a half years to support the Regional Civil Service Hub that...


Erlan Idrissov and John Kerry Met in New York to Discuss Key Issues, Situation in Ukraine and Afghanistan


Caspian Summit in Astrakhan Makes ‘Breakthrough’ on Road to Convention

The presidents of the five Caspian littoral states reached several important agreements, including an agreement on the conservation of marine resources, on their way to settling the legal status...


EBRD Arranges $200 Million for Environmentally Friendly Technology for Private Sector Oil Company

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has arranged a financing package of $200 for private oil company KOM Munai to finance new environmentally technologies and...


Samruk Kazyna Privatisation Drive Offers New Investment Opportunities

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund is moving forward with its plans to sell a sizable part of the enterprises it controls to the private sector. Both...


Largest Landlocked Country

Kazakhstan Overcomes Challenges Facing Landlocked Nations

The recent commissioning of the Zhezkazgan-Beineu and Arkalyk-Shubarkol railways, as well as the upcoming launch of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railroad, draw a line under the key stage of the transport...


President’s Strategic Vision Delivers Connectivity

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s recent interview with Khabar TV at the foothills of Ulytau, a sacred mountain in Kazakh lore, covered a broad and in-depth list of topics critical...


Kazakh Traditions

New Institute Seeks to Develop Well-Rounded Kazakh Women

ASTANA – Qazaq qyzy (Kazakh girl), the first women’s institute of cultural and moral education, opened its doors on Sept. 18. The institute aims to provide behavioural education, teaching...


Young Archeologists Uncover Ancient Finds

EAST KAZAKHSTAN REGION – Unique archaeological findings of the early nomads epoch discovered in recent years in the Altai mountains have substantially raised the prestige of the archaeologist’s profession...


Pakistan Ambassador Hopes to Increase Trade, Urges More Regional Cooperation on Afghanistan

ASTANA – Ambassador of Pakistan to Kazakhstan Shaukat Ali Mukadam wants to make the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries more indicative of their warm and long-standing...


Healthcare Professionals from 15 Countries Attend Astana Zdorovie Exhibition in Capital

More than 100 doctors, nurses and healthcare experts from 15 countries gathered in Astana Sept. 25-27 for the Astana Zdorovie 2014 international healthcare exhibition. The exhibition showcased the latest...


Business New in Brief

– “Entrepreneurship is a quarter of the economy of the East Kazakhstan region. The number of active small and medium-sized business entities is presently 67,000. Almost every third...


Economic News in Brief

– “For eight months of the current year, the turnover of the East Kazakhstan region with the countries of the Customs Union (CU) amounted to $900 million,” Berdybek Saparbayev,...


National News in Brief

– Top representatives of their occupations will receive Yenbek Ardageri (Kazakh for “Veteran of Labour”) medals, which honour workers in different sectors of the economy and people of retirement...


External News in Brief

– The 58th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference took place from Sept. 22-26 in Vienna. The annual meeting of delegations from 162 member states...


Terrorism Presents Multi-Pronged Threat, Requires International Cooperation to Defeat

Radicalised political Islam, the reignited war in Iraq, and Syria’s prolonged and devastating civil war are fostering a level of terrorism that the world has never before witnessed. The...


Human Capital in Today’s Economy

Highly capable and well-trained human capital is a must if President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Strategy 2050 development plan for Kazakhstan is to be realised on time. In his state-of-the-nation address,...


Idrissov Calls for More Action, Promotes Declaration for Nuclear Weapon Free World at Nuclear Weapons Elimination Meeting

ASTANA – Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov addressed a ministerial meeting marking the first International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in New York on Sept....


Spanish Ambassador Sees Ties Growing, Says Madrid Supports Astana’s UN Security Council Candidacy

The Astana Times recently sat down with Spanish Ambassador to Kazakhstan Manuel Larrotcha Parada who discussed a wide range of issues concerning the relationship between the two countries. You’ve...


Nadal and Tsonga Play in Astana

ASTANA – Much excitement was generated by the Sept. 24 arrival in Astana of world famous Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal and his playing partner French athlete Jo-Wilfried Tsonga....


At UN General Assembly, Kazakh FM Warns Against Rising Tensions, ‘Right of Power’, Urges Attention to G-Global

NEW YORK – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov addressed the plenary session of the 69th UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 26 in a...


In New York, Idrissov Confirms Support for UN, Promotes Country’s Candidacy for UN Security Council

NEW YORK – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov visited New York from Sept. 22-27 to pledge support for the United Nations, promote Kazakhstan’s candidacy for the...


International Team Finishes First Phase of Snow Leopard Conservation Project

ASTANA – An international team has just completed the first phase of fieldwork in a project to conduct a population survey of snow leopards in the Almaty State Nature...


Flydubai Launches Services to Almaty, Shymkent

Flydubai’s inaugural flight from Dubai into Almaty landed on Sept. 16 at the Almaty International Airport and the low-cost carrier’s arrival was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute....


Construction Begins on Khorgos-East Gate Dry Port

ALMATY REGION – Construction has begun on the first dry port and logistics area at the Khorgos-East Gate special economic zone (SEZ). The complex in the Panfilov district near...


Regional Cooperation Key to Helping Afghanistan, Says Kazakh Ambassador

In an interview with this newspaper, Omirtai Bitimov, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, discussed the challenges and opportunities the current situation is presenting there and Astana’s policies in that regard....


Kazakhstan Urges Peaceful Settlement to Ukraine Conflict, End to “Trade Wars”

NEW YORK – Kazakhstan calls and works for the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and is strongly opposed to the unfolding “sanctions war” between the West and Russia...


Korean Reunification Bicycle Tour Passes through Kazakhstan

Professional and amateur cyclists from Kazakhstan joined the “One Korea New-Eurasia” international bicycle tour to promote North and South Korean reunification as it passed through Astana on Sept. 25....


Women’s Water Polo Team Takes Bronze in Asian Games

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s women’s water polo team recently won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Games officials announced on Sept. 24 that China...


Al Hilal Bank Awaits New Legislation for Islamic Finance

Almaty-based Al Hilal Islamic Bank may expand into neighbouring markets as legislation in the Central Asian countries changes. Islamic finance is gaining popularity in the region, but Al Hilal...


Condition of Kazakhstan Dams to be Monitored in 2015

A screening process to monitor the condition of Kazakh dams will start in 2015 after the Ministry of Agriculture receives applicable declarations from the owners. The decision was made...


10th Kazakhstan Open held at Zhailau Golf Resort

The 10th international Kazakhstan Open was held Sept. 18-22 at the Zhailau Golf Resort. The jubilee competition is one stage of the European Challenge Tour. At the opening press...


Mereili Otbasy Competition Names Winners

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated the winners and finalists of the Mereilі Otbasy (Happy Family) national contest on Sept 19. The Bimakhambetovs from South Kazakhstan were named best...


5th World Religious Congress to Convene in Astana in June 2015

ASTANA – A meeting of the Working Group of the Congress Secretariat and the 13th meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions...


BRICS Representatives Discuss Latest Summit at Kazakh Humanitarian Law University

ASTANA – Ambassadors and representatives of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) discussed results of the most recent BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, including the...


Kazakh Tennis Players take 6th Gold at Asia Games, Defeat China


Kazakh FM Urges Replacing ‘Great Game’ Philosophy with ‘Great Gain’ Philosophy

NEW YORK – Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said his country is adamant to work with other partners in Central Asia and beyond to turn one of the region’s...


Kazakh National Team Wins First Trap Shooting Gold at 17th Asian Games

The Kazakh women’s trap shooting team with Anastassiya Davydova, Maria Dmitrienko and Oxana Sereda stepped on the highest step of the podium Sept. 22 to celebrate the fourth gold...


Malaysian Food and Culture Week Opens at Astana Marriott

ASTANA – Malaysian Food and Culture week opened at the Aroma Restaurant in Astana’s Marriott hotel on Sept. 23 and will run through Sept. 26, with entertainment, shopping and...


Astana Opera Singers Train with La Scala Instructors in Milan

Leading Astana Opera soloists Zhupar Gabdullina and Dina Khamzina recently traveled to the legendary Theatre La Scala in Milan to train with renowned La Scala instructors and to learn...


Pavlodar, Omsk Administrations Sign Cooperation Agreement

A delegation from Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar region headed by akim (governor) Kanat Bozumbayev recently paid a two-day visit to the Omsk region of Russia, resulting in the signing of a...


Oncology Service Achievements, Tasks Discussed at KRIOR

ALMATY – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister for human development Gulshara Abdykalikova and head of the Ministry of Health and Social Development Tamara Duyssenova made a working trip to the...