South Korea, Kazakhstan Relationship Evolving as Kazakhstan Develops

ASTANA – South Korea Ambassador to Kazakhstan Joohyeon Baik told The Astana Times during a recent face-to-face and follow-up email interview that he hopes his country’s experiences will help...


Astana’s Growing Expat Scene Struggles to Find its Place

ASTANA – The number of foreigners living and working in Astana long term has risen in recent years with the opening of new schools, businesses and embassies. However, it...


Regional Winners Announced in National Best Products Competition

ASTANA – Nord Prom NS, Yutariya Ltd. and Ren-milk were announced as the most recent regional winners of the “Best Products in Kazakhstan” contest at the central region contest...


International Architects Vie for Chance to Shape Major Exhibition

ASTANA – Referencing yurts and eagles, suns and seas, 46 architecture and design firms displayed their proposed concepts for Astana’s EXPO 2017 pavilions in the Korme Exhibition Centre on...


Small Businesses Grow with Nation’s Capital

ASTANA – Astana is a growing city and small business are growing with it. Zhomart Zhantasov, 42, has seen his printing business expand from a four-person team in 2006...


Foreign Ministry Notes 2013 Achievements, Reveals Plans for Second Half of Year

ASTANA, August 12 – Continuous contribution to global nuclear disarmament, a new model of inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue and a successful development path have become key components of Kazakhstan’s...


The ATOM Project Seeks Minute of Silence to Commemorate Nuclear Weapons Testing Victims Worldwide

ASTANA – The ATOM Project, an international campaign against nuclear tests and nuclear weapons, is calling on the world to commemorate all victims of nuclear weapons tests and nuclear...


Nazarbayev Attends Iranian Presidential Inauguration, Discusses Bilateral and International Issues with New President

TEHRAN, August 4 – Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran at the invitation of newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to...


Inspiring Hip Hop Artist Achieving his Dreams

ASTANA – Temirlan Ormankulov was born with cerebral palsy. But that didn’t stop him from founding the hip hop group One Life, which was nominated for Best Hip Hop...


ESCAS Conference Focuses on Symbiosis of Nomadic, Sedentary Civilisations

ASTANA – The 13th biennial conference of the European Society for Central Asian Studies (ESCAS) took place at the Nazarbayev University on August 5-7 in Astana. The event attracted...


Kazakhstan and Greece Work to Expand Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Greece have had more than 20 years of positive bilateral relations. And the ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Kazakhstan Efthymios Pantzopoulos recently told The...


Ancient Kazakh Sport Experiences Revival

ASTANA – Ten thousand fans in Astana and another six million around Kazakhstan, Russia and the other countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States watched Aibek Nugymarov win this...


No Tenge Devaluation Expected, says National Bank

ASTANA – There are no grounds for a devaluation of the national currency, Kazakhstan’s central bank said in a statement released in Almaty on July 25 in response to...


Kazakhstan, Canada Expect to Sign Nuclear Power Agreement Before End of 2013

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Canada are working to finalise a key agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear power before the end of 2013, which would give a major...


Invataxi Service in Almaty Breaks Down Barriers for People with Disabilities

ALMATY – A special taxi service for passengers with disabilities, Invataxi, is helping break down barriers and promote equal access to education and employment in Almaty and around the...


Art Circles in Korea and Kazakhstan Discuss Preservation, Cooperation

ALMATY – On August 6, specialists from the Auezov Institute of Literature and Art met with representatives of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to discuss the...


Business News in Brief

The state will subsidize half of the APR on car loans for Kazakhstan citizens to purchase Kazakhstan-made cars, Tengrinews.kz reported, citing Andrei Lavrentiyev, Head of the Association of Car...


Ethnic Costumes in 1902 Exhibition Came From Abai

SEMEY – Records found by staffers of the local Abai museum in the archives in Omsk, Russia, point to the indirect participation of Abai Kunanbaiuly, the great poet and...


New EXPO 2017 Logo Unveiled As 50 Options Are Submitted for Exhibition Complex Designs

ASTANA – After a national poll with more than 10,000 people in Kazakhstan voting over the Internet, the new logo for EXPO 2017 was announced on July 26. “Wind...


Reality and Fantasy Combined in Astana at French Artist’s Exhibition

ASTANA – An exhibition by French artist Anne de Colbert-Christophorov, organised by the French Embassy in Kazakhstan and the EADS Company, was on display at Khas Sanat Art Gallery...


Economy News in Brief

In July 2013, 8.6 million people in Kazakhstan were actively engaged in employment. This represents an increase of 56,400 since July 2012 or 0.7 percent. Of this total, 5.9...


Country’s Economic and Social Stability Key Factors in Investment Attractiveness

ASTANA – The third annual Ernst and Young Attractiveness Survey of Kazakhstan has been released and paints a positive picture overall of the country’s investment attractiveness, past performance, and...


External News in Brief

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated India on its 67th Independence Day on Aug. 15. The Kazakhstan President sent messages of congratulations to India on the country’s Independence Day. In...


Domestic News in Brief

On Aug. 13, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the Korme exhibition centre where he got acquainted with scale models of the EXPO 2017 exhibition complex. The president was presented...


Kostanay Ecologists Make Environmental Strides

KOSTANAY REGION – The Department of Ecology in Kostanay is actively working on eliminating the impact of industrial enterprises on its environment and taking steps to ensure the region’s...


EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council Reaffirms Commitment to Enhancing Partnership

ASTANA – The 13th meeting of the Cooperation Council between the EU and Kazakhstan took place on July 24th and reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to strengthen relations...


New Historic Milestone Approaching for Kazakhstan-China Relations

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s strategic relations with China have always been defined by regular high-level dialogues, which develop their all-round bilateral cooperation. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Astana...


Flag of EXPO 2017 Goes Around Latin America

Well-known Kazakh traveler Dmitry Petrukhin is continuing his motorcycle journey through Latin America to promote Kazakhstan’s hosting of EXPO 2017. In Brazil, Petrukhin toured nature areas and major cities...


Almaty Region Hosts Family-Friendly Festival

ALMATY – More than 3,000 Almaty residents and their children recently converged on the Oi-Karagai Gorge outside of Almaty to take part in a large and colourful family-friendly festival....


Air Astana Rated Best Airline in Central Asia, India

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, maintained its Skytrax 4 Star rating and was again named Best Airline in Central Asia and India at the 2013 World Airline...


UN Secretary General Urges CTBT Entry into Force ahead of August 29

ASTANA – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for greater international efforts to end nuclear weapons testing and to promote movement toward a world free from nuclear...


Kostanay Ecologists Make Environmental Strides

KOSTANAY REGION – The Department of Ecology in Kostanay is actively working on eliminating the impact of industrial enterprises on its environment and taking steps to ensure the region’s...


Invataxi Service in Almaty Breaks Down Barriers for People with Disabilities

ALMATY – A special taxi service for passengers with disabilities, Invataxi, is helping break down barriers and promote equal access to education and employment in Almaty and around the...


New EXPO 2017 Logo Unveiled As 50 Options Are Submitted for Exhibition Complex Designs

ASTANA – After a national poll with more than 10,000 people in Kazakhstan voting over the Internet, the new logo for EXPO 2017 was announced on July 26. “Wind...


EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council Reaffirms Commitment to Enhancing Partnership

ASTANA – The 13th meeting of the Cooperation Council between the EU and Kazakhstan took place on July 24th and reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to strengthen relations...


Want to Do Horseback Racing and Riding? Good Options Await

ASTANA – Summer is a time to be outside enjoying the weather with family and friends. And Astana’s many horse racetracks are becoming a popular leisure time choice. Astana...


Astana Pro Team Rider Finishes Seventh in Tour De France

Despite losing four riders over the course of this year’s Tour de France and fielding the smallest team in the race, Kazakhstan’s Astana Pro team placed 18th in the...


Almaty to Bid for 2022 Winter Olympics

President Nursultan Nazar­bayev has approved Almaty’s candidature to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2022. The offi cial bid has to be lodged with the International Olympic Committee (IOC)...


New Blood Infusion Lets Hope Fly High

ASTANA – New Barys goalkeepers Ari Ahonen and Dmitry Malgin and defenders Yevgeni Blokhin, Vladislav Kolesnikov, Maxim Semenov and Mike Lundin were introduced along with other new players at...


Pavlodar Multilingual Summer Camp Broadens Children’s Horizons

Fifty children from low income families recently had the opportunity to attend a Kazakh, Russian, English and Spanish multilingual recreation and education camp developed by the public fund Center...


Korean Theater Stages Life Affirming Play

ASTANA – The play by famous Kazakh film director and playwright Lavrenti Son premiered on the stage of the State National Korean Theater of Musical Comedy. According to the...


Designer Asanova’s work combines past, present, and future

Designer Balnur Asanova’s work at Symbat Fashion Academy combines past, present, and future. In Kazakhstan, there’s always a new balance being struck in design between old motifs and new...


Eight Lakes Resort Offers Eco-Friendly Summer Getaway

ASTANA – The modern and eco-friendly Eight Lakes Park Resort near Almaty offers visitors the opportunity to fish, play tennis, bike, tour nature and enjoy the largest beach club...


Kazakhstan’s Economic and Social Stability Key Factors in Investment Attractiveness

ASTANA – The third annual Ernst and Young Attractiveness Survey of Kazakhstan has been released and paints a positive picture overall of the country’s investment attractiveness, past performance, and...


Zhambyl Region Offers Business in Chemical Industry, Agriculture and Power Generation

Our country has become an independent state earning a high status recognized by the international community. Thanks to the dedicated work and prudent policy of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and...


Strategy for Success

The president’s state-of-the-nation address, Strategy Kazakhstan 2050: A new policy of the established state, is an outstanding event in the life of our country, as it opens up a...


Upcoming Local Elections: A Step to Greater Democracy

This is a question of power. Local elections of akims (mayors in Kazakh) in villages, towns and cities of regional importance will raise the level of legitimacy and transparency...


Business News in Brief

Max Petroleum Plc, an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Kazakhstan, has started two new wells in the Zhana Makat field and Uytas field, the company...


Economy News in Brief

Kazakhstan’s economy received a record $22.5 billion in foreign investment in 2012, First Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan Albert Rau said at a government meeting...


External News in Brief

The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in the beginning of July conducted an International Radiological Assistance Programme Training for Emergency Response (I-RAPTER) training in Almaty. The training, held...