Kazakhstan’s Government, National Bank Project 4-5% Economic Growth in 2015

ASTANA – The Government and the National Bank of Kazakhstan will seek to achieve real economic growth in the country of 4-5 percent next year, the two organisations said...


New Enterprises Are the Answer to Economic Crises, President Says

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev, summing up the results of the first five years of the industrialisation programme on Dec. 25, confirmed that new industries, import substitution and manufacturing...


OECD Launches Review of Central Administration of Kazakhstan

In his annual state-of-the-nation address in 2014, President Nursultan Nazarbayev declared that Kazakhstan should seek to introduce living standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) member countries....


Kazakhstan’s Campaign for UN Security Council: A focus on real issues

It is a little over a year since Kazakhstan formally announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-2018. And it has been a...


Kazakhstan Works to Improve Protection of Human Rights, Ombudsman Says

As the year 2014 drew to a close, we interviewed Askar Shakirov, Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), to talk about achievements and challenges in this critical area and...


Kazakhstan Implements Millennium Development Goals

The Constitution of our country defines Kazakhstan as a democratic, secular, legal and social state. From the first days of independence the country’s leadership has paid great attention to...


Kazakhstan’s 2014 Sports Highlights

ASTANA – The year 2014 was full of memorable sports stories involving Kazakh athletes. The Astana Times has chosen a few to highlight for our year-end sports review. Gennady...


EBRD to Lend 10 Billion Tenge for On-lending to Small Businesses in Kazakhstan, Damu Fund to Act as Guarantor

GAITHERSBURG, MD – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has agreed to provide a five-year loan of 10 billion tenge (US$54.7 million) to Kazakhstan’s Bank CentreCredit for on-lending...


Diplomatic Dispatch

Astana Embassies End 2014 with Concerts, Cultural Events, Receptions Belgian Embassy Organises Sax Concerts in Kazakh Capital As part of the bicentenary anniversary celebration of Adolphe Sax’s birthday, the...


Place of Water in Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

Kazakhstan is a country rich in oil and natural beauty. But to reach its aspirations under the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, it may be missing one vital resource – water....


Zhusan Ballet Premieres at Astana Opera

ASTANA – “Zhusan,” a one-act ballet telling a story of the Great Steppe, premiered Dec. 10 and 11 on the stage of the Astana Opera. The performance highlighted the...


Book about Kazakhstan Presented in Italy

A new book, “Kazakhstan, the Centre of Eurasia,” was presented during the recent Fair Più Libri Più Liberi (More books, more freedom), one of the major Italian book fairs....


Kazakh Scholars Take Part in Migration Conference in Spain

The history of European migration and settlement was in the limelight at the international conference, “The Great Migrations: The Colonisation of Europe,” held at the initiative of Kazakh scholars...


Atyrau Folk Instrument Orchestra Performs in Paris

To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence, the Dina Nurpeisova Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments from Atyrau held a major concert on Dec. 15 at UNESCO headquarters in...


Patriots of the Year Award Recepients Announced in Astana

ASTANA – More than 400 representatives of government, nongovernmental and youth organisations, the Parliament of Kazakhstan, culture, sports and the Kazakhstan 2050 National Movement attended a recent ceremony to...


Carlos Martorell Bakes to Coach Kazakh Youth Football Team

The Football Federation of Kazakhstan presented Spaniard Carlos Martorell Bakes during a Dec. 20 press conference as the new coach of Kazakhstan’s youth football team (U-17). Bakes has a...


Almaty Mayor Says Hosting Olympics Would Be Profitable

Almaty City Akim (Mayor) Akhmetzhan Yessimov said during a Dec. 19 Central Communications Service briefing that hosting the Winter Olympics in Almaty in 2020 would be profitable for the...


Bidding Farewell to 2014 and Looking Forward to 2015

You are quite likely to be reading this with a fair share of your thoughts occupied with preparations for a Christmas dinner or a New Year’s party. If you...


New Rixos Hotel Opens in Shymkent, Raises Local Service to New Levels

SHYMKENT – Rixos Khadisha Shymkent, the first ever five star hotel in South Kazakhstan, opened with great fanfare on Dec. 20. The grand opening of the hotel saw about...


Kazakh President Visits Kiev, Seeks Reinvigoration of Trade and Peaceful Solutions to Conflict in Eastern Ukraine

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Kiev on Dec. 22 for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and other officials seeking to reinvigorate bilateral political and economic cooperation...


Nazarbayev Offers to Mediate in Ukraine, Stresses Kazakhstan’s Economic Resilience

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held his annual end-of-year news briefing covering a broad range of areas from the situation in Ukraine to Kazakhstan’s economic stimulus package, terrorism threats,...


Professionalism, Motivation Behind Finland’s Success as Peacemaker, Ahtisaari Says

HELSINKI – As Finland celebrated the Day of the Peacemaker last month, The Astana Times interviewed former President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari to talk about his...


Kazakh Government, Civil Society Discuss New Bill on NGOs

ASTANA – Recognising the need to help build a more efficient and sustainable civil society in Kazakhstan, members of the Kazakh Parliament, representatives of various government ministries,non-governmental organisations (NGOs)...


Kazakhstan to Start Large Road Projects in 2015

ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan will allocate 178 billion tenge (US$977.75 million) in 2015 and a further 143.3 billion tenge (US$787.14 million)in 2016 from the country’s National Fund...


Creating an Image of the Country through Sports

In recent decades, Kazakhstan has become a rightful member of economic society. Moreover, our country is always advancing its leadership in all directions: political, economic and other fields. The...


Almaty Offers World-Class Ski Slopes and Training Facilities

Skiing is a sport that is popular around the globe and Almaty is quickly becoming known for its world-class skiing facilities. This city ringed by snowcapped peaks offers natural...


Nuclear Weapons Race Should Stop

The recent 3rd International Conference on Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons has shown an encouraging trend – the growing realisation by the world community of the urgent need to...


Spanish FC Astana 1964 Director Develops Football in Kazakhstan, Feels at Home in the Country

ASTANA – Miquel Riera, the international sport director of FC (Football Club) Astana 1964, seeks to promote Kazakh players in Europe, especially in Spain. He has worked as a...


In Annual Press Briefing, Nazarbayev Offers to Mediate in Ukraine, Stresses Kazakhstan’s Economic Resilience

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held his annual end-of-year news briefing covering a broad range of areas from the situation in Ukraine to Kazakhstan’s economic stimulus package, terrorism threats,...


ATOM Project Inspires Participants at Int’l Anti-Nuclear Weapons Conference

VIENNA – While attending the third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna from Dec. 8-9, artist Karipbek Kuyukov made a lasting impression on delegates...


IMF Welcomes Kazakhstan’s Efforts to Advance Country’s Economy

ASTANA – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Kazakhstan recently commended the state’s actions to advance the economy’s potential through additional fiscal stimulus from the National Fund and...


External News in Brief

The Astana EXPO 2017 National Company and Belarus Republican Union of Tourist Organisations signed a memorandum of partnership during the Dec. 11-12 visit of a Kazakh delegation to Belarus...


National News in Brief

“The number of the prison population in Kazakhstan reduced by 4 percent,” Kazakh Deputy Prosecutor General Zhakip Assanov said at the Dec. 12 second forum on prison reforms titled,...


Business News in Brief

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov held a meeting with Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kohir Rasulzoda on Dec. 15. They discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including cooperation in...


Economic News in Brief

  A total of 13,543 property legalisation applications amounting to 103.3 billion tenge (US$562.86 million) had been received by Dec. 11 by the local executive commissions charged with accepting...


The Kazakh Journey to Success: Turning Great Games into Great Gains

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so said the Chinese philosopher Laozi . He was a wise man. For those who heeded his advice, successful...


Assyrian Community in Kazakhstan Survived Dark Times, Now Focuses on Education

ASTANA – Among the numerous nationalities that live in Kazakhstan, there is a very small community that has lived through some of history’s darkest times to preserve their language...


Greek Officials Join in Celebrations of Kazakh Independence Day in Athens

ATHENS – Greek government and Athens city officials joined more than 300 guests at Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens on Dec. 15 to celebrate the Kazakh Day of the...


Self-Service Touchscreen ‘Infokiosks’ to be Installed throughout Kazakhstan in 2015

The company Digital City Showcases recently announced the launch of its new Urban Infokiosk project, which will install self-service, touchscreen information terminals in shop windows that will provide information...


Government Ponders Measures to Improve Kazakhstan’s Standing in Global Competitive Index

ASTANA – At a regular government meeting on Dec. 4 led by Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, improving Kazakhstan’s standing in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) was discussed. The...


36 Buses Added to Astana’s Most Popular Routes

ASTANA – Astana Akim (Mayor) Adilbek Dzhaksybekov explained to the public on Dec. 11 some of the features of the city’s 36 new public buses. The new buses have...


Charity Ball in Astana Raises $71,000 for Vulnerable Children

ASTANA – The Dec. 14 7th Winter Charity Ball at Radisson Hotel Astana raised 13 million tenge (US$70,815) for educational programmes for children from orphanages and low-income families, the...


New High School Opens to Ease Overcrowding in Aktobe Region

A new high school opened on Dec. 9 in the 12th district of Aktobe is expected to address three-shift education in the region and allow students from overcrowded classes...


Kazakhstan, China Ink $14 billion in Cooperation Deals

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov and his Chinese counterpart, Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang approved and signed $14 billion worth of accords on Dec. 14-15...


Kazakh Language Now Part of Google Translate Services

ASTANA – The Kazakh language is now among the offerings of the Google Translate online global translating system, founder and director of theWikiBilim Public Foundation Rauan Kenzhekhanuly announced on...


Astana Joins in Condemnation of Peshawar Attack

ASTANA – Kazakhstan “strongly condemns the act of terrorism committed in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Dec. 16,” the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement...


Nuclear, Other Energy Sector Agreements Reached during Chinese Premier’s Visit

ASTANA – Several important memoranda, including a memorandum to deepen atomic cooperation, were signed Dec. 14 during the official meeting of the Kazakh-Chinese Council, where Kazakh Prime Minister Karim...


FM Idrissov’s Visit to Washington Solidifies Kazakhstan-U.S. Partnership

WASHINGTON, DC – Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov visited the United States on Dec. 10-11 to meet with top American officials to advance bilateral relations and discuss challenges on...


SCO Prime Ministers Discuss Increasing Economic Cooperation at Council in Astana

ASTANA – The heads of the governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) states met in Astana’s Palace of Independence on Dec.15 to examine ways to deepen trade, economic...


Kazakh Wins Women’s Mogul Freestyle World Cup in Finland

Yulia Galysheva of Kazakhstan won the gold medal in dual moguls at the freestyle skiing World Cup races Dec. 13 in Ruka, Finland. Galysheva finished ahead of Olympic champion...