EAMF Tackles Iranian Nuclear Programme Issue, Middle East and Eurasian Integration

Panel Notes Chance for Settling Iranian Nuclear Programme Issue ASTANA– “The USA and Iran have reached a deal,” was the headline across the world’s media in November 2013 after...


New Small Aircraft Produced in Kazakhstan Could be Boon for Farmers, Entrepreneurs

ALMATY – Foreign experts are calling Arai Agro, Kazakhstan’s first domestic light aircraft, a “flying SUV” for its size and agility. The plane was demonstrated for domestic and international...


Agreement Will Produce High-Quality Russian Bitumen for Kazakh Roads

SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN REGION – Gazprom Neft and the Committee of Roads of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport and Communications recently signed a memorandum of cooperation to facilitate the production...


Artist Yermolenko Jubilee Exhibiton Held in Almaty

ALMATY – A jubilee exhibition of Alexander Yermolenko was held recently at the State Abilkhan Kasteyev Museum, in which the artist presented about a hundred of his works. His...


Astana Growing Sustainably, Sometimes Unevenly, President Says

ASTANA – At a recent meeting on Astana’s ongoing development, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the capital was growing into an economic force, but still had some work to do...


EXPO 2017 Preparations Are Proceeding Well, Commissioner Says

EXPO-2017 Commissioner and First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Rapil Zhoshybayev spoke to The Astana Times about the ongoing and wide-ranging process of preparations for biggest international events the...


Moroccan Delegation Discusses Cooperation in Tourism, Governance, Inter-religious Dialogue

ASTANA – A delegation of Moroccan parliamentarians headed by Speaker of Morocco’s  House of Councillors Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah visited Astana on April 23. The visit came at the invitation...


ADB Helps Kazakhstan Introduce Green Principles for Sustainable Development

ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing assistance to Kazakhstan to implement resource-saving technologies and the principles of green economy through technical assistance for project preparation for...


Construction of EXPO Complex Launched with President’s Participation

ASTANA – The construction of Astana’s EXPO 2017 facilities was officially launched in a ceremony on April 24, when Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev laid a capsule on the site...


Kazakh Foreign Minister Meets with OSCE Secretary General, Both Highlight Need for United Security Community

ASTANA – The need for an undivided European and Eurasian security community and the role of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in building it were...


First Kazakh Earth Remote Sensing Satellite Launched

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first Earth remote sensing satellite was launched from the Kuru Spaceport in Guiana on April 28 at 22:35 local time, the press service of Kazcosmos reported....


Experts Say Nation Branding Efforts Should Reflect Country’s Fundamental Realities

ASTANA – Experts discussing nation branding at the 12th annual Eurasian Media Forum in Astana on April 24-25 agreed that the reality on the ground in a country should...


Kazakh Grain Exports Growing, New Markets Sought in China and Southeast Asia

ASTANA – Kazakh grain exports for the 2013-2014 marketing year will reach 9 million tonnes, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture has said. Kazakhstan’s grain exports are still heading to...


Almaty Marathon Reaches International Standards, Attracts 7,000 Racers

ALMATY – The recent third international Almaty Marathon drew about 7,000 runners from 25 countries. Over the last year, the Almaty Marathon has been brought up to international standards,...


Economic Roadmap Focuses on Improving Business Environment

Kazakhstan’s government has developed a road map aimed at ensuring the stability of the domestic economy. Private companies and businesses are the main players in developed economies, and prosperity...


Kazakh Meat Producers to Have Easy Access to EEU Markets

ASTANA – Under the terms of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) treaty, Kazakh meat will be exported to the countries of the EEU without unnecessary formalities and complex veterinary...


Caspian Foreign Ministers Discuss Summit Preparations

MOSCOW – The five Caspian states consolidated a number of their positions after the April 22 Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Caspian States in Moscow. They...


Ukraine, Palestinian Accord and Iran’s Nuclear Capacity Among Topics at EAMF

ASTANA – Events in Ukraine and the landmark accord between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah dominated debate in the first session of the 12th Eurasian Media Forum being held...


Eurasian Media Forum Stirs Debate on Ukraine, Global Affairs

ASTANA – With the world’s attention focused on events in Ukraine and changing dynamics in the Middle East, the April 23-25 Eurasian Media Forum in the Kazakh capital became...


Kazakh Senate Leader Expresses Concern About Ukraine During St. Petersburg Forum

ST. PETERSBURG – A delegation of Kazakh parliamentarians recently participated in a series of events held by the inter-parliamentary assemblies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Economic...


Kazakh Youth Optimistic About Economic Future, Less Politically Engaged, Panel Suggests

Washington, DC – Kazakh youth are optimistic about their economic future and less interested in politics, despite their increasingly interconnected world, said speakers at a panel held at George...


EU Committee Lifts Restrictions on Air Astana Flights to Europe, Flights to Prague and Paris Expected Soon

Restrictions on Air Astana flights to Europe have been lifted, following the European Commission’s early April updating of its list of air carriers banned or subject to restrictions. Since...


20th Anniversary of Freedom and Democracy in South Africa

On 27 April 1994, South Africa cast aside centuries of discrimination and oppression to form a new society built on the foundation of freedom and democracy. It marked the...


‘We Try to Seek Win-Win Results,’ Chair of Sports Press Association Says

ASTANA – In autumn 2013, Ilyas Omarov, a diplomat with more than 20 years of experience became a chair of the Sports Press Association of Kazakhstan (SPAK). For nearly...


Ethnic Harmony and Multi-Vector Foreign Policy Key to Kazakhstan’s Stability, Development

On April 18, the 21st session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan chaired by President Nursultan Nazarbayev took place in Astana. The theme of the session was...


President Stresses Importance of Maintaining Inter-Ethnic Unity in Country at 21st Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Stressing the importance of maintaining inter-ethnic unity in the country and Kazakhstan’s close ties with neighbours Russia and China, President Nursultan Nazarbayev told delegates at the April...


Astana to Host ADB 47th Annual Meeting, Gathering Seeks to ‘Connect Asia With Changing World’

ASTANA – More than 3,000 international finance ministers, central bank governors, business leaders, investors, journalists and civil society representatives are expected to gather in Astana May 2-5 for the...


World Class Colleges to Focus on Six Strategic Sectors

ASTANA – A network of colleges featuring finely tuned specialisations, including tourism and hospitality, construction and housing, energy, engineering, design and information technology and communications is being developed with...


Astana Hosts Seminar on Automating HR Management Systems

ASTANA – A seminar on automated human resource management systems in the public sector was held recently at the National Centre for Civil Service Personnel Management. The seminar was...


New Technology to be Used in Kumyss Production in Karaganda

ASTANA – A pilot project using German technology to produce a version of the traditional Kazakh mare’s milk drink kumyss will be launched next year in the village of...


Charity Uses Art to Improve Lives of Children with Disabilities

ASTANA – The Believe in Wonder charity fund and the Astana Department of Education, in cooperation with the Khan Shatyr Mall, held an event on April 19 to raise...


Tale of Batu Unlocks the Secrets of Kazakh Culture, History for Children

ALMATY– A fantasy story about the fascinating adventures of a young boy and his friends has just been published to inspire children to be curious about Kazakh culture, the...


National news in brief

On April 10, Kazakhstan’s Senate passed a bill ratifying amendments to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted in Beijing on Dec. 3, 1999. The...


External news in brief

Speaker of Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis (lower chamber of the Parliament) Kabibulla Dzhakupov held a number of bilateral meetings with his colleagues from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia on the sidelines of...


Economic news in brief

At the Boao Forum for Asia 2014 (BFA) held from April 8-11, Kazakhstan’s G-Global information and communications platform and the Astana Economic Forum (AEF) were presented. The BFA, which...


Business news in brief

Chinese website China Economic Net and newspaper Economic Daily will moderate a televised debate at the seventh Astana Economic Forum (AEF). The agreement was reached during the Boao Forum...


Kazakhstan to Chair CIS Council of Tourism in 2015

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will chair the Council of Tourism in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 2015, according to the press service of the Committee for Tourism Industry...


Issyk Saka Mounds to be Opened to Public

Archaeologist Bekmukhanbet Nurmukhanbetov, a member of the expedition that discovered the famous “Golden Man,” announced recently that the Saka mounds in Issyk will soon be open to the public....


Latest Kazakh WTO Accession Talks in Washington Focus on Plant and Animal Health

The most recent round of negotiations on Kazakhstan’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with the United States, this time focused on harmonizing measures regarding plant and animal...


Aktobe Farmers, Authorities Expanding Beef Cattle Production

AKTOBE REGION – Authorities in Aktobe are focusing on cattle farming in their regions, commissioning feedlots and providing funds for the purchase of breeding animals. To provide the region...


Young Shymkent Singer Honoured in Russian Music Competition

SHYMKENT – Young Kazakh singer Margarita Kin has won the Bach’s Spring International Festival Contest held in Magnitogorsk, Russia. In two rounds of competition, Kin performed the aria from...


Pereversev Releases New Online Album

ALMATY – Famous Kazakh pianist, Oleg Pereversev, who is also a member of the musical group Chick Flick and instrumental duet Vivat, recently presented his new online album “Classical...


Capital Job Fair for the Disabled Draws 100 Employers

ASTANA – Astana’s department of employment and social programmes and the city branch of the Nur Otan party recently held a job fair for people with disabilities. About 100...


Almaty to Host Open Asian Powerlifting Championship

From April 21-27, a major international powerlifting tournament, the Open Asian Powerlifting Championship, will be held for the first time in Almaty. Athletes from more than 10 countries have...


PM Massimov Visits Russia, Discusses Draft Treaty on Eurasian Economic Union

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov met with his counterparts from member states of the Customs Union (CU) and Common Economic Space (CES) on April 15 in Moscow...


Kazakh Trained Ophthalmologist Meets Domestic Need

KARAGANDA – In the past, people with eye problems had to apply for consultation or an operation with Russian specialists. Today, the situation has changed, and the republic has...


Kazakhstan Explored During Academic Lecture Series at NY College

NEW YORK – St. John’s University in New York welcomed Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, for an Academic Lecture Series event on April 10...


Almaty Students to Work as Public Tour Guides

Almaty students of tourism will have the opportunity to work as guides on public transport telling passengers about the sights and history of the cultural centre of the country....


Six Children’s Taekwondo Sports Clubs to Open in Kazakhstan

Six free children’s taekwondo sports clubs are expected to open in Kazakhstan’s largest regions. The Taekwondo Federation of Kazakhstan management will provide children at the sports centres with equipment,...


Kazakhstan Will Compete in Tour d’Azerbaijan 2014

The Tour d’Azerbaijan cycling race, consisting of 150 racers from 22 countries, will take place May 7-11 in Azerbaijan. This year’s participants hail from Austria, Britain, China, France, Germany,...