Astana entered IDC’s smart cities list

ASTANA – Market intelligence and advisory firm International Data Corporation (IDC) placed the Kazakh capital among mature smart cities in its recent research analysis. IDC’s analysts evaluate...


Turkestan region plans development of 188 settlements

ASTANA – The newly established Turkestan region plans to create 188 development plans for settlements in the region, said Turkestan Region Architecture and Urban Planning Department Head...


2.4 million Kazakhs living in rural areas will have high quality internet by 2020

ASTANA – Construction has begun on a 20,000-kilometre optical fibre network that will supply high-speed internet to approximately 2.4 million citizens living in rural Kazakhstan by 2020,...


Kostanai region economy grows, expands export geography

ASTANA – The Kostanai region’s economy continues to grow, reported Kostanai Region Akim (Governor) Arkhimed Mukhambetov during his Jan. 29 meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev at Akorda....


Residents, experts seek citizen dialogue to shape Astana’s environment

ASTANA – Baikonur district Akim (Mayor) Yerlan Kanalimov, Astana Urban Centre and Astana Innovations recently kicked off the second stage of the City on Request project, reports...


Kazakhstan to expand types of goods exported

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will expand the types of products it exports this year,, said Kazakh Vice Minister for Industry and Infrastructure Development Arystan Kabykenov at a January...


Kazakhstan to present its first report to UN on SDG progress

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will report to the United Nations (UN) in New York this year on its implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the first...


International Paralympic Committee President makes first visit to Kazakhstan

ASTANA – International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons visited Kazakhstan for the first time Jan. 30-31, reports the Astana Akimat (city administration) press service. He began...


Emerging Kazakh female writers captivate audience with real-life stories, use social media to promote books

ASTANA – What challenges do young writers face? What are their sources of inspiration? How can social media increase book sales? The Astana Times spoke with young...


Zhambyl region reports 4-5 percent growth in almost all economic sectors

ASTANA – The Zhambyl region observed a 4-5 percent increase in all sectors of its economy in 2018, reported the regional akimat (administration) press service based on...


Producing block containers is complicated, but worthwhile business

ASTANA – Kazkont produces mobile homes primarily for field workers and oil and gas and construction companies. Considering Kazakhstan’s vast territory and severe climate, such products are...


Almaty aquarists create professional-grade underwater worlds

ASTANA – The market for professional aquarists is expanding in Almaty, as their services are in great demand. The experts not only preserve life in aquariums, but...


Kazakh company to produce country’s own oatmeal corns

ASTANA – Kazakhstan must still rely on many imported goods. Zarechnyi, the country’s largest agricultural product supplier, is intending to change this by launching the nation’s first...


Alstom strengthens its positions in Central Asia, focuses on localising technology in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Alstom, the French multinational rail transport company, started delivering Kazakh-produced Prima T8 electric locomotives to Azerbaijan in late December. Capital-based Electric Locomotives Assembly Factory (EKZ)...


First virtual museum of Kazakh women’s history educates and empowers

ASTANA – Kazakh women’s history museums educate and empower women, providing an awareness-raising platform and tools for overcoming discrimination, said Women of Kazakhstan founder Dinara Assanova in...


Kazakh ski jumper wins bronze at 2019 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships

ASTANA – Kazakh ski jumper Sergey Tkachenko won a bronze medal at the recent 2019 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland, reports the Kazakh National...


Almaty to host first marathon of 2019

ASTANA – The Almaty Marathon, which gathered 14,000 participants last year, will take place April 21. Funds raised from the charitable event will be used to build...


Changing reality through “green” art

“Green” thinking is a new model of human behaviour. Due to the new paradigm, we can maintain perfect ecological balance on Earth in the new age. The...


Kazakh President approves draft sketch of World Trade Centre in Astana

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev approved the draft sketch of the proposed World Trade Centre building in Astana at a Jan. 24 meeting with representatives of...


Business news in brief

A toll collection system will launch Jan. 26 on the Astana-Temirtau, Almaty-Kapshagai and Almaty-Khorgos roads, reports the KazAvtoZhol press service. Passenger car rates on the Astana-Temirtau road...


National adoption agency needed to meet Kazakh children’s needs, says Ana Uii executives

ASTANA – Creating a national adoption agency will make the process high quality and more transparent. The agency will also help to meet the needs of children...


Kazakh athletes to participate in world’s most complex triathlon for first time

ASTANA – Four triathletes from Almaty, Elena Kun, Madina Kurmanbayeva, Elfira Dudnik and Anel Sydykova, have announced that they will be competing in the 480-kilometre Enduroman Arch...


Economic news in brief

The number of mobile phone subscribers in Kazakhstan decreased over a year by 1.8 percent to 26 million, though the share of subscribers with access to the...


External news in brief

Kazakh products were for the first time presented at the 84th Green Week 2019 agriculture exhibition in Berlin that ran from Jan. 18 through Jan. 27. The...


National news in brief

Astana Invest plans to implement the smart street lighting project through a public-private partnership, according to the company’s press service. “We announced competition to select an investment...


It is important to be one of bright facets of culturally rich Kazakhstan, says Polish community leader

ASTANA – The Polonia Polish Community Public Fund, an ethnocultural centre, actively participates in developing cultural, social and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Poland . It seeks...


EBRD launches Women in Microbusiness programme, focuses on Kazakh regions

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is accepting applications for the Women in Microbusiness project financed by the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy,...


EBRD: 2018 was fruitful year in Kazakhstan with focus on renewable energy

ASTANA – For the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), 2018 was another successful year in Kazakhstan. The bank allocated $541 million to the country’s economy...


Brazilian chef wants to expand restaurant business in Kazakh capital

ASTANA – Brazilian restaurant Rio Chef Roberto Santos recently shared his perspective on living and working in the capital in an interview with The Astana Times. Santos...


Kazakhstan provides investment opportunity at time of global economic uncertainty

When the world’s business and political leaders met in Davos at the World Economic Forum last week, the mood was cautious and reflective. There are too many...