Kazakhstan Ready to be ‘Transit Bridge between Europe and Asia,’ Top Official Tells Asia Forum

ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev said during the March 24 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) that “Asia is turning into the main platform...


Why Are Astana’s Fitness Clubs Premium? Are They Worth the Money They Charge?

ASTANA – People need to have a choice between essential and overly-luxurious that adds up to the value. By trying to draw the line among luxury, comfort...


Almaty to Host Large Tech Business Startup Marathon

ASTANA – Tech Garden’s Startup Day will be held in Almaty March 30-31 as part of the Eurasian Skolkovo Tour, the event’s organisers said. The tour will...


Top Gear’s Extreme G-Wagen Arrives in Almaty

ASTANA – Top Gear TV are shooting a series of episodes in Kazakhstan in late March and early April. Top Gear is a British television show about...


Kazakh-US Security Cooperation Discussed at Conference in Astana Think Tank

ASTANA – The military cooperation project for 2016-2017 has been developed between the Kazakh and American armed forces, according to the President of the Kazakh Ministry of...


OSCE, PACE Observers Note Progress in Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis Election, Point Out Areas for Improvement

ASTANA – Observers from three Western institutions, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly...


Central Election Commission: Nur Otan Party Wins Landslide Again

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s governing party, led by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, won another massive victory while other parties from the legislature’s previous roster also retained their presence in...


Parliamentary Election Yields No Surprises, Represents Vote of Confidence in Country’s Direction

For those hoping for political drama, Kazakhstan’s March 21 parliamentary elections were a major disappointment. The new parliament, when it meets again, will be similar in make-up...


International Observers Commend Kazakhstan’s Election as Transparent

ASTANA – On the day following the poll itself, foreign observers from various countries continued to share their impressions of the March 20 election. Most of them...


Kazakhstan Can be Proud of the Way It Conducted Elections

I am proud of Kazakhstan for the way we have carried out these parliamentary elections. I want to extend compliments to the more than 10 election observation...


Foreign Observers Note Good Preparedness, Voters’ Interest in Elections

ASTANA – Foreign observers from Austria, Italy, the UK, Serbia, Bulgaria and Lithuania all agreed that there were no breaches observed, voting sites were well arranged and...


Exit Poll Says Nur Otan Wins Overwhelmingly in Kazakh Election as Parliament Retains Previous Makeup

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev-led Nur Otan Party won 82 percent of the popular vote in the parliamentary election in Kazakhstan, according to exit poll results announced...


Nazarbayev Casts Vote in March 20 Election, Admits Possibility of Redistribution of Power

ASTANA – The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the elections to Mazhilis (lower house of Kazakh parliament) and maslikhats (local legislatives) on March 20....


Eurasian Group Improves Social Sphere in Kostanay Region

The Eurasian Group (ERG) concluded a memorandum on social projects realisation March 15 with the Kostanay region akimat (city administration). The document was signed by board chairman...


World Bank to Allocate $100 Million for Labour Market Development in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The World Bank and the Kazakh Ministry of Health and Social Development launched a project for the development of professional skills and stimulation of job...


Governors Optimistic about People’s Participation in Election

ASTANA – The regional akims (governors) have been among the first voters to cast their ballots in elections to the Mazhilis (lower chamber of Parliament) and maslikhats...


International Observers Note Orderly Process of Kazakhstan’s March 20 Parliamentary Election

ASTANA – The first international observers who shared their opinions on the voting day in Kazakhstan reported that they had not detected any significant violations. According to...


Our Unity is Our Strength, Says Chairwoman of Veteran Organisation on Election Day

ASTANA – March 20 has been a special day for the Kazakh citizens as they exercise their right to participation in governing their country. On this day,...


Kazakh Angel Investor Makes His Way in Start-Up Industry

ASTANA – Nurzhas Makishev, an angel investor born and raised in Kazakhstan, has invested his own money and funds he’s raised in more than 50 different start-up...


Kazakhstan: Building Democratic Institutions for Future Generations By Vladimir Socor, Richard Weitz, and Daniel Witt

Kazakhstan’s March 20 parliamentary elections provide an important opportunity to advance the country’s democratic development in a manner that benefits Kazakh and U.S. interests. Election observers from...


Kazakhstan’s Most Popular Cars

ASTANA – Big city streets are full of beautiful brand new and luxury cars. The growing wealth of many Kazakh citizens is not hidden and can be...


Almaty, China Representatives Discuss City-Country Relations

An official meeting with a Chinese delegation from the Hubei province headed by Vice Governor Gan Zhunkun was held in the Almaty city akimat (administration) on March...


March 20 Election to Mark Next Step towards Kazakhstan’s Democratic Future

As the country heads into the parliamentary election on March 20, the expectation evident throughout the nation serves as a reminder of not only how far our...


Italy to Export More Brands to Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Over the last two years, Italian export to Kazakhstan increased 64 percent, according to acting Honorary Consul of Italy in Almaty Pietro Calà, reported Kapital.kz....


Plastic Surgery in Kazakhstan Growing in Expertise, Popularity

ASTANA – Plastic surgery in Kazakhstan is well developed and becoming more and more popular and affordable. Eyelid surgeries lead the list. The prevalence of the procedures...


Kazakhstan among Top Five Countries with Most Investment from China in 2015

ASTANA – Kazakhstan was among the top five countries that drew the largest Chinese investment in 2015, reported the Xinhua news agency with reference to the Chinese...


Six Kazakh Parties Meet in Electoral Debate Broadcast Nationwide

ASTANA – Representatives of the six parties running for seats in Kazakhstan’s lower chamber of Parliament took part in an electoral debate March 16 shown on one of...


Kazakh Plant Announces Readiness to Develop Sea Bottom Mines

ASTANA – A Kazakh plant is ready to launch the production of sea bottom mines at the request of the country’s Armed Forces. The Ziksto company plans...


Country’s First Ammunition Factory Launches Operations

ASTANA – On March 14, Kazakh Minister of Defence Imangali Tasmagambetov took part in a ceremony marking the launch of construction of the first cartridge-manufacturing plant in...


Kazakh Secretary State Shares Country’s Gender-Sensitive Policies with UN Commission on Women

Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State Gulshara Abdykalikova told the March 14-15 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women that her country’s women-oriented and gender-sensitive...