New, Massive National Folklore Collection Presented

ASTANA – A 100-volume series of Kazakh folklore called “Babalar Sozi” (Kazakh for The Words of Ancestors) was presented at the National Academic Library of the Ministry...


Pavlodar Artist’s Paintings Exhibited in Astana

ASTANA – The work of painter Zhanetta Nauruzova, an artist from Aksu, in the Pavlodar region, is being showcased in the Has Sanat Gallery in an exhibition...


Kazakh National Bank Denies Small Banks’ Insolvency Rumours, As Prosecutors Announce Finding Their Perpetrators

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Bank held a briefing on Feb. 18 to deny rumours of the alleged imminent bankruptcy of three second-tier banks. Bank Chairman Kairat Kelimbetov...


National news in brief

“The Ministry of Justice was selected as a developer to formulate a draft entrepreneurial code,” Minister of Justice Berik Imashev announced on Feb. 20 at an expanded...


Ten Wins Kazakhstan’s First Ever Medal in Olympic Figure Skating

SOCHI – Kazakh figure skater Denis Ten won bronze in the men’s individual competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics, Kazakhstan’s best Olympic figure skating result ever and...


Agricultural Reform Requires Spectrum of Changes

To become a major regional exporter of agricultural products, Kazakhstan must provide domestic farmers with direct access to long-term financing and markets. This should be supported by...


Kazakhstan Poised to Become Global Agro Player

The agro-industrial complex is one of the most promising sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy. Few states have comparable potential for agricultural development, and it is already clear that...


Gov’t Strives to Guarantee Gender Equality

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been working vigorously to promote gender equality and the country’s efforts have ranked it 32nd out of 136, according to the 2013 Global...


Government, UNDP Work to Modernise Housing and Utilities Services

The government of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating a model for modernising inefficient district...


Expanded Government Meeting Reviews Progress on Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, Efforts to Sustain High Economic Growth

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev reviewed what still needs to be done to implement the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy at the Feb. 14 government meeting as ministers reviewed...


Five Historical and Cultural Tourism Clusters to be Developed

ASTANA – The Tourism Industry Committee of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan has identified five regional clusters for tourism in Kazakhstan. They will...


Kazakh Students Produce New Cheaper, Low Pollution Water Filter

ALMATY – A filter for purifying drinking water using nanostructured minerals developed at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Science and Technology Park may be presented at EXPO...


European Investment Bank Extends First Loans to Kazakh Banks

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a signing ceremony Feb. 18 to celebrate the first loan agreements between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the...


Feltwork Master Class Teaches Kazakh Traditional Craft

ASTANA – Astana’s Shezhire Gallery and the Women of the Steppe Public Foundation brought together Kazakhs and foreigners in Astana at the Ramada Plaza Hotel on Feb....


FM Idrissov, UN Representative Jenča Discuss Regional Security, Cooperation on Afghanistan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov met with Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the Ashgabat-based United Nations Regional Centre...


Industry Figures Indicate Growth in Domestic Auto Manufacturing

In 2013, about 38,000 cars and 2,290 trucks were assembled in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan made cars now constitute 21 percent of all new car sales in the country,...


Agriculture Expanding in Atyrau

ATYRAU REGION – State support for agriculture is showing results in the AtyrauAgroOnіmderi farming partnership, which is developing successfully in many directions, from viticulture and horticulture to...


Customs Union Helps Local Industry Expand

UST-KAMENOGORSK – Vostok-Boilers in Ust-Kamenogorsk has been active in the development of the town and the region. Now, with the Customs Union (CU) and further Eurasian economic...


Domestic Enterprises to Be Involved in Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant Upgrade

PAVLODAR – Kazakh businesses will make significant contributions to the modernisation of the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant, said Gavit Kurkimov, deputy general director of Rominserv SRL, the project’s...


Eurasian Economic Integration Must Go through Thorough Consideration

The closer the date of signing of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) treaty determined by the three presidents of EEU member countries, the higher the degree of...


Brazilian Ambassador Upbeat about Ties with Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Thousands of kilometers, eight time zones and tens of degrees Celsius on a thermometer separate Brazil and Kazakhstan, but the newly appointed ambassador of Brazil...


Idea of Dropping ‘Stan’ from Kazakhstan Generates Domestic, International Discussion

ASTANA – At a meeting at a school in Atyrau on Feb. 6, President Nursultan Nazarbayev suggested what has been in the air in Kazakhstan for years...


Kazakhstan Urges Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Entry into Force at Int’l Conference

NAYARIT, MEXICO – Kazakhstan’s delegation at a major international conference in Mexico on Feb. 13-14 urged that the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) enter into force as...


Baiterek Holding Increased Activity, Saw Major Growth in 2013

ASTANA – Last year, the newly established, state-owned Baiterek National Holding, through its 10 constituent companies, accumulated four times more in profits than was expected. It is...


Kazakhstan Announces Currency Devaluation

ASTANA – The official rate of the Kazakh tenge (KZT) fell to 185 per U.S. dollar with a range of three tenge on either side on Feb....


“Densify, Intensify, Diversify and Discover” Is French Ambassador’s Formula for Success

ASTANA – The new French ambassador in Kazakhstan says he has a clear vision for improving bilateral ties during his tenure in Astana: “Densify, intensify, diversify and...


Economic news in brief

More than five million tonnes of grain have been exported by Kazakhstan since July 1, 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan reported on Feb. 6. “Around...


Business news in brief

The share of domestically manufactured construction materials increased to 72 percent in the domestic market of the country, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New...


Senate Chairman Visits Mangystau Region, Discusses President’s Annual Address

AKTAU – Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Mangystau oblast on Feb. 4 to discuss President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s state-of-the-nation address, “The Kazakhstan Way 2050: Common Goal, Common...


Fryday Events Continue to Connect Astana Professionals

ASTANA – Another Fryday networking event was put on by Connecting Professionals on Feb. 7 at Sadaf, a new restaurant at King Hotel. More and more Astana...