Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

ASTANA – The Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University presented Soyle App, a multifunctional application for speech recognition, voice synthesis, text and speech translation into four languages, in Astana on Nov. 20. Powered by Kazakhstan’s foundational speech model, Soyle App is an AI product developed to enhance multilingual communication for…

ASTANA – Behind the red curtains of Astana Opera is a universe of dedicated crew who work tirelessly to ensure that every costume fits perfectly, every makeup and prop enhances the performance, and every scene transition is executed smoothly. The Astana Times correspondent spoke with faces who make up the backbone of the theater community:…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks the 130th anniversary of Beimbet Mailin, a renowned Kazakh poet, writer and playwright who championed the struggles of women and the poor in Kazakh Soviet literature. Early years Born in 1894 in what is now Beimbet Mailin district of the Kostanai Region, he came from a poor family and lost his…

ASTANA – Recently discovered maps reveal new layers of Kazakh statehood, suggesting it could be 12 centuries old, said Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, Kazakh researcher, doctor of political science and director of the Institute of Modern Studies at the Gumilev Eurasian National University, in an interview with Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper. This new discovery comes against the commonly…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, in the marvelous city of Kyzylorda. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – Kyzylorda, once the Soviet capital of Kazakhstan, has transformed into…

ASTANA – Ninety years after its first concert, the Kurmangazy orchestra of Kazakh national instruments continues to color the vast landscape of Kazakh music, showcasing national instrumental culture to the world. The orchestra is celebrating its anniversary throughout the year and across Kazakhstan.  “The foundation of each nation lies in its worldview, traditions, national culture…

ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) day was celebrated in Astana with a performance of the Kazakh musical “Zhibek” at the Zhastar theater on Nov. 5. This year’s UN event emphasized Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and celebrated the strong partnership between Kazakhstan and the UN in promoting peace, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation. Newly appointed interim…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s decision to build its first nuclear power plant might expand mutually beneficial cooperation with France in the nuclear industry, contributing to global energy security, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in an article published by Le Figaro French newspaper during his state visit to Paris on Nov. 5. In a comprehensive article, President…

ASTANA – Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC) drives growth in Kazakhstan’s economic development through private equity investment, implementing 118 projects and creating over 20,000 jobs across key sectors in Kazakhstan. QIC is Kazakhstan’s institution for private equity investment with a portfolio managed in partnership with over 50 renowned international institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds, including…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed eight commercial agreements worth $2.5 billion with Chinese companies during Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s working visit to Shanghai on Nov. 4, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov took part in the Kazakh-Chinese investment roundtable and met with representatives of leading Chinese companies in metallurgy, energy, machinery, automotive, carbon chemistry,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first tungsten processing plant was launched in the Almaty Region on Nov. 1, marking a milestone for the domestic mining industry and strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in the global market of rare earth metals, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction. The $300 million project will provide up to 1,000 jobs for…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and France are expanding the scope of their bilateral relations beyond traditional trade to a strategic partnership, deepening cooperation each year through official visits, said Alisher Abdreshev, a leading expert at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is set to pay a visit to France on Nov.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu met with South Korean companies to advance major hospital and industrial projects during his official visit on Nov. 3, the Foreign Ministry reported. Nurtleu’s visit included a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and participation in the Central Asia –…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, in the marvelous city of Pavlodar. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – Built as an outpost on the bank of the Irtysh…

ASTANA – In October, Kazakhstan marked the 130th anniversary of Saken Seifullin, an iconic poet and writer who profoundly impacted Kazakh literature and played a prominent role in politics, advocating for mass education and social progress. His literary legacy focused on the upheaval of Kazakh society and the revolutionary changes he witnessed firsthand. Seifullin was…

ASTANA – A new adapted version of the Kazakh poet Abai’s philosophical work has been released in three languages, titled “Legacy to the Next Generation. Words of Wisdom by Abai Kunanbaiuly. Adapted Version,” reported Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on Nov. 1.  The author, Gulmira Amandykova, is a teacher of the Kazakh language, who has published five…

ASTANA—Heritage from a long line of carpet weavers in Kazakhstan is presented at the “She Rug” exhibition, which opened in Astana on Oct. 17 and will run through Nov. 9. Forte Kulanshi art space temporarily became home to a remarkable collection of traditional Kazakh carpets spanning ancient times to the 20th century and modern times.…

ASTANA – On International Snow Leopard Day, marked on Oct. 23, The Astana Times explores Kazakhstan’s journey to preserve snow leopards, one of the world’s rarest mammals often referred to as “ghost of the mountains.” In the remote high-altitude expanses of the Dzhungar Alatau mountains, camera traps are shedding light on the secret lives of…

ASTANA – One Water Summit aims to increase collaboration among states and major stakeholders with plans to deliver concrete solutions to global water challenges, the summit representatives from France and Kazakhstan announced during an Oct. 21 joint online press briefing. The One Water Summit, co-organized by France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and…

ASTANA – Medical herbs cultivation initiative helps the rural women of the Kyrgyz Republic address the dual challenges of environmental degradation and economic hardship, according to the new report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN published on Oct. 15. The report features…

ASTANA – Last weekend, Kazakhstan’s Turan ethno-folk ensemble took the stage of the Qazaq Concert to perform a traditional music set, showcasing the variety and richness of Kazakh and Turkic nations’ instruments in Astana.  After wowing foreign audiences in 2023 with a world tour, Kazakh ethno group Turan returned to Astana with a lecture-concert. Established…

ASTANA – The tribes of the Andronovo culture living on the territory of modern Kazakhstan reached a high level in metallurgy and crafts in the Bronze Age, said Kazakh archaeologist and Andronovo culture specialist Emma Usmanova during a lecture in Karagandy, organized by Qalam Global multimedia project. The Andronovo culture from the 2nd millennium B.C.E…

ASTANA – The first Connected international conference, held in Astana on Oct. 18, brought together experts to explore the future of the economy, climate change, and data security, with a focus on the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping these areas. The conference, focusing on conceptualizing the vision of the future, brought together…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks 100 years since the birth of a prolific Kazakh writer for children, Berdibek Sokpakbaev, whose humorous and kind stories engaged children and adults alike. He was best known for the highly regarded and popular “My Name is Kozha” novel, which was adapted for film in 1963. Sokpakbaev is considered a classic…

ASTANA – Armenia and Kazakhstan are ready to deepen bilateral relations, said Gevorg Melikyan, founder of the Armenian Institute for Resilience & Statecraft, in a recent interview with The Astana Times. Melikyan emphasized the growing potential for deeper cooperation between the two nations across various sectors, highlighting the importance of these evolving ties in the…