Articles by Aigerim Sadykova

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Health plans to do away with paper records beginning January 2019 by completely turning to electronic health passports. Half of Kostanai residents will have passports by the end of the year, said regional health department deputy head Ekaterina Slobodenyuk during a briefing at the regional communications service. “Electronic health…

ASTANA – Almaty region and BI Group are reconstructing the capital’s Arai Park in conjunction with the city’s 20th anniversary. The project will present the region’s remarkable sites in one location, said project head Dauren Alzhasarov, according to Elorda Aqparat news agency. “The park will include an entrance with an arch, an alley with fountains…

ASTANA – A specialised reproductive farm to be established in Burabai area, Akmola region, will provide jobs for local residents and develop the Kazakh dairy industry. The industry is taking a new direction, as the unique project will create opportunities in rural areas and provide additional tax revenue. It will use high technology and international…

ASTANA – The annual BI Marathon, the largest sporting event in Central Asia, will be held May 27 in the capital. The third charity run will differ from previous year’s events with the launch of a Sports Fair. Marathon organiser BI Group has invited 60 companies to exhibit their goods and equipment May 25-27. City…

ASTANA – The electronic government service eGov.kz has launched its first consulting robot, Kenes, from the Kazakh word for advice, in testing mode. Kenes answers calls to Single Contact Centre number 1414 and consults on the most popular public service requests, according to head of the National Information Technologies (NIT) public-private company Aset Turysov. “As…

ASTANA – As CEO of the international business Global Government Partners Corporation (GGP) David M. Valera was celebrating his 12th trip to Kazakhstan this year, the American came up with an idea to contribute to tourism in the county. Americans will be invited to discover Kazakh culture, he told The Astana Times. Valera is interested…

ASTANA – The second Astana! Brighter Together! eco-festival gathered approximately 4,000 students from capital schools to promote an environmentally conscious lifestyle among the young generation, according to the press service of the Kazakh UNDP office. “‘When you’ve finished washing and dressing each morning, you must tend to your planet,’ wrote Antoine de Saint-Exupery in his…

ASTANA – One tourist trip to Kazakhstan for Rwanda (East Africa) music label and clothes label co-founder and graphic designer Khalilu Rahman turned into two interesting years in Almaty. He shared details of his life in Kazakhstan, plans regarding the country and the Kazakh music industry in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. The…

ASTANA – Unified tariff conditions, technological schemes and participation in international alliances have furthered Kazakhstan in becoming the transport and logistics hub of the Central Asian region, said Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) Vice President for Logistics Sanzhar Yelyubayev at a March 28 Central Communication Service round table. As a member of Unified Transport and Logistics…

ASTANA – The Single (Unified) State Real Estate Cadastre (SSREC) will be drafted to collect data from all property objects and infrastructure in Kazakhstan. The draft will be completed using the merged information systems within the Digital Kazakhstan state programme, said Minister of Information and Communication Dauren Abayev at the March 27 governmental meeting. “The…

ASTANA – The 2015-2019 State Programme of Industrial and Innovative Development (SPIID) has contributed to increasing the manufacturing industry volume by 5.7 percent while raising industry exports by 10.5 percent last year compared to 2015, said Minister for Investment and Development Zhenis Kassymbek during the March 27 government meeting. The growth was the result of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s annual Nauryz celebration on March 21 and 22 was as eventful as ever, despite this year’s cold, foggy weather. Astana residents celebrated Nauryz for the first time at the site of last year’s EXPO 2017, visiting ethnic villages erected on the high-tech campus and participating in outdoor activities March 21. The festivities…

ASTANA – The city’s Korean Cultural Centre (KKC) is presenting an exhibit related to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. “The Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are the festivals filled with peace and hope for all generations. We invite you to the Winter Paralympic Games in PyeongChang,” said Kazakh Paralympic Games…

ASTANA – The Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory is arranging an international festival of contemporary classic music dedicated to the Nauryz holiday April 2 to 5 in Almaty. Outstanding and world-renowned French and Austrian composers and other famous quests will perform with the Kazakh State Academic Symphony Orchestra, said conservatory rector Zhaniya Aubakirova. “Guests of the Nauryz-21…

ASTANA – Tengizchevroil (TCO), the company responsible for developing the Tengiz oil field in the Atyrau region, has expanded production through Future Growth and Wellhead Pressure Management (FGP-WPMP). The project has engaged 30,000 Kazakh employees and involved 92 percent of the staff. “We visit various regions throughout Kazakhstan searching for local companies with goods that…

ASTANA – Representatives of the Umar Company from Samarkand city in Uzbekistan recently visited the South Kazakhstan region and agreed to establish joint enterprises with businesses from that region. The company delegation was led by president of the organisation and philantropist Umar Radjabov on the invitation of the head of Ikanbir firm, Donish Mannatov. “I…

ASTANA – The annual Economy Day of Kazakhstan business forum took place in Berlin Feb. 26 at the initiative of Kazakh Ambassador to Germany Bolat Nusupov. The platform encourages German companies to enter the Kazakh market. Kazakhstan plays a key role as Germany’s trade, economics and political partner in Central Asia, Minister of Energy, Infrastructure…

ASTANA – Installing toll systems on Kazakh and international highways is the main priority of the Nurly Zhol infrastructure development state programme, said Minister for Investment and Development Zhenis Kassymbek during a March 6 government meeting. “Construction works on the installation of a charging system on the Astana-Temirtau, Almaty-Kapshagai and Almaty-Khorgos motorways will be completed…

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation led by Almaty Akim (Mayor) Baurzhan Baibek and Georgian administration headed by First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitri Kumsishvili and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze discussed tourism, business and logistical relations during the former’s recent visit to Tbilisi, according to the Almaty city website. “Today,…

ASTANA – The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) high-speed railway route initiated last fall will transport Kazakhs to Turkey and Europe by the end of the year. “One of the important factors of tourism is transport. The BTK railway route opens great potential for tourism passing through the Great Silk Road. This is a good opportunity for tourists…

ASTANA – Where one lives in Kazakhstan apparently helps to determine what he or she will buy using credit, according to ranking.kz. Residents of the capital take property loans, while residents of the country’s southern regions use consumer credit to buy cars and furniture, according to the 2017 end-of-year data. Residents of Almaty region prefer…

ASTANA – The Eurasian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to invest approximately $244.2 million in Kazakh renewable energy sources (RES) attracting private and international financial investment. Fifty-two renewable energy facilities will be built through 2020, said Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev during a Feb. 27 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev.…

ASTANA – The launch of national preschool courses to prepare children to enter first grade has been postponed until 2020 to allow new textbooks to be prepared with the Latin alphabet, said Kazakh Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev during a Feb. 27 government meeting. The preschool classes, known as zero grade or zero…

ASTANA – Kazautoprom Union of Auto Companies published January’s results of new motor car and light commercial vehicle sales. Kazakh customers purchased 3,122 cars spending $73.9 million, a 43.2-percent increase compared to last year. Industry activity is tied to the growth of oil prices and strengthening of the tenge, said board chair Oleg Alferov. “The position…

ASTANA – “Sixth Post,” a feature film about the courage and heroism of National Guard soldiers, premiered recently in the capital. The picture is based on the life of Erbol Otarbayev, an officer who confronted escaped prisoners eight years ago. “We tried not to make a documentary film, but at the same time did not…

ASTANA – Tourists delight in visiting picturesque and invigorating Bayanaul in the Pavlodar region, where a ski centre offering winter getaways will be constructed on Myrzashoky Mountain. The government pays attention to the region, especially to developing tourism, said Bayanaul Deputy Akim (Mayor) Azilkhan Abuov. “We didn’t dream of building large complexes at the ski…

ASTANA – The Kazakh state revenue committee investigation department has determined the largest supply channel of counterfeit products is the internet, reported expert officer Elmira Kalygulova at roundtable on combating counterfeit product distribution issues. “We discovered illegal issues that infringe upon trademarks in the course of operational-search measures. There are counterfeit tobacco products, soccer balls,…

ASTANA – The Akmola Camp for Wives and Mothers of Traitors of the Motherland (ALZHIR) museum has put on display 44 certificates, photos and personal items belonging to Soviet-era female political prisoners.   The ALZHIR camp was established in 1937 for wives, sisters and mothers of Soviet poets, political and public figures, labelled enemies of…

ASTANA – Kazakh Figure skater Denis Ten, the bronze medallist at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, was the first athlete shot for the Game Breakers documentary series produced by the Olympic Channel. The film demonstrates the difficulties he faced at the Games and how his victory affected Kazakhstan’s figure skating culture. “There is no perfect success…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Red Crescent Society, which provides social and humanitarian assistance, first aid classes and training and prepping for natural disasters, will hold its European conference May 2-4 in Almaty. The event is an important one for the city, noted CEO Elena Kim. “This year, the tenth anniversary of the European conference will…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s cheerleading achievements are mounting and the sport is developing in the country, President of the country’s Federation Union of Cheerleading and Cheer Sport (KUC) Ruslan Mammadov told The Astana Times. Last year was a breakthrough year for Kazakhstan in cheerleading at the international level. A Kazakh team became the first among Commonwealth…

ASTANA – Picturesque Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve has developed tourist routes and launched a tulip festival as part of the Great Silk Road cluster revival. Far from the urban bustle, travellers witness the beauty of nature and rare breeds of South Kazakhstan. The first nature reserve in Central Asia, it has saved flora and fauna of…

ASTANA – International media and experts expect Kazakh sportsmen to win medals in mogul and 50K Mass Start at the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea. The Associated Press (AP) and Gracenote Virtual Medal Table (VMT) predict bronze for freestyle skier Dmitry Reiherd, while Sports Illustrated feels he will take the silver. “Kazakhstan is forecast to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s men’s tennis team beat Switzerland in the first round of the Davis World Cup, held Feb. 2 to 4 at National Tennis Centre of Astana. Timur Khabibulin and Aleksandr Nedovyesov won their doubles rubber matchup, according to ATP World Tour. “These two days proved that anything can happen in the Davis Cup,”…

ASTANA – The capital city of Kazakhstan is making it interesting to walk around at night during Expo 2017. The Yessil River is the best choice to start your walk. This area connects the architecturally innovative left bank and the older part of town on the right bank of the river, which shows how the…

ASTANA – The UrbanWay hybrid environmentally friendly buses that consume less fuel have been imported for EXPO 2017. The city is also modernising its transportation system for the exposition, starting with the Astra Plat payment system, ending with upgraded bus stations, including E-libraries. Iveco Bus World brand delivered 210 UrbanWay Euro VI and UrbanWay Hybrid 12 metre and 18 metre buses for…