Artificial Intelligence: Risks and Opportunities
ASTANA – While the rapid spread of AI can ease our daily and professional lives, this also bears a number of risks, such as rising inequality, job losses, and security issues. AI expert Dariya Smailova shared her views on AI development and how it can be implied in Kazakhstan in an interview with The Astana…
Astana Hosts Presentation of Media Project Dedicated to Kazakh Cinema
ASTANA – Astana hosted the presentation of Zaman.Media project dedicated to Kazakh cinema’s history on Aug. 25. The project features a website containing biographies, films, rare photos, books, manuscripts, video and audio materials – everything that will help the public learn more about the nation’s cinema industry. Yevgeny Lumpov, head of the Zaman.Media project, clarified…
Kyrgyz Resort Issyk-Kul Remains Popular Destination for Kazakh Tourists
ASTANA – Issyk-Kul in the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the deepest mountain lakes in the world and famous health resorts in Central Asia. The resort is in-demand among Kazakh tourists offering a beach holiday, sanatorium treatment, and excursions with picturesque views at a reasonable price. The lake is located in the Northern Tien Shan…
Traveling Through Time by Traveling Across Atyrau Region
ASTANA – The Atyrau Region is where Kazakhstan began to develop the first oil deposits. Yet the region offers much more than just oil. The hidden gems include breathtaking natural sculptures, mountains, lakes, and an old city with a centuries-long history. These places of attraction are becoming increasingly popular. Last year, almost 110,000 tourists visited…
World Bank Predicts Climate-Related Impact on Socio-Economic Development of Central Asia
ASTANA – Central Asia is facing significant challenges due to climate change, including melting glaciers, precipitation variability, water scarcity, energy safety issues, and climate-related migration. This will have a drastic impact on the socio-economic situation in the region unless proactive actions are taken, according to a Kazinform report. Melting glaciers and precipitation variability The World…
Kazakh Folklore Characters Come to Life in Beine Art Project
ASTANA – Beine, translated from the Kazakh language as an archetype image, is an art project that combines the stories and mythologies of the Turkic people in a costume line. Through this project, its creator intends to popularize the personas of Kazakh folklore and attract attention to the problem of violence against women. The founder…
Kazakh Team Finishes Second in Rolex Giraglia Cup
ASTANA – An Almaty Yacht Club team came second in the Rolex Giraglia, one of the Mediterranean’s oldest and most revered races that took place on June 9-17. The Jenis (Victory) yacht led by Murat Abdrakhmanov competed with an international fleet of over 150 boats. With a rich history dating back to 1953 when it…
Kazakh Rehabilitation Doctor Gives Children Chance of Brighter Future
ASTANA – Latif Parpiyev, a 35-year-old dedicated children’s rehabilitation doctor, receives an average of 10-12 children with serious diseases every day. His primary focus is on children up to two years old, as he strongly believes early intervention leads to the most favorable outcomes. In an interview with The Astana Times, Parpiyev opens up about…
Kazakhstan’s Ozim Mobile App Helps Children with Special Needs
ASTANA – The Ozim (Myself) platform is a mobile application providing information and methodological support to parents of children with special needs, including video instructions from qualified Kazakh experts and rehabilitation techniques that parents can use at home. Assem Tazhiyeva, the platform’s founder, spoke to The Astana Times about the creation of the socially significant…
Kazakh Education Set Makes Robotics Easy, Fun and Accessible for Children
ASTANA – QBit, an education robotics set created by Kazakh company Stem Solutions, is used in over 500 educational institutions across the country. Its creators believe QBit has several advantages over the sets provided by foreign manufacturers. Rustem Yermekov and Madina Tasibekova, founders of Stem Solutions, spoke to The Astana Times about how the product…
Astana to Host Ironman Race in July
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will host the international triathlon competition Ironman for the fourth time on July 2, reported Kazinform. Over 1,000 international athletes are expected to participate. The race will consist of three successive stages: a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bike ride, and a 42.195 km marathon. Half a distance is…
German President Visits Port Kuryk, Assesses TITR Logistics Projects
ASTANA – German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov visited the port of Kuryk and assessed the transport and logistics projects of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) on June 21, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Kuryk, located south of the port of Aktau on the eastern coast of the…
Kazakhstan, UN Discuss Role of Volunteers in Global Development
ASTANA – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Umarov and the United Nations Volunteers Program (UNV) Executive Coordinator Toily Kurbanov discussed prospects for cooperation following the International Volunteer Forum in Astana on June 21, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. Umarov and Kurbanov explored ways to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda goals through the national…
Kazakhstan, Germany Forge Deals Worth $1.7 Billion
ASTANA – The Kazakh-German Business Forum on June 20 in Astana resulted in the signing of 23 commercial agreements worth more than $1.7 billion, reported the Kazakh Invest national company. The forum was attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who arrived in Kazakhstan on June 19 as part of an…
Kazakhstan, UK Agree Cooperation on Angus Cattle Imports
ASTANA – The village of Lepsi in the Almaty Region hosted an annual animal breeding exhibition on June 15-17. The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society (AACS) was invited to participate by Kazakhstan’s National Chamber of Angus, following on from the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties late last year. AACS President, Angus Stovold,…
Kazakhstan Outlines New Measures to Protect Consumer Rights
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will create a position of Ombudsperson on Consumer Protection as part of the draft law to protect consumer rights, said Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin at a June 19 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The ombudsperson is expected to coordinate all problems and complaints related to consumer…
Kazakh FM Pays Official Visit to Belarus
ASTANA – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu paid an official visit to Belarus on June 19, meeting President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. Lukashenko commended the bilateral and multilateral collaboration between the two countries. During his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Aleinik, Nurtleu discussed trade, economic,…
First Illustrated Guide-Book About Almaty Is Available in English
ASTANA – “Salem, Almaty!” (Hi, Almaty) is not only the first illustrated guide about the city of Almaty but also a declaration of love for the city, as its creators say. Made in Wimmelbuch style, the book invites adults and kids for a journey around the city sights solving exciting puzzles on each page. Malika…
Astana to Host Third International Puppet Theater Festival
ASTANA – Kuralay International Puppet Theater Festival will take place in Astana on June 25-29, the Puppet Theater of Astana announced on June 13. The festival, named after Kuralay Eshmuratova, an honored Kazakh artist and the first director of the theater, was previously held in 2015 and 2018. The first festival brought together creative teams from…
Resolving Water Scarcity Requires International Cooperation, Public Support and Innovations, Say Experts at AIF
ASTANA – Solutions to water scarcity, a rising problem around the globe, was the focus of a panel session, Thinking Creatively About the Problem of Water Scarcity, at the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 9, which brought together experts and thought leaders from various sectors. Stephen Cole, a former journalist at the BBC, who…
United Nations Under Scrutiny at Astana International Forum
ASTANA – The panel session Opportunities or Challenges: The UN’s Role in Ensuring Peace and Security at the Astana International Forum (AIF) examined the role of the United Nations in conflict prevention, given the rising confrontation and conflicts worldwide, as well as whether the organization needs to be reformed. During the session, Miroslav Jenča, UN…
CEO of Polpharma Group Explores Company’s Impactful Activities in Kazakhstan, Shares Vision on Global Trends
ASTANA – The Polpharma Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of generic medications, has been operating in Kazakhstan for 12 years. CEO of Polpharma Group Markus Sieger spoke about the results of the company’s investments and projects in the Kazakh pharmaceutical sector, worldwide healthcare developments in an interview with The Astana Times on the…
UN Office Presents Kazakh-Language Book Promoting Human Rights and Values Among Children
ASTANA – UN Office in Kazakhstan jointly with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women presented the book “Shugylaly ertegiler” (shining stories) on June 6. The book tells inspiring stories for children aged 5-12 years in the Kazakh language and raises such topics as equality, family values, environmental protection, and refugee problems. The presentation…
First Kazakh-Belgian Business Council Ventures Into Collaboration Opportunities in New Areas
ASTANA – Astana hosted the first meeting of the Kazakh-Belgian business council on June 5, which brought together the businesses and diplomatic missions of the two countries and saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the pharmaceutical sector. The SK-Pharmacy company, the country’s sole pharmaceutical distributor, signed the memorandum of understanding with the…
Raising Public Awareness is Key to Sustainable Waste Recycling Practices, Say Experts
ASTANA – In Kazakhstan, only one-fourth of the solid municipal waste is recycled despite the availability of the legislative base, simplified business creation process and infrastructure development. Experts say low awareness is the cornerstone of the problem and suggest education on waste management, including among children, as a solution. The waste management problem is a…
