Articles by Raushan Shamsharkhan

KADEX 2018 results in numerous defence contracts

ASTANA – KADEX 2018, the fifth international weapons systems and military equipment exhibition, was held May 23-26 at the military sector of Astana International Airport. “Our country, as you know, is pursuing a peace-loving policy aimed at strengthening good-neighbourliness with all its neighbours and distant neighbours, but today’s world situation forces everyone to strengthen their…

First Kazakh comic founder/artist breaks into country’s online society

ASTANA – Le Shapalaque, web comics that offer fresh perspectives on daily Kazakh matters, has received a lot of love on social media from local readers. The first non-commercial, humorous online comics about the Kazakh mentality mostly depict scenes of everyday live. In an interview with The Astana Times, founder Adil Zakenov talked about how…

Kazakh capital celebrates Africa Day

ASTANA – The capital marked Africa Day at QSI International School of Astana May 25 as part of the eighth annual International Day. “This is an amazing event where each community that is involved in the school, whether a parent, teacher or students, have an opportunity of displaying the pride of their country through quizzes,…

High-tech yurt-style streetfood restaurant with beshburger, kazy-pizza to open in Astana

ASTANA – A new high-tech yurt-style restaurant with Kazakh-Italian-American cuisine will open June 1 near the Baiterek Tower. “It will be a project with a national flavour. We want to show how unusual and unique the Kazakh culture as a whole is. A united version of three main cuisines, Italian, American and Kazakh, will be…

Astana to host 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group competition

ASTANA – For the first time in its history, next year Kazakhstan will host the first division Group A Men’s World Hockey Championship, the Kazakhstan Ice Hockey Federation announced on its website. Kazakhstan won the chance to hold the championship in a decisive vote by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Congress May 18 in…

Embassies of Portugal, Brazil mark Portuguese Language and Cultures Day

ASTANA – The embassies of Portugal and Brazil in Kazakhstan celebrated Portuguese Language and Cultures Day May 5 with a programme of music, poetry and more at Ramada Plaza in the Kazakh capital. Joining in the festivities were Chargé d’Affaires of Portugal in Astana Adelino Vieira da Cunha da Silva, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of…

EAEU, Iran sign interim agreement on free trade zone

ASTANA – The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran signed an interim agreement on a free trade zone May 17 during the Astana Economic Forum. Two years of negotiations resulted in a three-year arrangement to reduce import customs duties on approved goods. “Signing the agreement between EAEU and Iran will create new ways for development…

IT park in Kyzylorda opens, aims to be centre for creativity, collaboration

ASTANA – The Kyzylorda region’s first IT park was presented April 20 in Abdilda Tazhibaev regional universal scientific library. There, it is hoped talented youth will be able to develop start-up projects and attract investors, the official Kyzylorda region Akimat (administration) website reports. “The purpose of this park is the consolidation of IT specialists in…

Kazakh PM presents International Centre of Green Technologies in Astana

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new International Centre for Green Technologies and Investment Projects was presented during the Astana Economic Forum called Global Challenges Summit during a panel discussion by high officials and experts on the project. Included on the “Green economy: New model of sustainable development” panel were Kazakh Prime Minister Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, Kazakh Energy Minister…

Kazakh artists participate in Cannes Film Festival

ASTANA –The Kazakh national pavilion presented the country’s films May 8-19 at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival, reported the Culture and Sports Ministry press service. The national pavilion was the location of the Eurasian International Film Festival presentation, it noted. Besides, the Eurasian Film Festival Directorate appeared with the Eurasian projects. Such events as…

Kazakh anti-corruption strategies show signs of progress, official stresses

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s anti-corruption strategies are showing early signs of progress, a top official at the country’s Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Fighting Corruption said. Salauat Muksimov, the agency’s anti-corruption policy department director spoke about executing anti-corruption strategies and public participation in combatting corruption in a recent exclusive interview for this story. “In 2017,…

Kazakh director’s film to be featured at Cannes independent film festival

ASTANA – “Bad Bad Winter” by Kazakh director Olga Korotko will be featured at the annual Cannes Film Festival Association for Independent Cinema and its Distribution (ACID) programme. “We just sent a CD with our movie to the Cannes film festival. There is the common belief that you definitely need a producer who can recommend your film…

Digital Railway strategy to increase speed, convenience, savings

ASTANA – Kazakh national rail company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) President Kanat Alpysbayev reported on the implementation of the country’s Digital Railways strategy during the May 2 government meeting on export, consumer and transport digitisation policies. Transport makes up 8 percent of Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product and has been increasing by at least 4.5 percent…