Articles by Zhazira Dyussembekova

ASTANA – Astana Opera principal soloist and Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Medet Chotabayev received the award and title Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy March 26 for strengthening cultural ties between Italy and Kazakhstan and promoting the Italian language, according to the Astana Opera press service. “It was a great surprise to…

ASTANA – The North Kazakhstan region, particularly Petropavlovsk, has introduced several projects within the Digital Kazakhstan Programme launched last year, including initiatives in transport and public health, according to deputy akim (governor) Madiyar Kozhakhmet, reported zakon.kz. “In general, even before the adoption of the programme, we, as well as the whole Kazakhstan, already used the…

ASTANA – The new multimedia portal of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan was presented March 1. The project, called the People of Kazakhstan’s historical map, covers the history of the country’s multi-ethnic population from ancient times to the present day. It will also be used as a platform for ethnic media, according to…

ASTANA – The Kostanai car plant has started serial assembly of electric cars and customers will be able to buy the Chinese JAC iEV7S in the second half of this year, reported kapital.kz. The price is expected to start at 7.5 million tenge (US$23,300). SaryarkaAvtoProm plans to assemble more than 1,000 cars in three years.…

ASTANA – Officials have indicated Kazakhstan’s first ammunitions plant will start delivering cartridges to the Kazakh Armed Forces this year. The project was under discussion for several years and although work was expected to have finished by the end of 2017, it was slightly delayed. Kaztechnology, a subordinate organisation of the Kazakh Ministry of Defence…

ASTANA – Bakhargul Tolegenkyzy, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, has been collecting Turkic gold and silver antiques since she was young, eventually presenting them in her own private museum. In 2000, she founded Ademi-Ai Plus, which has become one of country’s leaders in national souvenir production. Tolegenkyzy moved to Kazakhstan from China in 1994.…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of parliament) approved March 14 a draft law to regulate interaction between Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries in cross-border communications, the development of interstate standards in information security, analysis and assessment of threats and other activities, reported zakon.kz. “The adoption of the draft law will allow carrying…

ASTANA – The Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, co-chaired by Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin and Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minister Ochilboy Ramatov, met March 14 to discuss relations between the states, including the expected increase in trade turnover, the Year of Uzbekistan in Kazakhstan and vice versa…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government adopted a draft National Report on Combating Corruption presented March 13 by public service affairs and anti-corruption agency deputy chairman Sayan Akhmetzhanov. The document provides information about anti-corruption work in the country and an analysis of existing issues, as well as suggestions for further improvement of the anti-corruption policy. “This…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s healthcare system is being reformed based on introducing compulsory health insurance and no modern country can offer a basic benefit package without a Health Technology Assessment (HTA), said Polish former Deputy Health Minister and strategic medical technologies consultant for Dentons Business Services EMEA Krzysztof Landa during a March 15 workshop in the…

ASTANA – A new railway service connecting Amsterdam and China’s Yiwu was launched March 7 within the Belt and Road initiative. The 11,000-kilometre route passes through Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan before it reaches China. “Today, the first freight train begins its journey from Amsterdam to the Chinese city of Yiwu. Out of the…

ASTANA – As part of Kazakhstan’s national effort to modernise its image globally, the country plans to launch a Theatre Laboratory initiative, a Literary Belt initiative and a radio station about local music geared toward a foreign audience, said Head of the Internal Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Aida Balayeva. “The project of Dala…

ASTANA – Major Kazakh online air and railway ticket sales providers Aviata.kz and Chocotravel plan to merge to better compete in the international market, inform.kz reported recently. Officials from both companies believe the merged company’s sales will exceed $100 million per year. “After a joint trip with Alexei Lee [co-founder of Aviata.kz] to the office…

ASTANA – “Kazakhstan, chroniques vagabondes” (“Vagabond Chronicles”), by French writer Aude Ceccarelli, is based on her three-year work and living experience in Almaty. It gives a glimpse into everyday Kazakh life in 26 stories, presented in the form of an alphabet from A-Z. They cover the country in its most diverse aspects, including the author’s…

ASTANA – Tumar is the first and only Kazakh brand of national-style silver jewellery using the champlevé enamelling technique. The company has an online store (www.mytumar.kz) where it sells its collections and offers custom-made pieces. The champlevé technique is one of the most ancient methods of jewellery making. Grooves are cut into the metal, then…

ASTANA – On a cold winter night, one of the capital’s pubs is swept away by the sounds of bluegrass music, which seems unusual for the surroundings. Astana Bluegrass Survivors rocks on the stage, singing and playing on stringed instruments. In an interview with The Astana Times, bass player Candice Miracle talked about what they…

ASTANA – Tourists to Almaty now can visit the Boraldai Saka burial mound archaeological complex, which in addition to the ancient necropolis showcases the reconstructed burial mound and a model of an ancient Saka dwelling. The Boraldai Saka burial mounds are the only monuments of the early Iron Age preserved on Almaty territory. They are…

ASTANA – Askhat Abzhanov, an entrepreneur from Stepnogorsk, is the founder of Zhana Urpak (“new generation” in Kazakh) Leadership School in Almaty. The school conducts various trainings for teenagers, but its most important feature is the seven-day camping programme outside the city, where youngsters live without phones and laptops and literally awaken their motivation and…

ASTANA –Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently formed the Global Happiness Coalition. Initiated by the UAE, the coalition aims to ensure effective international dialogue about achieving happiness on a global level, disseminate knowledge and exchange information and expertise to implement related policies between member countries. The world needs…

ASTANA – Mangistau region’s berkutchi, or eagle hunters, plan to open their own falconry school in Tushybek village in an effort to preserve the ancient tradition, reported Kazakh TV. “I want to promote the art of hunting with birds among young people. Five-six people are training now to become berkutchi (eagle hunters). We take part…

ASTANA – The Jambyl Cement plant near Mynaral in the Zhambyl region, the first in Kazakhstan to use the dry method for cement production, is currently the largest facility in the category. The joint Kazakh-French project, managed by Vicat Group, produces approximately 1.4 million tonnes of binder per year to cover 15 percent of internal…

ASTANA – Not many know that Kazakhstan has been providing aid to other countries for the last two decades. A few years ago, the country adopted a law on official development assistance (ODA) and has subsequently launched two pilot projects with the international partners. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreign Economic Policy Department Director Olzhas Issabekov…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy moved up one spot to 41st on the recently released 2018 Index of Economic Freedom annual report published by the Heritage Foundation. It was the highest ranking in Central Asia and among the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Out of 180 countries represented in the ranking, Hong Kong was recognised as…

ASTANA – New apartment complexes are appearing in the city nearly every day. Thousands of new windows appear with them, a large proportion supplied by Funke Kunststoffe. The German company is one of the leading manufacturers of plastic pipes, fittings and engineering systems in Western Europe. In March 2012, its window profiles production plant transferred…

ASTANA — An agrotechnical hub for specialists in that field will be created in the Kostanai region, Deputy Akim (Governor) of Kostanai region Meirzhan Myrzaliyev told a Jan. 26 expanded meeting on digitisation issues, according to the region’s press service. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will allocate a $341,000 grant for the initiative. The region…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s latest visit to the United States, its assessment and outlook were discussed Jan. 26 at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. The discussion also included implications for bilateral relations and broader international and regional issues, including Afghanistan and nuclear non-proliferation. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United States Erzhan Kazykhanov stated…

ASTANA – In November, the Caspi Bitum plant exported its first 60 tonnes of road bitumen to China. But the first export experience for the company was in January 2017, when 650 tonnes of bitumen was delivered to Uzbekistan. In the nearest future, the enterprise wants to expand its supply destinations even more. Caspi Bitum…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev was among friends during his official visit to the United States earlier this month, as he was one of the guests for the Astana Ballet’s Jan. 17 performance at New York’s Lincoln Centre. The event was unexpectedly popular and scores were unable to attend due to the high demand. “The…

ASTANA – The 40th Dakar Rally finished in South America Jan. 20 after 14 stages of competition. Kazakh racers finished in the top 10 general classification in two categories. The crew with its leader Artur Ardavichus took fourth place in the trucks category and first-timer Dmitry Shilov took sixth place in the overall ATV rating.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s second wave of privatisation is 71 percent completed and, as a result of the directives in Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s state-of-the-nation address, it should be finished by the end of 2018, Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev said Jan. 16. One of the parts of the Nazarbayev’s address “New development opportunities under the Fourth…

ASTANA – A museum commemorating beloved Kazakh boxer Gennady “GGG” Golovkin opened in the sports complex also named after him in Maikuduk, the district in Karaganda where he was born. The museum showcases trophies, diplomas, boxing gloves, sneakers and other belongings of the undefeated champion. “It has been planned for a long time to open…

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) continued to support the Central Asian region in 2017 with a total investment of $1 billion. It has also resumed operations in Uzbekistan after a seven-year pause. The bank is the largest institutional investor in the region, with approximately $12.3 billion committed to a variety…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new Tax Code entered into force Jan. 1. The updated code provides for the introduction of some changes in the existing tax legislation, including a simplified tax regime for small and medium-sized businesses, the cancellation of some tax privileges and the introduction of new principles in tax administration. In describing the code…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently signed a new three-year accord extending cooperation within the Partnership Framework Arrangement (PFA) for Enhanced Cooperation for Promotion of Sustainable Development and Growth. The original accord was signed in May 2014 and expired at the end of 2017. The accord…

ASTANA – Maulen Bekturganov, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, is the founder of MBionics, the company that developed and created the nation’s first bionic prosthetic hands designed for disabled people of the third group. The young engineer helps people return to regular life after losing a limb. Fifteen-year-old Akezhan Argyngazin, of the East Kazakhstan…

ASTANA – A record number of foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan in the first nine months of 2017, according to finprom.kz analytical service, as the number traveling to the country from abroad grew 18 percent compared to the previous year. The domestic tourism sector followed the same trend, with the number of residents vacationing locally increasing…

ASTANA – December marks a quarter century of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Latvia. To highlight the anniversary, Latvian Ambassador Jurijs Pogrebņaks spoke about what has been reached and what is ahead for both countries. “I would like to congratulate all the people of Kazakhstan on last year’s 25th anniversary of independence and congratulate all…

ASTANA – Two new customs codes, one each for Kazakhstan and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), will come into force Jan. 1. Under the new legislation, Kazakhstan will introduce the ASTANA-1 information system for electronic declaration, based on the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). The programme has been under development since 2015, when the…

ASTANA – Kazakh National Bank recently revised its forecast for 2017, changing the country’s expected economic growth rate to 3.5 percent from the previous 3.1 percent, while projecting next year’s rate decelerating to 2.8 percent. The revision was due to the third quarter economic recovery acceleration in the real sector, according to the regulator’s press…

ASTANA – The 10th Anniversary Diplomatic Christmas Charity Bazaar, organised by Ambassadors’ Spouses Astana (ASA), raised almost 42 million tenge (US$126,400), which is the record amount of money ever collected during these events. The bazaar took place Dec. 3 in Radisson Hotel, where 53 embassies offered their unique national products, handicrafts, souvenirs and food, specially…

ASTANA – Hilton announced the official opening Nov. 2 of Hilton Astana, the first hotel in Kazakhstan under the brand of Hilton Hotels & Resorts. The new five-star hotel promises to provide excellent service, as well as meeting venues that have very few matches in the capital. Hilton’s Senior Vice President for Continental Europe Jochem-Jan…

ASTANA – After years of research and testing, Genome Cosmetics opened its first high-tech manufacturing plant this fall in Stepnogorsk, Akmola region. The facility can become the heart of the cosmetics industry in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, said enterprise head Zhanibek Kenzhebayev in an interview for this story. “Cosmetics for facial and body care are…

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will allocate more funds to its two-year-old Women in Business programme in Kazakhstan. A $42 million credit line will be provided to local banks, which will lend the funds to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women. The EBRD will partner with local banks…

ASTANA – In the midst of the worldwide blockchain and cryptocurrencies craze, Kazakhstan has realised the relevancy of the trend like never before. In mid-November, the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association applied for state registration as a legal entity to promote the technology’s ideas and draft legislation in the field. The association was founded by six…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been ranked 52nd among the largest exporting countries this year, sending more than 800 manufactured products to 113 countries. Exports of processed goods grew 22 percent in the first nine months to $11.1 billion, a rate expected to grow two times by 2025. “We are among the world leaders in the…

ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Dr. Frederick Starr, founder and former chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and currently distinguished fellow for Eurasia at the American Foreign Policy Council discussed the current situation in countries of the region and provided his outlook on the Eurasian Economic Union. How would you…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is planning to launch a pilot programme incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology treatment by the end of this year. The technology will help doctors identify key information in a patient’s medical records and look for relevant articles and treatment options to eliminate unnecessary care. “A memorandum of cooperation has been signed…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the Astana Club, a neutral platform to debate public issues based on Chatham House rules, during its Nov. 13 third annual meeting.  He talked about global challenges and threats such as growing terrorism, military issues, economic situation, migration, as well poverty and lack of water and food. “We…

ASTANA – Crown Agents, one of the world’s leading experts in strategic decision-making for public sector management which has been operating for more than 185 years with a presence in more than 100 countries, has come to Kazakhstan. In an interview with The Astana Times, company chair Marie Staunton talked about the firm’s projects and…

ASTANA – Armada Zouk, sublabel of famous Dutch music label Armada, recently compiled its list of the most talented acts under the banner ADE Talents 2017. Farleon (Sultan Karimov) made the cut with his track “Stop Signs” featuring Jason Gaffner. “Want to discover the next wave of dance music stars before anyone else? Immensely skilled…

ASTANA – More than 720,000 citizens will receive free vocational education by 2021, officials announced Saturday, Nov. 7 government meeting. “The project Free Vocational and Technical Education for Everyone was launched in 2017. A total of 817 colleges are working under it, including 473 state-owned and 344 private. Also, within the State Programme for the…

ASTANA – Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) recently opened a China Studies Centre in the Library of the First President of Kazakhstan. “This morning [Oct. 24] a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Library of The First President of Kazakhstan. Under this document, a centre for China studies was opened in the library.…

ASTANA – The one millionth tonne of cargo left Kuryk port Oct. 19 for the Azerbaijani port of Baku. The Kuryk port, launched in December, is under its second phase of construction. “At present, Kazakh grain, coal, oil products, fertilisers and chemicals, as well as transit cargo coming from China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, are exported…

ASTANA – Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs needs 11 billion tenge (US$32.9 million) for the introduction of criminal case investigation in electronic form, which it tests in several regions, said Oct. 16 Deputy Minister Rashid Zhakupov during the presentation of amendments to the legislation concerning the modernisation of the procedural basis of law enforcement activity.…

ASTANA – Brave Dogs Almaty sponsored its third charity photoshoot in an Almaty mall Oct. 8 to advocate for animal shelters. The event attracted more than 2,000 guests and the community of Northern breed dogs and their owners says the event is only the beginning. “This photoshoot was very different from the first two, not…

ASTANA – The first registered Toastmasters Club in Central Asia was founded in the capital in 2010 by Samat Panov and Asem Panova. The organisation is devoted to improving public speaking and leadership skills, as well as providing learning experiences for greater self-confidence and personal growth, and the Astana Toastmasters Club (ATC) has generated many…

ASTANA – Bal Tekstil has been professionally manufacturing carpets and rugs in Ontustik, the South Kazakhstan region’s special economic zone, since 2011. During that time, the company has not only developed its production and implemented yarn-making technology, but has signed a supply contract with IKEA, Sweden’s international home furnishings retailer. “In the world, 95 percent…

ASTANA – Kazhydromet has been testing an innovative environmental monitoring technology which Finland presented at EXPO 2017. If successful, the system might be introduced on all city posts, said weather service laboratory head Dana Amanbayeva during a government press conference. “The Vaisala sensor was installed July 11 on the automatic air quality control sensor to…

ASTANA – The national TV channel Qazaqstan has launched Sept. 30 broadcasting of the international music television show Silk Way Star. Artists from nine countries will compete during the 12 weeks until the end of December. “Here we are making emphasis on the promotion of modern Kazakh art; they [participants] are given the task to…

ASTANA – Relaxing controls on businesses and other changes to a draft law on business activities, “On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on improving regulation of entrepreneurial activity,” were discussed at an Oct. 3 government meeting, during which the Ministry of National Economy and the Prime Minister’s Office…

ASTANA – An IT Quarter for the development of information technologies has been launched in the centre of Almaty. The 17,000-square-metre facility will become the new home of 10 IT companies and 15 start-ups by the end of the year. “By opening the IT quarter, we are creating soft infrastructure in the city that will…

ASTANA – Contemporary French artist Mickael Obrenovitch created five amazing sculptures for the giant Nur Alem sphere at EXPO 2017. Many visitors saw the works, but few know the ideas and processes behind them. “My goal was to create accessible and attractive artwork that can talk to anyone simply with a relative abstract concept. At the expo, each…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is planning to introduce preventive control of entrepreneurs instead of random checks, according to inform.kz. “The measure envisaged under our law is the introduction of preventive control instead of random checks. This measure would probably reform the minds of the inspectors,” said Ministry of National Economy entrepreneurship development department deputy director Aslanbek…

ASTANA – December will be a fascinating month for Kazakhstan’s financial sector, as the long discussed and awaited Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) will be officially presented. AIFC Governor Kairat Kelimbetov talked about some of the nuances of the project during a Sept. 20 press conference. The centre will be located within a portion of…

ASTANA – Vera Swanson was one of the 40 student ambassadors who worked at the United States Pavilion at EXPO 2017. Two years ago, she learned Kazakhstan was not only the destination for her Russian language studies, but also the place where her grandfather was born. Through her summer experience, she reunited with her relatives…

ASTANA – S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook on Kazakhstan from negative to stable. At the same time, the BBB- long-term and A-3 short-term sovereign ratings were affirmed, according to the agency’s press release. “The stable outlook reflects our expectation that we have captured the fiscal costs of the authorities’ banking sector recapitalisation plans…

ASTANA – Total Kazakh banking sector revenues decreased almost 40 percent compared to last year, however, banks also reduced expenses and increased revenues from core activities, according to ranking.kz. In January to July, the revenues of the country’s banking sector decreased to 17.8 trillion tenge (US$52.7 billion) compared to the same period of last year,…

ASTANA – The One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative will improve not only economic integration, but cultural and religious understanding, said Citi Research’s Chief Economist and Managing Director for China Li-Gang Liu in a Sept. 6 interview for this story. Kazakhstan plays an important role in the project and will benefit from China’s further growth.…

ASTANA – Despite lengthy, ongoing talks on introducing a five-day academic week, the Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science has decided to stick with the existing schedule for the time being, Tengrinews.kz reports. School began as usual in September and will end May 25. In June, the ministry issued a decree “On the definition of…

ASTANA – The Italian pavilion celebrated National Day at EXPO 2017 Sept. 4 with a performance by the Nello Salza Ensemble and the famous trumpeter for whom the group is named. The event opened by raising the flags and performing the national anthems of Italy and Kazakhstan. “Italy rightfully occupies an important place in the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom are marking their 25th anniversary of cooperation this year with Kazakhstan’s sixth largest investor launching a new project to train prison officers, said U.K. Minister for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan. “I am pleased to announce today a U.K. investment of about $100,000 for a new…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s major event, EXPO 2017, welcomed its three-millionth visitor on Aug. 25. He turned out to be a 38-year-old resident of Moscow, Yuri Shurygin. “I liked the Kazakhstan pavilion. Now I need to visit the Russian pavilion. Of course, we would like to see an event of such a scale to take place…

ASTANA – An international moment of silence honouring the memory of victims of all nuclear weapons testing in the world was held at 11:05 a.m. local time Aug. 29 to mark United Nations International Day against Nuclear Tests. The time was chosen because at this point in the day, clock hands show a V. This…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will completely switch to electronic customs declaration, according to the draft code “On Customs Regulation in Kazakhstan” presented at the Aug. 22 government meeting, reported inform.kz. “Speaking of new things [in the code], one of the main [things] is the fundamentally new approach to customs regulation, which is about the automation of…

ASTANA – Probably many passers-by have noticed a stage next to the Keruen Shopping Mall. A special open-air space with the 80 seats and LED screen suddenly appeared in the city during the celebrations of the Capital Day on July 6. Work in Progress Astana, or simply WIP Astana is a new format of public…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has reduced the base rate to 10.25 percent with a corridor of +/-1 percent, according to an Aug. 21 press release. “The annual inflation rate continues to decelerate and remains within the target range; its deceleration trajectory matches the forecasted estimates of the National Bank. Easing monetary policy…

ASTANA – Team Insaai from Kokshetau, which developed an ethno-style mobile gaming app in three languages, took first place at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) “Innovating for Children in the Urban World” hackathon. The Aug. 18 announcement was followed the next day with the organisation hosting UNICEF Talks, a platform bringing together tech experts,…

ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan is hosting several exhibitions within the EXPO 2017 cultural programme. Most will last until Sept. 10 – so don’t miss the chance to visit the exclusive displays. Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army, which opened in June, is a display of four terracotta statues, as well as different…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture has developed a map of its agro processing enterprise locations in order to boost the sector’s growth and increase import substitution, according to the statement of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Askar Myrzakhmetov at a July 25 government meeting. The project requires 112.1 billion tenge (US$343.1…

ASTANA – Global Finance has named Bank of Astana as Kazakhstan’s Best Consumer Digital Bank. The financial institution was among the first round of winners in the upcoming 2017 World’s Best Consumer Digital Banks awards, which will determine regional leaders. Bank of Astana has issued more than 350,000 cards and develops remote sales channels, said…

ASTANA – Five years ago, Yelena Kondakova founded Baursak, a shop in Russia featuring Kazakh goods. Her business became a huge success and now there are eight stores, including one franchise. The entrepreneur plans to develop a network of up to 300 stores throughout the country. Kondakova devised the idea after realising her trips home…

ASTANA – Halfway through EXPO 2017, the international exhibition has welcomed one and a half million visitors, according to an expo national company press release. Almost two weeks earlier, on July 11, the exhibition welcomed and identified its one millionth visitor. That visitor was a math teacher from Astana who received gifts and recognition. This…

ASTANA – Morocco established its first embassy in Kazakhstan at the end of 2016, almost 25 years after diplomatic relations were first established. Morocco’s first Ambassador to Kazakhstan Abdeljalil Saubry, recently discussed his priorities in an interview with The Astana Times “The fact of the opening of the Moroccan Embassy in Kazakhstan shows the potential…

ASTANA – With Hollywood stars like Adrien Brody, Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich in attendance, this year’s Eurasia International Film Festival has attracted quite a bit of attention. The largest film festival in the region, which opened July 22, will run through July 28. The event, typically held in Almaty, is being hosted in the…

ASTANA – The Mangystau region Akimat (regional administration) signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian company Reach Energy as part of the Kazakhstan – Malaysia business forum, according to inform.kz. “The signing of the memorandum is another milestone on the way of the social and economic development of our peoples, taking into account mutual interests.…

ASTANA – Abu Dhabi-based Al Hilal Bank is expanding its range of services and launching Islamic banking products for individual customers, according to forbes.kz. In the medium term, the bank sees great potential to develop Islamic banking in Kazakhstan, particularly in the retail market, said Al Hilal Bank Kazakhstan CEO Gordon Haskins. “Seven years of…

ASTANA – Switzerland is ready to share its financial sector and budget management experience, said Swiss Federal Councillor and Federal Department of Finance head Ueli Maurer during his July 11 visit to the Kazakh capital. The agenda also included the One Belt, One Road initiative and matters of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Maurer…

ASTANA – Principal Soloist of the Astana Opera and Kazakh Honoured Worker Medet Chotabayev recently made his debut as Pollione in Vincenzo Bellini’s opera “Norma” at Austria’s Graz Opera. “We prepared the production for a month; there was serious musical and staging work. When I arrived for the first time, I was very nervous, had…

ASTANA – Kids sports seem to be largely developing in Kazakhstan’s regions through the introduction of different activities. Enthusiasts from Kostanai created their own Derby Football Academy in their hometown and Kokshetau last year and are now getting ready to open another one July 15 in Karaganda. “The idea of creation of the football academy…

ASTANA – Fermerskaya produkciya (Farm products) agricultural cooperative, composed of 20 farmers from Tselinograd district and Yereymentau and Bulandy districts in Akmola region, is a way for them to combine their efforts and discover a new and innovative way to sell their products to capital residents. The farmers have established the Ecoferma (Ecofarm) brand and…

ASTANA – The office of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security will open in Astana by the end of the year, Kazakh Vice Minister of National Economy Yernar Bakenov told a meeting during the 10th Astana Economic Forum on June 15-16. “Since our chairmanship in the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation in 2011, we have…

ASTANA – AllurGroup shipped June 24 the first batch of 55 Chinese-designed JAC cars worth almost $600,000 to Tajikistan, according to the company’s website. “The instrument of export trade financing allowed the domestic manufacturer to make a comprehensive proposal for the buyer, which is a delivery of goods plus financing,” said Kazakh Export’s Chairperson of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has begun creating a DNA database of individuals who have committed serious crimes, said Astana Institute of Forensic Expertise biological and chemical examination laboratory head Inkar Tazhigulova. “At the end of last year, the Law on Dactyloscopic and Genomic Registration was adopted. Under this law, all persons convicted of grave and especially…

ASTANA – Representatives of different sides in the Syrian crisis were joined by Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov to discuss the ongoing conflict in Syria and the role of the Astana Process during a panel session at the annual Eurasian Media Forum in Kazakhstan’s capital June 24. The war in Syria is “a terrible disaster…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the World Bank (WB) are celebrating a partnership anniversary this year, for in the last 25 years the financial institution has funded 45 projects totalling $8 billion. Within the June 15-16 Astana Economic Forum (AEF), WB’s Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller gave an exclusive interview to The…

ASTANA – A recap of the previous year’s work, including attracting foreign investments, a new subsoil code and improving the nation’s transport and logistics potential were the main talking points of a June 12 presentation by Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek, according to Kapital.kz. The meeting with the population was held in…

ASTANA – More than 4,000 participants from 100 countries gathered June 15-16 in Astana for the 10th annual Astana Economic Forum. The forum focused primarily on renewable energy and green economy under the theme “New Energy – New Economy” as well as discussions of sustainable economic growth, world trade and infrastructure. The forum was held…

ASTANA – Warmer weather has finally returned, and bikes are once again available for rent at stations around the capital. Here’s how to access them. At the moment there are two ways to rent bikes: by card and by SMS. To rent a bike using a card, first visit velobike.kz and register. The subscription fee…

ASTANA – Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, has launched a new route between Budapest and Astana, according to the press service of Kazakh Ministry for Investments and Development. The flights are carried out two times per week on Thursdays and Sundays by an Airbus A320. The first flight on…

ASTANA – Italian officials revealed a few details of Italy’s EXPO 2017 pavilion during a June 2 press conference in Astana devoted to Italy’s National Day. Among the details revealed was that the pavilion’s walls will include visual and audio effects. “As a designer, I chose to create the physical squares that would represent the…