Articles by Yerbolat Uatkhanov

ASTANA – Bank consumers are becoming pickier, requiring a wide range of services provided online instantly. Unfortunately, Kazakh banks can’t keep pace with Russian financial institutions, let alone Western ones. Experts believe a bank merger, which seems to be unavoidable, can help to modernise them and make them more competitive. Consumers want digital banks to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s GDP grew 4.2 percent in the first six months of the year due to the growth of main indicators in industry, construction, agriculture, transportation, warehousing and trade, noted Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov at a recent government meeting. “According to preliminary data, in the January-June period of this year Kazakhstan’s GDP…

ASTANA – Kazakh TV, which broadcasts to more than 118 countries, is the nation’s first satellite channel aiming to report about the country and its achievements. Director Andrei Tarakov talked about the network’s history and future plans in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. “We are striving to become known abroad and give our…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan will maintain a 10.5-percent base rate with a corridor of +/- 1 percent, the Bank announced recently. The annual inflation rate matches the bank’s forecast and remains within the target range. Citizens are expected to increasingly take to saving their money in tenge, as the nation’s economy continues…

ASTANA – Entrepreneurs from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries will no longer need to travel to China, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan to purchase goods, as Central Asian region trade routes will now converge in Kazakhstan. The National Association of Trade Enterprises together with Kyrgyz colleagues is launching a unique project – the Commodity Distribution System…

ASTANA – Kazakh radioecology experts and representatives of non-governmental organisations recently discussed the rehabilitation of land at the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the use of green technologies in uranium mining and the operation of Kazakh enterprises in the nuclear industry at the Atomic Energy Kazakhstan pavilion at EXPO 2017. The event was organised by…

ASTANA – Kuryk international ferry port on the Caspian Sea, which started operation in the beginning of the year, has received 93 ships and more than 400,000 tonnes of cargo. Plans are underway to increase the number up to one million tonnes, according to a Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) press release. First Deputy Prime Minister…

ASTANA – The Almaty Employment and Social Programmes Department has doubled its funding this year compared to 2016 to provide social support for people with disabilities. The department has allocated $12.6 million to assist up to 22,000 people with disabilities in 2017. Approximately 13,000 people were assisted in 2016, department head Aigul Akhmetova announced recently.…

ASTANA – Astana’s international airport has been renamed Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in honour of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The name change follows a large-scale renovation resulting in a much expanded capacity at the capital’s airport and a new terminal. Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee is now negotiating with the International Air Transport Association on changing the airport…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced at the recent Fifth World Kurultai of Kazakhs that Kazakhstan’s population had reached 18 million. “In 1991, when Kazakh independence was declared, the share of ethnic Kazakhs was only 40 percent of the state’s population. When I participated in elections, I was afraid to think what percent of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan drivers continue to convert their vehicles to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption. In 2016, LPG sales increased by 43 percent, while gasoline sales fell by 5 percent. Experts find this trend promising and favourable not only for the drivers, who save money, but for the national economy and environment as well. “As…

ASTANA – Finnair launched June 19 direct Helsinki-Astana-Helsinki flights. The flights will be Mondays and Fridays on modern Airbus 319 airliners.   The new flights initiate a partnership between the Astana airport and the national carrier of Finland – Finnair and are the result of cooperation between the countries, Astana airport and Finnair. The flights…

ASTANA – The culture, history and nature of Kazakhstan remain a mystery for tourists and even some of its inhabitants. Kazakh TV has prepared five expedition shows which visit the most beautiful, unexplained and unexplored places in the nation. Interest in tourism is growing – people understand what an interesting world this is and they…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis (lower chamber of Parliament) recently approved the ratification of an agreement between the Kazakh and Kyrgyz governments allowing Kyrgyz transporters to transfer through Kazakhstan to Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) states with unified tariffs accepted by the members of the union. The move is expected to increase transportation value. “The signed agreement…

ASTANA – The period of EXPO 2017 coincides with peak holiday season in Kazakhstan. In Astana, for most of the population, that will mean trips to Borovoye. Borovoye, a village built around a lake of the same name, is Astana’s closest getaway destination and probably its most visited. The area is a lovely getaway both…

ASTANA – Some students in Almaty, Kyzylorda and Pavlodar will start studying chess as a school subject from Sept. 1. “Chess playing instruction will take one hour a week in the second grades of 42 schools in Almaty, Kyzylorda, Pavlodar and the Pavlodar Region. We provided textbooks and manuals in the Kazakh and Russian languages.…

ASTANA – The annual inflation rate was 7.5 percent in May and slowed its decline. The expectations of citizens regarding the future level of inflation remain stable and the National Bank lowered the base interest rate from 11 percent to 10.5 percent June 5. “In May, as in April, the annual inflation totalled 7.5 percent.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan climbed from 47th to 32nd place in the IMD World Competitiveness ranking, evaluating business efficiency, public finance and domestic economy. The new ranking shows Kazakhstan surpassing states such as Spain, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Portugal, Italy, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. “Kazakhstan has demonstrated the greatest progress on public finances and domestic economy indicators.…

ASTANA – Chairperson of National Bank Daniyar Akishev announced May 31 that Kazakh citizens can buy gold bars weighing 10, 20, 50 and 100 grams. The price starts from 126,000 tenge (US$403). The most expensive 100-gram bar will cost 1.26 million tenge (US$4,032). “Our main idea is to launch a liquid and active market. The…

ASTANA – A rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities was opened in Karkaralinsk, a town in the Karaganda region. The centre was designed and built in consultation with those who will use the facility and in line with international standards. “Inpatient social and medical care is as close to home conditions as possible … Creation…

ASTANA – Anticipating Astana EXPO 2017, the Kazakh TV channel has launched a series of TV programmes with the participation of the national EXPO 2017 commissioners from different countries, who discuss the preparation, construction, concept and content of their national pavilions, as well as the latest developments and advances in the use of clean and…

ASTANA – Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber Omar Khan called on Kazakhstan businesspeople to create a domestic meat brand at Kazakhstan-UAE Business Forum. According to Khan, Kazakhstan and United Arab Emirates have cooperation potential in the certified meat product trade using halal standards. “It is necessary to make Kazakh meat known all over…

ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) will bring together researchers, practitioners and university leaders May 31 to discuss modern education. The yearly event attracts industry heads from Kazakhstan and many other countries. “The Eurasian Higher Education Leaders’ Forum that Nazarbayev University organises on an annual basis has become a well-established tradition. This forum brings together leading…

ASTANA – The World Bank released a report which predicts Kazakhstan’s economic growth will pick up slowly in the medium term, but highlights it will remain much lower than before 2014. The report adds real GDP rates will be around 3 percent in 2017-2019. In the last year, the nation’s economy suffered from a slowdown…

ASTANA – Family has emerged as a major theme in Kazakhstan-born Anatoliy Kim’s body of films. His “Siblings” was a hit at the Middle Coast Film Festival, and now his new short film, “Grandpa Arnold,” promotes love of one’s grandparents and calls viewers to spend as much time with their elderly relatives as they can.…