Articles by Yerbolat Uatkhanov

ASTANA – The Nur Otan Party adopted a new election programme, “Kazakhstan-2021: Unity. Stability. Creation,” during its 17th congress chaired by Kazakh President and the party leader Nursultan Nazarbayev and held Jan. 29 at the Palace of Independence. The programme is based on the Plan of the Nation of 100 Concrete Steps to implement the…

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested a record amount in the Central Asian region in 2015. Total investment in 2015 increased 75 percent reaching $1.5 billion, according to ebrd.com. “The EBRD is ever more dedicated to the market transition of the economies of Central Asia, and last year’s record investment…

ASTANA – Research conducted by an international academic group has estimated the age of the Aral Sea does not exceed 24,000 years, reported the Nauka v Sibiri edition of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Siberian branch. The Aral Sea. Photo credit: Reuters The group included Sobolev Geology and Mineralogy Institute senior research officer Sergei Krivonogov, who has…

ASTANA – A $1 billion loan will be provided to Kazakhstan by the Asian Development Bank, reported Tengrinews. Deputies of the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) approved a draft law “On Ratification on Loan Agreement” (Ordinary Operations) between Kazakhstan and the Asian Development Bank at plenary meeting on Dec. 23. “The loan will be granted…

ASTANA – Kazakhtelecom plans to achieve 100 percent communication digitisation by the close of 2015 and support all state initiatives, significantly increasing the number of communications users and quality of services, reported the company’s press service. “As of today, we have achieved a 99.7-percent level of communication digitisation. By the end of the year we…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev launched 18 new industrial projects in eight priority fields of the economy during New Kazakhstan Industrialisation and the Results Achieved in 2015 national teleconference at the Independence Palace in Astana on Dec. 11. “Our major goal is processing and increasing the added value. You make a great contribution.  Projects implemented…

ASTANA – In spite of the fact that more and more milk producing companies use milk powders, some rare companies still produce organic milk using up-to-date equipment while providing special social conditions for their employees. Rodina Agricultural Co. currently sells 35-37 tonnes of products every day, all of which are in great need, said General…

ASTANA – Cybercrime happens routinely. Kazakhstan passed a law on information privacy two years ago and continues to expand efforts to support cybersecurity, but it seems like ordinary residents don’t realise the threat. “As for me, our citizens don’t care about information security at all. A good example – home networks. Approximately only 1 percent…

ASTANA – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Japanese Embassy in Astana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh Humanitarian Law University (KAZGUU) organised a roundtable at KAZGUU in Astana on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons on Nov. 30. Diplomats, experts and government officials shared information about the…

BERLIN – The Westerwelle Foundation and the Kazakh Embassy in Germany held a conference at the foundation in Berlin Nov. 23, where Kazakhstan’s nuclear disarmament initiatives and others from around the world were discussed. Speakers and panellists devoted particular attention to countering the threat of nuclear weapons falling into terrorist hands, finding ways to bring…

ASTANA – The draft budget for the next three years was approved Nov. 18 by the deputies of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of Parliament). The financial document was developed with an estimated price for oil of $40 per barrel for the next two years, rising to $50 in 2018–2020. “The budget we made is at…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered the Kazakh government during a Nov. 18 government meeting to save social programmes and make a point of the social protection of the population, including maintaining prices for essential food products at current levels and preventing unemployment. “I want to say that governments and akims (governors) of regions must…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s switch to a free-floating exchange rate – and, thus, a weaker tenge – will help Kazakh companies stay competitive against Russia and China, the nation’s biggest trading partners, exporters say. Kazzinc sustainable development director Andrey Lazarev is fully supportive of the new monetary policy, based on targeting inflation. He noted the decision…

ASTANA – The heads of Astana’s Health Administration have called on city residents to actively participate in “The Best Doctor” and “The Best Nurse” campaigns. Citizens’ opinions will be crucial to determining the best representatives of the profession in May 2016. The campaign started on Nov. 1 and the Astana Health Administration press service reported…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Senate approved on Nov. 2 the proposed appointment of acting Presidential Aide and head of the Social and Economic Monitoring Department of the Presidential Administration Daniyar Akishev to head the country’s National Bank, taking over from Kairat Kelimbetov, who has been relieved of his position. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev requested the…

ASTANA – Kcell was recently fined 252.7 million tenge (US$903,000) for abuse of dominance by the Committee for Regulation of Natural Monopolies and Protection of Competition of the Ministry of National Economy. “Investigation proved that the mobile operator limited international incoming traffic (calls) through Kazakhtelecom telecommunications using their own network without a reasonable basis. That…

ASTANA – As environmental conditions worsen, people are becoming more and more interested in eco-friendly vehicles. A businessman from Almaty has surprised his compatriots with the electric cars he creates in his own mechanic shop. “It wasn’t interesting for me to use a ready-made product or even a ready-made platform. When you get a ready-made…

ASTANA – The Nur Otan Party in Almaty has refused to invest in the Kok-Zhailyau project, with deputies explaining during a party meeting that the decision was made to optimise spending of the Almaty budget, according to Today.kz. “As you know, right from the start the Kok-Zhailyau construction project was dubiously understood by our society.…

ASTANA– World Bank analysts expect prices for oil, nonferrous materials and agricultural goods to decrease in 2015-2016 more than previously forecast, with oil predicted to be sold at $51 per barrel. “We see a five-year-long slide in most commodity prices continuing in the third quarter of 2015. There are sufficient inventories of oil and other commodities and…

ASTANA – For four decades, Kurchatov, a town in East Kazakhstan, was the secret centre of operations for the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site. Due to the surprisingly large number of scientists per square kilometre living there and engaged in peaceful research, the area is known as Science City. “Life in the town is very interesting. Besides,…

ASTANA – Director of the Macroeconomic Research Centre Olzhas Khudaybergenov recently explained the change of the value added tax and corporate income tax to a retail tax and made a suggestion to implement a receipt lottery at a meeting of the National Community Board for Business Support in Astana. “The value added tax will be changed…

ASTANA – Fitch Ratings, an international agency providing issuer and bond ratings, forecast in August that the sharp tenge devaluation could affect both the asset quality and capital ratios of Kazakhstan’s banks. Two months later, it seems the banks have borne the brunt and will have higher pressure in the medium term. “We saw only…

ASTANA – A draft law under consideration in the Senate of Parliament would allow mobile phone users in Kazakhstan to keep their phone numbers even when they change service providers. The draft law “On changes to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning informatisation” will reinforce the competitive activity of mobile operators, decreasing…

ASTANA – Tsesna Concern, a major company in the Kazakh flour-milling industry and paste goods production and participant in the State Programme of Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development, supports the nation’s food security and exports high-quality goods. “It is well known that Kazakhstan produces one of the best hard wheat grains in the world,” said…

ASTANA –The capital served as host for the third Astana International Auto Salon (AIAS 2015) Oct. 9. This year, participants Renault, Peugeot, IVECO, Hyundai, JAC, GAZ, KAMAZ and Samand put their emphasis on low-priced passenger cars and commercial vehicles. “Renault began its push in the Kazakh market when new car sales sufficiently increased, reaching 165,000…