Articles by Zhanna Shayakhmetova

Major tourist facility to open next year in Aktau, other investment projects to launch this year

NUR-SULTAN – Turkey’s Sembol Construction will build a 600-room resort on the Caspian Sea coast in Aktau, said Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin May 31 during the ceremony to lay the foundation stone at the site. The facility, with a heated swimming pool, children’s water park, golf zone, casino, football field, tennis court, villas and…

Incumbent President Tokayev campaigns on platform of continuity, justice and progress

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President and Nur Otan Party candidate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s campaign platform is based on “peace and harmony, a decent life for all and democratisation.” Founded in 1999, Nur Otan has become the leading political party in the country under the leadership of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The Nur Otan Party nominated incumbent…

318 projects to launch at Kazakhstan’s economic and industrial zones from 2019-2021

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development will launch approximately 320 projects by 2021 at special economic zones (SEZ) and industrial zones. SEZ and industrial zones attract investment and promote exports, said Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Roman Sklyar at a May 21 government meeting. One hundred and forty-seven of those projects…

Kazakhstan accredits 125 international observers for presidential election, accreditation continues until June 3

NUR-SULTAN – The Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 125 international observers, including 22 long-term observers from the Election Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe Kazakhstan’s June 9 presidential election, said CEC Member Zauresh Baimoldina at a…

Joint efforts key to protecting children’s rights, says UNICEF representative in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – This year marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s ratification of it. The Astana Times spoke with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Kazakhstan Yuri Oksamitniy to learn more about the country’s challenges and achievements in protecting…

UN Women calls for women’s economic autonomy, equality, childcare schemes

NUR-SULTAN – Gender equality is the solution to our current problems and we all need to step up and speak out, said Åsa Regnér, Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director, at the May 17 First Kazakhstan Forum on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the Astana Economic Forum. Regnér noted…

Financial inclusion contributes to growth, strengthening banking system in Kazakhstan, says WB economist

NUR-SULTAN – Attracting foreign investment, developing the private sector and diversifying the economy are important aspects for Kazakhstan’s next stage of development, said World Bank Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia Asli Demirguc-Kunt in an interview with The Astana Times. “The Astana International Financial Centre will play an important role in being a one-stop…

Kazakhstan’s GDP growth reaches 4 percent, investment continues to increase

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product grew 4 percent so far this year compared to the same period in 2018 and in the first four months of 2019 inflation has remained in the targeted corridor of 1.8 percent, Minister of National Economy Ruslan Dalenov told a May 14 government meeting. “GDP growth accelerated to 4…

U.K., Kazakhstan set to deepen strong strategic partnership, says British Trade Envoy

NUR-SULTAN – The United Kingdom and Kazakhstan have enormous potential in all sectors, said Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, the U.K. Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Kazakhstan, in a recent interview with The Astana Times. “I’m very excited to be here. We have a strategic partnership between our two nations and we’re all very proud…

“Taste of Europe” cookbook presented in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The European Union (EU) delegation to Kazakhstan presented “Taste of Europe” May 2 to mark the Day of Europe celebration in the capital. The cookbook, featuring traditional recipes from 28 European countries, has recipe modification tips, bright illustrations by Alya Sharipova and historical background of the dishes. Europe has been a laboratory of…

EU, UNICEF support Kazakhstan’s approaches to juvenile justice reforms

NUR-SULTAN – The European Union (EU) delegation in Kazakhstan and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the country’s justice system for every child, according to a statement at the April 30 Justice for Children: Improving Approaches and Services meeting in the capital. The law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain…

Astana International Exchange to align with Green Investment Principles; CCB joins AIFC

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana International Exchange (AIX) recently announced plans to align with the Green Investment Principles (GIP), reported the organisation’s press service. The GIPs aim to build an international network to improve the management of environmental risks for investments in the Belt and Road Initiative region. The GIPs were developed by China Green Finance…

Auyl party nominates Toleutai Rakhimbekov as presidential candidate

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s social democratic party, Auyl (Village), nominated National Agrarian Research and Education Centre Chair Toleutai Rakhimbekov as its candidate for Kazakhstan’s upcoming presidential elections, Auyl Chair Ali Bektayev reported to the April 25 party congress. “We have discussed who would be nominated as a presidential candidate from the party since the first days…

Chevron’s Zangar project prepares Atyrau Region youth for careers in science, technology   

NUR-SULTAN – The Zangar programme has reached more than 9,600 young people in the Atyrau Region as part of the Chevron youth development programme. The International Youth Foundation (IYF) launched the project in partnership with the Atyrau regional akimat (administration) in 2015. It prepares youth to succeed in their careers with 21st century skills and…

President Tokayev, other presidential candidate pass language proficiency tests

NUR-SULTAN – Ruling Nur Otan party candidate and incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev passed the Kazakh language examination, the Central Election Commission reported April 23. Candidates for the June 9 presidential election are required to demonstrate proficiency in the Kazakh language by writing a maximum two-page essay in Kazakh, reading Kazakh text provided to them and…

UK sees Kazakhstan as major strategic partner in Central Asia, says British minister

NUR-SULTAN – The United Kingdom views Kazakhstan as one of its major strategic partners in Central Asia, U.K. Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan said in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. He spoke about the U.K.’s support for the continuity represented by Kazakhstan’s domestic leadership transition.  The stability…

Kazakhstan, Germany seek to increase trade, joint projects

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan used more than $183 million in German capital last year to implement four investment projects in trade, industry and renewable energy sources, reported the Kazakh Invest press service. The projects created 400 jobs. More than 90 percent of German investments are directed to the non-primary sector including the processing and chemical industries,…

Aselsan Engineering seeks to increase domestic involvement in Kazakhstan in producing military products

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering (KAE) is one of the companies that contributes not only to the city’s economy and the domestic market, but to the military preparedness of the country’s armed forces. “The company’s main goal and the priority are to supply the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan with high-tech products and systems. Since the…

Kazakhstan’s only professional female F4 driver to put pedal to the metal in SEA Championship

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh racer Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya, 22, will participate in the second stage of the 2019 Formula 4 Southeast Asia Championship (F4 SEA) April 19-21 in Kuala Lumpur. She scored in three of four races and ranked 10th in the championship standings in the first round of the Sepang International Circuit. “This is one of…

Astana Opera presents “La Bohème,” series of chamber orchestra concerts

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Opera House will present Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Bohème” staged by Andrea Bernard April 19 and 20, reported the theatre’s press service. Mariya Mudryak and Maira Mukhamedkyzy will perform Mimi, and Medet Chotabayev and Zhan Tapin will play Rodolfo. The orchestra will perform under the leadership of Italian music director Giuseppe Acquaviva.…

Erasmus+ contributes to cooperation, mobility of Kazakh universities with EU partner countries

NUR-SULTAN – Since 2007, Kazakh students and organisations have had the opportunity to study in Europe as part of the European Union’s (EU) Erasmus+ programme. The Astana Times interviewed National Erasmus+ Office (NEO) Coordinator Shaizada Tasbulatova, university representatives and an Erasmus student to learn more about the project. NEO seeks to facilitate voluntary convergence of…

Astana’s Barys Hockey Club to shift to NHL-sized rink, might increase budget

NUR-SULTAN – Astana’s Barys Hockey Club will use a North American NHL-sized rink during the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) 2019 to 2020 season, Barys President Boris Ivanishchev told an April 2 press conference. The club also announced plans to play KHL regular season games in Almaty in September. “We plan to introduce NHL standards in…

Kazakh health ministry to increase healthcare industry oversight, increase access to healthcare

NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry of Healthcare plans to establish a committee to better ensure the quality and safety of public health and pharmaceutical related products and services, reported Minister Yelzhan Birtanov at an April 2 press conference in the capital. “We will collaborate with the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs… First of all, we plan…

Astana Opera House to present Gioachino Rossini’s opera “The Silken Ladder”

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Opera House will premiere Gioachino Rossini’s one-act operatic comedy “The Silken Ladder” as part of the Piccolo theatre project April 6 and 7. The project is supporting talented musicians during Kazakhstan’s Year of Youth. The creative laboratory will work with Astana Opera soloists and aspiring beginning soloists. On different days, the…

Kazakh NB, government set directions for economic growth, price level stability

NUR-SULTAN – The National Bank and Government of Kazakhstan signed an agreement to coordinate macroeconomic policy measures. The agreement will attract investment in fixed assets at a level of 16.8 percent to GDP in 2019 and more than 30 percent to GDP per year by 2025, bringing the share of small and medium-sized businesses to…