Articles by Yerbolat Uatkhanov

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital is home to approximately 866,000 residents and last year was visited by 642,100 tourists. Since each figure includes a fair number of children, the question becomes, “what entertainment programmes does the city offer for them?” Stolichniy (Capital) Park is an ideal place to walk and relax with a child while simultaneously…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is working on industrial and innovative development, but that development is impossible without a highly-qualified technical staff. East Kazakhstan State Technical University (EKSTU) in Ust-Kamenogorsk, one of the oldest universities in the state, is working jointly with major local industrial companies. A very effective and modern university, it provides engineering and technical…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to reform its personal bankruptcy laws by 2017 to better help citizens recover from unpayable debts. “As of today we are working in close rapport with the World Bank and have already developed the concept of bankruptcy of physical bodies. The State Incomes Committee plans to develop concepts for corresponding laws.…

ASTANA – The first of four projects financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Kazakh government to improve air quality in Ust-Kamenogorsk has been completed. “This project was finished and we received a state expertise certificate, but we are working on another four projects. In the first quarter of 2016, we…

ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan plans to become a leading meat exporter to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the world market. In Soviet times, Kazakhstan provided up to 300,000 tonnes of meat every year and low prices for oil is one good reason to start earn more money selling meat abroad. Deputy Minister…

ASTANA – In spite of the current condition of oil production in the world, Kazakhstan continues to develop its oil production engineering industry and intends to export oil production equipment to Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) states. “Of course, the situation in the world affects the situation in our state and our field. A major part…

ASTANA – Astana Pro Team’s Fabio Aru recently won the 70th Vuelta a España. It was the first grand tour win for the 25-year-old, who finished second behind Alberto Contador at this year’s Giro d’Italia. The win confirms his status as one of the best young riders in the sport. “This is not just a…

ASTANA – Kazakh weightlifters earned three gold and three bronze medals at the recent 26th Senior Women’s and 45th Senior Men’s Asian Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand. Kazakh athletes Yermek Omirtai, Aidar Kazov and Rustem Sybai won gold in the men’s 85 kg, 77 kg and 94 kg categories, respectively. Omirtai lifted 364 kg (161 kg…

NEW YORK – An informal meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly marked the 2015 observance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests on Sept. 10 and highlighted the empirical threat posed by nuclear testing, calling for all countries to sign and ratify the international treaty banning testing. “I have witnessed the lasting societal,…

ASTANA – Akmola Car Repair Plant is the only one of its kind in Kazakhstan. Despite the fact that the plant successfully operated during the Soviet Union decades, it began to develop in the 1990s along with the young state. Today, it is a private joint stock company with 340 employees furnishing unique services in…

ASTANA – Yeldos Smetov recently won gold in the men’s under 60 kilogrammes category at the World Judo Championship in Astana, defeating another Kazakh judoka Rustam Ibrayev. Consequently, Kazakhstan took one gold and one silver medal on the first day of the event. “Of course I am very happy! We have been preparing for this World…

ASTANA – Young cyclists from around the world will compete Aug. 19-23 at Astana’s Saryarka velodrome during the Union Cycliste Internationale Juniors Track Cycling World Championship. “I am very honoured to represent the United States of America in Astana at the Juniors World Championship. This is an incredible opportunity, and I will do my best to…

ASTANA –The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article 4 consultationwith Kazakhstan on July 31, considering and endorsing the staff appraisal without a meeting. Real growth of gross domestic product is now forecasted to increase 3.25 percent in 2016 through a recovery in prices for oil and external demand. Financial conditions…

ASTANA – Krugozor Youth and Tourism Centre, a unique institution based in the most beautiful places of East Kazakhstan, is engaged not only in teaching children and young people, but also gives the skills necessary for environmentally-safe tourism using the best and most up-to-date educational practices. One of its summer programmes is an eco-camp. “East…

ASTANA – Historical reenactment, focused on promoting and drawing attention to past events, is divided into sport and daily activities. The former emphasises fighting using ancient weapons and armour, while the latter concentrates on efforts to recreate the way of life. The Temir Tumen Historical Reenactment Club is interested in portraying the time from the…

ASTANA –Soft car loans financed by the government are encouraging the operation of all Kazakh car plants and becoming a better alternative to loansoffered by commercial banks. Citizens havethe opportunity to purchase cars with a very low interest rate of 4 percent. “Infact, after the programme started sales of cars produced in Kazakhstan increased more…

ASTANA –Nine Kazakh tech startup teams have won the opportunity to receive training in Silicon Valley as a result of their performance in the Technation competition, which attracted startup groups from former Soviet Union countries, Europe and Asia. “More than 20 experts in the U.S. will teach our young members of the startup teams. We…

ASTANA – “Detective Johnny,” the first rapmusic film shot in the territory of the former Soviet Union, will premier July 31 in Almaty.  Directed by Miras Toleukhanov, the movie features some of the city’s well-known rap singers. The film focuses on the title character’s investigation into the murder of a girl named Jess. He meets…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Fund for Financial Support of Agriculture (FFSA) started recently implementinga drop irrigation programme under the Agrobusiness-2020 state branch programme. Equipment for 40 projects in aterritory of 440 hectares will be installed this year. “Kazakhstan has a large area which is suitable for farming and drop irrigation technology can help increase the…

Kazakh banks recently restructured and decreased their foreign debt to 30 billion tenge (US$161 million). “A determined effort was made to restructure foreign debts of corresponding banks, which led to a decrease of the debts from 40 to 10 billion tenge (from US$215 million to US$53 million), which is a very modest number for second-tier…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan offered $4 billion in bonds July 14, a record for the state and made the nation the first among developing counties to take advantage of the calming effect following the recolution of the debt crisis in Greece. Kazakhstan had $2.5 billion in 10-year bonds at 285 basis points over U.S. treasuries and…

ASTANA – National Bank Chairman Kairat Kelimbetov announced widening the tenge’s trading band against the U.S. dollar at a Central Communications Service briefing July 15. The lower limit of the band was kept at 170 and the National Bank raised the tenge’s upper trading limit to 198 per one U.S. dollar. “Exchange policy won’t be…

“Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie,” a book aimed at children and young teenagers by American author Jordan Sonnenblick, was presented in the Sapargali Begalin State Children’s Library in Almaty, according to Today website. “We will estimate readers’ reaction to American literature. It would be great if Kazakh novels, tales and other pieces of art are translated…

ASTANA – The Training Café, an eatery staffed by 20 individuals with mental illness, opened recently in Almaty. The project, financed by the Soros Foundation, is organised by the Psychoanalytic Association of Kazakhstan. “I work as a street sweeper and I like this job and my team very much. We are like a big family…

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Astana Art Fest, a festival showcasing modern art and technologies under the themes of fire energy, water energy and air energy. Nurly Zhol Boulevard became a venue for futuristic art objects, objects of design, architecture and technologies. Artists, famous architects, directors of art programmes and innovative videographers from France,…