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…
Kazakh light industries focus on local market, face shortage of high-quality raw materials
NUR-SULTAN – Light industry is one of the priorities for the Kazakh economy. Product exports were $108.5 million for January-August 2018, 21 percent lower compared to the previous year. Imports reached $845 million, 6.2 percent higher than in 2017. Approximately 992 enterprises, 13 large, 27 medium-sized and 952 small companies, operate in light industry, reported…
Podcasts find growing audience, become new social opinion platform for creative Kazakhs
NUR-SULTAN – Why do creative individuals launch podcasts in a period of YouTube domination? What topics do they explore? Is podcasting becoming more popular in Kazakhstan? The Astana Times interviewed TEDx Ambassador Larissa Pak and engineer Omar-Sayan Karabayev to learn more about their podcasts and activities. Pak’s “Every Day by Day” covers topical and controversial…
Nur Otan party launches project to help public gain access to public services
NUR-SULTAN – The Nur Otan party has responded to recent calls for more public services with the launch of the Khalyqqa Komek (Assistance to the People) project. “The head of state set the task to implement four projects at the 18th Congress of the Nur Otan Party. The first project is aimed at supporting low-income,…
Almaty activists to establish new women’s aid, advocacy organisation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will soon have a new women’s assembly, Aruana, the leaders of nongovernmental organisations in the country announced March 19. The domestic violence crisis and information centre Ihlas Jurek and the Children of Kazakhstan charity foundation have united to help address the major problems women and children face in society. “Our main mission…
Shymkent officials brief PM on city’s development acceleration efforts
ASTANA – Shymkent city officials briefed Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin March 16 on the city’s project to accelerate its comprehensive development and construction plan. The acceleration effort and the development plan through 2023 seek to create new jobs, develop small and medium-sized businesses, improve the quality of public services and address social issues. It…
Khabar TV presents documentary about emerging boxing stars
ASTANA – Khabar TV previewed “Qazaq boks stıli” (Kazakh boxing style), a documentary directed by Kanat Beisekeyev, March 13 in the capital, reported the channel’s press service. The film detailing the life of Kazakh boxers in the U.S. will be released March 16. “Khabar TV has supported sports events for many years, and we are…
More than 100 clinics and hospitals offer free healthcare in Almaty
ASTANA – Approximately 104 private organisations and 81 government organisations provide free government-sponsored healthcare to Almaty residents, said Social Health Insurance Fund director Tleukhan Abildayev at a March 5 press conference. “The number of private healthcare providers working with government has doubled over the past two years. Also, 77 clinics including 38 private offer services,”…
Kyzylorda region sees industrial production and export growth
ASTANA – Approximately 1.7 trillion tenge (US$4.5 billion) was invested in the Kyzylorda region in 2013-2018, the regional press service reported March 3. Investments increased last year by 25.5 percent, mainly due to the growth of the investments provided by the enterprises. Investments in fixed assets were 325.5 billion tenge (US$865 million). Fixed asset investment…
Rakhat Confectionery shows stable growth, leads in chocolate market
ASTANA – Rakhat Confectionery recorded positive growth in all key indicators last year, increasing revenue, profitability and market share, according to the company’s Feb. 26 press release. Income grew by 4.8 percent compared to 2017, with revenue of 59.171 million tenge (US$158 million). Market share grew 2 percent and reached 20.5 percent in the main…
EBRD predicts 3.5-percent GDP growth for Kazakhstan in 2019, tariff-setting and renewable energy should be in focus
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Transition Report forecasts steady growth for the Kazakh economy, as major structural reforms are expected to improve the situation further. “Kazakhstan’s real GDP grew 4 percent in 2017 and a little bit more in 2018. This has been driven since 2017 primarily by exports and…
Astana Opera to present classical masterpieces
ASTANA – Soprano Maria Mudryak and tenor Medet Chotabaev will present “Masterpieces of Musical Art” March 2 at the Astana Opera House in the capital. The Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra will perform for the first time with maestro Ilya Mashkevich. The programme includes Symphony No. 9 by Czech composer Antonin Dvořák. “I perform this music…
Finland to promote EU-Kazakhstan cooperation, boost economic ties, says envoy
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is the most important Central Asian economic partner for Finland, said Finnish Ambassador Mikko Kivikoski in an interview with The Astana Times which touched upon a number of topics relating to the two nations. “During the second half of this year, Finland will take over the European Union (EU) presidency after Romania.…
Non-profit promotes Central Asian culture in South Korea
ASTANA – The Central Asian Supporters Association (CASA) based, a non profit organisation based in Seoul, South Korea, promotes Central Asian culture and connects citizens of the region living in South Korea. CASA has members from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. “When you are abroad, country borders are washed away and you feel closer…
Digital Kazakhstan measures increase labour productivity, reduce costs
ASTANA – Measures implemented through Digital Kazakhstan have had a 218-billion tenge (US$579 million) economic impact and created more than 43,000 jobs, said Minister of Information and Communication Dauren Abayev Feb. 19. The positive trend is being observed in many sectors. The legislative base has improved and optimised approaches have been developed in production, business…
National Museum presents Urzhar priestess and restored treasures exhibition
ASTANA – The Kazakh National Museum opened the Urzhar Priestess and Restored Treasures: results of conservation and restoration works exhibition Feb. 13 in the capital. The show is dedicated to the museum’s fifth anniversary, reported the Ministry of Culture and Sports press service. The sensational artefact was discovered during a 2013 archaeological expedition headed by…
Kazakh government, EBRD reaffirm support for SMEs, business consulting increases turnover
ASTANA – Small and medium-sized businesses are key focus areas in the country, said European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Kazakhstan Director Agris Preimanis at the sixth annual steering committee meeting. The bank intends to invest $540 million in various projects this year. “Kazakhstan is one of the most important markets for the…
