Kazakh Arm Wrestling Champion Promotes Nation Abroad
ASTANA – Darkhan Sarsenov, a Kazakh arm wrestling champion of Asia and Kazakhstan, who currently lives in Philadelphia, the United States, is seeking to promote his country overseas and take part in various arm wrestling competitions in the U.S., reported Kazinform on May 29. Sarsenov, born in Tuymekent village in the Zhambyl Region, has been…
Kazakh Foreign Ministry Organizes Event to Celebrate International Children’s Day
ASTANA – A festive event titled Children Draw Peace was held on the square near the Baiterek tower on June 1 to mark International Children’s Day. The event was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support of the Astana Akimat (city administration). The representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations attended…
Royal Society for Protection of Birds Supports Biodiversity Conservation in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Kazakh government are implementing a project on the conservation of biodiversity. The cooperation, carried out under international agreements, encompasses technical and methodological support and joint research. Ulan Mamyrbaev, the head of the Bokeyorda natural reserve, spoke about the project in an…
New Master Plan for Almaty to Decentralize City and Address Environmental Issues
ASTANA – The Government has approved a new master plan for the development of the city of Almaty until 2040, reported the Almaty Akimat (city administration) on May 22. The strategic document outlines the creation of five city centers to reduce the load on the historical city center and addresses ecological issues through the expansion…
Astana Hosts Africa Day Celebrations, Showcases Diversity
ASTANA – Astana hosted Africa Day at the Radisson Hotel on May 25, showcasing Africa’s diversity, cultural and economic potential. The event was initiated by the embassies of South Africa, Libya, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt in Kazakhstan. South African Ambassador Keitumetse Seipelo Thandeka Matthews opened Africa Day, noting this year is the 60th anniversary of…
Dimash Kudaibergen to Release New Music Video “Omir” (Life)
ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen has announced the release of a new music video, “Omir” (life), dedicated to his fans. The release is expected on May 24 – the singer’s birthday, Kudaibergen announced on his Instagram page on May 21. “Life is a gigantic ship in which black and white, good and evil, joy…
Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Considers Ways to Manage Growing Saiga Population in West Kazakhstan
ASTANA – While the growing population of the saiga antelopes in Kazakhstan can be considered an ecological success, their increasing number is also having a negative impact on agricultural land. To tackle this, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has proposed to transfer 120,000 hectares of land to the Bokeyorda Reserve located in…
World Epics Festival Starts in Kyrgyz Republic
ASTANA – The seventh World Epics Festival dedicated to the 95th anniversary of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov and the 125th anniversary of Kazakh writer Mukhtar Auezov has kicked off in the Kyrgyz city Osh, reported Kyrgyz national news agency Kabar on May 18. With local and international participants performing folklore ethno-programs and scientific symposiums, the…
New ADB Strategy for Kazakhstan to Address Climate Change, Promote Inclusive Economic Growth and Strengthen Governance
ASTANA — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released a five-year country partnership strategy (CPS) for Kazakhstan aimed at addressing climate change and decarbonization, promoting inclusive economic growth, and strengthening governance, reported the bank’s press service on May 17. Energy, finance, public sector management, transport, and urban development are indicated as priority sectors by the…
National Bank Presents 2022 Economic Results to President Tokayev
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approved the National Bank’s annual report on the results of the implementation of the monetary policy for 2022, measures to ensure financial stability, the level of gold and foreign exchange reserves and the National Fund’s assets, reported the Akorda press service on May 16. According to the report, dollarization…
Kazakhstan and EU Start ‘Formal Consultations’ on Visa Facilitation for Kazakh Citizens
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union agreed to start what they termed “formal consultations” to facilitate the visa application process for Kazakh citizens, following a meeting in Brussels between Murat Nurtleu, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, on May 15, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press…
Kazakhstan’s Resort Tourism Soars with 30% Increase in Visitors, Generating Over $226 Million in Revenue
ASTANA – The number of tourists staying at Kazakhstan’s resort locations increased by 30% in 2022 compared to 2021, earning the resorts over 102 billion tenge ($226 million), reported the Ministry of Culture and Sports on May 15. The volume of services provided has almost doubled compared to 2021. The number of beds in resort…
Population in Kazakhstan Surpasses 19.8 Million, With Prevalence of Urban Population
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s population has surpassed 19.8 million people as of April 1, of which 62% are urban residents, while 38% are rural, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. In the first quarter of 2023, 93,500 children were born, less than during the same period last year (100,400 in 2021 and 96,600 in 2022),…
Kazakh Peacekeepers Complete Mission in Lebanon
ASTANA – The Kazakh peacekeepers have completed their mission as part of the peacekeeping contingent of the Indian Armed Forces participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Defense on May 15. The military personnel were greeted warmly at the Almaty international airport upon their return to Kazakhstan. More…
National Museum of Kazakhstan to Host Museum Night This Week
ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan will host the Night of Museums on May 18, dedicated to International Museum Day, presenting a large-scale historical and educational project Museum in the Stream of Time, the museum’s press service reported. During the day, the Scientific Library will host a symposium on the organization of museum fund-saving…
Kazakh Chess Player Assaubayeva Reaches Grand Finale of World Chess Armageddon Series
ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva won Women’s Week at the Armageddon Championship Series in Berlin, Germany, reported World Chess, a commercial partner of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), on May 14. This victory secured her a place in the Grand Finale in September, where she will join other finalists to compete for the…
Almaty to Host Central Eurasian Venture Forum in June
ASTANA – The Central Eurasian Venture Forum (CEVF) will be held in Almaty by MOST Holding and Investbanq (Paladigm Capital), a Singapore investment platform, on June 2, according to CEVF2023 official website. The forum will be devoted to human capital in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The AI generated the topics for the CEVF2023…
Two Kazakh Teams Advance to Finals of World Google Hackathon
ASTANA – Two teams from Kazakhstan entered the top 100 in the global Google Solution Challenge hackathon competing with 5,000 participants. Askar Aituov, a coordinator for Google Developers & Google for Startups in Central Asia and Mongolia, spoke about the annual hackathon and the entry selection process in an interview for The Astana Times. In…
Kazakh Folk Instruments Combine Centuries-Long History, Modern Popularity
ASTANA – The Saryarka Ensemble has been sharing a cultural treasure with audiences locally and internationally for 25 years. The band plays unique national instruments that have been around for centuries. The group was established in 1998. Since then, they have given concerts all over Kazakhstan and participated in international competitions and festivals in Europe…
Lynx Recorded by Camera Trap in Almaty Region
ASTANA – A lynx was recorded by a camera trap for the first time in two years at Mount Bugyty in the Charyn National Park in the Almaty Region, reported the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. This predator is active mainly at night. The spotted pattern of a lynx helps it stay…
Kazakhstan and China Intend to Develop Khorgos Hub for Mutual Trade Growth
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China announced plans to create a Khorgos Hub to increase trade between the countries, reported Kazinform on May 10. A new cluster will be located in the Zhetisu Region in the southeast of Kazakhstan. The hub will include five existing facilities on the Chinese-Kazakh border – the Khorgos – Eastern Gate…
Kazakhstan to Introduce Foster Families as Alternative to Institutional Child Care
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is developing a draft law on the introduction of professional foster families, which would mean all orphans and children left without parental care will be placed in foster care immediately. The draft law is being prepared by the Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, governmental and non-governmental organizations and international experts.…
Kazakh Artist Sees Her Mission in Making Art Accessible to All
ASTANA – Astana-based artist Aigerim Karibayeva, who sells her artworks domestically and internationally, sees her mission in popularizing art. She calls her style ethnic modernism and makes her works accessible to the public via collaboration with large enterprises. Karibayeva discussed her creative path, goals, criteria for choosing projects for cooperation, and plans in an interview…
Kazakh FM says SCO Needs to Find Ways to Adapt
ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu participated in a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Goa on May 5. The agenda of the event included the preparation for the meeting of the…
Survey: Kazakh People Optimistic about Future and Country’s Development
ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) has published the results of a survey on public perception of the country’s development. The survey found that 72% of the respondents believe Kazakhstan is developing in the right direction. The research titled To People about People: Public Perception of the Country’s Development Course was presented…
