Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 24th in the global e-government development index, climbing four spots from the previous report, according to the United Nations (UN) E-Government Survey 2024. According to the update released by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry on Sept. 18., this year’s ranking places Kazakhstan ahead of Uruguay (25th), Switzerland…

ASTANA — The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Kazakhstan is now accepting applications to support and develop women’s entrepreneurship in the country, reported the AWE program’s press service. Launched by the United States Department of State in 2021, the program empowers women to realize their economic potential, creating a more stable, safe, and…

ASTANA – The Aisholpan cultural and educational project, which features a series of educational podcasts for teenage girls on YouTube, recently hosted Bolat Akchulakov, the president of the Kazakhstan National Federation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Clubs and the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations. During the podcast, Akchulakov shared his…

ASTANA – German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on Sept. 16-17. During his visit, Scholz will meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and participate in the second meeting in the Central Asia + Germany format.  Yerbulat Seilekhanov, the chief researcher at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), outlined key…

ASTANA – Two Kazakh athletes earned medals in the women’s oware competition, an intellectual game rooted in West African tradition. Assel Daliyeva secured the gold medal, while Ansagan Kozhanasip took bronze. “I do not play this game professionally—only when I go abroad and participate in tournaments. This is my biggest championship. It was both challenging…

ASTANA – The Kazakh national team won three gold medals and secured first place in the team standings for togyzkumalak (nine pellets) on Sept.11, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports. In the women’s division, Moldir Serikkyzy claimed gold, while Ansagan Kozhanasyp took silver. In the men’s division, Beksultan Bostandykov…

ASTANA – The Kazakh team clinched gold medals in three weight categories in audaryspak, a traditional horseback wrestling sport, on the first day of the fifth World Nomad Games. In the 60-kilogram category, Yermek Kuralbay defeated Zheksenbek Turdibekov from the Kyrgyz Republic. A Mongolian athlete claimed third place, while Almas Kamaldinov from Russia secured fourth.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrated the 100th anniversary of a prominent Kazakh composer and a key figure in the national school of composers Sydyk Mukhametzhanov on Sept. 5. Mukhametzhanov, born in 1924 in the Shet District of the Karagandy Region, is hailed as a classic of 20th-century Kazakh music.  He pioneered several new genres in Kazakh…

ASTANA – Astana Finance Days (AFD), organized by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), continues with a series of discussions on topics including investment potential, financial institutions’ roles, data protection, artificial intelligence (AI) in business, the creation of a voluntary carbon market in Kazakhstan, capital markets, financial technologies, and Islamic financial solutions for both corporate…

ASTANA – Energy Week Central Asia and Caspian 2024 took place on Sept. 5-6 in Astana, focusing on the region’s green transition. The event featured in-depth discussions on policy and regulatory frameworks, financing renewable energy, and technology-specific projects, including solar PV, storage, wind energy, green hydrogen, and hydropower. The region’s substantial untapped renewable energy potential…

ASTANA — The HAS SANAT Art Gallery in the Kazakh capital hosts the “Salvador Dali: The Secret Writing” exhibition from Aug. 30 to Sept. 29. The exhibition showcases 61 original works by the renowned surrealist. Dali, known for his eccentric persona and ability to blur the lines between reality and fantasy, is celebrated for transforming…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the World Bank discussed the new five-year country partnership framework for 2025-2030, outlining key areas of the bank’s activities in Kazakhstan, including support for public sector reforms, macroeconomic and fiscal stability, the financial sector, agricultural transformation, and digital development, reported the press service of the Ministry of National Economy on Aug.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s referendum on construction of a nuclear power plant is scheduled for Oct. 6, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during his annual state-of-the-nation address to Kazakh citizens at a joint meeting of Parliament on Sept. 2. Tokayev stated that every crucial decision for the country’s future must have public support, including the nuclear power…

ASTANA – President of the Kazakh Union of Cynologists, Bauyrzhan Serikkali, spoke to Kazinform news agency about the timeline for international recognition of the Kazakh Tazy dog breed, the challenges in breed verification, and the steps being taken for its preservation and development. Below is the Q&A with Bauyrzhan Serikkali: Following a Tazy dog exhibition in…

ASTANA – A Turkish family converted a 1982 bus into a motorhome and embarked on a journey from Ankara to Astana for the Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG), according to the Kazinform news agency. Clinical psychologist Idil Duran, carpenter Burak Duran and their two-year-old son have temporarily left their life in Istanbul to live in…

BISHKEK – Ordo, the most widespread traditional game in the Kyrgyz Republic, is featured in the World Nomad Games. The word “ordo” refers to the central headquarters of a khan’s (ruler’s) palace, and the game simulates the battle to capture this stronghold. Historically, the game served as a military training tool, teaching warriors how to…

ASTANA – Kazakh traditional ornaments are a vital part of culture, commonly seen in clothing, jewelry, and household items including rugs, blankets, and pottery. The intricate designs, featuring geometric patterns, floral motifs, and animal depictions, serve as decorations and amulets. In an interview with The Astana Times, Aizhan Kurbanova, a junior researcher at the Central…

ASTANA—The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released an analytical report on food security and the agro-industrial potential of the Eurasian region. The report forecasts that Kazakhstan will be the leading producer of food surpluses through 2035, primarily due to its expanding grain production. Countries in the region face significant challenges, including land and water shortages…

ASTANA – Jakub Jakusik, a Polish lecturer specializing in Kazakh language at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, has a deep passion for Turkish and Central Asian culture. Beyond teaching, he conducts research on the language, culture, history and socio-political dynamics of Türkiye and Kazakhstan, aiming to enrich his students’ understanding and inspire them to explore…

ASTANA – The genomic industry in Kazakhstan is developing rapidly, drawing interest from government agencies and private investors. The integration of genomic technologies across various sectors of the economy promises to enhance the quality of life and production processes in the country. Gabidulla Ospankulov, the chairman of the Investment Committee of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry,…

ASTANA – The traditional Kazakh board game togyzkumalak (nine pebbels board game), known as the “chess of the steppes,” is one of the 21 sports featured at the Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG) in Astana. The sports program also includes assyk atu, ordo, tug of war, baige, kokpar, horseback wrestling, tenge ilu, qazaq kuresi, ashyrtmaly…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in collaboration with the World Bank, is advancing the second phase of the Northern Aral Sea preservation project. The sea has recently seen an increase in its water volume, with 1.1 billion cubic meters entering its basin, bringing the total volume to 21.4 billion cubic…

ASTANA – In the first half of the year, Kazakhstan achieved substantial oil and gas production results, extracting 44.7 million tons of oil and gas condensate and increasing gas production to 30 billion cubic meters, a 101% rise from the same period last year. The Prime Minister’s press service reviewed measures to enhance energy infrastructure,…

ASTANA – In a recent article published on July 28 to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the UN highlighted the human trafficking situation in Kazakhstan and the measures the country has implemented to combat it. The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was established in 2013 to raise awareness about victims of human…

ASTANA – The British educational institutions Ardingly College and Coventry University are expanding their presence in Kazakhstan, fostering bilateral cooperation and offering educational opportunities for Kazakh citizens. Primus Education has played a key role in these projects, selecting partners that align with their mission. We spoke with Primus Education president Alister Bartholomew and president of…