Articles by Danna Bupezhanova

Construction of Green Housing Begins in Astana

ASTANA – The construction of a residential area using green technologies has begun in Astana, Chairman of the Board of the Samruk Kazyna Real Estate Fund Bolat Palymbetov announced at a Central Communications Service (CCS) press briefing on Nov. 18. The Green Quarter is a residential and office complex that incorporates advanced technologies. The architectural…

With Warm Embrace, Nazarbayev and Karimov Call for Stronger Ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan publicly confirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and friendly cooperation in Central Asia during the official visit of Uzbek leader Islam Karimov to Astana on Nov. 25. “People in our nations are paying close attention to this visit, as the stability and development of the region depends on the…

Officials Present Policies on Improving Investment Climate in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry held a roundtable Nov. 21 to introduce the country’s policy to improve the investment climate and priority sectors of the domestic economy within the framework of the new Nurly Zhol economic policy. Addressing participants of the roundtable, including foreign ambassadors and other representatives of the diplomatic corps, First Deputy Foreign…

Nazarbayev Reflects on First Five Years of Industrial-Innovative Development Programme

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in a roundtable on industrialisation issues held Nov. 20 in the Akorda presidential residence, covering the results Kazakhstan achieved during the first five years of the State Programme on Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development (SPAIID) and the preventive economic measures set forth by the newly unveiled Nurly…

In Surprise State of the Nation Address, Kazakh President Unveils Massive Infrastructure Investments

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev unexpectedly delivered his new state-of-the-nation address in Astana on Nov.11 at an extended session of the Political Council of the Nur Otan party, introducing what he termed a new economic policy heavily emphasising massive state investment in infrastructure over the next several years. In previous years, the President’s address was…

Air Astana Signs Code-Share Agreement with Air India

Kazakhstan’s largest airline Air Astana signed a free flow code-share agreement with state-run airline and Star Alliance member Air India on Oct. 28 in New Delhi. “As a state-run airline and Star Alliance member carrier, Air India feels honoured to enter into this code-share agreement with Air Astana. This agreement has enabled Air India to…

OIC Secretary General’s Kazakh Visit Focuses on Plans to Set Up Food Security Organisation

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov received Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad bin Amin Madani on Oct. 30 to discuss bilateral cooperation and explore Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish a food security organisation under the OIC with a main office in Astana. “The idea to establish the Islamic Organisation for…

Kazakhstan’s GDP Expected to Grow 5% in 2014

ASTANA – Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan Kairat Kelimbetov predicted an increase in the country’s gross domestic product of up to 5 percent at the end of 2014 during an Oct. 21 press conference in Astana on the revised budget. From January to September of this year, the GDP grew 4 percent. According…

Astana Ballet Wraps Up Well-Received World Tour

The Astana Ballet wrapped up its 2014 world tour recently with a performance of “Alem” in Seoul, South Korea. The tour included performances at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre in Moscow, Gala au Palais des Congrès in Paris, Museums Quartier Wien in Vienna and the Yeouido KBS Hall…

Officials Unveil Details of Samruk Kazyna Transformation

ASTANA – The Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund officially unveiled its transformation programme Oct. 6. The programme is designed to help modernise Kazakhstan’s economy and bring an additional $11 billion to the country’s gross domestic product by 2020 through the reorganised fund. The programme was announced during what was billed as a Transformation Forum that…