Barys wins fifth Kazakh President’s Ice Hockey Cup
NUR-SULTAN – Nur-Sultan Hockey Club Barys won Aug. 11 the 2019 Kazakh President’s Ice Hockey Cup, reports Olympic.kz. “Congratulations to the players and coaches of the team with your great victory!” said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Twitter account. Barys defeated Kazan’s Ak Bars 6:1 on Aug. 7, Nizhnekamsk’s Neftekhimik 5:3 on Aug. 8,…
Kazakh finance ministry aims to reduce the country’s shadow economy to 15-17 percent of GDP
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Finance aims to reduce the country’s shadow economy to 15-17 percent of the gross domestic product, which is the level exhibited among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, said Kazakh First Vice Minister of Finance Berik Sholpankulov at an Aug. 8 government press conference. In addition to creating…
Kazakhstan urges United States, Russia to resolve INF Treaty issues
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan remains hopeful the United States and Russia will negotiate and resolve their problems concerning the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty through existing bilateral and multilateral platforms, said the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an Aug. 4 statement on the Aug. 2 withdrawal of the United States from the treaty. “The Kazakh…
Tiny house rental business in Kazakhstan emphasises design over size
NUR-SULTAN – The tiny house movement has reached the world’s largest landlocked country, enabling inhabitants of homes under 100 square metres to lead simpler lives. Although home sizes tend to grow with higher incomes, iHouse Almaty Founder Dinara Zhashibekova finds that true luxury is finding “a quiet spot where you can rest your mind, body…
Kazakhstan finishes 90 percent of repairs to Arys damaged by munitions explosion
NUR-SULTAN – Ninety percent of reconstruction and repair in Arys was complete as of Aug. 2, after the town was heavily damaged June 24 by a large explosion at a munitions warehouse nearby, reports Primeminister.kz. The explosion, which authorities have determined was caused by a violation of fire safety rules during the warehouse’s construction and…
$139 million in metallurgy, renewable energy projects launched in Karaganda Region
NUR-SULTAN – Two projects on metallurgy and renewable energy worth $139 million were launched in the first half of the year in the Karaganda Region with Kazakh Invest support, reports Invest.gov.kz. Four more Kazakh Invest-supported projects worth $438 million are under construction and installation, two of which will be completed this year. Among the projects…
5,051 families to return to repaired homes in Arys, says Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development
NUR-SULTAN – Five thousand and fifty-one families may return to their repaired homes in the town of Arys, which was heavily damaged June 24 by a large explosion at a munitions warehouse nearby, reports the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development. The explosion and resulting fires killed two soldiers and a civilian, caused widespread…
Shymkent becomes 31st city to join EBRD Green Cities programme for urban sustainability
NUR-SULTAN – Shymkent recently became the 31st city to join the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) $1.11 billion Green Cities urban sustainability programme, reports mfa.gov.kz. The programme aims to preserve environmental resources, use resources sustainably, mitigate and adapt to climate change risks and ensure environmental policies contribute to social and economic well-being. It…
Nur-Sultan Mayor urges construction companies to follow safety procedures, pay employees and buy locally
NUR-SULTAN – Nur-Sultan Akim (Mayor) Altay Kulginov discussed safety compliance and the purchase of local materials July 16 with representatives of construction companies working in the capital, reports the city akimat (administration) press service. Kulginov urged construction workers to comply with safety procedures at construction sites by wearing protective hats and footwear. “I ask you…
Public-private partnerships contracts worth $3 billion concluded in first half of 2019
NUR-SULTAN – Five hundred and sixty-five public-private partnership (PPP) contracts worth 1.29 trillion tenge (US$3.35 billion) were concluded in Kazakhstan in the first half of 2019. Nine of the projects were national and the rest were local, said Vice Minister of National Economy Madi Takiyev at a July 22 government meeting. The development of PPP,…
KazUAV joins Terra Drone Corporation network to provide innovative drone services in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation’s recent investment in KazUAV means the Kazakh drone company will join a global network of more than 25 companies to provide cutting-edge and cost-effective drone services in Kazakhstan, reports Terra-drone.net. “With 3 percent of the world’s total oil reserves in Kazakhstan, the production of oil and gas in the…
Nur-Sultan to incorporate President’s directives on improving living standards into capital’s social, economic development
NUR-SULTAN – The capital’s akimat (administration) will incorporate President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s call for government to improve living standards in the city’s social and economic development, said Nur-Sultan Akim (Mayor) Altay Kulginov at a July 17 meeting on the results of the July 15 expanded government meeting chaired by Tokayev. The First President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, tasked…
Kazakhstan hopes to complete main restoration of Arys by August, says Prime Minister
NUR-SULTAN – National and local officials hope to finish by Aug. 1 the most important repairs to the town of Arys, which was heavily damaged June 24 by a large explosion at a munitions warehouse nearby, Prime Minister Askar Mamin announced July 11 during a visit to the Turkestan Region. The explosion and resulting fires…
Kazakhstan seeks airline services expansion at Routes Silk Road 2019 forum
NUR-SULTAN – The forum Routes Silk Road 2019 gathered July 15-17 more than 250 people from business, government and aviation in panel sessions and 800 face-to-face meetings to discuss air services at the capital’s Palace of Independence, reports the city akimat (administration). “The Astana Convention Bureau is excited to host this prestigious event and welcome…
Children’s book series introduces Central Asia to readers of all ages, backgrounds
NUR-SULTAN – Author Marina Abrams is introducing Central Asia to people of all ages in the English and Russian-language illustrated book “Orange and Blue: The World of Barzu.” The story of a boy from the mountains and his family features a folkloric narrative and an educational section, all of which foster curiosity and discussion among…
Paralympians from 78 countries compete for 20 gold medals at Nur-Sultan’s World Para Powerlifting Championships
NUR-SULTAN – Four hundred and forty-one Paralympians from 78 countries are competing for the World Para Powerlifting Championships’s 20 gold medals in the capital’s Congress Centre July 12-20, reports the city akimat (administration). Powerlifters set a strong tone on the first day, with three-time Paralympic silver medallist Cui Zhe setting the first world record at…
Kazakhstan to develop state programme to better manage municipal solid waste
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, government agencies and organisations are developing a state programme to better manage municipal solid waste (MSW), reports the Nur-Sultan Akimat (city administration) press service. State and local government funds as well as private investment will be used to develop the waste management industry and…
YARKOcross run emphasises fun, charity and health awareness
NUR-SULTAN – People will run five kilometres for charity at the seventh annual paint race YARKOcross in the capital’s Triathlon Park July 20, reports the city akimat (administration) press service. The race is organised by the Plant a Tree fund with the support of the akimat. With clean white shirts and a 10 a.m. start,…
Kazakhstan signs agreements on Abai, Dunga oil fields with foreign investors
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan recently signed agreements on the Abai and Dunga oil fields with foreign oil and gas companies, reports Primeminister.kz. Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin met July 4 with President of Total Exploration and Production Arnaud Breuillac to discuss cooperation in the oil and gas sector. They discussed oil and gas production, technology transfer,…
Kazakhstan ratifies Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the law July 3 ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, reported Akorda.kz. Nuclear weapons, unlike chemical weapons, biological weapons, anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, are not comprehensively and universally prohibited. The treaty is the first legally-binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons, prohibiting their…
Yulia Putintseva defeats Naomi Osaka for third time, advances to Wimbledon second round
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, ranked 39th by the World Tennis Association (WTA), defeated world number two player and U.S. and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, 7-6, 6-2, in the first round at Wimbledon. She advanced to the second round, where she will face Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland (WTA rank 81) on July…
KazakhExport to establish, strengthen Kazakh-Chinese business relations through new representative office in China
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s export insurance company will establish and strengthen business relations among Kazakh and Chinese firms through its new representative office in China, reports Inform.kz. “As part of the development programme for Kazakh companies, we planned to open two offices in China,” said KazakhExport Board Chairman Ruslan Iskakov at the recent signing of KazakhExport’s…
GPS tracking technology to prevent cattle loss, raiding in Almaty Region
NUR-SULTAN – Cattle in the Almaty Region are being tracked by Global Positioning System (GPS) as part of a $700,000 pilot project developed by South Korean companies Lives’Talk and Samsung Electronics and supported by Kazakh Invest. A GPS device costs less than $300 and consists of three transmitters and waterproof collars and a receiver for…
Kazakh physicists to participate in European Organisation for Nuclear Research projects
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh nuclear physicists, engineers and students will soon be able to participate in European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) scientific experiments and internships at CERN facilities, said Kazakh Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev at a June 19 Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) plenary session. An agreement between Kazakhstan and CERN regarding scientific…
Kazakh President flies to Arys after deadly explosion at weapons depot, pledges full support to residents and restoration of town
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the town of Arys June 24 shortly after an explosion at an ammunition depot on the same day killed two, injured dozens and resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of city residents. The explosion occurred on a military base just outside of Arys. The explosion sent…
