Articles by Frol Leandoer

Kazakh President thanks UAE Crown Prince for support

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev thanked the United Arab Emirates for its support during an Oct. 24 meeting in Abu Dhabi with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “You always support us in the international arena and in the…

Astana launches design contest for 36-acre island in heart of city

ASTANA – The Astana city government recently announced a custom architectural town planning contest for the development of a sketch idea for the Oriental City facility. The facility will be located on a 36-hectare island in the central part of the capital near the Sary Arka bridge, Yelorda Info reported. The terms of the contest…

Kazakhfilm starts filming Kazakh Khanate second season

ASTANA – Kazakhfilm has begun shooting the second season of its large-scale historical series about the Kazakh Khanate. The project, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Sports in conjunction with Rustem Abdrashev’s Centaurus Productions, has the working title “Kazakh Khanate. The Golden Throne.” “The first season of the series aroused great interest in our…

CIS to create common photobank

ASTANA – The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will be creating a common photobank available to member states. The idea was approved at the 23rd CIS Heads of State Information Agencies (Information Council) meeting held in Sochi, Russia, which coincided with the opening of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students. Event participants discussed…

Young Kazakhs perform at UNESCO headquarters

ASTANA – Eight young Kazakhs performed at United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO headquarters in Paris as winners of the nation’s second Children in the Rhythm of the World Creative Youth Festival. More than 2,000 children from all regions submitted videos of their performances this summer. Twenty-four contestants advanced to the final stage,…

Kazakh healthcare minister reviews ongoing advances in his sphere

ASTANA – Healthcare Minister Yelzhan Birtanov recently reported on the results of the Densaulyk state health development programme for 2016-2019. The first nine months of the year showed a 2-percent decrease in overall mortality compared to 2016, specifically in infant mortality (10.2 percent), maternal mortality (4.9 percent), malignant neoplasms (4.9 percent), accidents and injuries (9.1…

Private investors to build glass suspension bridge in Burabai mountains

ASTANA – A glass suspension bridge is planned to be built in the mountains of the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort zone, Kazinform reported. “This project was initiated on the Akmola region level, which will be implemented with the involvement of private investments, not from the state budget. The design and estimate documentation has not yet been developed,…

Kazakh IT start-ups to be prepared in Silicon Valley

ASTANA – Almaty Tech Garden is launching the international Startup Kazakhstan programme, with participants to be housed in the IT Quarter, reported Kazinform. The venture is the country’s first large-scale effort aimed at developing domestic and attracting foreign startups, said CEO Sanzhar Kettebekov. “The financing will be implemented through the joint venture fund Almaty Tech…

Kazakhstan’s halal labeled products enter UAE and Middle East market

ASTANA – KAZAKH INVEST presented Kazakh-produced items at the Halal Expo 2017 international food exhibit in Dubai, reported the company’s press service. Abai, Disada, Eurasia Invest, Golden Food Company, Leninsk Onimi and Rakhat products were displayed in the national pavilion. Representatives of the Dubai government and Kazakh Consul General in Dubai Madiyar Menilbekov attended the…

Ancient Botay culture to be explored and displayed in Borovoe

ASTANA – Akmola Region Akim (Governor) Malik Murzalin met with Viktor Zaibert, professor of archaeology and researcher behind one of the most sensational archaeological discoveries in Botay culture of the 20th century as well as the producer of the documentary film trilogy “EQUUS,” Nurbol Baimukhanov. At the Sept. 24 meeting, issues of cooperation of the…

Kazakhstan strengthens international ties at 61st session of IAEA general conference

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation signed a cooperation agreement in scientific research and developing nuclear energy, reported Kazakh Ministry of Energy press service. The document was inked during the 61st session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general conference, held Sept. 18-22 in Vienna. The general conference, involving delegations from IAEA member…

Astana’s international green technologies centre to help Kazakhstan transition to a green economy

ASTANA – The international green technologies centre to open in Astana next month will help Kazakhstan transition to a green economy and will focus on renewable energy throughout Central Asia, Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said at the recent Eurasian KAZENERGY forum, Kazinform reports. “An international centre of green technologies and future energy investment projects…

KitapFest book festival held in Almaty

ASTANA – For the fourth consecutive year, KitapFest, organised by the Bauyrzhan Charity Foundation and Eurasian Franchise Association with support from the akimat, was held in Almaty on the square in front of the National Academy of Sciences. The event, with the main goal to popularise reading, hosted a large book exchange, meetings and master…

Films in memory of Nelson Mandela shown in Astana

ASTANA – The South African Embassy in Kazakhstan with the support of Kinopark 8 IMAX Saryarka (Kazakhstan), Videovision Entertainment (South Africa) and the South African Honorary Consulate in Almaty presented free screenings Sept. 8-9 of the South African films “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and “More than Just a Game” in memory of late South…

700,000 South Kazakhstan inhabitants to be provided with drinking water

ASTANA – Forty moraine lakes have been identified in the highland areas of the South Kazakhstan region which, due to their melting and the Ugam River, are expected to provide drinking water to 700,000 people living in the Kazygurt, Maktaaral and Saryagash districts. The assessment was made at an altitude of 3,340-3,500 metres through an…

Kazakh-Russian trade turnover to grow up to 40 percent this year, says Russian trade representative

ASTANA – Over the past eight months, commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and Russia grew 34 percent, and according to forecasts, by the end of the year will grow 35-40 percent, according to comments by Russian Trade Representative in Kazakhstan Alexander Yakovlev at a forum of the business ombudsmen, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports. According to Yakovlev, Russia ranks…

EAEU free trade zone negotiations with Iran close to end

ASTANA – Negotiations between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran to create a free trade zone are in their final stage. “We have been conducting quite intensive negotiations with Iran for over eight months,” said Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Minister for Trade Veronika Nikishina, reported Kazinform. “We have had seven rounds of difficult negotiations.…

World renowned jazz musicians perform in festival in Astana

ASTANA – Internationally-recognised jazz performers gathered in Astana for the Aug. 15-17 JAZZIA 2017 International Jazz Festival. The festival was part of EXPO 2017. “JAZZIA is three days of performances by world-famous music groups from different countries who share the main values ​​of the exhibition, which is the sustainable development of mankind in harmony with…

Italian stunt person creates breathtaking bicycle videos in Astana

ASTANA – Italian stunt person Vittorio Brumotti, known for his road bike cycling tricks, was in the capital this month to shoot several exciting new videos. A computer science teacher by profession, he became famous by making videos and posting them on YouTube. While in the city for a few days, Brumotti’s plans included not…