ZIBROO, Sportswear Made in Kazakhstan
After creating the Kazakhstan national team uniform for the 2011 Asian Winter Games, the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the upcoming Almaty Winter Universiade to take place in 2017, local manufacturer KazSPO-N has introduced its new sportswear brand, ZIBROO. The owners have also announced plans to enter the market in other countries. “We started expanding our…
Insurance Fund Created to Ensure Kazakh Travelers are Able to Return from Abroad
Vice Minister of Investment and Development Albert Rau recently announced the creation of a new insurance fund for Kazakh tourists travelling abroad at the beginning of next year. The announcement was made during a Central Communications Service (CCS) press conference held on Sept. 18. “We have faced cases when a tour operator, after sending people to…
Almaty City Instagram Account Seeks to Improve Public Services
The Almaty city akimat (city administration) recently created an Instagram account to respond to citizens’ complaints about issues including trash collection, fallen trees, open sewers and clogged ditches. The account was created in early September and has already gained attention and popularity among the population. If a local finds a problem that is in the…
Start-up Initiative Brings Kazakh Apps to Market
Young and talented programmers Arman Suleimenov, Almas Tuyakbayev and Zhanserik Kenes are enlarging their business after the team received a $20,000 grant in February as the winners of the Build Your Own Business Start-up competition. The three friends established the company Zero to One Labs to produce apps for the App Store. They also organised…
Invataxi Marks Progress, Introduces Future Plans
Invataxi, a special free taxi service for passengers with disabilities, was established in Almaty in 2009 after the Sabi charity fund purchased 14 specially-equipped Volkswagen Caddys and Transporters and donated them to the Almaty City Society of Persons with Disabilities. The funds used to acquire the vehicles were raised during a charity auction of paintings…
Australian Mining Company to Begin Exploration in Kazakhstan
Australian company Iluka Resources, Limited will begin exploration in Kazakhstan, Kazakh Minister for Investment and Development Asset Issekeshev and the head of Iluka’s regional office in Almaty Alison Morley recently announced, reported the press service of the Kazgeologiya company. “The parties discussed a project concerning the realisation of national geological studies on three sites located…
EIU Ranks Almaty Among the World’s Most Liveable Cities
Almaty, Kazakhstan’s former capital, was recently ranked the 100th most livable city in the world among 140 listed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which is the research and analysis division of the Economist Group, a sister company of the Economist Magazine. The ranking examined five characteristics: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.…
Kazakhstan Increases Uranium Production
The physical volume of uranium mining in Kazakhstan, a world leader in uranium production, totalled 5,883 tonnes for April-June compared to 5,650 tonnes mined during the same period in 2014, reported the Kazatomprom press service. The company’s production volume, including shares of its subsidiaries and affiliates, was 3,177 tonnes of uranium during the second quarter…
Semey Folk Ensemble to Perform in Paris
The Kerbez Kazakh folklore ensemble from Semey was recently selected through an online qualifying competition to perform in Paris at the International Festival of Nations of the World, reported Tengrinews.kz. French audiences will experience songs of renowned Kazakh singer Amre Kashaubayev as well as folk songs and kuis, a traditional Kazakh composition. Kashaubaev was among…
Almaty Enterpreneurs, Artists Raise Funds for Landslide Victims
Almaty entrepreneurs collected 1 million tenge (US$5,334) during a one-hour fundraising drive to assist victims of the landslide that struck the outskirts of Almaty on July 23, reported Tengrinews.kz, citing the Regional Chamber of Entrepreneurs. A centre to assist victims has also been established at 160 Dostyk Avenue, which will collect food and clothing. “In…
Multi-Day National Bike Race Attracts Young Cyclists from Kazakhstan, Russia
On July 17, participants of the multi-day Kazakhstan Umiti National Bike Race for Juniors started their journey in East Kazakhstan region. After the opening ceremony, which took place on the main city square in Ust-Kamenogorsk, cyclists faced their first 80-kilometre stage in the Chechek Gorge. The eastern part of the country is called a “small…
Airports, Trains and Train Stations to Become Accessible for Citizens with Disabilities
Kazakh airports, trains and train stations will soon become accessible for people with disabilities, according to Minister of Health and Social Development Tamara Duyssenova. The bill on Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of Kazakhstan on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, presented at the Mazhilis plenary session earlier in July and approved by…
Promising Young Pianist Beisembayev Wins First Cliburn Junior Competition
Seventeen-year-old Kazakh pianist Alim Beisembayev won $10,000 and first place at the first Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition on June 28 at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, United States. Arsenii Mun, 16, from Russia and Youlan Ji, 16, from China, won $5,000 for second and $2,500 for third respectively. In the final, Beisembayev performed…
SCO Defence Ministers Discuss Expanding Cooperation
A meeting of defence ministers of member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) took place in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 30, the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan announced. The ministers discussed regional and global security issues, as well as crisis elimination measures. Minister of Defence of Kazakhstan Imangali Tasmagambetov noted that the level of…
International Economic Centre to Be Set Up in Kostanai
Chairman of the Public Association of Germans in Kazakhstan Alexander Dederer recently announced that an international economic centre is going to be opened in the city of Kostanai in northern Kazakhstan. The centre will provide information about business opportunities the Kazakh market can offer to foreign investors and large companies, reported the Central Communications Service.…
Kazakh Epee Fencers Win Gold at Asian Fencing Championships
Kazakh epee fencers won gold at the 2015 Asian Fencing Championships, which took place in Singapore on June 20-25, reported Tengrinews. The Kazakhstan men’s team, represented by Elmir Alimzhanov, Ivan Deryabin, Dmitry Alexanin and Ruslan Kurbanov, who was also a silver medalist at the World Universiade, defeated the national team of Korea with a score…
Debutantes Take Floor for Seventh Opera Ball in Almaty
The finest opera singers in the world were applauded June 27 during the Seventh Opera Ball, one of the most significant and pompous cultural events in Kazakhstan. The event was held in Almaty’s Royal Tulip Hotel. The Best Male Vocal award was presented to Metropolitan Opera soloist Ryan Speedo Green (USA), while Astana Opera soloist…
Almaty Hard Rock Cafe Grand Opening Attracts Russian Rock Bands
Hard Rock Cafe, the world famous chain of theme restaurants, has enlarged its presence around the globe by opening a venue in the heart of Almaty. Although the eatery has been entertaining locals and guests of the southern capital with good classic rock ballads and delicious American casual dining food since 2014, the grand opening…
Air Astana Adds Seven Planes for International Flights
The largest Kazakh aviation company Air Astana signed an agreement on June 16 in Paris-Le Bourget to lease seven aircraft, including two A320neo, one A321neo and four long-range A321neo LR planes. The aircraft will be delivered by American Air Lease Corporation (Los Angeles), reported the press service of Air Astana company. The first A320neo aircraft…
New City Tour Busses Help Visitors Rediscover Shymkent
Tourists and locals wishing to see the sights of Shymkent this summer can tour the urban area aboard one of two new double-decker busses. Purchased by Zhibek Zholy, the two-storey vehicles take guests and locals past some of the city’s most important points and attractions. “We need to develop domestic tourism and these buses are…
Writers Discuss State, Future of Kazakh Literature
Kazakh Secretary of State Gulshara Abdikalikova held a meeting with prominent writers of the country, such as Akim Tarazi, Anes Sarai, Sabit Dosanov, Dulat Issabekov and Nurlan Orazalin in the Akorda Presidential Residence in early June. Participants discussed literature, art, publishing and developing the country’s spiritual culture. They also emphasised the important role of the…
Kazakhstan Seeks to Boost Grain Exports to Saudi Arabia
Kazakhstan is planning to increase the supply of grain to Saudi Arabia, the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture reported recently. The decision was made after representatives of Saudi Arabia suggested at a May business forum that Kazakhstan provide a preferential grain regime to Saudi Arabia. The suggestion was made by the Chairman…
Denis Ten and Friends Ice Show comes to Almaty
Kazakhstan-born figure skater and bronze medal winner at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Denis Ten recently announced that his third “Denis and Friends Ice Show” will be held in Almaty on Jun. 20-21. Among those performing will be prominent figure skaters, such as Olympic champions Maxim Trankov and Tatyana Volosozhar from Russia, Joannie Rochette and…
Kazakh Female Parachutist Wins Russian Skydiving Competition
Kazakh parachute jumper Elena Borisova won gold at a recently held large-scale Russian competition on landing accuracy in Tumen. Borisova, who is an ex-servicewoman of the Karaganda airbase and the wife of the chairman of the Karaganda Federation of Parachuting, showed the best result not only among women but also outperformed the men. She was…
Kazakhstan to Supply Housing for Orphans
One hundred apartments will be purchased for orphans in the Almaty region. The decision was made during the regular session of the regional maslikhat (city administration) on May 20, announced the press service of the Akim (Governor) of the Almaty region. The administration has allocated 646 million tenge (US$3.5 million) from the regional budget to…
