Kazakh income and property declaration to become universal Jan. 1, 2020
ASTANA – Declaring income and property, currently mandatory for Kazakh Parliament deputies, judges and several categories of individuals, including civil servants and those obliged by the constitutional law on elections, criminal executive code and law “On Combating Corruption,” will become obligatory for all citizens starting Jan. 1, 2020. The practice will expand the tax base…
Israeli-Kazakh economic cooperation can be expanded, says Israeli official
ASTANA – April 10 marked the 26th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Kazakhstan and Israel. Bilateral relations have been friendly and fruitful; however, economic cooperation can be expanded, said Deputy Director General and Head of the Euro-Asian Division of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Ben-Zvi during his recent visit to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is…
Astana reads: local book clubs get on same page
ASTANA – Amidst the hustle and bustle of the capital, some residents are setting aside time to read books and discuss them in small communities. Founded in 2011, Astana Book Club allows book lovers to gather, read and talk about the same work. Club members have an opportunity to express their views and share their…
Kazakh Khanate second season shot in South Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhfilm is shooting the second season of its historical series about the Kazakh Khanate in the Tulkibas district of the South Kazakhstan region. “The second season covers one of the most challenging time periods for the Kazakh Khanate and will display the violent battle between the Kerei and Zhanibek khans, the descendants of…
State education savings system provides broader access to education
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens planning for their children’s college educations can begin putting money away from the time the youngsters can crawl. The state education savings system ensures higher education accessibility by allowing residents to save under favourable terms. Established in 2005, the centre provides a financial instrument to expand access to education. The nation…
Astana: futurism set against traditions, says artist
ASTANA – Built on the traditions of the old world, Astana has a sense of futurism, said British artist Alex Connor, one of the Nur Kelbetti Astana Festival participants who are demonstrating their impressions of the Kazakh capital with works of art. A painter and art historian, Connor has written ten historical novels and conspiracy…
Kazakh GDP grew 3.9 percent in January-May
ASTANA – Increasing investment activity and decelerating inflationary processes resulted in the Kazakh GDP growing by 3.9 percent in the first five months of 2018, said Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov during the June 12 government meeting. “Economic processes continue developing within the balanced growth path, as improvements are registered in all sectors of…
National Bank of Kazakhstan cuts base rate to 9 percent
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has reduced the base rate to 9 percent with a corridor of +/-1 percent, according to its June 4 press release. The base rate is the monetary policy instrument used by the bank to regulate nominal interbank money market interest rates. “The current base rate level will contribute…
Kazakhstan opens office to shield investors from corruption risks
ASTANA – The Protecting Business and Investments Project Office was launched in the Kazakh capital June 8 to facilitate investing in the Kazakh economy by shielding investors from corruption risks and alleviating bureaucratic procedures. The office was established under a memorandum of cooperation among the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Fighting Corruption, Ministry of…
Developing Astana as innovative hub is natural step, experts believe
ASTANA – The capital’s potential to become an innovative hub for finance, trade and transportation was discussed by Kazakh and foreign experts during the June 5 Astana: The City of Peace international conference, with particular emphasis on the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and International Centre for Green Technologies and Investment Projects. “The idea of…
Conference praises 20 years of Astana’s development, sets new goals
ASTANA – Kazakh and foreign politicians and experts gathered June 5 for Astana: The City of Peace international conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh capital. The focus of the discussion was past achievements, the role of the city in global diplomacy and opportunities for Astana as a growing centre in the heart…
Bukhtarma Reservoir offers energy and entertainment
ASTANA – The Bukhtarma water reservoir in East Kazakhstan region is more than just one of the five largest artificial reservoirs in the world. Surrounded by the Altai Mountains and forests, its beauty has also made it a popular recreation spot. The reservoir was created during the construction of Bukhtarma hydroelectric power plant on the…
Brussels court lifts freeze on $21.5 billion of Kazakhstan’s National Fund assets
ASTANA – The Court of First Instance in Brussels, Belgium recently lifted the preliminary block on access to Kazakhstan’s National Fund assets of $21.5 billion and held that there is a possibility of unfreezing an additional $530 million in British courts, the Kazakh Ministry of Justice press service reports. The block was placed in connection…
Astana city to add more parks, bike lanes and athletic fields
ASTANA – The city akimat (administration) is responding to resident requests for increased landscaping, public infrastructure and recreational facilities with plans to build additional thematic parks and squares. “It is of particular importance for us to build parks and squares on the right bank of the city. We did not give the land lots to…
Police officer, father of 11 among Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces
ASTANA – Galym Arystanbayev, a 40-year-old senior sergeant in the Zhambyl region police department, is the father of 11 children who believes in the importance of unity within a family. He and his wife, Aliya, have adopted eight children from local orphanages. Arystanbayev is one of 102 finalists in Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces project, which…
Almost 150,000 graduate from Kazakh secondary schools
ASTANA – The last bell sounded May 25 in Kazakhstan secondary schools, marking the end of required education and the start of adult life for more than 147,000 students across the country. The ceremonies, which have become a tradition in post-Soviet countries, included words of gratitude to teachers, good luck wishes and farewell speeches. Students…
Astana Arlans beat British Lionhearts, advance to fifth WSB final
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Astana Arlans defeated the British Lionhearts May 26 in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) semi-final. It will be the Arlans’ fifth appearance in the final. The match in Atyrau was the second meeting of the Kazakh team and British Lionhearts after the first leg of the semi-final in Sheffield, when the…
KTZ Express to operate Chinese container fleet in Central Asia
ASTANA – KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan’s state-owned railway operator and logistics company, will manage the container fleet of Chinese COSCO Shipping in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The agreement between KTZ and COSCO, a leading international container fleet operator, was signed during KTZ president…
Kazakh Foreign Investors Council to discuss accelerated modernisation
ASTANA – Accelerated modernisation will be the topic of the 31st plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) under Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in June 2018. The council, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, serves as a platform for dialogue between the Kazakh government and foreign investors, aiming to address challenges faced by…
Visit Burabay community unites Astana’s adventurers
ASTANA – The Visit Burabay community group offers Astana residents the opportunity to visit Kazakhstan’s tourism attractions and natural beauty. “Our project was initiated by my friend, Ulan Alimbek. For the first time, we set out on a journey October 31, 2015 and at that time, there were 15 people not acquainted with each other.…
Expanding women’s leadership in business, government discussed at AEF
ASTANA – Challenges and prospects for women’s leadership were discussed by female leaders at a May 18 round table during the 11th Astana Economic Forum in the Kazakh capital. “To date, most developed countries have recognised the importance of an inclusive economy in terms of female capital development. However, according to a UN report, legal…
Math teacher and methodologist among Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces
ASTANA – Tatyana Kucher, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, has devoted more than 45 years to teaching mathematics, nurturing future teachers and developing methodology. She believes a good teacher should be a friend, helping students discover knowledge on their own in order to succeed. “I believe a teacher must be a second mother for…
Heating season ran smoothly, says Kazakh official
ASTANA – The autumn-winter heating season ran smoothly and preparation for the next season is underway in accordance with the approved schedule, noted Kazakh Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev during the May 15 government meeting. “No major technical breakdowns in the energy system were registered throughout the past season. In total, there were 26 occasions…
Astana pet owners to be required to microchip pets
ASTANA – Microchipping domestic pets will soon be mandatory in the capital. Medical records as well as information about the owners will be combined into a database linked to similar catalogues globally. “As instructed by city Akim (Mayor) Asset Issekeshev, digitisation should embrace all the aspects of life in the capital. The akimat (city administration)…
Nazarbayev University calls for international applicants, seeks to diversify student body
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) is committed to becoming a leading research university recognised internationally. One of its main priorities is promoting international diversity and academic mobility. With admissions underway, NU is calling for international applicants to diversify its student body and promote cultural exchange. “Internationalisation is a global trend in higher education and NU…
