We Are All Strong When United, Says Director of Tatar, Bashkir Cultural Organisations
ASTANA – Rinat Abdulkhalikov, executive director of the Association of Tatars and Bashkirsof Kazakhstan, spoke with The Astana Times in early February about the Tatar and Bashkir communities in Kazakhstan. Can you tell us how Tatars came to live in Kazakhstan? Tatars have been on the territory of modern Kazakhstan since time immemorial, which gives…
Holocaust Remembrance Day Observed in Astana
ASTANA – An evening event to honour the victims of the Holocaust was hosted in Astana on Jan. 27 at the National University of Arts. The event was attended by representatives of 23 Western and former Soviet embassies and commemorated the 6 million Jews exterminated by the Nazis as well as the other victims of…
Chinese Embassy in Astana Hosts Spring Festival Gala
ASTANA – The Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan held a theatrical gala concert titled, “The Happy Spring Festival” on Jan. 30 at the Palace of Peace and Harmony. “Our countries, which have existed together here on the Silk Road since ancient times, have been inseparable and friendly neighbours for quite some time. Today, we must continue…
UNDP’s 2014 Human Development Report Says Kazakhstan Improving
Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Munkhtuya Altangerel presented findings from Human Development Report 2014 “Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience” at Nazarbayev University on Jan. 30. The event targeted at a student audience provided the technical findings of the report in layman’s terms. According to the 2014 Report human…
Kulanshi Art Gallery Prepares New Programmes for 2015
ASTANA – As of Jan. 24, the Kulanshi Modern Art Centre, located on the 6th floor of Astana’s Palace of Peace and Accord, is welcoming visitors to view art history films, exhibitions by domestic and foreign artists and special studio classes for children and adults. The centre aims to improve the overall arts scene…
Almaty Prepares to Host International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission, Mayor Stands behind the Value of City’s Bid
Almaty submitted its candidature filesto the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games on Jan 6. “It is important for Almaty to win the right to host the Olympics. Our responsibility is to develop the city. The Olympics will be the main event which will contribute to the development of…
Multiple Traffic Laws Take Effect across Country
ASTANA – Drivers on Kazakhstan’s roadways began abiding by new regulations Jan. 7, with major differences from the previous laws adopted in 1997. The new laws, approved Nov.13, include changes in the requirements for headlights, children’s seats, mandatory technical inspections and speed limits. Driver’s lights on all moving vehicles must be turned on in the…
Eurasian Symphonic Orchestra to Tour Spain, Germany, South Korea in 2015
ASTANA – Professor and Rector of the Kazakh University of Arts and founder of Eurasian Symphony Orchestra Aiman Mussakhodzhayeva spoke about the orchestra’s plans for the 2015 at a briefing organised by the Central Communications Services last month. This year, continuing its tradition of promoting Kazakhstan’s image through music, the Eurasian Symphony Orchestra plans to…
Astana to Follow Nurly Zhol Economic Policy in 2015
ASTANA – Akim (Mayor) of Astana Adilbek Dzhaksybekov identified the main vectors of the capital’s development at the first staff meeting in early January. The Nurly Zhol new economic policy was identified as the main guide of Astana’s development. “The central point of our activities should be the initiative of the President on joining the…
Kazakhstan’s Model of Interethnic Tolerance to be Promoted, Plans Made for Year of Celebration
ASTANA – Secretary of State of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova called for the international promotion of Kazakhstan’s model of interethnic tolerance last month at the expanded meeting of the State Commission for the Organisation and Holding of the Year of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) in 2015. “We aim to raise awareness in…
Kazakhstan to Start Large Road Projects in 2015
ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan will allocate 178 billion tenge (US$977.75 million) in 2015 and a further 143.3 billion tenge (US$787.14 million)in 2016 from the country’s National Fund for road improvements, according to a Kazinform report dated Dec. 4. The funds will be used to improve major routes, including Centre-South (Astana-Karaganda-Balkhash-Almaty), Centre-East (Astana-Pavlodar-Aktau), and…
ATOM Project Inspires Participants at Int’l Anti-Nuclear Weapons Conference
VIENNA – While attending the third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna from Dec. 8-9, artist Karipbek Kuyukov made a lasting impression on delegates from all over the world. More than 700 officials from 158 countries, as well as activists from nongovernmental organisations and the mass media attended the two-day.…
Kazakhstan to Play Key Role in Changing Global Economy by 2050, Says Int’l Consulting Firm
ASTANA – Global consulting giant McKinsey introduced its upcoming book “No Ordinary Disruption: The Four Forces Breaking All the Trends” at a press conference in Astana’s Marriott hotel on Nov. 25. As the bulk of economic activity shifts from the U.S. and Europe towards Asia, experts from the McKinsey Global Institute predict that Kazakhstan will…
Kazakhstan Reports to UN on Country’s Efforts against Torture
Members of Kazakhstan’s government presented the country’s most recent report on Kazakhstan’s implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading Treatment or Punishment on Nov. 18 to the UN Committee Against Torture in Geneva. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Rashid Zhakupov, who introduced the report to the committee, stated that Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan Ranked Last in Euro 2016 Qualifiers Group
Turkey defeated the Kazakhstan national football team in the last qualifying match of the calendar year for the Euro 2016 championship with a score of 3:1. The match at the “Ali Sami Yen” stadium in Istanbul was the fourth game for the Kazakhstan team, and the footballers have yet to win. After 26 minutes, Burak…
International Forum Examines Almaty’s Role as Central Asian Financial Hub
A high-level forum exploring the investment potential of Almaty as the newly redefined financial hub of Central Asia titled Financing Growth in Kazakhstan was held at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Almaty on Nov. 7. The event, which waspresented by the Financial Times’ “The Banker” publication in partnership with the Kazakh-British Chamber of Commerce and…
1,574 New Affordable Housing Apartments to Be Available in Astana by 2015
ASTANA – Five new affordable residential housing complexes offering 1,574 apartments under the Affordable Housing 2020 Programme will be available by the end of the year, according to a Nov. 12 press release from the Astana Akimat (city administration). The new apartments are among 2,671 apartments the programme will provide. Housing the country’s population remains…
Experts and Officials Discuss EXPO 2017, Future Energy in Astana
ASTANA – More than 200 participants discussed conceptual and logistical details related to EXPO 2017 at the first International Planning Meeting (IPM) and the Future Energy Forum (FEF) held at the Palace of Independence on Oct. 22-24 in Astana. “One of the objectives of the meeting is to assure potential international participants that Kazakhstan has…
Senator Suggests Housing, Social Support for Creative Professionals
Senator Nurlan Orazalin requested during an Oct. 2 plenary session with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan that social programmes and housing support be provided for young professionals working in the media, arts and culture. “We have set up a media centre that meets all of world standards where our journalists work. Most…
Kazakhstan Going Mobile, Announces Official During E-Government Forum
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s hosting of the recent third Global E-Government Forum under the auspices of the United Nations is part of the country’s effort to develop an effective and user-friendly e-government platform. “We are dedicated to simplifying the mechanism of interaction between businesses and the state. E-procurement, electronic document management, e-tax, e-licensing, information systems, as…
Kazakhstan Increases Funding for UN-Managed Civil Service Hub
ASTANA – The Kazakh government has agreed to provide $14 million in funding over the next three and a half years to support the Regional Civil Service Hub that will be managed by the United Nations Development Programme. An agreement to strengthen the Regional Hub in Astana was signed on Sept. 17. The hub was…
New Institute Seeks to Develop Well-Rounded Kazakh Women
ASTANA – Qazaq qyzy (Kazakh girl), the first women’s institute of cultural and moral education, opened its doors on Sept. 18. The institute aims to provide behavioural education, teaching the best of Kazakh and European social and moral traditions so that its graduates can demonstrate Kazakhstan as a developed socio-economic and cultural country. Vice-Speaker of…
Spanish Ambassador Sees Ties Growing, Says Madrid Supports Astana’s UN Security Council Candidacy
The Astana Times recently sat down with Spanish Ambassador to Kazakhstan Manuel Larrotcha Parada who discussed a wide range of issues concerning the relationship between the two countries. You’ve been in Kazakhstan for a couple of years now. Could you tell us your impressions? Well, my impression is very positive. I have to admit that…
Flydubai Launches Services to Almaty, Shymkent
Flydubai’s inaugural flight from Dubai into Almaty landed on Sept. 16 at the Almaty International Airport and the low-cost carrier’s arrival was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute. “The start of Flydubai’s direct flights from Dubai to Almaty and Shymkent provide a convenient link between these economic hubs in the Middle East and Central…
Al Hilal Bank Awaits New Legislation for Islamic Finance
Almaty-based Al Hilal Islamic Bank may expand into neighbouring markets as legislation in the Central Asian countries changes. Islamic finance is gaining popularity in the region, but Al Hilal is currently the only sharia-compliant lender in Kazakhstan. The Abu Dhabi government wholly owns Al Hilal’s parent company and according to its chief executive, Prasad Abraham,…
