Baikonur modernisation projects brought closer to fruition at Space Days in Nur-Sultan
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is open to industrial cooperation in producing telecommunication satellites as well as common commercial projects at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin said during the Nov. 12 opening ceremony of the Space Days in Kazakhstan astronautics international forum. “First President Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pay special attention…
Kazakh President calls for abolition of mandatory registration of foreign visitors
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the country to end its requirement that foreign visitors register with migration authorities, saying at an Oct. 29 meeting in Almaty that the government should address the issue by the end of the year. The procedure, he said, is a source of corruption. “If we really want…
Qatar Airways to launch flights to Kazakhstan in December
NUR-SULTAN – Qatar Airways is set to launch direct flights to Kazakhstan connecting the Kazakh capital, Almaty and Qatar capital Doha under the open skies regime introduced Nov. 1 at the country’s 11 airports, reported sputniknews.kz. Negotiations between the countries’ civil aviation authorities concluded Nov. 8. Qatar Civil Aviation Administration President Abdullah Nasser Turki al-Subai,…
Kazakhstan plans to develop its brand in global meat market
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh entrepreneurs plan to promote their own breed of cattle starting next year through the Kazakh Whiteheaded Breed International Council. Plans to create the council began after a memorandum was signed involving five-seven states, said Kazakh Whiteheaded Breed National Chamber Executive Director Dauren Matakbayev at the KazAgro/KazFarm 2019 international exhibition. “Today the Kazakh…
IBF names Gennady Golovkin’s opponent
NUR-SULTAN – Gennady Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 КО) will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight world champion status next year in an IBF-organised fight against Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta (21-0, 5 КО). The event is in accordance with IBF and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) regulations and will be scheduled for either Feb. 8 or Feb. 29…
Georgian writer releases book about Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Georgian writer Vakhtang Gogoladze presented his book “There, in Kazakhstan” Oct. 31 in Tbilisi, reported zakon.kz. The work is devoted to the country’s hospitality and kindness, bringing together short stories about times when ethnic Kazakhs supported forced migrants and helped them overcome difficulties in their new environment. Gogoladze’s parents came to Kazakhstan in…
Local government, entrepreneurs plan to build cannabis textile factory in Almaty region
NUR-SULTAN – Officials in the Almaty Region recently agreed to assist Kazakh and U.S. entrepreneurs establish a cannabis textile plant in the region. The plant’s products will be exported to China and Europe. Almaty Region Akim (Governor) Amandyk Batalov recently accepted a proposal to assist Elaxima Tech Style, along with U.S. partners, to create a…
DosStar Operetta and Musical Festival takes places in Karaganda region
NUR-SULTAN – The Oct. 25-27 ninth international DosStar Operetta and Musical Festival opened with the “Love under cover” performance at the Temirtau Palace of Culture, reported inform.kz. The play was presented by the actors of the Omsk State Musical Theatre. “We sent the sheet music to the Karaganda Musical Comedy theatre in advance, enabling the…
Kazakhstan to continue efforts to streamline business processes, PM tells Atameken Congress
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government will continue efforts to streamline processes to do business in Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Askar Mamin said Oct. 24 at the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Congress opening ceremony. “The government and Atameken Chamber are working closely for more efficient realisation of the strategic objectives set by Kazakhstan’s First President (Nursultan…
Kazakh Senate proposes electronic hunting ground competitions in 2021
NUR-SULTAN – The Senate is proposing e-format competitions to secure hunting grounds and fishery waters starting in 2021 to ensure the procedure is more accessible and transparent. The chamber previously adopted relevant amendments on agro-industrial sector management. To prevent the unlawful removal of flora and fauna, officials recommend increased accountability for those who cut, destroy…
Kazakhstan to introduce ‘blind’ peer review of new school textbooks
NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry of Education and Science is seeking to improve and renew the quality of school books through a system of blind peer review, reported zakon.kz. Experts would not know the author’s names, freeing them from undue pressure, said Minister Askhat Aimagambetov at the government meeting. He criticised the existing system of issuing…
Almaty’s Ascension Cathedral reopens following major restoration
NUR-SULTAN – Almaty’s St. Ascension Cathedral reopened in October following major restoration started in 2017. Standing under the arches, the Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Aleksander congratulated the clergy and lay people on the special occasion in the city’s spiritual life and held the first divine liturgy for parishioners after presenting the Holy Mother statue. …
Planning is underway to build a Kazakh Disneyland in Nur-Sultan
NUR-SULTAN – Disneyland may be coming to Kazakhstan. Plans are underway to build a roofed amusement park in the capital and city authorities are seeking appropriate acreage and investors, reported sputniknews.kz. To attract investors and assist with construction, the land should be located in convenient part of the city providing all necessary infrastructure and municipal…
Carpets produced in Shymkent gain foothold in international market
NUR-SULTAN – Carpets from Shymkent are gaining attention in the internal market and entering the international one. Bal Tekstil, the country’s largest carpet manufacturer, began operation in 2013 in the city’s special economic zone. Its story began in 1994, however, when Talgat Ishakhov started wholesaling foreign rugs. With hard work and focused on his main…
Almaty Mayor presents city development strategy through 2050
NUR-SULTAN – Almaty Akim (Mayor) Bakytzhan Sagintayev recently presented the city development strategy through 2050 to an audience of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University students. “On instructions of Elbasy (First President Nursultan Nazarbayev), we’ve already finished the long-term city strategy called Almaty 2050. I want to share my vision on our city development, counting on your…
Capital authorities offer support to people with disabilities
NUR-SULTAN – The capital akimat (administration) offers rehabilitation, specific social services, free use of public transportation and the possibility of employment to its 25,715 residents with disabilities, reported its press service Oct. 19 to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Approximately 2,689 individuals are classified in the first group of those with disabilities,…
Nur-Sultan, Almaty among 10 most popular tourist cities in CIS
NUR-SULTAN – The capital and Almaty are among the top ten most attractive tourist cities in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reported turstat.com. The website ranks the most popular destinations for autumn travellers. The two cities, along with Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Minsk (Belarus), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Yerevan (Armenia), are the most frequently visited by CIS…
