Atlantic Council panel discusses Kazakh President’s visit to the United States
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s latest visit to the United States, its assessment and outlook were discussed Jan. 26 at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. The discussion also included implications for bilateral relations and broader international and regional issues, including Afghanistan and nuclear non-proliferation. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United States Erzhan Kazykhanov stated…
Kazakh-Chinese enterprise Caspi Bitum expands exports
ASTANA – In November, the Caspi Bitum plant exported its first 60 tonnes of road bitumen to China. But the first export experience for the company was in January 2017, when 650 tonnes of bitumen was delivered to Uzbekistan. In the nearest future, the enterprise wants to expand its supply destinations even more. Caspi Bitum…
Astana Ballet rocks in New York
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev was among friends during his official visit to the United States earlier this month, as he was one of the guests for the Astana Ballet’s Jan. 17 performance at New York’s Lincoln Centre. The event was unexpectedly popular and scores were unable to attend due to the high demand. “The…
Kazakh racers finish in the top 10 in two Dakar 2018 categories
ASTANA – The 40th Dakar Rally finished in South America Jan. 20 after 14 stages of competition. Kazakh racers finished in the top 10 general classification in two categories. The crew with its leader Artur Ardavichus took fourth place in the trucks category and first-timer Dmitry Shilov took sixth place in the overall ATV rating.…
Kazakh privatisation set to complete by end of year
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s second wave of privatisation is 71 percent completed and, as a result of the directives in Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s state-of-the-nation address, it should be finished by the end of 2018, Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev said Jan. 16. One of the parts of the Nazarbayev’s address “New development opportunities under the Fourth…
Museum dedicated to boxer Gennady Golovkin opens in Karaganda
ASTANA – A museum commemorating beloved Kazakh boxer Gennady “GGG” Golovkin opened in the sports complex also named after him in Maikuduk, the district in Karaganda where he was born. The museum showcases trophies, diplomas, boxing gloves, sneakers and other belongings of the undefeated champion. “It has been planned for a long time to open…
EBRD continues work in Central Asia, returns to Uzbekistan
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) continued to support the Central Asian region in 2017 with a total investment of $1 billion. It has also resumed operations in Uzbekistan after a seven-year pause. The bank is the largest institutional investor in the region, with approximately $12.3 billion committed to a variety…
Kazakhstan’s new tax code provides simplified regime for SMEs, new principles in administration
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new Tax Code entered into force Jan. 1. The updated code provides for the introduction of some changes in the existing tax legislation, including a simplified tax regime for small and medium-sized businesses, the cancellation of some tax privileges and the introduction of new principles in tax administration. In describing the code…
Kazakhstan and EBRD to continue work on modernisation of economy
ASTANA – The Kazakh government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently signed a new three-year accord extending cooperation within the Partnership Framework Arrangement (PFA) for Enhanced Cooperation for Promotion of Sustainable Development and Growth. The original accord was signed in May 2014 and expired at the end of 2017. The accord…
MBionics creates Kazakhstan’s first bionic prosthesis
ASTANA – Maulen Bekturganov, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, is the founder of MBionics, the company that developed and created the nation’s first bionic prosthetic hands designed for disabled people of the third group. The young engineer helps people return to regular life after losing a limb. Fifteen-year-old Akezhan Argyngazin, of the East Kazakhstan…
Kazakh tourism industry on rise, figures show
ASTANA – A record number of foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan in the first nine months of 2017, according to finprom.kz analytical service, as the number traveling to the country from abroad grew 18 percent compared to the previous year. The domestic tourism sector followed the same trend, with the number of residents vacationing locally increasing…
We are only at the beginning, says Latvian ambassador of relations with Kazakhstan
ASTANA – December marks a quarter century of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Latvia. To highlight the anniversary, Latvian Ambassador Jurijs Pogrebņaks spoke about what has been reached and what is ahead for both countries. “I would like to congratulate all the people of Kazakhstan on last year’s 25th anniversary of independence and congratulate all…
Electronic customs declaration to be launched in Kazakhstan Jan. 1
ASTANA – Two new customs codes, one each for Kazakhstan and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), will come into force Jan. 1. Under the new legislation, Kazakhstan will introduce the ASTANA-1 information system for electronic declaration, based on the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). The programme has been under development since 2015, when the…
Kazakh National Bank revises economic growth rates
ASTANA – Kazakh National Bank recently revised its forecast for 2017, changing the country’s expected economic growth rate to 3.5 percent from the previous 3.1 percent, while projecting next year’s rate decelerating to 2.8 percent. The revision was due to the third quarter economic recovery acceleration in the real sector, according to the regulator’s press…
Diplomatic Christmas bazaar raises record funds for charity
ASTANA – The 10th Anniversary Diplomatic Christmas Charity Bazaar, organised by Ambassadors’ Spouses Astana (ASA), raised almost 42 million tenge (US$126,400), which is the record amount of money ever collected during these events. The bazaar took place Dec. 3 in Radisson Hotel, where 53 embassies offered their unique national products, handicrafts, souvenirs and food, specially…
In Astana, Hilton’s VP for operations talks new hotel and industry trends
ASTANA – Hilton announced the official opening Nov. 2 of Hilton Astana, the first hotel in Kazakhstan under the brand of Hilton Hotels & Resorts. The new five-star hotel promises to provide excellent service, as well as meeting venues that have very few matches in the capital. Hilton’s Senior Vice President for Continental Europe Jochem-Jan…
Genome – Kazakhstan’s first domestically-manufactured cosmetics brand
ASTANA – After years of research and testing, Genome Cosmetics opened its first high-tech manufacturing plant this fall in Stepnogorsk, Akmola region. The facility can become the heart of the cosmetics industry in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, said enterprise head Zhanibek Kenzhebayev in an interview for this story. “Cosmetics for facial and body care are…
EBRD expands Women in Business programme in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will allocate more funds to its two-year-old Women in Business programme in Kazakhstan. A $42 million credit line will be provided to local banks, which will lend the funds to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women. The EBRD will partner with local banks…
Kazakh organisations form Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association
ASTANA – In the midst of the worldwide blockchain and cryptocurrencies craze, Kazakhstan has realised the relevancy of the trend like never before. In mid-November, the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association applied for state registration as a legal entity to promote the technology’s ideas and draft legislation in the field. The association was founded by six…
Kazakhstan increases its exports
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been ranked 52nd among the largest exporting countries this year, sending more than 800 manufactured products to 113 countries. Exports of processed goods grew 22 percent in the first nine months to $11.1 billion, a rate expected to grow two times by 2025. “We are among the world leaders in the…
“Flowering” Central Asia will build security and prosperity from within, expert on region says
ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Dr. Frederick Starr, founder and former chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and currently distinguished fellow for Eurasia at the American Foreign Policy Council discussed the current situation in countries of the region and provided his outlook on the Eurasian Economic Union. How would you…
AI to be used in Kazakh healthcare
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is planning to launch a pilot programme incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology treatment by the end of this year. The technology will help doctors identify key information in a patient’s medical records and look for relevant articles and treatment options to eliminate unnecessary care. “A memorandum of cooperation has been signed…
Kazakh President addresses global issues in Astana Club speech
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the Astana Club, a neutral platform to debate public issues based on Chatham House rules, during its Nov. 13 third annual meeting. He talked about global challenges and threats such as growing terrorism, military issues, economic situation, migration, as well poverty and lack of water and food. “We…
Crown Agents brings its experience to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Crown Agents, one of the world’s leading experts in strategic decision-making for public sector management which has been operating for more than 185 years with a presence in more than 100 countries, has come to Kazakhstan. In an interview with The Astana Times, company chair Marie Staunton talked about the firm’s projects and…
Farleon: next wave of electronic dance music
ASTANA – Armada Zouk, sublabel of famous Dutch music label Armada, recently compiled its list of the most talented acts under the banner ADE Talents 2017. Farleon (Sultan Karimov) made the cut with his track “Stop Signs” featuring Jason Gaffner. “Want to discover the next wave of dance music stars before anyone else? Immensely skilled…
