Kazakhstan’s Golden Man, priceless Saka artefacts travel to China
ASTANA – Exhibits of priceless Kazakh art and photography of ancient sites opened July 12 in Xi’an, the capital of China’s Shaanxi Province. The Legacy of the Great Steppe: Masterpieces of Jewellery Art exhibition and the Sacred Kazakhstan photography exhibition feature 370 valuable items, including 196 authentic artefacts and 174 copies. The National Museum and…
Kazakhstan to start coalbed methane exploration and production
ASTANA – Kanysh Satbayev Kazakh National Technical University and ArcelorMittal Temirtau will begin a joint venture to explore and produce coalbed methane in the Karaganda coal basin, reported the university press service. Coalbed methane is a gas present in active, working mine sites. According to forecasts, its resources in the Karaganda coal basin, reaching a…
Citigroup continues to invest in Kazakhstan, drive market share, revenue growth
ASTANA – Citigroup, one of the first international banks to enter the Kazakh market, is marking its 25th anniversary in the country. It feels current conditions in Kazakhstan provide ample opportunities for large multinational corporations. The Astana Times spoke exclusively with Citi Chief Executive Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) James Cowles to…
New bridge, bike lanes, botanical garden open in capital ahead of Astana Day
ASTANA – A pedestrian and cycling bridge across the Yessil River was opened July 1 in the capital through the Regions’ Gifts to Astana programme. The bridge connects the right-bank embankment of the Yessil River with the Central Park on the left bank. “If you look at the bridge from above, its cover resembles the…
Japan to invest in Kazakhstan’s urban transport, nuclear energy, water supply
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Japan will implement seven joint projects, including in the areas of nuclear energy, transport and water supply, worth approximately $2 billion, Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek announced at a June 27 meeting with Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Tadao Yanase. Japan is one of…
Astana Opera to premiere anniversary gift from UK composer, ‘Shine, Astana,’ in gala concert
ASTANA – More than 1,000 musicians will perform during the “Shine, Astana” concert premiere at the Astana Opera House July 2. The event is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh capital. Symphony orchestras and choirs from all regions of Kazakhstan and musicians from Austria, Belarus, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, Tajikistan…
Turkestan region launches investment projects, draft regulation on border issue open for public discussion
ASTANA – The Turkestan region has initiated a project offering anti-corruption support for investors. Entrepreneurs wishing to invest in the region have all the conditions to protect themselves from illegal interference in their activities. Sixteen investment projects have already been launched, 13 are in the implementation stage and 10 potential projects have been identified. In…
World Bank Group: human capital, diversification can be drivers of Kazakh growth
ASTANA – The World Bank (WB) is supporting Kazakhstan’s course towards diversified growth. Over 25 years of cooperation, the WB has provided loans for 46 projects totalling more than $8.1 billion. In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, WB Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller said the bank’s partnership with Kazakhstan…
State programme encourages family farms, more subsidies, meat exports
ASTANA – Export refunds for processed agricultural products will be $2.2 billion in 2021, 2.3 times higher than the $945 million recorded in 2015, reported Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov at a June 19 meeting. Asian and Middle Eastern countries including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam are identified as attractive export markets with…
Kazakh-owned bakery brings new flavour to sourdough bread in Newcastle
ASTANA – What are the benefits and challenges of running your own business? How do you find the way to your customers’ hearts? The Astana Times interviewed Shynara Bakisheva, owner of Fresh Artisan Bread (FAB) Bakery, to learn about her company and the perfect dough recipe. Started in early 2017 in Newcastle, England, FAB Bakery…
Chinese company to invest $1.1 billion in Kostanai car assembly plant
ASTANA – China National Machinery Import and Export will invest $1.1 billion to develop an automotive cluster in cooperation with the Kostanai-based Allure Group Company. The agreement was inked at the Kazakh-Chinese Business Council in Beijing in early June, during the visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazabayev to the city. New investment in Kostanai includes…
Mazhilis approves law ratifying Kazakh-UNFAO agreement
ASTANA – Opening United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) partnership and liaison offices in the capital and Almaty will attract at least $20 million a year, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Umirzak Shukeyev. The Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) approved the draft law “On ratification of the agreement between the Kazakh…
Zhambyl region develops strategic plan to enhance tourism, Taraz urban reconstruction
ASTANA – The Zhambyl region tourism development map, which authorities expect will increase the flow of visitors up to 120,000 a year and promote job growth and tax revenue, was presented June 11, reported the regional press service. The programme includes four directions of industry input – state support, infrastructure development and implementing investment projects…
North Kazakhstan region develops camping, caravan tourism
ASTANA – The North Kazakhstan regional government plans to develop camping and caravan tourism in the area, reports the regional akimat’s press service. Locations for caravannings have been found at the Turpan recreation centre near the Lake Shalkar. It is planned to equip the parking lot with utilities and a tent site. “We should create…
Zhambyl region initiates investment projects to boost industrial sector
ASTANA – Eight investment projects estimated at 16.9 billion tenge (US$51.1 million) will be launched this year in the Zhambyl region, according to the regional industrial-innovative development department. The initiatives will create 947 new jobs. “Overall, 36 investment projects worth a total of 584.2 billion tenge (US$1.7 billion) are being implemented in the Zhambyl region…
Kazakh President congratulates graduating class at Nazarbayev University
ASTANA – In 2018, 811 students graduated from Nazarbayev University, as more than 140,000 students are graduating from high schools nationwide. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev attended the June 1 commencement ceremony of his namesake university and congratulated students on the day of the fourth graduation of the young institution. “Today, 1,800 graduates of the university…
One of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces focuses on women’s rights
ASTANA – An accountant by occupation, the true calling of Assemgul Urazayeva, one of the Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, is in charity and the social sphere. She promotes family values and importance of family as a basic unit of society. As a head of the International Association of Women in Central Asia, Urazayeva is a…
Astana Mayor announces capital improvements: separate waste collection, new schools, sport centres
ASTANA – A waste-processing plant using French technology will be launched in 2019 through a public-private partnership, part of Astana’s major push toward establishing a comprehensive separate waste collection system, Akim (Mayor) of Astana Asset Issekeshev told a May 31 press conference on coming improvements to the capital. “The plant was presented at EXPO 2017,”…
Drugoi Ty national sports challenge starts June 4
ASTANA – Drugoi Ty (Another You), Kazakhstan’s 21-day national sports challenge, will kick off June 4. The campaign, sponsored by the Samruk Kazyna Trust Social Development Foundation, has the mission to support a healthy lifestyle and promote physical activity. The event comes on the heels of the initiative held May 26 in Daulet Sports Complex…
Akmola region focuses on spiritual tourism in promoting its brand
ASTANA – Eight routes to sacred sites were approved as part of the Ruhani Zhangyru (Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s Identity) programme in the Akmola region, according to Kazinform. The project aims to develop a tourist cluster and increase the number of visitors up to three million per year. Approximately 80 select routes implemented by local tour…
Astana’s Confucius Institute promotes cultural ties, launches courses for children
ASTANA – Astana’s Confucius Institute will present Capitals of the Silk Road, a photo exhibition July 2-3 in cooperation with the international organisation Expo & Women. The event is part of the Global Silk Road Forum and Silk Road Mayors’ Forum. Institute head Saule Koshanova spoke about the exhibit, the organisation’s activities and new approaches…
Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan calls for interethnic, interfaith harmony, moral education
ASTANA – To preserve Kazakhstan’s way, the unique model of interethnic and interdenominational harmony the country enjoys, it is crucial to strengthen traditions of friendship and brotherly love preached by traditional religions, Gennadius, bishop of Kaskelen and manager of affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan told The Astana Times. As of the first…
Mangistau’s first 2-MW solar power plant launches operations
ASTANA – The first solar power plant with a 2-megawatt (3,500-kilowatt hour) annual capacity opened May 1 in Mangistau, reported the regional press service. The new facility, with more than 8,000 locally-produced solar panels, will provide electricity to approximately 300 buildings. Situated on 36.05 hectares in Batyr village of the Munaily district, the 1.2 billion…
Astana exhibit celebrates Smurfs’ 60th anniversary, magical story of ‘little blue men’
ASTANA – An exhibition dedicated to the Smurfs’ 60th anniversary was held at the capital’s School Children’s Palace April 26-28 as part of the Francophonie Spring Festival. The event was organised by the Belgian Embassy with the support of the Alliance Française offices in the city and Almaty. Belgium was proud to arrange the festivities,…
Medical equipment database to improve healthcare facilities planning and procurement
ASTANA – A national medical equipment database will be created as part of the Densaulyk (Health) development programme, reported Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov at the April 24 government meeting. The database will increase transparency in planning and procuring medical equipment. Marginal costs will be calculated based on the documents submitted by the customer (Exworks…
