Kazakhstan Temir Zholy introduces Digital Railway programme, improves customer service
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has introduced digital route diagnostics, a traffic management centre and digital services at 17 stations as part of the Digital Railway information technology development strategy. The projects are being incorporated in cargo, passenger and multimodal transport at railway infrastructure facilities and in corporate tasks. “The Digital Railway strategy envisages…
Atyrau region to develop polymer manufacturing processes in cooperation with Austrian company
ASTANA – With the creation of the special economic zone (SEZ), the Atyrau region seeks to focus on polymer manufacturing. To aid in the effort, the Kazakh Ministry of Energy, United Chemical Company and Borealis, an Austrian company, signed a term sheet outlining cooperation on a polyethylene production project, the ministry’s press service reported March…
Kazakh comic superhero Ermek Batyr conquers mainstream US audience, spin-off on its way
ASTANA – “Ermek Batyr,” a comic book featuring the Kazakh superhero, has gained immediate interest since its release on Amazon’s Comixology, the leading digital platform. Creators Madibek Musabekov and Bekzat Myrzakhmetov announced plans in February for the spin-off “Brothers” written by scriptwriter, producer and director Aidiye Aidarbekov. The team is currently negotiating with Amazon Studios…
Central Asian artists bring postmodern life to ancient oral traditions in US staging of women warrior epic
ASTANA – “Qyrq Qyz” (“Forty Girls”), a multimedia theatrical performance directed by Uzbek filmmaker Saodat Ismailova, will debut at New York’s BAM Harvey Theatre March 23 and 24. The show premiered March 1 at the Hopkins Centre in Vermont. “The premiere went impressively well. The girls are great! Full hall, with such a positive and…
Kazakh stunt people take part in internationally acclaimed films, launch training courses
ASTANA – Kazakh stunt performers are known for their top-level skills and spectacular horse scenes. They are experts in fight choreography using swords and weapons, waterfall jumps, fires and epic battle scenes. The Astana Times recently spoke with Nomad Stunts founder, performer and director Zhaidarbek Kunguzhinov to learn about the company’s new productions and projects.…
BI Group hosting start-up competition to mark Astana’s 20th anniversary
ASTANA – BI Group, one of Kazakhstan’s leading construction and real estate companies, is hosting the Happy Start-Up competition to mark the capital’s 20th anniversary. The best projects will be recognized by the company with cash prizes and ten finalists will have the chance to attend courses at BI University. Applications are due by April…
Kostanai region to advance agriculture, car assembly with Italian, Chinese investments
ASTANA – The Kostanai region has announced plans to launch eight projects this year worth 28.3 billion tenge (US$88 million), according to a March 13 regional press service report. Kazakh Invest, KazAgro and the region signed an investment agreement for agricultural product deep processing in mid-February with the Milan and Lombardy Chamber of Commerce and…
Smart technologies transform education, healthcare in Pavlodar region
ASTANA – The Pavlodar region is building its smart cities by introducing 74 education, healthcare, culture and social projects as part of the Digital Kazakhstan initiative, reported the regional press service. The region is participating in a pilot programme on digitisation in education by introducing an electronic queue in preschool educational organisations, according to the…
Construction to begin in July on gas pipeline serving Astana, Karaganda, regions
ASTANA – Construction on the Saryarka gas pipeline, intended to bring gas to Kazakhstan’s capital and central and northern regions, will be launched in July, Kazakh Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev told a March 13 government meeting. A cubic metre of gas will vary at a level of 47-50 tenge (US$0.1-0.2). “We agreed to ensure…
Expanding Kazakh-Indonesian economic relations is top priority, says Indonesian ambassador
ASTANA – Expanding economic relations between Kazakhstan and Indonesia is the top priority of Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Rahmat Pramono, he told The Astana Times in an interview to discuss 25 years of bilateral relations. “My mission is to develop mutually beneficial bilateral relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Kazakhstan. My utmost priority is to…
East Kazakhstan offers investment-ready opportunities, promotes health tourism
ASTANA – The East Kazakhstan region is seeking investors to develop travel projects and become a top medical tourism destination. The Astana Times interviewed the region’s tourism and external relations department head Zhasulan Sarsebayev March 5 to learn about the promising investment areas and changes in the tourism sector. The northern and eastern parts of…
Mangistau region farmers utilise green energy
ASTANA – Farmers in the Mangistau region are reflecting Kazakhstan’s emphasis on renewable energy by incorporating renewable energy sources into their operations. The Khanbekgul farm, which includes 500 heads of small and large cattle, launched a wind turbine in 2015 in Shetpe village that provides 15 kW of combination of wind and solar power. The…
Gender equality is important element of success, says UN Women Representative in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – On the eve of the March 8 International Women’s Day, United Nations (UN) Women Representative in Kazakhstan Elaine Conkievich spoke with The Astana Times about the organisation’s new initiatives and empowering women to participate in economic life across all sectors. UN Women sets its priorities for the region based on its new Strategic…
Kazakh Invest launches call centre, CRM system for investors
ASTANA – Kazakh Invest is seeking investors to implement 17 projects worth $16.4 billion this year as part of the 2018-2022 national investment strategy, said Kazakh Invest Board Chairperson Saparbek Tuyakbayev during a Feb. 27 briefing. A list of 145 projects worth $47.8 billion has been developed, creating about 35,000 new jobs to match the…
Report summarises Kazakh civil service reform results, defines improvement priorities
ASTANA – The Kazakh government has approved a report describing the stages of development of the civil service in the country, analysing the current state of the system, and offering assessments from international experts and proposals for further improvement in the sphere. The stages of civil service development through the implementation of Kazakhstan’s strategic programmes…
Digitisation programme expected to produce five-fold return on investment, says official
ASTANA – Implementation of the Digital Kazakhstan programme is entering its active phase, said Kazakh Minister of Information and Communications Dauren Abayev at a Feb.16 extended board meeting of the ministry. The impact of the digital economy sector will create additional value of approximately 2 trillion tenge (US$6.2 billion), ensuring fivefold return on investment by…
One of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces introduces new breast cancer diagnosis, treatment methods
ASTANA – Dana Bashibayeva, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, calls on women to put their health first and has introduced new methods of breast disease diagnosis and treatment. A supporter of preventive healthcare, she uses the power of social media to raise awareness of women’s health. She currently has about 50,000 followers on her…
Kazakh Agrotechnical University to be country’s centre for agro-sector digitisation
ASTANA – Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University will become the scientific and methodological centre for digitisation in the agro-industrial sector, university rector Akhylbek Kurishbayev said at a Feb. 16 press conference marking the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between the university and the local government. The university and the Akmola region akimat (local executive…
Precision agriculture technology, digitisation introduced to boost productivity
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture has presented plans to focus this year on introducing precision technology and intensive irrigation, livestock development and renewing agricultural machinery. The four key areas are expected to increase labour productivity in the agro-industrial sector. To increase technical equipment, 5.5 billion tenge (US$17 million) will be allocated to subsidise…
Oilfield service companies seek state support to increase competition in industry
ASTANA – The Union of Kazakhstan Oilfield Service Companies wants to increase the involvement of domestic businesses and state support for the $45 billion in projects underway by Tengizchevroil, Karachaganak Operating Company and North Caspian Operating Company, according to a Feb. 13 press briefing. “Proper use of resources is an essential task for all parties.…
Official Almaty travel guide explores city in 72 hours
ASTANA – The Visit Almaty tourist information centre presented the Almaty 72 project Feb. 6 for tourists and business travellers visiting the city for up to 72 hours. A recommended list of things to do and places to visit includes the main sights – the Medeu Ice Rink, Shymbulak Ski Resort, Green Bazaar, museums and…
New app helps Kazakhs be more eco-friendly in personal waste management
ASTANA – Almaty residents now have their own recycling guide. The Tazalyk app, developed and created by three university students, has a map showing the location of containers for paper, plastic, electronics, glass and medical products waste. The main feature is a rating system that counts how many kilogrammes of recyclables each user submits and…
Kazakh National Business Roadmap helped create 17,000 SME jobs in 2017
ASTANA – More than 17,000 jobs were created last year as part of the Business Roadmap 2020 programme aimed at supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), said Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov at a Feb. 6 press conference in the capital. Last year, more than 192,000 entrepreneurs received support from the business roadmap…
Polpharma Group to invest $37 million to digitise, automate Shymkent pharmaceutical plant
ASTANA – Poland’s Polpharma Group will invest an additional $37 million to digitise and further automate production at its Shymkent Chimpharm plant in South Kazakhstan. “The construction and modernisation of all major production facilities and auxiliary logistic sites have been completed at the Shymkent-based Chimpharm plant. The investment programme will now focus on new projects…
Mazhilis approves bill on public procurement procedures for NGOs
ASTANA – The draft law “On Amendments to Legislative Acts on Activities of Nonprofit Organisations” was approved in its first reading Jan. 31 in the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament). “More than 29,000 people work in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Public procurement, grant financing and bonuses are provided as effective mechanisms to support NGOs. The draft…
