Neupusti.net EdTech company initiates start-up competition for Uzbek youth
ASTANA – Almaty-based Neupusti.net online work database for youth recently launched the Silk Way Start-ups competition for Uzbek youth as part of the South-South Youth Leadership Initiative in advancing Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. Maxim Kim from Andijan with the Edunow project, the Uzbek analogue of Neupusti.net, won the final stage of the competition held April…
Young social entrepreneurs call for celebrating diversity through education, inclusion
ASTANA – The School for All is planning to expand by opening a new office in the capital to welcome more children of all abilities. Set up two years ago by Nazarbayev University (NU) student Kamila Rollan, the social enterprise has the mission of including children with special needs into regular classrooms. How it started…
National campaign legalises more than 600,000 informal jobs
ASTANA – Labour and Social Protection Minister Madina Abylkassymova reported that 607,000 out of 2.7 million people had formalised their employment status since the beginning of the year at an April 17 government meeting. Approximately 197,000 employees concluded employment contracts and began making mandatory pension contributions, and 12,000 individuals registered their entrepreneurial activities. The regions…
Intensive cultivation, gardening trends discussed in Almaty
ASTANA – AgroCredit will provide more support to develop intensive gardening nationwide, according to an announcement at the Apple Day: How to Transform Apples into Profits and Smiles seminar held April 7 in Almaty. The session was aimed at increasing horticulture productivity, bringing competitive advantages to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Europe and…
South Kazakhstan leads in manufacturing investments, creates supportive environment for SMEs
ASTANA – Twenty projects worth 50 billion tenge (US$151 million) and creating 2,700 jobs will be implemented in the South Kazakhstan region, reported akim (governor) Zhanseit Tuimebayev at an April 9 meeting of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs Council. Approximately 129.4 billion tenge (US$392 million), 2.4 times more than in 2016, will be invested in manufacturing.…
Kazakhstan participates in major Middle East investment forum, prioritises transnational company cooperation
ASTANA – A Kazakh pavilion highlighting the country’s investment opportunities was presented at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) held April 9-11 in Dubai, reported the Kazakh Invest press service. “Kazakhstan and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) have a very long history of relations. Moreover, we are very glad to meet the Kazakh delegation this year…
Kazakh-born writer addresses emigration, generational challenges in debut novel
ASTANA – Olia Breininger’s debut book “There Was No Adderall in the Soviet Union,” released by AST in 2017, became a huge success. The publisher and critics called the work “a generation-defining novel.” The Astana Times interviewed Breininger to learn about the book and what inspired her creativity. “I was born and grew up in…
Investments in manufacturing almost triple, positive dynamics in SEZs, says official
ASTANA – The share of investments in manufacturing has increased almost three-fold since Kazakhstan initiated the state programme on industrialisation, reaching approximately 24 percent of foreign direct investments since 2006. The indicator was previously 8-8.5 percent, said Investment Committee Chairman Yerlan Khairov in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. “The head of state set…
Kazakh ministry reviews positive results of state education programme, actions needed to eliminate schools in disrepair
ASTANA – About 70,000 teachers participated in the qualification upgrading courses as part of the 2017 state programme to develop education and science, said Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev at an April 3 government meeting. Last year, 849 pre-schools, 717 of which are private, were opened to accommodate 64,400 children. As a result,…
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…
