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…
Astana hosts forum on social entrepreneurship as model for societal change
ASTANA – What is behind a global social enterprise? What are the trends and challenges in social entrepreneurship? What lies at the core of socially-driven activities? The British Council, in partnership with Chevron and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, hosted a forum in the capital Jan. 31 to address social entrepreneurship as a new…
Minister: Tourism will make up 8 percent of Kazakhstan’s GDP by 2025
ASTANA – The number of domestic tourists reached 3.5 million people and increased by 25 percent in a nine-month period of 2017, Minister of Culture and Sports Arystanbek Mukhamediuly told a Jan. 25 press conference in the capital. The government has been tasked with increasing the share of tourism in Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP)…
Young artist takes landscape painting to new level, bolsters national culture abroad
ASTANA – Painter Anara Abzhanova, one of the country’s 100 New Faces, recently won the Recognition Prize at the Palm Art Award 2017 in Germany. Her paintings, mostly highlighting the country’s natural beauty and breathtaking views, are popular among art lovers worldwide. A talented girl with a hearing impairment, Abzhanova became famous for her own…
Mangistau region launches eco-green city project, advances energy solutions
ASTANA – A unique eco-green city worth $2.1 billion will be constructed in Aktau, according to the Mangistau region’s press service. The Mangistau region akimat (local executive body) signed an agreement on the construction and financing of the project with Global Project Capital Ltd, AAG Corporate Services Ltd and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).…
Iran invests in meat processing plant construction in Semei
ASTANA – Iranian company Agro Portal, with the help of Kazakh Invest, has invested in the construction of the halal meat processing plant in the Ondiris Industrial Zone in Semei. Foreign investment in the project stands at about $21.5 million. The construction of the plant will start this year, reported the Kazakh Invest press service…
One of nation’s 100 New Faces helps digitise library materials
ASTANA – National Academic Library Deputy Head Nurzhan Zholdybalinov, one of the country’s 100 New Faces, co-developed the digital library, digital library card and introduced technology to convert eBooks from Cyrillic to Latin script. Zholdybalinov started his career at the national library in 2007. An IT specialist by occupation, later he received graduate degree from…
Zhambyl region studies ancient settlements, encourages cultural development
ASTANA – Thirty projects to preserve history and encourage cultural development are being developed in the Zhambyl region as part of the Rukhani Janghyru (Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s Identity) programme, reported Kazinform. “Six out of 27 projects have already been implemented as part of the Tugan Zher (Small Homeland), the Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan and the…
Astana cat café invites feline friends to spend holidays with pets, opens first cat hotel
ASTANA – Pet businesses are an emerging trend. While their uniqueness can be both attractive and challenging to find their niche and customers, doing what one loves is one of the key elements of a successful business. Miki Piki Cat Café founder Aigul Kurmanaliyeva is enthusiastic about running an establishment related to her favourite animal.…
Kazakhstan’s first robot surgery, transplantology centre to open in Ust-Kamenogorsk in 2018
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first robot surgery and transplantology centre will open in the first quarter of 2018 in Ust-Kamenogorsk. The centre is being paid for by the national government, according to the regional government’s press service. The centre will offer endoscopic interventions and low-traumatic and minimally invasive treatments. The unique facility is located at the…
Mangistau region intends to boost energy efficiency, build business environment
ASTANA – Construction of wind and solar power plants is underway in an effort to develop renewable energy sources in the Mangistau region in 2018, according to the regional press service. Two facilities, a five-megawatt wind farm in Akshukur village of the Tupkaragan district and a seven-megawatt solar power plant in Batyr village of the…
Smart city development launches in major Kazakh cities to improve infrastructure, increase urban attractiveness
ASTANA – Smart city technologies are being introduced in the country’s five largest cities – Aktobe, Almaty, Astana, Karaganda and Shymkent – as part of the Digital Kazakhstan programme, said Minister of Information and Communications Dauren Abayev at a Dec. 26 government meeting. The concept is designed to improve the efficiency of all city services,…
Young developers create energy saving industrial solutions
ASTANA – Almaty-based Sheberkhana is the company behind ecoSocket, the technology that helps to conserve energy and save money by controlling power usage. The start-up was among the top 10 best Central Asian and South-East European projects from the 500 applications at the Echelon Asia Summit 2015 in Singapore. “The ecoSocket adapter is able to…
Altai Alps ski resort welcomes visitors to enjoy winter activities, improve skills
ASTANA – With its gorgeous mountain views and large variety of slopes for outdoor enthusiasts, a tour of the East Kazakhstan region is the perfect winter trip idea. Located 24 kilometres from Ust-Kamenogorsk, the Altai Alps ski resort is an amazing and affordable vacation destination for families and friends. The cozy and remote resort is…
Kazakh GDP grows 3.9 percent in 11 months
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) increase is expected to be 4 percent by the end of 2017 due to stable economic growth rates, said Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov at a Dec. 12 governmental meeting. The economy grew by 3.9 percent from January-November against the backdrop of accelerated investment activity, inflationary process…
Officials and experts agree united efforts against corruption give positive results
ASTANA – More than 60 percent of Kazakhstan’s public services are provided in electronic format which has reduced the level of domestic corruption by two-thirds, said State Secretary Gulshara Abdykalikova at the Dec. 8 Modern Anti-Corruption Standards and International Cooperation Development conference in the capital. The event was held one day prior to the UN-recognised…
Open skies initiative proposed for Almaty airport
ASTANA – The open skies initiative proposed for Almaty International Airport will boost tourism and the country’s attractiveness, said Kazakh Tourism Board Deputy Chairperson Timur Duissengaliyev. The national company expects to create a plan to develop air services in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). “Today, the tourism sector is accounting for only…
