Articles by Zhanna Shayakhmetova

ASTANA – More than 60 participants from 28 countries, including prominent politicians, scholars and leading experts, spoke about global policy issues requiring resolution, sanctions confrontations and prospects of cooperation in the great Eurasian landmass Nov. 13-14 at the third annual meeting of the Astana Club. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s participation became a major highlight of…

ASTANA – The issues of Kazakhstan’s identity relating to how it sees itself, its future and its place in the world are drawing increased interest among scholars both within the country and worldwide. Is Kazakhstan part of Asia? Or is it part of Europe? Or, perhaps, is it the embodiment of Eurasia, whatever that may…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s digital economy development programme and opportunities for IT activities were presented Nov.6-7 at the Web Summit 2017 in Lisbon. Deputy Prime Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev met with the representatives of international Internet companies, leading IT and Silicon Valley-based experts and shared the plans for the digital transformation of the country’s economy. “We spoke…

ASTANA – On a recent visit to Astana, Peter Burian, European Union Special Representative for Central Asia, spoke with The Astana Times Oct. 30 about the key priorities of the EU’s Central Asia strategy, its “balancing power” and security transformation processes.   This year there were positive changes in relations between Central Asian countries. What…

ASTANA – Yandex, Russia’s largest technology company, launched its Yandex.Lyceum computer programming educational programme in early October in physics and mathematics schools in the capital and Almaty. Eighth and ninth grade students will study programming basics and write an app with graphic user interface. “We want to share the practical knowledge and skills we have…

ASTANA – The Transforma cultural space opened in Almaty Oct. 21 with the premiere of “B.O.Q.” staged by Laboratory No.316, an independent theatrical company. The multidisciplinary site offers room for theatre productions, dance and music events, film screenings, exhibitions, lectures and other creative projects. The venue is located at SmArt Point, the largest Central Asian…

ASTANA – In an effort to attract travellers from China and Russia, the East Kazakhstan region is completing large-scale road repair and reconstruction this year to the most visited tourist sites. The region ranks second after Astana in terms of domestic tourism, as approximately 400,000 vacationers visited the region in nine months of 2016, reported…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy retained a 4.3-percent growth rate from January-September and is expected to grow 3.4 percent by the end of the year, said Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov at an Oct. 17 government meeting. Macroeconomic stability, investment activity and favourable conditions in foreign markets influenced the trend, in addition to initiatives taken…

ASTANA – With the new school year in full swing, The Astana Times interviewed Quality Schools International (QSI) Astana director Jay Loftin about mastery learning, teaching in multicultural classrooms and why accreditation matters. Founded in 2005, QSI International School of Astana offers a mastery-learning programme with a curriculum similar to that of U.S. pre-kindergarten-grade 12…

ASTANA – The Green Climate Fund (GCF) board approved funding of up to $110 million for the GCF-European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Kazakhstan Renewables Framework progamme to promote renewable energy sources. “The GCF’s contribution includes concessional financing in the amount of $106 million and $4 million in technical assistance subsidies. The projects are…

ASTANA – The Eurasian Tourism Association recently announced plans to launch Salem China, a unique international project to entice tourists from the nation and promote the friendliness and hospitality of locals, reported Kapital.kz. Kazakhstan has defined that country, India, Iran, and Russia as focal markets to attract visitors. “The project aims not only to adapt…

ASTANA – The electronic journal system is being widely used in more than 4,000 schools nationwide, said Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev at an Oct. 3 government meeting. “There are plans to ban the printable teacher grade books in those institutions that introduced electronic journals. Our goal is to prevent duplication and significantly…

ASTANA – A solar power plant with a 100-megawatt capacity will open next year in Saran in the Karaganda region. The facility, with 370,000 next-generation solar panels situated on 160 hectares, will be the largest station in Central Asia. “Seven projects in the green energy sector have been introduced in the region. All the innovative…

ASTANA – Almaty-based writer and illustrator Antonina Shipulina’s journey to becoming a children’s author started with motherhood. The fascinating stories immediately captured youngsters’ attention when her first story, “Volshebnye Zheludi” (“The Magic Acorns”), that was published in 2011. She has subsequently produced four additional volumes with a total circulation of 17,000 copies. “I wrote the…

ASTANA – Online insurance will be introduced to increase accessibility not only in large cities, but also in regions, said National Bank Chairman Daniyar Akishev at a Sept. 26 government meeting. The draft law “On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts on Insurance and Insurance Activities” was presented to the government. The level of…

ASTANA – Quality service and customer satisfaction are essential in all fields, especially tourism management. In starting her own business, Ainaline.me, Zhansaya Menlibayeva is devoted to following these principles. “The main idea of developing our project is to meet the needs of visitors and local residents with a pleasant holiday and a pleasant time,” she…

ASTANA – Nine projects worth 13 billion tenge (US$38 million) will have been launched in the industrial zone in Kazakhstan’s capital by the end of the year, Astana Akim (Mayor) Asset Issekeshev said at a Sept. 20 maslikhat (city administration) meeting. Three of these projects have already been implemented. “The key indicators showed positive dynamics…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will create a pool of qualified imams whose activities will focus on targeted work with representatives of destructive currents, said Minister for Religious and Civil Society Affairs Nurlan Yermekbayev at a Sept. 18 government hour in the Parliament. The ministry developed a state religious policy concept for 2017-2020 which has been approved…

ASTANA – Approximately 500 new locally made items have appeared on the market in the past seven years, said Kazakh First Vice Minister for Investments and Development Alik Aidarbayev at a government press conference in late August. “About 500 new items previously not produced in Kazakhstan were launched, including freight and passenger cars, electric locomotives,…

ASTANA – The Pugwash Council called upon all governments and people to reflect on the grave and irreversible ecological and humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and to spare no efforts towards achieving a nuclear-weapon-free world. This was stated in the Astana Declaration “From Prohibition of Nuclear Testing toward Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons” Aug. 29 at…

ASTANA – The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank will be launched Aug. 29 at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk, said Parliament Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the opening of the 62nd Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs here on Aug. 25. The conference titled “Confronting New Nuclear Dangers,”…

ASTANA – Sometimes, starting a business in an unknown industry means instead of competitors, you develop collaborators. Citygarden Company head Diana Kemel and her team want to bring gardens indoors, but in growing their business, they’re also helping grow an industry. “I saw a large vertical wall at Singapore Changi Airport in 2017 and I…

ASTANA – The Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, one of Kazakhstan’s major attractions, occupies almost 550,000 hectares in two regions about 130 kilometres southwest of the capital. It is included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The vast lands of the reserve provide the necessary living space for Asia’s largest…

ASTANA – Domestic industrial enterprises will be obliged to provide online data on greenhouse gas emissions, said Kazakh Vice Minister of Energy Gani Sadibekov at the Aug. 18 interdepartmental commission meeting. The proposed amendments to certain legislative acts on environmental issues in greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substances regulation were presented at the Ministry of Justice.…

ASTANA – The Akmola region administration set an ambitious task to implement numerous projects with foreign investment participation to bring innovation and boost industry profits. The Astana Times interviewed the region’s entrepreneurship and industry department head Yerbol Ospanov to learn about investments attracted to the region and important projects launched this year. Local authorities closely…