Ayala fund promotes charitable culture, focuses on effective giving
ASTANA – The Ayala Charitable Foundation has attracted 3 billion tenge (US$9 million) in donations, assisting 216 children’s healthcare and education state institutions in 58 areas throughout Kazakhstan since it was founded in 2007. Projects in paediatric cardiac surgery (“I also want to live”), neonatology (“Let’s Bring to Life”) and resuscitation (“Breathe, Baby”) are brilliant…
Iluka Resources, Kazgeology launch exploration of titanium-zirconium deposits
ASTANA – Iluka Resources, an Australian mining company, is investing approximately 4 million Australian dollars (US$3.1 million) in geological exploration of titanium-zirconium deposits in the Kostanai and North Kazakhstan regions. A drilling campaign on 60,000 square kilometres started in the second half of June in conjunction with Kazgeology National Exploration Co., noted Kazgeology’s press service.…
Family support institute, scientific social work training centre to open in 2018
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Labour and Social Protection plans to establish the Family Support Institute in 2018, said Vice Minister Svetlana Zhakupova at an Aug. 7 Central Communications Service briefing in the capital. Local executive bodies will identify families living below the poverty line and help them find jobs and increase their income.…
Development Bank of Kazakhstan offers affordable financing for non-oil export trade
ASTANA – The Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), a subsidiary of Baiterek National Holding, is seeking to provide financing for 13 non-oil exporters as part of the Nurly Zhol initiative 2015-2019 aimed at increasing production and exports. At an Aug. 4 press briefing in the capital, the bank presented a special programme to support exporters…
Zhambyl region promotes renewable energy projects, expands production at 50MW solar park
ASTANA – Burnoye Solar – 2, the first large-scale solar plant in the country with a capacity of 50 megawatts, will be constructed in the Zhualynsky district of the Zhambyl region. The project, implemented by Samruk Kazyna United Green Energy, is a joint venture of the UK-registered private investment company UG Energy and Samruk Kazyna…
EBRD, government to finance modernising heat supply facility in Ust-Kamenogorsk
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a memorandum with the East Kazakhstan region akimat (administration) Aug. 2 to provide a 3 billion tenge (US$9 million) senior loan to modernise the district heating system in Ust-Kamenogorsk. The investment is aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing heat loss and optimising operations. The…
Plácido Domingo’s Operalia winners announced
ASTANA – Romanian soprano Adela Zaharia and South African tenor Levy Sekgapane won first prize at the 25th Operalia, Plácido Domingo’s annual opera competition held July 24-29 as part of EXPO 2017 cultural programme. Russian soprano Kristina Mkhitaryan and Italian tenor Davide Giusti received second prize. Kazakh soprano Maria Mudryak and Korean baritone Leon Kim…
France’s EXPO pavilion sets event records, displays energy saving technologies
ASTANA – France is using EXPO 2017 to showcase innovative approaches to meeting future energy demand. The country is the owner of one of the largest pavilions at the exhibition, measuring 1,084 square metres, and is hosting major subject-related panels and discussions. Through the end of July, 300,000 people have visited the pavilion. The Astana…
Astana, Paris through lens of travel photographer Loïc Lagarde
ASTANA – Paris-Astana, a solo exhibit of notable French travel photographer Loïc Lagarde, opened July 13 at the Has Sanat Art Gallery. The works are expected to be included in a photo book dedicated to EXPO 2017. The event was organised with the support of the French Embassy in Kazakhstan and the French pavilion at…
National concept provides positive indicators for South Kazakhstan’s tourism development
ASTANA – Approximately 700,000 tourists have visited Turkestan this year, said Akim (Mayor) of the city Alipbek Usserbayev at a July 24 press conference in the regional capital of Shymkent. The pleasant tendency keeps growing and the region, rich with ancient cities, natural reserves, museums and temples, is hosting more sightseers every year. “The number…
2,000-year-old settlement to open in Shymkent
ASTANA – An archaeological open-air museum will open in the ancient settlement of Shymkent, the regional city administration press service reported in late July. The remains of an ancient settlement in the centre of the city, which were almost demolished, have been preserved due to the efforts of scientists, archaeologists and reporters. The project…
Medical trains provide treatment for 28,000 residents in regions nationwide
ASTANA – The Salamatty Kazakhstan and Densaulyk medical train teams provided medical examinations for approximately 28,000 residents including more than 5,193 children during a 96-day period, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company’s press service reported July 20. The medical campaign covered 95 railway stations in the Karaganda, Mangistau, East Kazakhstan, Atyrau, Kyzylorda and Pavlodar…
AIFC to develop ecosystem to enable CIS blockchain solutions
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has announced plans to develop a legislative base regulating cryptocurrency transactions for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region in conjunction with Deloitte CIS, Waves Platform, Juscutum Law Firm and Kesarev Consulting, according to a July 14 press release. Collaboration will allow creating the most favourable conditions…
Pavlodar hosts photo exhibit about Kazakh soldiers in World War II
ASTANA – “Following the Partisan Paths,” an exhibit created by photo reporter Tatyana Alexenko featuring approximately 44 unique World War II photographs, opened July 14 at the Bagayev Memorial House Museum in Pavlodar. “The exhibition is being held for the first time. Pavlodar is my native city and to me it was important to organise…
Senior Nomads travel international neighbourhood, learn valuable lessons
ASTANA – Americans Michael and Debbie Campbell have found the key to a harmonious post-retirement existence. Living a nomadic lifestyle has allowed the couple to travel to more than 200 cities and 67 countries since 2013, including spending the last four months in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. “If you dream of casting…
Festival of ethnic theatres promotes interaction, mutual cultural enrichment
ASTANA – A play called “Is It Easy to Be a Queen?” and staged by the State Korean Theatre of Musical Comedy, won the Best Performance award at the Fourth Festival of Ethnic Theatres held July 8-12 in the capital. “Scenes from Faust,” produced by the German Drama Theatre, won for Best Director’s Work and…
Kazakhstan begins consolidating domestic energy transfer companies
ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate recently adopted a law to consolidate energy transmission companies to increase their reliability, according to the press service of the Ministry of Energy. “The law provides for the consolidation of regional power transmission companies. As a result of the reforms, liberalisation of the electricity market, including the past privatisation processes…
EXPO 2017 welcomes one millionth visitor
ASTANA – EXPO 2017 received its one millionth visitor July 11. Approximately 1.8 million tickets have been sold and 921,293 people visited the exhibition in the first month, said Astana EXPO 2017 National Company Executive Director Beibut Karymsakov at a July 10 press conference. Nur Alem, the Kazakh national pavilion, as well as the South…
Understanding technology brings more benefits, says young scientist
ASTANA – What are the prospects of using blockchain? How can genetic profiling transform lives? Why are robotics classes popular in the country? To learn about the top digital trends and their advantages, The Astana Times interviewed Nazarbayev University Science and Technology School robotics instructor Artur Saudabayev. He was invited to speak about blockchain this…
Astana hosts ethnic music festival
ASTANA – Tamikrest gave a concert featuring incredible guitar mastery as part of their world tour June 24 during the Spirit of Astana, an ethnic music festival held in the capital. The Mali-based musicians became famous synthesising traditional African music with western rock and pop styles. They performed on electric guitars, bass guitar, djembe and…
Prosecutor General’s Office introduces crime activity map
ASTANA – An interactive crime map on the basis of Krisha.kz, an online home search service, was launched June 20 with the participation of Legal Statistics and Special Records Committee of the Prosecutor General’s Office. A detailed map of the cities of Kazakhstan is provided by 2GIS, an international cartographic company, according to the office’s…
EBRD supports inclusive economic development in Kazakhstan’s remote regions
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced plans to promote its economic inclusion strategy by signing a new investment project in the capital June 22 providing a $140 million loan to Bakyrchik Mining Venture. “We are deeply committed to the economic development of Kazakhstan’s remote regions. The Kyzyl project will bring…
More than 300,000 people have attended EXPO 2017 in two weeks, numbers keep growing
ASTANA – More than 300,000 people have visited EXPO 2017 since its opening, said Astana EXPO 2017 National Company Chairperson Akhmetzhan Yessimov at a June 23 media forum. “The exhibition is of great interest. The number of entrances to the expo facilities [including the same visitors] exceeded two million people. We will easily achieve the…
Eurasian Media Forum discusses media’s role in a changing world
ASTANA – More than 600 delegates from 60 countries gathered June 22-24 near the site of EXPO 2017 for the 14th Eurasian Media Forum (EAMF) to discuss the media’s role in a turbulent world. “When the world undergoes dramatic changes, the demand for dialogue platforms inevitably increases. The media should become the leaders of this…
Kazakh President proposes international currency, climate solutions at AEF
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said during a June 16 plenary session of the 10th Astana Economic Forum that the forum is being held at a historically crucial moment for the Eurasian space. “A new global player with a market capacity of 3 billion people was created with India and Pakistan’s joining the Shanghai…
