Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s PhD composer and pianist Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin, from Kazakhstan, will premiere his one-hour opera, “The Bruce,” written for the 750th anniversary of the birth of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, in four landmark Scottish churches this year, reported the conservatoire’s press service on Jan. 23. Abdyssagin will stage a…

ASTANA – High-speed internet access will be provided to nearly 270 Akmola Region schools, reported by Kazinform on Jan. 30, citing Bayurzhan Rapikov, head of the regional digitalization and archives department.   According to Rapikov, Starlink, a high-speed satellite internet, will provide a stable and fast connection for remote and rural areas, allowing students and…

ASTANA – The world-famous Kazakh eagle huntress born in Mongolia Aisholpan Nurgaipkyzy moved with her family to Kazakhstan, reported Kazinform on Jan. 28. According to Nurgaipkyzy, she has not abandoned the ancient tradition and practices once a week. Due to her academic workload, she does not take part in competitions but attends them as a…

ASTANA – A sixteen-year-old school student from the Kyzylorda Region, Assylzhan Abdullayev, has developed the QazaqGPT artificial intelligence application in the Kazakh language, reported Khabar TV channel on Jan. 26. Artificial intelligence can draw, write, answer questions, and generate information, photos and voice messages for the Kazakh-speaking audience. Abdullayev, who studies at school No. 210…

ASTANA – Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) held its first scientific and innovation exhibition in Urumqi, reported the Ministry of Science and Higher Education on Jan. 27. The exhibition brought together 196 provosts and heads of research centers of local universities, representatives of more than 600 Chinese universities, heads of 40 large manufacturing enterprises, and…

ASTANA – Kazakh MPs paid a visit to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) headquarters in Astana on Jan. 25, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Addressing the meeting participants, Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev spoke about the achievements of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the CICA, emphasized the importance of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has opened its Honorary Consulate in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), to attract more investment and expand trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Canada, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service on Jan. 25. CEO of Arras Minerals mining company Darren Klinck has been appointed to serve as Honorary Consul. The opening ceremony…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Kazakhstan Kestutis Jankauskas discussed holding the second round of what they termed “formal consultations” to facilitate the visa application process for Kazakh citizens on Jan. 27, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. Visa facilitation means reduced consular fees, increased…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican, Almaty’s aport apples, Nasdaq IPO from Kaspi.kz, and more. Fintech heavyweight Kaspi.kz valued at $17.5 billion in tepid Nasdaq debut Kaspi.kz was valued at…

ASTANA – Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev introduced the work of the city’s Situational Center, an automated information-analytical system, to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Jan. 25, reported Akorda press service. According to Dossayev, the center serves as an effective tool for making quality decisions based on Big Data analysis and the implementation of the Open Data…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu arrived on an official visit to Tajikistan on Jan. 24, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. On Jan. 25, Nurtleu began his official visit to Dushanbe by participating in the wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to the outstanding state and political figure of Tajikistan…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the construction site of the Balkash two reservoirs with clean drinking water, each 3,000 cubic meters (m3), as well as a pumping station on Jan. 25, reported the Akorda press service. This year, Almaty akimat (city administration) plans to build 142 kilometers and modernize 48 kilometers of…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired a meeting on seismic safety on Jan. 25 in Almaty, attended by the Executive Office of the President, Security Council, government members, mayors and regional emergency department heads, reported the Akorda press service. The President urged for comprehensive awareness campaigns and regular training in schools and government…

ASTANA – Deputies of the Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, approved the law on ratifying the agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Qatar on the mutual promotion and protection of investments on Jan. 25, reported Kazinform. According to Senate deputy Andrei Lukin, national companies and the two countries’ private sectors have…

ASTANA – Germany’s AMK Global GmbH company plans to build a waste processing plant in Taraz, reported the Zhambyl Region akimat (local administration) press service on Jan. 24. Akim (mayor) of the Zhambyl Region Yerbol Karashukeyev held talks with the General Director of ThiemeBieg & Associates Torsten Thieme to discuss the project implementation. A waste…

ASTANA – In 2023, net profit of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund reached 1.9 trillion tenge (US$4.25 billion) according to preliminary calculations, said Samruk Kazyna Chairman Nurlan Zhakupov at a Jan. 24 public council meeting, reported the fund’s press service. “In 2022 the average oil price was 99$ per barrel, and in 2023 it…

ASTANA – National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy wrapped up the outcomes of their work in 2023 and set goals for this year during a Jan. 24 meeting, reported the Ministry of Culture and Information press service.  “2023 was a productive year for the commission, which focused on exploring a wide range…

ASTANA – Sergek, Kazakhstan’s leading platform for monitoring and analyzing traffic offenses on city roads and streets, completed a pilot project based on Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud solutions, having tested the technical capabilities of integration to increase efficiency and deploy Sergek solutions abroad, reported Sergek press service on Jan. 19. “This is done for…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held an expanded meeting with the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Jan. 22, reported the Akorda press service.   Addressing the meeting participants, Tokayev emphasized the important role of the police in rooting the principle of law and order in the country. “Fighting crime and maintaining public order is a…

ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, to start its initial public offering (IPO) roadshow on Jan. 29 after announcing its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange (AIX), and Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), reported the company’s press service on Jan. 19.  “On behalf of the company, I am delighted to…

ASTANA – Kaspi.kz, one of the region’s leading banking and fintech companies, announced on Jan. 18 the pricing of the U.S. initial public offering (IPO) of 11.3 million American depositary shares (ADSs) for $92 per ADS. The ADSs began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on Jan. 19 under the symbol KSPI. Following the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to switch to a single fifth time zone (UTC+05.00) from March 1 according to the Jan. 19 government decree, reported the Ministry of Trade and Integration press service. According to the document, on March 1, the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent as well as the Abai, Akmola, Almaty, Zhambyl,…

ASTANA – A new international trade and logistics center opened on Jan. 19 on the Kazakh-Chinese border, near the village of Dostyk, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service. The new facility is supposed to develop and improve cross-border logistics infrastructure and increase the capacity of the Alakol road crossing. “We plan to open such hubs…

ASTANA – The President met with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) Qu Dongyu on Jan. 19 at Rome’s headquarters, reported the Akorda press service. During the meeting, Tokayev outlined the importance of ensuring global food security and promoting sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex. “Food shortage…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Italy and the Vatican, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas’ tour to Central Asia, United States – Kazakhstan ties and more. Schinas tours Central Asia in preparation for…