Articles by zhanna Shayakhmetova

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…

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…

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.…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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-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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…