Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption Agency seek to fight quasi-public sector procurement corruption
ASTANA – The imperfection of the legislative base contributes to the growth of corruption in quasi-public sector procurement, said Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption Agency Deputy Chairperson Alik Shpekbayev at a June 12 roundtable on legislative regulation of quasi-public sector procurement. The number of corruption offenses in public procurement in quasi-public sector companies has increased…
US, Kazakh business circles gather in Astana for US-Kazakh business forum
ASTANA – Twenty-five U.S. companies and representatives of Kazakh state bodies, national companies and local business representatives gathered in Astana June 14 for the U.S. – Kazakhstan business forum. The event aimed to attract U.S. companies to priority sectors, including car assembly industry, health, construction, agriculture and light industry. About 500 companies in various sectors…
Green Energy Development Centre, Massive Solar Power Investment Announced at Sustainable Energy Ministerial Conference
ASTANA – Among the announcements at the June 11 Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Energy Ministerial Conference in Astana was an official declaration to build a UN-backed sustainable energy centre at Astana’s EXPO 2017 site and a nearly $45 million investment in solar power in Kazakhstan. The Future Energy international centre for the development of…
Building world without violence to be key focus of 6th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
ASTANA – Religious leaders for a safe world will be the key topic at the 6th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Oct. 10-11, 2018. “This theme symbolises the commitment of religious leaders to a safe, conflict-free world where harmony, justice and compassion reign. There is a need to prompt societies and countries…
Eurasian Media Forum to debate global interaction patterns, security strategy, focus on country branding
ASTANA – How should countries operate in an era of growing multipolarity? Is there any chance of eradicating terrorism? What contributes to strengthening the role of Asia? What is the secret of the Asian economic miracle? Is it possible to disconnect from the information flow? What does life look like in the simplified world? These…
British programme at EXPO 2017 focus on creativity as source of energy
ASTANA – The British Council will present the Future Creative programme to bring U.K. contemporary culture to Kazakhstan and to promote cooperation between cultural leaders of Kazakhstan and the U.K. as part of the EXPO 2017. The programme will focus on the U.K.’s economy and feature a package of innovative projects in music, theatre and…
Kazpost showcases services provided at offices of future
ASTANA – A new digital office featuring Kazpost services such as hybrid ATMs, an electronic cashier, post office and parcel supermarket, drones and post.kz capabilities was opened in the capital May 30 as part of the Green Quarter construction complex presentation. Self-service offices will work in the future in round-the-clock mode. They will be located…
Solar resources map introduced in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Atlassolar.kz, an interactive solar resources atlas providing free access to information to implement solar power ideas in Kazakhstan, was launched in late May in the capital, according to the joint statement released by the Ministry of Energy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The web-based resource contains open data of solar resources…
Astana to host open air production of ‘Aida’ opera
ASTANA – Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece “Aida” will be staged under the open sky near the Palace of Peace and Harmony, Astana’s famous pyramid as part of the EXPO 2017 cultural events June 15. The opera will be performed by the Astana Opera House soloists with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and…
Central Asian parliaments seek regional peacebuilding, joint anti-terrorist efforts
ASTANA – A model of a regional zone of peace, security and cooperation can be developed on the basis of a harmonious combination of the interests of all involved Central Asian countries, said Mazhilis (lower chamber of Parliament) Chairperson Nurlan Nigmatulin. He spoke on the role of parliaments in legislative support for cooperation and regional…
SAP Kazakhstan to launch innovative business and public administration programmes at Kazakh universities
ASTANA – SAP announced plans to open the first Next-Gen Lab in Kazakhstan in cooperation with Nazarbayev University and the International University of Information Technologies at the May 24 SAP Forum. The labs will be created within both of those universities, and in them, students, under the guidance of SAP experts and using SAP technologies,…
Shanyrak social enterprise attracts orphanage graduates to entrepreneurial activities, solves employment issues
ASTANA – The Uralsk-based Shanyrak social enterprise supports orphanage graduates in career guidance, education and employment. The profitable organisation has trained 92 graduates and provided jobs for 39 of them though its recruitment company, 38 attended the vocational training school, seven became individual entrepreneurs and 13 are involved in careers at the enterprise. Shanyrak founder…
Nazarbayev University to host conference on good governance, diversification in resource-dependent countries
ASTANA – The Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy (NU GSPP) has announced plans to hold “The Good Governance and Economic Diversification in Resource Rich Economies” conference Aug. 17-19 in the capital, according to the school’s press release. The event with several panel sessions and notable speakers is expected to attract about 50…
Centre of Cultures and Religions strengthens interfaith harmony, patriotism
ASTANA – Twenty foreign and five Kazakh participants representing leaders of world and traditional religions and international organisations dealing with issues in the field will get together in the Kazakh capital May 18 for the 16th session of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The Astana Times interviewed International…
Kazakhstan to introduce online platform to facilitate job exchange functions
ASTANA – An electronic labour exchange, a free unified database providing labour market information, will be launched in September, said Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection Birzhan Nurymbetov at an April 21 Central Communications Service briefing. The exchange will be designed on the basis of Enbek.kz, a currently-functioning portal, he said. Human Resources Development…
Family upbringing is key to preventing youth radicalisation, says top Kazakh official
ASTANA – State bodies and civil society institutions should strengthen efforts to modernise public awareness with an emphasis on zero tolerance for any activities related to radical manifestations, especially in the sphere of religious relations, said Kazakh State Secretary Gulshara Abdykalikova. She made the comments at the conference on the role of women’s organisations in…
Kazakh cultural centre in Argentina unites Central Asia and Latin America
ASTANA – Irina Vagner, founder of Centro Kazajo, the Kazakh cultural centre in Rosario, Argentina, has announced plans to take part in next year’s Festival of Nations. The annual event, with the participation of three million people, is widely celebrated in the city. “It is one of the most important events in the country. Since…
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Palais Paris to display at EXPO 2017
ASTANA – The Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and Grand Palais Museum will present exhibitions and public programmes June 10 – Sept.10 at the Astana Contemporary Art Centre as part of EXPO 2017, according to the press service of the Astana EXPO 2017 national company. “We aim to attract people to our art centre and…
Kyzylorda volunteers cultivate concern for others, present inclusive theatre production
ASTANA – A Kyzylorda volunteer organisation held a charity concert April 21 as part of the social programme to help rehabilitate and socialise individuals with physical challenges. The inclusive theatre and wheelchair dance troupe presented its debut performance. “We decided to arrange a concert to support our unique projects – the inclusive theatre and wheelchair…
Kazakhstan’s anti-corruption legislation may become model for post-Soviet countries, say experts
ASTANA – Transparency International, the leading civil society organisation fighting corruption worldwide, released its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) at the end of January concerning the level of perceived corruption for 176 countries. Kazakhstan’s score improved by one point to 29, moving the nation from 135th to 131st place. The Kazakh government has paid considerable attention…
Astana to host SCO Interbank Association, Business Council meeting
ASTANA – The joint meeting of the Interbank Association and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Business Council will be held on the eve of EXPO 2017 in Astana. This was announced April 12 at the meeting at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing between SCO Business Council and Kazakhstan Entrepreneurs’ Forum Chairman Raimbek Batalov and SCO…
Regional internal migration launched, more than 630,000 jobs to be created this year
ASTANA – The government has identified seven regions to stimulate voluntary migration, said Labour and Social Protection Minister Tamara Duissenova at the April 5 Increasing Labour Market Mobility business forum in Shymkent. Labour migrants from the Almaty, Mangistau, South Kazakhstan and Zhambyl regions will receive subsidies for relocation and housing rent for one year to…
Clothing donation project brings warmth, hope to those in need
ASTANA – Almaty residents can donate clothes and items to the Teplo (Warmth) charity boxes to help people in emergencies. There are currently five collection points located at Esentai Square, Dostyk Plaza Mall, Mega Alma-Ata Mall, On Clinic hospital and Pita Green healthy food restaurant. The social and charitable project, aimed at organising contributions for…
Central Asian regional hub for countering global threats to open in Astana
ASTANA – The Central Asian Regional Hub for Countering Global Threats will be established in the capital within the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the Prosecutor General’s Office. The plan was announced April 11 at the meeting in Vienna between Prosecutor General Zhakip Assanov and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive…
Kazakhstan seeks to improve civil service through international partnerships
ASTANA – The Civil Service Development global and regional trends review highlighting civil service development and reform in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Caucasus and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries throughout the past 25 years was highly commended by experts at a April 12 Partnership for Civil Service Excellence conference in the…
