Implementing openness, transparency principles lead to change in perception of corruption nationwide
ASTANA – The growth model designed to ensure Kazakhstan’s global competitiveness identifies important priorities, including institutional reforms, security and anti-corruption. President Nursultan Nazarbayev outlined the third stage of modernisation in his Jan. 31 annual address to the nation. The head of state set a task to strengthen efforts to identify and eliminate the causes and…
Kazakhtelecom opens network operations centre
ASTANA – Kazakhtelecom Unified Network Management Centre, launched in mid-March in Almaty, aims to help the company automate work and promptly find and fix malfunctions. The centre’s staff processes approximately 400,000 various types of messages each month, from system signals about malfunctions to information alerts, reported Tengrinews.kz. The facility is equipped with the latest security…
International medical aid project brings free reconstructive surgery to Kazakh children
ASTANA – The Asyl Bala Association has launched a project to provide reconstructive and plastic surgeries to children with congenital facial malformations, post-burn deformities and pigmented spots. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the International Assistance Group and the Medical Centre Corporate Foundation. Visiting American plastic surgeons specialising in helping children with severe…
Almaty photographer reveals how simple hobby turned into career
ASTANA – The breathtaking pictures of exotic marine life taken by Almaty resident Nadezhda Kulagina took the fourth and sixth places in the wrecks category of the 2017 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition. An interpreter by occupation, Kulagina has been involved in underwater photography for seven years. She specifically went to Sudan last year,…
Kazakh diaspora share joy of celebrating Nauryz with people around them
ASTANA – Nauryz, an ancient eastern holiday celebrated March 22 in many Middle and Central Asia countries, is one of the favourite holidays for Kazakh people. The event is also widely celebrated by Kazakh diaspora across the world. The Astana Times interviewed Kazakhstan-born people who currently reside in Paris, Moscow and Los Angeles to learn…
Astana Ballet Theatre premiers “Walpurgis Night”
ASTANA – The “Walpurgis Night” ballet premiered March 17-18 at the Astana Ballet Theatre in the capital. The ballet was staged by Honoured Artist of Russia, People’s Artist of Tatarstan Georgy Kovtun who has produced approximately 300 ballets and choreographic performances for many theatres in Russia and Ukraine, including the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky Theatres and…
New concept for renting houses in Astana
ASTANA – Local entrepreneurs have set new trends in the hospitality industry in recent years, as the Kazakh capital has become a top tourism and business destination in Central Asia. The Room project head Ainur Nurtai and her team decided to change the approach to small business management and find a perfect business idea.…
Astana Process guarantor states reaffirm commitment to strengthening Syrian ceasefire
ASTANA – Russia, Iran and Turkey reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating and strengthening the ceasefire regime in Syria during a fresh round of peace talks March 14-15 in Astana. It was the third such meeting in Astana in what has become known as the Astana Process. It was also announced that the next high-level meeting…
Astana hosts Battle of the Bars competition
ASTANA – Battle of the Bars, the prestigious calisthenics tournament, was held March 5 in the capital’s Khan Shatyr shopping centre. Hosted in major cities and countries such as Chicago, Dubai, Kuwait, Los Angeles, Mexico and San Jose, the competition was the first organised in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and brought together 16…
Kazakh filmmaker’s latest project creates new wave of independent documentary culture
ASTANA – Young and ambitious filmmaker Kanat Beisekeyev released “Bala,” a film about Kazakh children adopted by American families, in late February. The documentary touches on a sensitive topic, but the author’s simple, understandable language and extraordinarily light narration leaves no one indifferent. “I am extremely happy to present this film. It’s not just a…
Institute of Diplomacy contributes to developing foreign service and promoting national interests
ASTANA – Innovative approaches have transformed foreign policy in recent years. Digital diplomacy is a modern and technological dimension of foreign policy, used as a new soft power tool to advance national interests, project political and economic power. In his address to the nation, “Third Modernisation of Kazakhstan: Global Competitiveness,” President Nursultan Nazarbayev attached particular…
Pilot programme to teach Kazakh in Russian-language schools to launch in 2018
ASTANA – A pilot programme to teach the Kazakh language in Russian-language schools will launched in 2018, said Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev at a governmental meeting in late February. “Children in Russian-language schools do not speak Kazakh and this problem needs attention. A three-level communicative method based on a new scientific approach…
Local designer participates in prestigious UK emerging designer exhibition
ASTANA – Kazakh designer Ruslan Kim will show his ready-to-wear collection at the International Fashion Showcase exhibition (IFS) initiated by British Fashion Council and British Council as part of the London Fashion Week Feb. 17-21. IFS is a series of fashion-installations that demonstrate the works by beginning and ambitious designers from 26 countries and present…
Forum addresses national gender equality achievements and challenges
ASTANA – Empowerment of Women in the Corporate Sector, an international forum held Feb.10 in the capital, highlighted the involvement of women in Kazakh business. Of the more than 570,000 enterprises in the nation, 44 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are run by women. The businesses provide 31 percent of all jobs in…
Pro Boxer Firuza Sharipova fights her way to top
ASTANA – Firuza Sharipova will hold a master class Feb. 23 at the Floyd Mayweather Boxing Academy in Zhukovka. A native of Taraz, she is the first Kazakh woman in the professional ring and has been named the sexiest athlete in the country, according to Vesti.kz. The multiple Kazakh boxing champion and Asian continental tournament…
Free training programme introduced to reduce skilled labour shortage, improve social climate among youth
ASTANA – More than 20,000 young people have the opportunity to get free vocational and technical education as part of the Productive Employment and Large Scale Entrepreneurship programme. The project, approved by the government Dec. 26, was launched Jan. 1 by the Ministry of Education and Science. Financing totalling 118.8 billion tenge (US$$365.2 million) has…
School of Medicine Building Opens at Nazarbayev University
ASTANA – A new building opened Jan. 25 at Nazarbayev University School of Medicine. Designed by leading American architectural firm Perkins + Will, the 39,825-square metre institute includes research and teaching laboratories, a simulation centre, anatomical laboratory, lecture halls, group study rooms, library and dining room. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with faculty and students…
US Audience Explores Kazakh Music, Traditional Instruments
ASTANA – KUSC, the Los Angeles-based classical music radio station, has released “A Breathtaking Musical Journey through Kazakhstan,” a four-part series produced by Adriana Cargill for Arts Alive. The programme focuses on “The Silent Steppe Cantata” created by Kazakh contemporary opera singer Timur (formerly known as Timur Bekbosunov) and acclaimed CalArts composer Anne LeBaron. Inspired…
Law Experts Evaluate Kazakhstan’s Judicial Reforms, Courtroom Technological Innovations
ASTANA – A monitoring report of the European Union (EU) Rule of Law Initiative for Central Asia pilot project was presented at a Jan. 26 seminar meeting in the capital. The event was held at the Supreme Court with the participation of regional court chairpersons and administrators and international experts, including German Ambassador Rolf Mafael,…
Kazakhstan’s Two Largest Banks Said to Hold Merger Talks
ASTANA – Halyk Bank recently announced it is indeed in discussions with Qazkom and the bank’s largest shareholder over a possible merger. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, reported the press service of Halyk Bank. The market reaction to a possible merger of the two largest banks in Kazakhstan was immediate. The…
Outcomes and Effects of National Anti-Corruption Strategies
ASTANA – Fighting corruption is one of the priorities of Kazakhstan’s 100 Concrete Steps programme, the massive reform project intended to accelerate the country’s development. The Astana Times spoke with Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption Agency Deputy Chairman Alik Shpekbayev about consistent, targeted actions against corruption held in the country. The agency plays the major…
Street Workout Federation Promotes Emerging Sport Open to Everyone
ASTANA – Street workout as a sports and social movement is recognised worldwide and surprisingly has a large number of supporters and leaders in a country where the cold weather season lasts for several months. The Astana Times interviewed Street Workout Federation Secretary General Askar Ismailov to learn why this type of sport is popular…
Shymkent-Based Plant to Produce Green Algae Superfoods Spirulina, Chlorella
ASTANA – The global superfood movement attracts an army of followers worldwide and Kazakhstan is no exception. In this sense, the Lotus Organics is a unique enterprise as this is one of two dozen companies in the world that manufacture patented biotechnological production strains based on algae bacteria. Located in the Ontustik industrial zone in…
Astana to Host Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition 2017
ASTANA – The Operalia, an annual international competition for young opera performers, will be held July 24–29 at the Astana Opera House in the capital. Founded in 1993 by great opera singer and conductor Plácido Domingo, the 25th competition is organised with the support of the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sport. “The Astana Opera…
Museum Showcasing Almaty’s Rich History Opens
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is a country with rich traditions and cultural heritage. Now, a new museum devoted to the history of Almaty city, displaying more than 40,000 exhibits and works of art opened its doors to the public in late December. The museum exposition consists of 11 halls, including “The ancient history of Almaty,” “Medieval…
