Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Astana Finance Days (AFD), organized by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), continues with a series of discussions on topics including investment potential, financial institutions’ roles, data protection, artificial intelligence (AI) in business, the creation of a voluntary carbon market in Kazakhstan, capital markets, financial technologies, and Islamic financial solutions for both corporate…

ASTANA – Energy Week Central Asia and Caspian 2024 took place on Sept. 5-6 in Astana, focusing on the region’s green transition. The event featured in-depth discussions on policy and regulatory frameworks, financing renewable energy, and technology-specific projects, including solar PV, storage, wind energy, green hydrogen, and hydropower. The region’s substantial untapped renewable energy potential…

ASTANA — The HAS SANAT Art Gallery in the Kazakh capital hosts the “Salvador Dali: The Secret Writing” exhibition from Aug. 30 to Sept. 29. The exhibition showcases 61 original works by the renowned surrealist. Dali, known for his eccentric persona and ability to blur the lines between reality and fantasy, is celebrated for transforming…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the World Bank discussed the new five-year country partnership framework for 2025-2030, outlining key areas of the bank’s activities in Kazakhstan, including support for public sector reforms, macroeconomic and fiscal stability, the financial sector, agricultural transformation, and digital development, reported the press service of the Ministry of National Economy on Aug.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s referendum on construction of a nuclear power plant is scheduled for Oct. 6, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during his annual state-of-the-nation address to Kazakh citizens at a joint meeting of Parliament on Sept. 2. Tokayev stated that every crucial decision for the country’s future must have public support, including the nuclear power…

ASTANA – President of the Kazakh Union of Cynologists, Bauyrzhan Serikkali, spoke to Kazinform news agency about the timeline for international recognition of the Kazakh Tazy dog breed, the challenges in breed verification, and the steps being taken for its preservation and development. Below is the Q&A with Bauyrzhan Serikkali: Following a Tazy dog exhibition in…

ASTANA – A Turkish family converted a 1982 bus into a motorhome and embarked on a journey from Ankara to Astana for the Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG), according to the Kazinform news agency. Clinical psychologist Idil Duran, carpenter Burak Duran and their two-year-old son have temporarily left their life in Istanbul to live in…

BISHKEK – Ordo, the most widespread traditional game in the Kyrgyz Republic, is featured in the World Nomad Games. The word “ordo” refers to the central headquarters of a khan’s (ruler’s) palace, and the game simulates the battle to capture this stronghold. Historically, the game served as a military training tool, teaching warriors how to…

ASTANA – Kazakh traditional ornaments are a vital part of culture, commonly seen in clothing, jewelry, and household items including rugs, blankets, and pottery. The intricate designs, featuring geometric patterns, floral motifs, and animal depictions, serve as decorations and amulets. In an interview with The Astana Times, Aizhan Kurbanova, a junior researcher at the Central…

ASTANA—The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released an analytical report on food security and the agro-industrial potential of the Eurasian region. The report forecasts that Kazakhstan will be the leading producer of food surpluses through 2035, primarily due to its expanding grain production. Countries in the region face significant challenges, including land and water shortages…

ASTANA – Jakub Jakusik, a Polish lecturer specializing in Kazakh language at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, has a deep passion for Turkish and Central Asian culture. Beyond teaching, he conducts research on the language, culture, history and socio-political dynamics of Türkiye and Kazakhstan, aiming to enrich his students’ understanding and inspire them to explore…

ASTANA – The genomic industry in Kazakhstan is developing rapidly, drawing interest from government agencies and private investors. The integration of genomic technologies across various sectors of the economy promises to enhance the quality of life and production processes in the country. Gabidulla Ospankulov, the chairman of the Investment Committee of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry,…

ASTANA – The traditional Kazakh board game togyzkumalak (nine pebbels board game), known as the “chess of the steppes,” is one of the 21 sports featured at the Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG) in Astana. The sports program also includes assyk atu, ordo, tug of war, baige, kokpar, horseback wrestling, tenge ilu, qazaq kuresi, ashyrtmaly…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in collaboration with the World Bank, is advancing the second phase of the Northern Aral Sea preservation project. The sea has recently seen an increase in its water volume, with 1.1 billion cubic meters entering its basin, bringing the total volume to 21.4 billion cubic…

ASTANA – In the first half of the year, Kazakhstan achieved substantial oil and gas production results, extracting 44.7 million tons of oil and gas condensate and increasing gas production to 30 billion cubic meters, a 101% rise from the same period last year. The Prime Minister’s press service reviewed measures to enhance energy infrastructure,…

ASTANA – In a recent article published on July 28 to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the UN highlighted the human trafficking situation in Kazakhstan and the measures the country has implemented to combat it. The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was established in 2013 to raise awareness about victims of human…

ASTANA – The British educational institutions Ardingly College and Coventry University are expanding their presence in Kazakhstan, fostering bilateral cooperation and offering educational opportunities for Kazakh citizens. Primus Education has played a key role in these projects, selecting partners that align with their mission. We spoke with Primus Education president Alister Bartholomew and president of…

ASTANA — The French National Georges Pompidou Center of Art and Culture has acquired “Artist Sleeps,” a work by Kazakh artists Yelena and Victor Vorobyov, the Ministry of Culture and Information announced on July 24 in response to an official inquiry by Kazinform news agency. This installation features a bed with a peacefully sleeping human…

ASTANA — The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and Zhasyl Damu company have launched the first project to construct a waste recycling plant and techno-eco park, the ministry’s press service reported on July 24. This project includes sorting 120,000 tons of waste annually, sorting bulky waste at a rate of 120,000 tons per…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s multimedia interactive complex in Burabay National Park, in the Akmola Region, has reopened following modernization, offering visitors an immersive experience into the nation’s history and Kazakh culture, reported the press service of the Ministry of Culture and Information on July 24. This interactive museum aims to enhance Kazakhstan’s cultural, spiritual, and historical heritage.…

ASTANA – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretariat received compensation plans from Kazakhstan for its excess production in the first half of 2024, reported the organization’s press service on July 24. Iraq and Russia have also submitted similar plans. Kazakhstan overproduced approximately 620,000 barrels daily, while Iraq’s excess reached 1.1 million barrels per…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to initiate 180 projects by the end of 2024, with investments totaling about 1.4 trillion tenge (US$2.9 billion) and creating approximately 17,400 new jobs, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on July 24. Once fully operational, the key projects will generate goods worth nearly 1.8 trillion tenge (US$3.7 billion), including 400…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan established its first permanent representation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at ICAO headquarters in Montreal on July 23, reported the foreign ministry’s press service. Timur Tlegenov, the new Kazakh permanent representative, met with ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar and expressed strong support for the organization’s initiatives to foster multifaceted…

ASTANA – With less than a week before the 2024 Paris Games, Kazakh athletes departed for Paris on July 17. Twelve referees from Kazakhstan will officiate at the Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 11. Eighty athletes will compete, with the national men’s boxing team being the only full team among the country’s representatives.…

ASTANA – Mas-wrestling is one of the 20 competitive sports at the World Nomad Games, featuring traditional games of Turkic nomadic peoples. This sport has deep historical roots, known by various names such as “mas-dardygi” in Yakutia (The Republic of Sakha), “tayak tartish” in the Kyrgyz Republic, and “tayak tartu” in Kazakhstan. The essence of…