Articles by Nagima Abuova

ASTANA — East Kazakhstan’s native Azhar Toleukanova emerged as the top female competitor at the international Dala Mergeni (The Steppe Shooter) 2024 traditional archery tournament in Shymkent last October, claiming gold against athletes from the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia. In an interview with Kazinform, Toleukanova described the tournament as a long-awaited achievement and highlighted her…

ASTANA — The Kazakh government has unveiled a program to revive the legendary Aport apple, aiming to cultivate the unique variety from 2024 to 2028. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, seeks to boost production and export. The distinctiveness of the Aport apple variety lies in its sour-sweet flavor, aroma and juiciness. Hailing…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to France brought significant agreements, business partnerships, diplomatic warmth and cultural highlights, deepening ties between Kazakhstan and France through official engagements, museum visits and lighthearted moments in Paris from Nov.4-5. Diplomatic warmth on social media French President Emmanuel Macron warmly welcomed Tokayev, describing him as a “dear partner…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic, on Nov. 6, marking 15 years of regional unity and advocating for enhanced economic, cultural and digital cooperation across the Turkic world. According to Akorda, in his opening remarks, Tokayev thanked President Sadyr Zhaparov and the…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with French business leaders to discuss collaborative opportunities in the energy, nuclear power and logistics sectors following the investment roundtable in Paris on Nov. 5. Electricité de France: Shortlisted potential nuclear technology supplier Tokayev’s meeting with Luc Rémont, CEO of Electricité de France (EDF), the world’s largest operator…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted economic cooperation as a cornerstone of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and France during an investment round table in Paris on Nov. 5. Addressing leaders of French businesses, he emphasized Kazakhstan’s growing trade and investment ties with France and outlined new partnership opportunities, reported Akorda. “We are pleased to…

ASTANA — Bishkek will host high-level discussions at the 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Nov.6.  Under the theme of Empowering the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All, the summit aims to facilitate strategic dialogues on the organization’s agenda.  President…

ASTANA — inDrive, formerly known as inDriver, was rebranded in 2023 to reflect its commitment to social impact. Founded on principles of justice and independence, the company aims to make education, creative industries, startups, and sports accessible to all, challenging resource inequality. Aray Bekembayev, the country business manager of inDrive for Kazakhstan, shared the company’s…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is commemorating the 100th anniversary of Lieutenant Rakhimzhan Koshkarbayev on Oct. 19. Koshkarbayev, a national hero, raised the Soviet flag over the Reichstagwith with Grigory Bulatov on April 30, 1945, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany. This daring act, performed during the final days of World War II, remains a pivotal moment…

ASTANA — A Dutch trade mission representing seven companies from key sectors visited Kazakhstan from Oct. 7-10 to explore new port development and logistics opportunities along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor.  In an interview with The Astana Times, Henk Nieboer, the Chairman of the Netherlands Kazakhstan Business Association…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan and the Netherlands convened the first Kazakh-Dutch Business Council on Oct. 9, focusing on joint efforts to enhance transport, logistics, innovation and green energy cooperation in Astana. The event served as a platform to discuss investment opportunities and the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor.  “The…

ASTANA—Kazakh citizens are heading to the polls on Oct.6 to vote in a public referendum on the construction of the nation’s first nuclear power plant. At polling station No. 164, located in the National Academic Library on the left bank of Astana, voters shared their views with The Astana Times correspondent, highlighting that this vote…

ASTANA—Nearly 100 ice skaters from around the world gathered at Barys Arena in Astana from Oct. 3-5 for the fifth Denis Ten Memorial Challenge tournament, commemorating a celebrated Kazakh figure skater who tragically passed away in July 2018.  The event serves as an International Skating Union (ISU) challenger competition, allowing athletes to earn points for…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkey marked the Day of Cooperation of Turkic Countries on Oct.3, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the agreement signed in Nakhichevan. The agreement established the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, later transformed into the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). According to the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of maslikhats (local administrative bodies) in strengthening local governance and urged deputies of maslikhats to take a proactive role in addressing regional challenges at the second Republican Forum on Oct. 3. “Deputies of the maslikhats are the voice of the people,” said Tokayev, stressing that maslikhats…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan launched the production of a silicon carbon nanocomposite derived from rice husks on Oct.3. The first production stage aims to produce 1,500 tons of this multifunctional material annually.  According to the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the National Center for Integrated Processing of Mineral Raw Materials is implementing the project.  “Rice husks…

ASTANA—The Kazakh capital will host the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 2024, a fifth international figure skating tournament, at the Barys Arena from Oct.3 to 5. The tournament commemorates Denis Ten, a celebrated Kazakh figure skater who tragically died in July 2018.  More than 120 athletes from 31 countries will participate in the event, including Kazakh…

ASTANA—Kazakh startup ImmuniGuide launched an artificial intelligence (AI) – powered platform on Sept. 23 to revolutionize immune health assessment. The platform analyzes blood tests with a 98.7% accuracy, detecting hidden infections and monitoring the body’s response to diseases, vaccinations, physical activity and stress. According to Astana Hub, the innovation holds great potential for advancing healthcare.…

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu addressed global challenges such as climate change, nuclear security and digital transformation, highlighting the significance of multilateral cooperation, UN reforms and global efforts during the Summit of the Future on Sept. 22-23. “Kazakhstan is here today to join forces with all UN member states…

ASTANA — First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar met with Zou Lei, chairman of China Datang Corporation Ltd., one of China’s largest electricity producers, to discuss expanding energy cooperation and attracting investments into Kazakhstan’s power sector on Sept.23. According to the Prime Minister’s press service, during the meeting, Sklyar outlined the Kazakh government’s efforts to…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law ratifying the agreement to create a simplified customs corridor between member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Sept.23. The move aims to boost trade and enhance economic integration among Turkic countries. “The ratification of the agreement will contribute to the development of trade…

ASTANA—Specialists at the University Medical Center’s (UMC) Heart Center have introduced Farapulse electro-pulse ablation technology, a groundbreaking method for treating cardiac arrhythmia. This marks the first use of the technology in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). According to the UMC’s press service, the Farapulse technology offers greater efficiency, improved safety, and…

ASTANA — Kazakh creator Ainur Polatova and her team have designed a Lego model of the traditional Nomadic yurt to introduce a global audience to the essence of nomadic life. The Lego Corporation offers designers a unique opportunity by hosting a platform where users can upload and showcase their models. Models that garner 10,000 public…

ASTANA—The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) approved a 34-letter Latin-based common alphabet on Sept. 11 to foster linguistic unity among Turkic nations. This historic decision revives a decades-old initiative to unify Turkic languages, enhance cultural ties, and simplify written communication across member nations. The Turkic Academy, which coordinated the Latin-based Common Turkic Alphabet project,  published…

ASTANA — Almaty, the biggest city in Kazakhstan, celebrated its birthday on Sept. 15, in what was a vibrant celebration of the city’s history and growth. The festivities attracted residents and tourists to the blend of traditional and modern festivities. Almaty celebrates its birthday every year on the third Sunday of September, which fell on…