World Nomad Games in Astana: Celebrating Tradition Through Sport and Culture
ASTANA — The Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG), a unique sporting event celebrating nomadic people’s cultural heritage and traditions, will commence in Astana on Sept 8. The games aim to preserve and popularize the traditional sports of nomads, attracting not only residents but also international spectators with exciting competitions and vibrant cultural events. Nail Nurov,…
Comic Con Spotlights Mads Mikkelsen and Kazakh Film Industry
ASTANA—For four days, Astana became a hub of geek culture, hosting Comic Con Astana 2024. The event drew professional cosplayers, renowned directors and actors, including headliner Mads Mikkelsen. Some of the highlights included Mikkelsen’s extended autograph session and discussions with Kazakh director Aisultan Seitov on new projects and trends in both global and Kazakh cinematography.…
Astana Hosts Central Asia’s Largest Comic Con, Uniting Global Pop Culture Icons
ASTANA — Astana hosted the largest geek festival in Central Asia, Comic Con Astana 2024 on July 25-28. The event gathered over 50,000 visitors and united popular culture professionals, including actors, cosplayers and bloggers from over 30 countries. These include countries such as Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates,…
Kazakh Tourism Shares Top Five Attractive Tourist Destinations in Kazakhstan
ASTANA—Kazakh Tourism published a list of the top five attractive resort areas for tourists in Kazakhstan on July 16, with the Almaty mountain cluster leading the pack. From January to March, 766,588 guests visited the resort areas of Kazakhstan. According to the Khabar news agency, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that the Almaty mountain…
Kazakh Anti-Corruption Service Intensifies Global Asset Recovery Efforts
ASTANA— Kazakhstan has been strengthening its international cooperation to enhance data exchange, track suspicious international financial transactions and recover assets including securities, real estate, jewelry and ancient artworks, as well as directing the funds to socio-economic projects, since the reinforcement of the law on returning illegally withdrawn assets to the state in 2023. Since the…
International Chess Champs to Unite at Championships in Astana
ASTANA—The Kazakhstan Chess Federation, under the auspices of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), will host the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Club Championships in Astana from Aug. 1-5. According to the press service of the Kazakh Chess Federation, the event expects approximately 300 people from more than 30 clubs worldwide. The current world champions have…
Kazakhstan’s 12 Stars Featured on Paris Olympics Website
ASTANA — Twelve renowned Kazakh athletes were featured in an article on the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics website. According to the Olympics’ official website, the list includes the winners of the World Championships and the 2020 Olympics. Boxing Kazakhstan will be represented in boxing by Nazym Kyzaibai (50 kilograms). The 2014 and 2016 world champion…
Seven Kazakh Startups to Study in Silicon Valley
ASTANA—The top ten Central Asian startups have been selected for the Alchemist Accelerator program, which will commence on Aug. 12 and grant them a unique opportunity to study in Silicon Valley. This five-month intensive program in Silicon Valley aims to support promising startups entering the American market. Participants will receive support in signing early contracts…
Kazakhstan Partners with Japan to Strengthen Hydraulic Infrastructure to Boost Flood Resilience
ASTANA—Japanese experts will assess 13 hydraulic structures in four regions of Kazakhstan to prepare for the 2025 flooding season. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the specialists will inspect the country’s hydraulic infrastructure, focusing on facilities that have faced significant pressure during previous floods. Visual inspections of the facilities have been…
Kazakh Boxers’ Photos Adorn Paris Streets Ahead of 2024 Olympics
ASTANA — Photos of Kazakh boxers are displayed on the streets of Paris on the eve of the 2024 Olympics. According to the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, the photos feature boxers, including Saken Bibosynov, Kamshybek Kunkabayev, Alibek Oralbay and Nurbek Oralbay. Final preparations are underway in the city, creating an Olympic atmosphere. The excitement…
Kazpost Integrates Digital Asset Transactions, Expands Financial Services
ASTANA—Kazpost, Kazakhstan’s national postal network operator, has enabled fiat transactions with digital assets, reported the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) on July 22. This marks a crucial step in the country’s digital finance landscape. The Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), in collaboration with the Kazakh National Bank and the Kazakh Agency for Regulation and Development…
Traditional Archery Team Intensifies Training for World Nomad Games in Almaty
ASTANA—Almaty is hosting a field training camp for the traditional archery (sadak atu) national team to prepare for the fifth World Nomad Games (WNG). The training camp welcomed 12 athletes, including ten selected and two reserve athletes. Six are males, and four are females. “Training is intense, with only a few days left before the…
Two-Year Progress: Development Milestones of Kazakhstan’s New Regions
ASTANA — Since the establishment of the Ulytau, Abai and Zhetysu regions in 2022, on the initiative of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, significant administrative and structural developments have occurred. The regions have witnessed improvements in the economy, investment profiles, infrastructure, agriculture, sports, culture, and education, according to an analytical article in Kazinfrom. The Abai Region …
Kazakh, Italian Companies Launch Educational Project for Furniture Design
ASTANA — As European companies seek more trade and economic cooperation in Central Asia, Kazakh and Italian business people are launching educational projects for furniture design, with Astana as a focal point for regional expansion. In an interview with The Astana Times, Karlygash Baibachenova, the founder of the only certified Academy of Furniture in Kazakhstan and…
Kazakh Folk Dance Ensemble: Beacon of Cultural Diplomacy
ASTANA—The Kazakh folk dance ensemble Birlik (Unity), representing a unique combination of international folk dances and live music, aims to become a benchmark of excellence and professionalism in music and a symbol of harmony and cultural diplomacy, said Anel Marabayeva, the choreographer and artistic director of the ensemble, in an interview with The Astana Times. …
Kazakhstan Showcases Tourism Opportunities and Nomad Games to International Audience
ASTANA — The Directorate for the Preparation and Holding of the Fifth World Nomad Games hosted a special presentation for foreign diplomats and journalists on July 5 at the Qazaqstan athletics sports complex. The event, a part of the Sports – Ambassador of the World exhibition, also featured a discussion led by the Ministry of…
World Nomad Games Participants Showcase Equestrian Skills at International Festival
ASTANA — The participants of the fifth World Nomad Games performed at the international festival in the Almaty Region on July 4. According to Inbusiness.kz, equestrian competitions and demonstration performances of horseback riders shooting at targets while galloping with bows drew significant interest from the attendees. In the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau, riders showcased…
World Nomad Games Exhibition Introduces Event to SCO Summit Guests
ASTANA — The Directorate for the Preparation and Holding of the fifth World Nomad Games launched the Meeting in the Great Steppe exhibition at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation to introduce the games to foreign guests attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on July 4. According to the Directorate’s press service, official promotional…
Kazakhstan’s Population Exceeded 20 Million
ASTANA — The Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics released demographic data on July 3, stating Kazakhstan’s population has hit 20.1 million as of June 1. The population increased by 106,072 people from January to June. At the beginning of the year Kazakhstan’s population was 20,033,841 and had grown to 20,139,914 by June 1. The urban…
Prominent Kazakh Soloists Perform at Concert for Kazakh, Chinese Presidents
ASTANA — Kazakh opera star Maira Mukhamedkyzy and world-famous Kazakh pop singer Dimash Kudaibergen made a short performance for Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the conclusion of official negotiations on July 3. According to Kazinform, the leaders of the two countries highly appreciated the performances of renowned Kazakh artists.
UN Secretary-General Meets with IOM Goodwill Ambassador Dimash Kudaibergen
ASTANA— UN Secretary-General António Guterres met with Dimash Kudaibergen, the Goodwill Ambassador for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – UN Migration Agency in Astana on July 4. Kudaibergen, a renowned Kazakh pop singer and composer, was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the IOM—UN Migration in the Asia region and beyond on Feb. 15.…
Kazakh Foreign Ministry Briefs International Journalists Ahead of SCO Summit
ASTANA—The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a briefing for international journalists to discuss Kazakhstan’s foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit on July 3. Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko welcomed journalists from the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Serbia, South Korea, and Spain. He discussed…
Kazakh Service Officers Complete French Language Course for UN Peacekeeping Missions
ASTANA — Seven service officers of the country’s armed forces completed the three-month French language course based on the Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Kazakh Ministry of Defense (KAZCENT) on June 25. According to KAZCENT, the course was a collaborative effort between the defense departments of Kazakhstan and France. Its primary purpose is to…
Kazakhstan, China Enhance Trade Links with Middle Corridor Agreement
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law on the ratification of the agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and China governments to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor on July 1. According to Kazinform, Tokayev also signed the law on the ratification of the agreement with China…
Kazakhstan’s Strategic Investment Plan to Boost Economic Growth, Attract Global Brands
ASTANA — Gabidulla Ospankulov, the chairman of the Investment Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently spoke about the nation’s ambitious strategies to attract investments, identify promising investor countries, and leverage leading companies to meet Kazakhstan’s economic growth targets in an interview with Kazinform news agency. With a goal to elevate the national…
