Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – The combination of Brazilian dance, music and fighting known as capoeira has found a foothold in Kazakhstan. “I train children and teenagers, promote capoeira and cultural exchange.  I think that children and their parents are attracted by the acrobatic elements and communication in the capoeira group. In no other martial art, I have…

ASTANA – Deutsches Theatre (Republican German Drama Theatre), the first German diaspora theatre in the Soviet Union, opened in December 1980 in the city of Temirtau. As the troupe celebrates its 38th birthday this year, it remains the only German theatre in the post-Soviet space. The initial and continuing feature of the troupe is youth…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports is proposing to reduce the tax burden on the domestic film industry, including exempting cinemas from the corporate income tax (CIT) while releasing locally shot films, according to inform.kz. “Thus, local films will get priority over foreign movies,” Director of Legal Services Department of the Ministry…

ASTANA – Kazakh economic activity continues to maintain positive dynamics, though with some slowdown. GDP growth from January-April fell slightly to 3.8 percent, compared to the growth of 4 percent year on year last year, noted Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov during the May 15 government meeting. “In the meantime, the labour market remains…

ASTANA – The Immortal Regiment of Astana Peace March, the Victory Day procession commemorating the memory of Soviet soldiers, took place May 9, according to the city akimat (administration) press service. The annual event preserves the personal memories for descendants of Great Patriotic War participants, as well as promotes patriotism among the younger generation. “More…

ASTANA – Ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Astana’s new mosque, The Flower of Allah, akorda.kz press service reported. The President learned about the construction of the mosque and alternative sources of energy used to provide the building with electricity and heat. The construction of the mosque on…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover increased by 25 percent to $69.5 billion last year. The country’s exports increased by 30 percent and reached $48.3 billion; imports grew by 15.5 percent to $29.3 billion, Minister for Investment and Development of Kazakhstan Zhenis Kassymbek reported at a May 2 government meeting. Over four years from 2013…

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan government has awarded 12,831 Bolashak International scholarships to students in the last 25 years, according to the Centre for International Programmes press service. Established by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Nov. 5, 1993, 785 scholarships were awarded from 1994-2004 and 12,046 from 2005-2017. In excess of 10,000 specialists have been trained…

ASTANA – The capital is set to host MMA Week May 8-12 as part of the city’s 20th anniversary celebration when the MMA Federation of Kazakhstan will hold the MMA Amateur Championship of Kazakhstan and Battle of Nomads 10 international professional tournament. Kazakh MMA Federation First Vice President Assylbek Dyussenov previewed the event with The…

ASTANA – “Seven Veils of Eurasia,” an exhibit dedicated to the work of Russian photographer Alexei Kritsov and Belarusian sculptor Andrej Ostashov, opened April 12 in the ForteBank Kulanshi Art Space. The event includes more than 30 sculptures and 45 pictures reflecting the most important themes of our lives – peace, love and beauty. “We…

ASTANA – Some of the world’s best fashion designers showcased latest offerings April 10-13 at the Abai State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and Dostyk Plaza in Almaty for the 25th season of Kazakhstan Fashion Week (KFW). The show included collections by local and foreign designers, including Yerlan Zholdasbek, Judy Ai, Tamara Lamanukaeva, Sergey Shabunin,…

ASTANA – A special commission created under the Kazakh Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is researching whether or not the word “oralman” (“returnee,” in Kazakh), which describes ethnic Kazakhs returning to the homeland, should be excluded from the Kazakh language, tengrinews.kz reports. “The proposals concerning the term ‘oralman’ are expressed by both members of…

ASTANA – The holiday Kymyz Muryndyk, devoted to the traditional Kazakh drink kumys (fermented mare’s milk), is set to bring locals and visitors, Kazakh officials and professors, foreign diplomats and scientists, as well as Kazakh sports champions together May 11-12 in Taraz. Since ancient times, hospitality has been a defining feature of the Kazakh people.…

ASTANA – Nine riders led by Bike for Peace (BFP) President Tore Naerland will participate in the April 22 Almaty Marathon. This year, 75-year-old Harald Sel from Bryne, Norway will join the peace initiative. “The Almaty marathon will undoubtedly become one of my most exclusive. Of my over 300 marathons, I have run almost half…

ASTANA – Assel Daliyeva, Kazakh champion of the ancient national board game togyz kumalak, has been named one of the country’s 100 New Faces. The 28-year-old Kyzylorda native is the first and only person awarded the title of Honoured Master of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. “Intellectual games play an important role in the…

ASTANA – China’s Jiangsu Zhenfa Holdings Group Co. Ltd investment company will start construction in August on $154.5 million wind and solar power stations in the South Kazakhstan region. The new facilities are expected to generate 50 megawatts per hour of wind power and 30 megawatts per hour of solar energy. Kentau is a city…

ASTANA – Approximately 83 percent of the country’s population speak the Kazakh language and 22 percent of the adult population can speak three languages, Minister of Culture and Sport Arystanbek Mukhamediuly said at a March 27 government meeting, quoting a 2017 census. “To implement the project on promoting the trilingual education policy, 610 civil servants…

ASTANA – National-style accessories are becoming increasingly in vogue in Kazakhstan. Adili, the brand offering fashionable accessories with a national ornament, is introducing elements of that style into everyday life. The company has an online store (www.shopadili.com), where customers can browse through a charming collection for women and men. The concept of ​​creating a brand…

ASTANA – Arman Toskanbayev, 26, is an ambitious businessperson engaged in popularising, protecting and developing Kazakh entrepreneurial activities. His endeavour and persistence serve as an example for thousands of novice entrepreneurs, for which he has been named one of the country’s 100 New Faces. During his school years, the Karaganda native repaired old computers and…

ASTANA – Quilting enthusiasts in Almaty will work from March 22 to the Sept. 16 Almaty Day to break a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest patchwork quilt (“Kurak Korpe” in Kazakh), measuring 25,500 square metres. Organisers chose March 22 as it marks the rebirth of nature and the spring holiday of Nauryz. Quilting…

ASTANA – The Khorgos cross-border trade centre will offer improved services, enhanced safety and automated baggage handling to provide better conditions for tourists and avoid transporting cargo through the passenger bus system. Each tourist may take only one bag on the bus at the Kazakh-Chinese border; the rest of the cargo is delivered through KazPost…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Literature and Culture Centre opened March 15 in the National Library of Russia’s Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) under the international project initiated by the Kazakh National Academic Library. “Since 2016, the National Academic Library of Kazakhstan has been implementing an international project to promote Kazakh literature by opening centres in different…

ASTANA – Prices for socially important food products have increased 0.7 percent since the beginning of the year. The largest increases have been in Astana (102.2 percent), Almaty (101.6 percent) and Aktobe region (101.3 percent), First Vice Minister of Agriculture Arman Yevniyev said during a March 13 government meeting in Astana. According to the minister, the…

ASTANA – The KazSat national satellite communication system brought $15.5 million in income and replaced $37.2 million worth of imports in 2017 due to the reduced use of foreign satellites’ resources, Kazakh Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibit Atamkulov reported, according to the ministry’s press service. “The KazSat satellite communication system, satellites of the…

ASTANA – The Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and civil service and anti-corruption agency will focus on integrating digital technologies as a corruption-fighting measure, according to a new anticorruption roadmap approved Feb. 28, reported the Atameken press service. “The use and development of digital technologies is our main joint task. As President Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed,…