North Kazakhstan Encourages More Diverse Investment, Seeks to Boost Tourism
ASTANA – North Kazakhstan region is seeking to maximise its unique potential to develop the areas of agriculture and tourism, the region’s deputy akim (governor) Mukhtar Mankeyev said as he outlined the priority sectors for investment and an action plan to develop both portions of the economy. The region plays a special role as the…
First Kazakh Business Channel Presents Live-Streaming Analysis and Breaking News
ASTANA – The Atameken Business Channel, now broadcasting online and on television from Astana and Almaty, is the country’s first multimedia business news channel. The ABCTV.kz internet portal is an information platform with integrated TV, which operates only in live-stream mode, presenting the main news of Kazakhstan, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Commonwealth of…
Astana Art Fest 2016 Focuses on Local Artists, Encourages Digital Creativity
ASTANA – More than 40 artists and media art leaders from Kazakhstan and Russia are slated to participate July 4-6 in the Astana Art Fest, organised with the support of the Akimat (city administration), Astana’s Sun Media and Almaty’s Funk agencies. For three days, Nurzhol Boulevard in the centre of the capital will become the…
Book Project Enthusiasts Promote Literacy, Love of Reading
ASTANA – With her blossoming book project, I Book You, Marina Sharipova hopes to get her country reading. I Book You (ibookyou.kz) is a non-commercial project about books and readers with the ultimate mission of instilling an interest in reading and making reading a national priority. More than 16 book exchanges, including the children’s storytelling…
Almaty Entrepreneurs Produce Natural Playgrounds, Promote Socially-Beneficial Activities
ASTANA – Social entrepreneurship is a global movement being successfully implemented in Kazakhstan. When small companies build values-driven businesses and identify themselves as social entrepreneurs, it has a positive effect on the economy and population as a whole. Teplaya (Warm) and Eco-Culture Public Fund head Alesya Nugayeva runs a small business producing unique, environmentally-clean kids’…
Muslim Leader in Astana Condemns Attacks in Aktobe
ASTANA – The Spiritual Administration of Kazakh Muslims has denounced the June 5 terrorist attacks in Aktobe. “We strongly denounce the actions of the destructive religious movements who organised the attack in Aktobe. We express our deep condolences to the families and relatives of the victims. We are all Muslims and deplore terrorism in all…
Hungarian Author Introduces Book on Eurasian Ethno-Linguistic Group
ASTANA – Well-known European linguist László Marácz presented his new book, “Towards Eurasian Linguistic Isoglosses: The Сase of Turkic and Hungarian,” for the first time at the Great Steppe Human Sciences Forum May 24 in Astana. The event was organised by the International Turkic Academy with the participation of the Library of the First President…
Kazakh Felt Manufacturer Brings Ethnic Items to World Market
ASTANA – The Aigul Line company’s Kazakh-style goods are a great example of a successful Made in Kazakhstan campaign. The items produced by the company include interior and design objects, clothing, footwear and accessories made of felt. They also offer classes for felting skills. Aigul Zhanserikova, a biologist by occupation and founder of the Aigul…
British, Kazakh Experts Discuss Smart Cities Initiatives and Technologies
ASTANA – The Kazakh-British Smart Cities forum, organised by the British Council in Kazakhstan with the support of the Urban Talks and Urban Forum initiatives, was held May 24 at Kazakh-British Technical University in Almaty. The event brought together researchers, civil society activists and representatives of Kazakh and British government agencies, businesses and creative industries…
EBRD Makes First Investments in Kazakh Natural Gas Storage and Food Production
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested more than $7 billion in Kazakhstan, announced EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti at a May 26 press briefing in the capital. “We’ve just signed a large number of very important projects. This is all part of the partnership between the EBRD and Kazakhstan…
In Astana, Lagarde Urges Stronger Macroeconomic Frameworks, More Inclusive Economy
ASTANA – International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde visited Kazakhstan for the first time May 24, meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the Akorda. The agenda included priority directions of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the fund as well as the key trends in the global financial and economic system. The head of…
Astana Opera Presents Concert in Honour of Yerkegali Rakhmadiyev
ASTANA – The musical compositions of great Kazakh composer Yerkegali Rakhmadiyev were performed May 13 in the capital at the Chamber Hall of the Astana Opera. The concert “Tan Samaly” (A Morning Wind) featured the laureates of the First International Rakhmadiyev competition who are acclaimed musicians, according to the theatre’s release. Altynbek Abilda, Almat Izbambetov,…
Astana Hosts Gakku Awards Ceremony
ASTANA – The Gakku channel award ceremony was held at the Kazakhstan Concert Hall in the capital on May 18. The spectacular performance with live sound Gakku Auenderi (Gakku Songs) featured eminent Kazakh artists and bands performing top pieces of Kazakh pop music. The music feast was accompanied by the Zaratushtra orchestra and the ballet…
TEDxAlmaty Welcomes Brilliant Minds for Idea Sharing
ASTANA – “Between Sky and Earth,” highlighting ideas and solutions from leading thinkers, curious minds and captivating orators, will be the topic of this year’s Technology, Entertainment and Design (TEDx) Almaty meeting. The conference will be held Oct. 5 and the “x” represents an independently-organised event. The Astana Times interviewed TEDxAlmaty curator Larissa Pak, a…
KZfashion Agency Models Rule Junior Fashion Week 2016 Runway
ASTANA – Seventy-five talented youngsters and teens walked the runway May 15 for the first Junior Fashion Week. The models, ages 1-17 from the capital, Almaty and Uralsk, presented the newest collections by Kazakh designers. The event featured the fashions of Amelie, Dani and Iranni. Italian designer and stylist Alessandro Enriquez, editor in chief of…
Almaty Region Hosts KazGeo Tengri Ultra Marathon
ASTANA – More than 400 runners participated May 7-8 in the Great Steppe Marathon held on the Ili River near Almaty’s legendary Tamgaly Tas. The athletes, from Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and the United States, ran distances of 15-70 kilometres.…
Almaty Marks 100th Anniversary of Music Legends
ASTANA – Happy People Sing, a musical revue dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra and Edith Piaf, will be held May 16 at the Lermontov State Russian Drama Theatre in Almaty. The performance features one of the most popular and sought-after Kazakh actors Chingiz Kapin as Sinatra and actress Aisulu Azimbayeva portraying Piaf.…
Preparations for 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Full Swing
ASTANA – The Kazakh National Olympic Committee (NOC) launched a special campaign April 30 to mark the 100 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. An event organised with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Akimat (city administration) was aimed at promoting the Olympic Movement and supporting the athletes. The…
UN FAO Partnership and Liaison Office Opens in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – In collaboration with the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) partnership and liaison office to support agriculture and food security in Central Asia opened in the city on April 28. FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Europe and Central Asia Regional Representative Vladimir Rakhmanin and Kazakh Deputy Minister of Agriculture…
Beauties and Legends of Taraz
ASTANA – Architectural treasures, marvellous monuments, picturesque buildings, bustling bazaars and streets surrounded by lush greenery. If this sounds magical and attractive, Taraz, a city with a unique history and Oriental hospitality traditions, is a definite destination point. Taraz is like an open-air museum. Once known as a city of merchants, it is one of…
UNESCO Department to Honour 80th Birthday of Kazakh Poet, Anti-Nuclear Activist
ASTANA – The 80th anniversary of great Kazakh poet, writer and anti-nuclear activist Olzhas Suleimenov will be commemorated May 12 with an event at Lev Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU). The Man of the World forum is being organised by ENU’s United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) department of ethnic and religious tolerance,…
Eurasian Media Forum Gathers Experts, Politicians to Discuss International Agenda
ASTANA – More than 400 delegates from more than 50 countries and approximately 30 authoritative speakers gathered here for the 13th Eurasian Media Forum (EAMF) on April 21-22. Issues related to the worldwide economic crisis and its global consequences were discussed in panel sessions by prominent international politicians, economists, journalists and public and political figures,…
Sand Art Centres Find an Audience in Astana
ASTANA – A huge number of courses in art, design and music are offered to urban residents. But there are also classes that people can attend with their child or spouse and dive into the world of sand art. Being a great activity for children and adults, sand drawing, as art therapy, is useful for…
OPEC, Other Oil Producers Fail to Reach Agreement on Freezing Output
ASTANA – Seventeen oil producing countries ended six hours of negotiations in Doha, Qatar on April 19 without an agreement over a proposal to freeze output at January 2016 levels to stabilise oil prices by reducing excess fuel on the market. The negotiations involved members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as…
Best for Kids Fund Prepares Orphans for Transition to Post-Orphan Life
ASTANA – The fourth children’s handmade fair held March 12 featured about 220 items crafted from beads, wool, wood, textiles, as well as paintings and books by more than 80 children from orphanages in Akkol, Sandyktau and Uryupinsk. Wicker goods created by individuals with physical challenges at the Green TAL social workshop were also exhibited.…
