EBRD set to refresh cooperation with Uzbekistan under its new leadership
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Uzbekistan are set to re-engage on a new level. During EBRD’s Mar. 15-17 visit to the Central Asian country, the sides intend to sign a memorandum of understanding. “We believe the time is right to re-engage with Uzbekistan,” EBRD Managing Director for Communications Jonathan…
Leroy Merlin to invest $31 million in first supermarket in Almaty
ASTANA – French giant in gardening, retailer Leroy Merlin is building the first of three supermarkets in the Almaty region and plans to invest $31 million in the outlet. “Today, the chain of supermarkets Leroy Merlin is actively developing in Russia, and we see the high potential in Kazakhstan also,” said Deputy Director General of…
Industry experts optimistic about introduction of autonomous vehicles in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Iveco representative in Kazakhstan Lorenzo Bernardeli said he was optimistic about the future of autonomous vehicles in Kazakhstan during an international forum in Astana, according to the press services of Agromashholding and SaryarkaAvtoProm. Its partner in Kazakhstan will most likely be the AllurGroup assembly plant in Kostanai. “During the forum, the representative of…
Kango Jumping Park opens in Astana’s new Mega Silk Way Mall
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s largest and newest mall, Mega Silk Way, had a technical opening March 6, as some stores are already operational and others are still under construction but will be ready by the March 23 official opening day. Kango Jumping Park, however, opened its doors for the technical opening, offering a tonne of fun…
Fitch confirms Samruk-Energy’s BB+ rating
ASTANA – International agency Fitch Rating has evaluated Kazakhstan’s Samruk-Energy long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) in foreign currency at the BB+ level and its prioritised unsecured rating foreign currency as BB, reported local sources. The IDR has been rated as stable, Fitch said in a statement. “The confirmation of rating reflects the continued strong strategic…
What Central Asia can offer as tourist destination
ASTANA – Throughout the centuries, Europe has been reigning supreme as the world’s most visited tourist destination. As of 2015, France topped the list of the most popular vacation spots, followed by Spain (third), Italy (fifth), Turkey (sixth), Germany (seventh) and the U.K. (eighth), leaving the U.S. (second), Mexico (ninth) and Russia (10th) as the…
Day of Gratitude – a celebration of Kazakhstan’s multiethnic society
ASTANA – The Day of Gratitude was celebrated for the first time last year. President Nursultan Nazarbayev established the holiday for people of different ethnic groups living in Kazakhstan to rejoice and celebrate their co-existence as one whole nation. “Some 800,000 Germans, 102,000 Polish, 550,000 of ethnics groups from the Caucasus and about 100,000 Korean…
Kazakh DJ signs contract with Armin Van Buuren
ASTANA – While singer Dimash Kudaibergen is rocking stages in the East, Kazakh DJ Farleon, also known as Sultan Karimov, signed a contract with the world-famous Dutch record label Armada Music in the West. Kazakhstan’s mass media have been buzzing about Kudaibergen’s success in the Chinese television song contest Singer 2017, otherwise known as I…
Bank mergers: expert opinion and outlook for 2017
ASTANA – Since the fall, the country’s major banks have continued to announce their intentions to merge. The latest, regarding Tsesna Bank’s plan to buy out Bank CentreCredit shares, is a move that has spurred numerous controversies and discussions. Rumours of a possible merger between Qazkom and Halyk Bank broke off in November and KazInvestBank…
President says small business burdened by too many regulations, directs large-scale review
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently instructed the government together with the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and the General Prosecutor’s Office to conduct a large-scale revision of the number of supervisory functions regulating small business. He gave the organisations one month to present their findings. The directive follows a report indicating that in the…
Global Index Ranks KazISS Among Top Think Tanks in the World
ASTANA – The country’s top think tank, the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President (KazISS), was recently ranked among the world’s top think tanks, the institution’s press service reported Jan. 31. “KazISS’s first-ever rating in the Global Go To Think Tank Index, Defence and National Security Rating is higher than ever,” the headline…
OSCE to Help Train Kazakh Law Enforcement Staff Fight Crime
ASTANA – Head of the Department of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Economic and Environmental Activities Andrei Muntean recently pledged during his meeting with Rector of the Academy of Law Enforcement under the General Prosecutor’s Office Ulan Baizhanov to help the academy create a regional law enforcement hub. The Kazakh head…
Indian Ambassador Praises Kazakh President’s Modernisation Plans
ASTANA – Plans for the third stage of modernisation announced by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev Jan. 31 were praised by Indian Ambassador Harsh Kumar Jain in a recent interview with The Astana Times. “I am impressed by the way President Nazarbayev has developed a vision for the country and that vision is being implemented…
Saudi Company Allocates More Than $90 Million to South Kazakhstan Poultry Farm
ASTANA – Saudi Arabian Al Ramez International Group will finance a poultry farm in the South Kazakhstan region with a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of meat per year, company president Abdullah Zaid Al-Meleihi said during a Jan. 30 meeting with region akim (governor) Zhanseit Tuimebayev, reported the governor’s press service. The project will be…
Kazakh Singer Rises to Stardom in China in One Day
ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergenov beat his opponents Jan. 21 in the first stage of the popular Chinese show “Singer 2017” and instantly rose to fame in China. Kudaibergenov, 22, was invited by the organisers and is the youngest participant, tengrinews.kz reports. He performed the song “SOS d’un terrien en détresse” in French after which…
Japanese Envoy: Japanese Technology, Kazakh Natural Resources Are Ideal Match
ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrated its 25th anniversary of independence last December and Jan. 26 the nation marked 25 years of diplomatic relations with Japan. In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Japanese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ichiro Kawabata marked the date and congratulated Kazakhs on behalf of the Japanese mission. “Since the beginning of our…
National Railway Company to Begin Inspecting Luggage at 16 Stations
ASTANA – Inspection of passengers’ luggage will be performed at 16 railroad stations in the country, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) press service reports. “This procedure will enter into force from Feb. 1 this year to step up the measures of safety of passengers and provision of antiterrorist protection,” the official KTZ press release reads. The…
Shymbulak Temporarily Closes Several Ski Runs for Universiade Preparations
ASTANA – Almaty’s ski resort Shymbulak closed several ski runs Jan. 9 to prepare for Winter Universiade, which starts Jan. 29. According to the company’s official press service, the resort has shut down the following runs of cable railway Combi 1: Professor, Asiada, Truba, Pole Chudes, Olimpyskiy and Terrasa. The other runs and cable railways…
Master Craftsmen Showcase Kazakh Arts at Abu Dhabi Fair
ASTANA – Kazakh master craftsmen and women showcased their country’s traditional arts and crafts skills during the two-month Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival in Abu Dhabi. The trip was organised by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United Arab Emirates and the Steppe Heritage foundation, headed by Damira Bekmukhamedova. “This is an annual fair where Kazakh…
US-Kazakh Relations to Grow Despite Many Changes in 2017, Says US Ambassador
ASTANA – The United States, one of the top foreign investors in Kazakhstan, is about to witness Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, as the 45th and probably one of its most controversial Presidents. Will policies under the new administration affect U.S.-Kazakh relations? The Astana Times interviewed the current U.S. Ambassador in Astana, George Krol,…
Appreciation for Every Crumb: A Famine Legacy
ASTANA – Kazakh culture has been shaped by events cruel and kind over the centuries. One of the saddest and most influential in recent history was the great famine of 1931–1933 caused by Stalin’s policies of collectivisation. According to some estimates, about 40 percent of the ethnic Kazakh population of that time lost their lives…
Kazakhstan’s Largest Tuberculosis Treatment Centre Opens in Astana
ASTANA – A new, state-of-the-art tuberculosis treatment centre opened Dec. 29 in Astana. The centre is the largest in the country and is designed for up to 500 patients, including a 12-bed intensive care unit. It will be serviced by more than 1,000 personnel. The treatment complex consists of four-to-six-story buildings in nine sections and…
Construction, Education, Energy Are Areas Attracting Foreigners to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s continued efforts to attract foreign investment have spurred an influx of foreign talent and professionals from various fields. Certain factors did influence the outflow in recent years, such as the devaluation of the national currency, but upcoming events like EXPO 2017, construction of the Abu Dhabi Plaza in the capital and holding…
ATOM Project Ambassador: Kazakhstan Can Call for Nuclear Weapon-Free Future for Mankind
ASTANA – Thinking of New Year’s resolutions, everyone sets goals to become better, faster, larger and one-year wiser. The ATOM Project’s Honorary Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukov is no exception. In a recent interview with The Astana Times, the renowned painter, activist and strong-willed man, whose character has been moulded by terrible life consequences, shared his thoughts…
Tea, Coffee Prices Increase by Almost 35 Percent, Other Food Prices Also Increase
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Statistics Committee released a statement indicating that in general food prices in November rose by 9.1 percent compared with the same month last year. According to the statement, all basic foods have seen price hikes. Coffee, tea and cocoa have seen prices rise by 34.6 percent; cereals by 33.5 percent; bread by…
