Kazakh National Bank cuts base rate to 10.25 percent
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has reduced the base rate to 10.25 percent with a corridor of +/-1 percent, according to an Aug. 21 press release. “The annual inflation rate continues to decelerate and remains within the target range; its deceleration trajectory matches the forecasted estimates of the National Bank. Easing monetary policy…
UNICEF hosts hackathon, talks at EXPO 2017
ASTANA – Team Insaai from Kokshetau, which developed an ethno-style mobile gaming app in three languages, took first place at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) “Innovating for Children in the Urban World” hackathon. The Aug. 18 announcement was followed the next day with the organisation hosting UNICEF Talks, a platform bringing together tech experts,…
What to see in Kazakh National Museum during EXPO 2017
ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan is hosting several exhibitions within the EXPO 2017 cultural programme. Most will last until Sept. 10 – so don’t miss the chance to visit the exclusive displays. Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army, which opened in June, is a display of four terracotta statues, as well as different…
Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture develops map of agro processing enterprise locations
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture has developed a map of its agro processing enterprise locations in order to boost the sector’s growth and increase import substitution, according to the statement of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Askar Myrzakhmetov at a July 25 government meeting. The project requires 112.1 billion tenge (US$343.1…
Bank of Astana named country’s Best Consumer Digital Bank
ASTANA – Global Finance has named Bank of Astana as Kazakhstan’s Best Consumer Digital Bank. The financial institution was among the first round of winners in the upcoming 2017 World’s Best Consumer Digital Banks awards, which will determine regional leaders. Bank of Astana has issued more than 350,000 cards and develops remote sales channels, said…
Entrepreneur develops Kazakh foods stores in Russia
ASTANA – Five years ago, Yelena Kondakova founded Baursak, a shop in Russia featuring Kazakh goods. Her business became a huge success and now there are eight stores, including one franchise. The entrepreneur plans to develop a network of up to 300 stores throughout the country. Kondakova devised the idea after realising her trips home…
EXPO 2017 reaches halfway point, welcomes one and half millionth visitor
ASTANA – Halfway through EXPO 2017, the international exhibition has welcomed one and a half million visitors, according to an expo national company press release. Almost two weeks earlier, on July 11, the exhibition welcomed and identified its one millionth visitor. That visitor was a math teacher from Astana who received gifts and recognition. This…
Morocco’s first Ambassador to Kazakhstan focuses on political dialogue, economic relations
ASTANA – Morocco established its first embassy in Kazakhstan at the end of 2016, almost 25 years after diplomatic relations were first established. Morocco’s first Ambassador to Kazakhstan Abdeljalil Saubry, recently discussed his priorities in an interview with The Astana Times “The fact of the opening of the Moroccan Embassy in Kazakhstan shows the potential…
Hollywood stars in town for Eurasia International Film Festival
ASTANA – With Hollywood stars like Adrien Brody, Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich in attendance, this year’s Eurasia International Film Festival has attracted quite a bit of attention. The largest film festival in the region, which opened July 22, will run through July 28. The event, typically held in Almaty, is being hosted in the…
Kazakhstan and Malaysia ink memorandum of understanding to attract more investments
ASTANA – The Mangystau region Akimat (regional administration) signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian company Reach Energy as part of the Kazakhstan – Malaysia business forum, according to inform.kz. “The signing of the memorandum is another milestone on the way of the social and economic development of our peoples, taking into account mutual interests.…
Al Hilal Bank expands services in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Abu Dhabi-based Al Hilal Bank is expanding its range of services and launching Islamic banking products for individual customers, according to forbes.kz. In the medium term, the bank sees great potential to develop Islamic banking in Kazakhstan, particularly in the retail market, said Al Hilal Bank Kazakhstan CEO Gordon Haskins. “Seven years of…
Switzerland shares financial experience with Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Switzerland is ready to share its financial sector and budget management experience, said Swiss Federal Councillor and Federal Department of Finance head Ueli Maurer during his July 11 visit to the Kazakh capital. The agenda also included the One Belt, One Road initiative and matters of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Maurer…
Astana Opera’s Chotabayev debuts in Graz Opera
ASTANA – Principal Soloist of the Astana Opera and Kazakh Honoured Worker Medet Chotabayev recently made his debut as Pollione in Vincenzo Bellini’s opera “Norma” at Austria’s Graz Opera. “We prepared the production for a month; there was serious musical and staging work. When I arrived for the first time, I was very nervous, had…
Children learn to love sports at Derby Football Academy
ASTANA – Kids sports seem to be largely developing in Kazakhstan’s regions through the introduction of different activities. Enthusiasts from Kostanai created their own Derby Football Academy in their hometown and Kokshetau last year and are now getting ready to open another one July 15 in Karaganda. “The idea of creation of the football academy…
Farmers unite to sell their products online
ASTANA – Fermerskaya produkciya (Farm products) agricultural cooperative, composed of 20 farmers from Tselinograd district and Yereymentau and Bulandy districts in Akmola region, is a way for them to combine their efforts and discover a new and innovative way to sell their products to capital residents. The farmers have established the Ecoferma (Ecofarm) brand and…
Islamic Organisation for Food Security office to open by end of year
ASTANA – The office of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security will open in Astana by the end of the year, Kazakh Vice Minister of National Economy Yernar Bakenov told a meeting during the 10th Astana Economic Forum on June 15-16. “Since our chairmanship in the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation in 2011, we have…
AllurGroup ships first batch of Kazakh-manufactured cars to Tajikistan
ASTANA – AllurGroup shipped June 24 the first batch of 55 Chinese-designed JAC cars worth almost $600,000 to Tajikistan, according to the company’s website. “The instrument of export trade financing allowed the domestic manufacturer to make a comprehensive proposal for the buyer, which is a delivery of goods plus financing,” said Kazakh Export’s Chairperson of…
Kazakhstan creating criminal DNA database
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has begun creating a DNA database of individuals who have committed serious crimes, said Astana Institute of Forensic Expertise biological and chemical examination laboratory head Inkar Tazhigulova. “At the end of last year, the Law on Dactyloscopic and Genomic Registration was adopted. Under this law, all persons convicted of grave and especially…
Neighbours, parties to conflict in Syria discuss terrorism, reaching solution at Eurasian Media Forum
ASTANA – Representatives of different sides in the Syrian crisis were joined by Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov to discuss the ongoing conflict in Syria and the role of the Astana Process during a panel session at the annual Eurasian Media Forum in Kazakhstan’s capital June 24. The war in Syria is “a terrible disaster…
Kazakhstan, World Bank are strong partners, says WB official
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the World Bank (WB) are celebrating a partnership anniversary this year, for in the last 25 years the financial institution has funded 45 projects totalling $8 billion. Within the June 15-16 Astana Economic Forum (AEF), WB’s Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller gave an exclusive interview to The…
Kazakh Ministry for Investments and Development recaps foreign investments, new subsoil code, improving transport potential
ASTANA – A recap of the previous year’s work, including attracting foreign investments, a new subsoil code and improving the nation’s transport and logistics potential were the main talking points of a June 12 presentation by Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek, according to Kapital.kz. The meeting with the population was held in…
International experts discuss sustainable energy, economic development at Astana Economic Forum
ASTANA – More than 4,000 participants from 100 countries gathered June 15-16 in Astana for the 10th annual Astana Economic Forum. The forum focused primarily on renewable energy and green economy under the theme “New Energy – New Economy” as well as discussions of sustainable economic growth, world trade and infrastructure. The forum was held…
How to Use Astana’s Rental Bikes
ASTANA – Warmer weather has finally returned, and bikes are once again available for rent at stations around the capital. Here’s how to access them. At the moment there are two ways to rent bikes: by card and by SMS. To rent a bike using a card, first visit velobike.kz and register. The subscription fee…
Wizz Air launches direct Budapest-Astana flights
ASTANA – Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, has launched a new route between Budapest and Astana, according to the press service of Kazakh Ministry for Investments and Development. The flights are carried out two times per week on Thursdays and Sundays by an Airbus A320. The first flight on…
Italy presents details of its EXPO 2017 pavilion
ASTANA – Italian officials revealed a few details of Italy’s EXPO 2017 pavilion during a June 2 press conference in Astana devoted to Italy’s National Day. Among the details revealed was that the pavilion’s walls will include visual and audio effects. “As a designer, I chose to create the physical squares that would represent the…
