Astana tourism official discusses capital’s 20th anniversary celebrations
ASTANA – As Astana approaches its 20th anniversary July 6, Astana Convention Bureau Director Saniyar Aitekenov recently spoke to The Astana Times about events and celebrations related to the anniversary. “Over the whole year, residents and guests of Astana enjoy an extensive festive programme of 618 events, including both traditional and new concerts, shows, exhibitions…
OTOSOTR: WWII monodrama to be performed in UK and US
ASTANA – OTOSOTR (On the Other Side of the River), directed by Tatyana Kim and performed by Kazakh actor Anatoliy Ogay, has been included in the official programme of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest theatre festival, in August and the main programme of United Solo, the largest solo performance festival, in New York…
Paper nomads: Almaty residents warm to book crossing
ASTANA – Book crossing, a social movement aimed at the mass distribution and exchange of books, is gaining popularity in Almaty. All it takes to join the movement is a book and a public space: book lovers bring books to public places and leave them so they can be picked up and read by others.…
Officials report on children’s summer recreation programmes
ASTANA – At least 2.5 million children will be provided with recreational activities during summer vacation, said Kazakh Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev during the May 29 government meeting. As the youngsters begin their holiday, officials considered organising health-related recreation and leisure events. Sagadiyev noted 2.815 million Kazakh children are enrolled in grades…
Karaganda resident creates exoskeleton to help individuals with physical challenges
ASTANA – Novice Karaganda inventor Vyacheslav Litvinov has produced portable rehabilitation exoskeletons intended for individuals with locomotor apparatus damage and those who have lost the ability to move independently, according to kapital.kz. An exoskeleton is a special wearable device that restores lost functions, strengthening human muscles and expanding the amplitude of a person’s movements. “The…
Shymkent hosts first Kazakh-Uzbek business forum
ASTANA – Approximately 400 business persons participated May 22 in the first Kazakh-Uzbek business forum in Shymkent, the press service of the South Kazakhstan region’s akimat (administration) reports. Forum participants discussed trade and economic cooperation. Uzbekistan is Kazakhstan’s largest trade partner in Central Asia. Bilateral trade increased almost 50 percent in the first quarter this…
India and Kazakhstan have excellent relations, says Indian ambassador
ASTANA – Relations between Kazakhstan and India have a long history. At the beginning of the first millennium, the Sakas went from Central Asia to India and Buddhism from India was introduced in Kazakhstan. The Great Silk and Spice Routes united India and Kazakhstan in the Middle Ages. There was a constant exchange of goods,…
Kazakhstan embraces capoeira
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…
Deutsches Theatre in Kazakhstan: in sync with times
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…
Kazakh officials consider tax breaks to grow domestic film industry
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…
Kazakh GDP grew 3.8 percent in January-April 2018
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…
Immortal Regiment parade honours war heroes’ memory
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…
Kazakh President visits new mosque in futuristic style
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…
Kazakhstan’s exports exceeded $48.3 billion in 2017
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…
Kazakhstan’s Bolashak Programme has awarded 12,831 scholarships in 25 years
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…
International MMA stars to fight in Astana at Battle of Nomads
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…
Seven Veils of Eurasia exhibit reveals magical world of ballet
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…
Kazakhstan Fashion Week gathers best designers
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,…
Kazakhstan considers excluding term ‘oralman’ from Kazakh language
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…
Kazakhstan to celebrate horse milk with Kymyz Muryndyk 2018 festival
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.…
75-year-old anti-nuclear activist to run his 305th marathon in Almaty
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…
Kazakh togyz kumalak champion among nation’s 100 New Faces
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…
Chinese company to build wind and solar power stations in Kentau
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…
More than 20 percent of Kazakh citizens speak three languages
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…
Adili – Kazakh ethnic style accessories
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…
