Articles by Abira Kuandyk

ASTANA – Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek reviewed the nation’s industrial production at the Aug. 14 government meeting saying  industrial production has increased 5.1 percent based on the results of the first seven months of the year, reported primeminister.kz. The hike, which includes a 5.4-percent increase in mining and 4.9-percent increase in manufacturing,…

ASTANA – Salben Comics, the Almaty-based publisher founded in December 2013, has brought Marvel comics to Kazakhstan. Known as the inspiration for movies and TV series adaptations, Salben Comics sells its works in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, said company head Sabit Bakytzhan in an interview with The Astana Times. “We are working over ‘The Mask’…

ASTANA – The façade of a three-story residential building in the capital’s Saryarka district turned into an art object with the conclusion of Urban Street Art Fest July 16 to 30. The open-air gallery includes the works of classics of Kazakh art from the collection of Kasteyev State Museum of Arts. “Urban Street Art Fest…

ASTANA – The main priority of the Afghan diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan is to strengthen economic, political and cultural ties between the people and governments of the countries, said Afghan Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kadam Shah Shahim in an interview with The Astana Times. Relations and cooperation have expanded and will continue to improve, he noted.…

ASTANA – Executive Director of Company E, contemporary repertory dance company, Paul Gordon Emerson, recently premiered the company’s ballet performance of “Falling Man” as part of the International Central Asian Dance Festival (CADF) in Astana. Emerson shared his impressions about the capital, Astana Opera Ballet Theatre and CADF with bnews.kz. The Central Asian Dance Festival…

ASTANA – Kamka Zhasanova, chair of the Society for Disabled Children Public Association, has been promoting inclusive education in Kazakhstan since early 2000, before many had even heard of the concept. Zhasanova initiated the first remedial classes for seven hearing-impaired and deaf children in a public school in Astana in 2000. Nearly 20 years later,…

ASTANA – The UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution on children in armed conflict July 9, underlying the connection between protecting children and preventing conflict. Kazakhstan served as a co-sponsor of the document and directly participated in drafting the resolution, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service. The resolution was adopted following a UNSC…

ASTANA – The creations of Kazakh artists are being presented abroad through the Focus Kazakhstan project, initiated to support working artists. The project sets up artist residences for eight young painters and photographers in countries around the world and follows them with parallel exhibitions. The first artist residence for Kazakh artists launched in Berlin in…

ASTANA – “Road to Mother,” by Kazakh director Akan Satayev, will be released in U.S. theatres this fall. World Wide Motion Pictures Corporation (WWMP) announced July 10 it had acquired the North American distribution rights. The movie will be released in select theatres, including major metropolitan areas, with many Kazakh and Asian American organisations offering…

ASTANA – The Mimioriya Development Centre, partnering with the South African Embassy in the city, marked the centenary of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela’s birth July 18 with acts of charity. As part of the event, children from orphanages and low-income families became acquainted with South African culture. South African Ambassador Keitumetse Seipelo Thandeka Matthews announced…

ASTANA – In mid-July, Kazakhstan has concluded agreements with various institutions in Spain, Britain and France to translate, publish and disseminate two major anthologies of modern Kazakh literature. An agreement was signed with Madrid’s Visor Libros, while similar negotiations were previously completed in Cambridge and Paris to produce works in English and French. Secretary of…

ASTANA – Kazakh chess champion Dinara Saduakassova, 21, is ranked 11th among the world’s female chess players after winning first prize among women at the recent Porticcio Open 2018. “After the tournament in the Czech Republic, where I showed the best result among women, but played, in my opinion, not in the best way, I…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Bolashak International Scholarship will mark its 25th anniversary in November. More than 10,000 specialists have been trained in 200 of the best universities of 33 countries since its launch in 1993. The Astana Times interviewed President of the Centre for International Programmes (CIP) Zhanbolat Meldeshov to learn about the programme’s key achievements, the…

ASTANA — WebTotem, a software as a service (SaaS) based in the capital, won the Kazakh round of Seedstars World. The company will represent the nation at the Seedstars Summit in Switzerland to compete for up to $1 million in equity investment and other prizes. The world’s biggest startup competition in emerging markets, Seedstars World…

ASTANA – Americans Victoria Charbonneau and Elizabeth Turnock launched Kamkor Zhurek (Caring Heart) in Taraz in 2015. The fund’s main purpose is to provide assistance to orphans, single mothers, children with disabilities and those who are disadvantaged. With its help, families, mothers and children prosper, change their priorities and values and set high ambitions. The…

ASTANA – The capital of Kazakhstan hosted the Asia Media Dialogue July 10 to 12, drawing the heads of leading media corporations into discussion with local and international journalists. The seminar, dedicated to the city’s 20th anniversary, included large-scale events such as the Radio Asia International Conference, the Media 2020 Conference and the Radio Asia…

ASTANA – Enjoyable vacations are respites appreciated by all. To accommodate travelers, priorities of developing tourism infrastructure needs to consider the viewpoints of local industry associations, residents and entrepreneurs, and government projects must facilitate affordable, cost-effective and comfortable getaways, said Chair of Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Timur Kulibayev. He recently discussed the issues surrounding…

ASTANA – Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Madina Abylkassymova reviewed the progress of the 2017-2021 Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship Programme at the July 10 government meeting. The programme aims to advance the quality and potential of labour resources. “In 2018, 110.6 billion tenge (US$322.5 million) has been allocated for the…

ASTANA – The 12th annual Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Central Asian Youth Network (CAYN) seminar was held from June 26 to 28 in Almaty, this year with the theme “Innovating Central Asia.” The event brought together promising students from Central Asia, Mongolia and Afghanistan. The 29 young people who joined the…

ASTANA – Government officials and Islamic finance leaders discussed the state of Islamic finance in Kazakhstan July 4 on the first day of the Islamic Economy Forum. The forum is part of the July 3-5 Astana Finance Days at the Congress Centre in Astana. Leading Islamic financial institution representatives highlighted Islamic finance developments and the…

ASTANA – Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, recently hosted a round-table discussion on cooperation in trade and investment between Kazakhstan and Nepal with the participation of Ambassador of Kazakhstan to India Bulat Sarsenbayev. The main potential areas of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Nepal were discussed, as well as fostering a favourable business climate and increasing tourism, the…

ASTANA – Plans are underway to complete a $242 million, 100MW wind power plant near the capital. Realising green projects in the Akmola region will significantly increase the share of electricity generated by alternative energy sources in the coming years, reported the regional internal policy department. Construction of the wind energy conversion plant began in…

ASTANA – The four-season concept has been introduced at the Shchuchinsk-Borovoe resort zone to provide tourists with year-round leisure opportunities. The Burabai resort annual activity calendar has been developed for 2018-2019, said Marat Igaliyev, advisor to the Akmola region akim (governor). The summer programme is quite intense, including sport and cultural activities and various festivals…

ASTANA – Kazakh legislators recently approved the sending of dozens of military observers from Kazakhstan to join UN missions in the Middle East and Africa to fulfil international obligations in maintaining peace and security, Defence Minister Saken Zhasuzakov announced as he presented a relevant request from the head of state at the June 15 joint…

ASTANA – “Astana in my mind is a city that is continuously growing. It is my hometown. All my relatives live there, and one breathes here so freely,” said Azamat Kabidollayev, 20, as he considered his life in a city that is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary as a capital. As Astana approaches its…