Articles by Yerbolat Uatkhanov

ASTANA – The capital’s gymnasium school No. 22 has launched Free from School, a project allowing student-athletes and children who need an accelerated or delayed educational programme to study remotely. Its official name is Creating a Distance Learning Form on the Moodle Platform. “We presented the project at the scientific council in the education department…

ASTANA – As a result of the state programme of accelerated industrial and innovative development, Kazakhstan is actively increasing exports. Investments in processing industries are increasing as well, which is quite profitable due to improved prices for exported products in the world market. The volume of foreign trade turnover in January-August reached $59.8 billion, 21.6…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government has introduced an alternative tax on subsoil use that gives subsoil users an additional opportunity to fulfil their tax obligations. Tax burden is transferred immediately at the time of income receipt. “In order to stimulate the development of offshore and ultra-deep hydrocarbon deposits, an alternative subsoil use tax has been…

ASTANA – Rakhat Confectionery, one of the leaders in the Kazakh market, is making its sweets even sweeter. The company has modernised its equipment to increase production value and product range without government support. The enterprise has developed and entered new foreign markets despite the national currency’s devaluation and raw materials’ price increase. The equipment,…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government recently settled a dispute with Karachaganak shareholders. The consortium will pay the country $1.1 billion and provide a 10-year, $1 billion loan for a proposed infrastructure project. “These were very difficult negotiations with the consortium that lasted about three years. Such a long period testifies not only about their complexity…

ASTANA – World Investor Week (WIW) is a global campaign promoted by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to raise awareness of the importance of investor education and various initiatives of securities regulators. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) supports the event, being held Oct. 1-7, with organised debates and lectures in different cities…

ASTANA – KAZ Minerals Bozymchak has invested more than $350 million in the last 10 years to develop Kyrgyzstan’s Bozymchak copper-gold deposit, reported inform.kz.   “The necessary infrastructure and about 1,200 jobs for citizens of Kyrgyzstan have been created. Since 2007, the company transferred taxes and mandatory payments to the state budget worth 2.8 billion…

ASTANA – Starting in 2020, foreign banks will be allowed to open direct branches in Kazakhstan. Under the country’s commitments upon accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), they will no longer be required to register their branches as subsidiaries under the nation’s jurisdiction.   “We have made specific commitments in the field of financial…

ASTANA – In Uralsk, 1,700 dombra players recently played simultaneously Kurmangazy’s works at the square of the First President and set a record. The action was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the great Kazakh composer and kuishi, the author of instrumental pieces. “The Kazakh people are proud of the world-famous poetry of Abai, Zhambyl…

ASTANA – Turkish company Lidya Madencilik plans to purchase 100 percent of the shares in the Karaganda region’s Yuzhno-Moyintinskoye gold deposit. Estimates indicate the deposit can produce 8.4 tonnes of gold. The company was enticed by Tau-Ken Samruk, a Kazakh company subsidiary of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, which has attracted strategic investors to…

ASTANA – Kazakh National Bank’s Invest Online system is becoming popular among citizens. The advantages of the system include online service, guaranteed investments in government securities with no risk of lost funds and an opportunity to return investments with accumulated income at any time. Invest Online is a simple and free tool for individuals to…

ASTANA – Will Aston has formed two companies within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), becoming one of the first businesspeople to cooperate with it. He spoke about the advantages of working at the centre and the services it provides and evaluated Kazakhstan’s potential in an interview with The Astana Times. Ozara Services, a consulting…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government recently approved a draft law empowering regional and city administrations to repair façades and roofs, increase housing stability in flood zones, repair and replace elevators and manage gas supply infrastructure. Local executive bodies will be required to replace elevators at their budget’s expense, then residents will return the money to…

ASTANA – Ozara Services addresses the needs of financial and non-financial services entities in business advisory, digital transformation and programme implementation domains. The company intends to leverage its expertise and first-hand experience in the U.K. and the United Arab Emirates to develop and enhance the financial service industry in the region, particularly as part of…

ASTANA – The photo exhibition “Astana – The Pearl of the Great Steppe,” dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh capital, was presented in the South Korean capital. Numerous residents and guests of Seoul came to get acquainted with the unknown corners of Kazakhstan at the exhibition in the Korea Foundation building, according to…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government will adopt a new healthcare сode in the next year, enabling the country’s healthcare system to implement many up-to-date technologies such as electronic health passports for every citizen. A corresponding single passport bank will also be created. “This year, we plan to launch a special platform that will allow the…

ASTANA – Historians in Kazakhstan have begun a programme of history teaching using new formats intended to captivate students and give them the opportunity to study not only the history of their country, but the histories of their regions, cities and even the districts where they live. Events and textbooks connected to this change are…

ASTANA – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Sir Suma Chakrabarti travelled to Uzbekistan July 31-Aug. 1 to meet with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and sign several loan agreements with private companies and memoranda of understanding with the government aimed at supporting energy and energy efficiency-related investments, privatisation and capital market development. “We welcome…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s fuel and energy industry is showing signs of growth. This year, Kazakhstan has increased oil production 6 percent, gas production 6.4 percent and electricity production 7.3 percent. “In the first half of the year, fuel and energy industry show positive growth, with oil and condensate production reaching 45.2 million tonnes. The latter…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Travel Agencies Association and Turistik Kamkor Corporate Fund plan to create a list of travel agencies qualified to assist Kazakhstan citizens experiencing emergency situations while traveling abroad. The list will be finished by the end of the summer and will be available on the website of the corporate fund. There is a…

ASTANA – Seed-breeding farms for sugar beets are being revived in the Zhambyl region. Farmers formerly spent up to $1.2 million to import seeds and the administration is creating its own seed fund to cut expenses. Sugar beets are one of the region’s most important crops and significant amounts have been allocated annually from the…

ASTANA – Astana Opera travelled to Borovoye July 14 to present “Birzhan-Sara.” The open-air event was dedicated to the capital’s 20th anniversary, and the directors decided that the forest acoustics can bring fresh colour to the singing. “Birzhan-Sara” is the property of Kazakh opera art. To make the production more authentic and show the unique…

ASTANA – Astana Opera will travel to Borovoye July 14 to present “Birzhan-Sara.” The open-air event is dedicated to the capital’s 20th anniversary and the directors feel the forest acoustics will bring fresh colour to the singing. “Birzhan-Sara” is the property of Kazakh opera art. To make the production more authentic and show the unique…

ASTANA – An architectural exhibition and conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh capital opened recently at Moscow’s famous Exhibition of People’s Economic Achievements. The event highlights the renewed capital, its achievements and business and tourism potential for the broader Russian and international community. “In difficult socio-economic conditions, an ambitious task was set…

ASTANA – Legal Advisory Council (LAC) at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) recently completed the first review of the commercial laws underpinning the AIFC’s operations, which began Jan. 1. “This was a considerable achievement, bearing in mind the short time allowed for the task. This involved 10 meetings, monthly or more frequently. Overall, some…