Kazakh psychologist creates cartoons to help children with speech, language difficulties
ASTANA – Young Kazakh psychologist from the Kyzylorda region Symbat Abdrakhmanova is helping young children with speech and language difficulties and their parents overcome those challenges. Abdrakhmanova is among the 102 winners of the nation’s 100 New Faces project to recognise people with exemplary experience and merits contributing to the nation’s development. Abdrakhmanova works in…
Almaty Marathon continues run as Central Asia’s largest sporting event
ASTANA – More than 14,000 people from 38 countries gathered April 22 in Almaty to take part in the Almaty Marathon, the largest sporting event in Central Asia. Over the past seven years, the event has grown from 2,500 participants in 2012, when it was first organised. The participants could choose between distances of 42…
We need more livestock, says Kazakh agriculture vice minister
ASTANA – Kazakhstan needs to increase its livestock population, according to First Vice Minister of Agriculture Arman Yevniyev. The ministry expects the new cattle farming development programme will raise the population from seven million to 15 million heads. He noted cattle farming is a “most optimal element” for agricultural production due to its relatively low…
Kazakh anti-nuclear activist calls US-North Korea summit ‘unprecedented’, cautious about outcome
ASTANA – This year is a milestone for global nuclear non-proliferation efforts with a much-anticipated meeting of South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in late April, the first since 2007, and the U.S.-North Korea summit preliminarily scheduled for May. Though their outcomes are yet to be known, the willingness…
Hungarians, Kazakhs are almost relatives, says Hungarian cultural centre head
ASTANA – The people of Hungary and Kazakhstan, who share a nomadic past, are almost like relatives, said Hungarian Cultural Centre Head Aleksandr Papp. In a recent interview with The Astana Times, he marked common roots and historical circumstances among the key factors explaining their similarity. Uniting the small diaspora of 457 Hungarians in Kazakhstan,…
Baikonur – small town of major importance
ASTANA – Thinking of Kazakhstan would bring Almaty, Astana or Shymkent to one’s mind, yet there is a place of equally significant importance to the young Central Asian nation. Baikonur, in the country’s south-western area near the Syrdarya River, once a secret location used by the Soviet Union to build the world’s first and to…
PPPs have reduced burden on Kazakh budget by $282 million
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is seeking to make greater use of the private public partnership (PPP) mechanism that has commissioned 140 projects since 2006 and reduced the burden on the national budget by 90.6 billion tenge (US$281.7 million), reported Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov. To date, 78 more objects are being constructed. “The experience shows…
Astana Ballet launches tour of four Kazakh cities
ASTANA – The Astana Ballet recently launched its tour of performances in Kyzylorda, Almaty, Taldykorgan and Aktau and will present the Astana Ballet Gala programme it previously brought to the world’s prominent stages. The ballet troupe performed April 7-8 in the Kyzylorda Regional Music and Drama Theatre and will visit Almaty May 4-6, Taldykorgan May…
Dutch company to build potato processing plant in Almaty region
ASTANA – Dutch company Farm Frites, one of the world’s largest potato processing companies, will build a potato processing plant in the Almaty region. The cost of the project is forecast to be $165 million and the construction is expected to begin next year. Founded in 1971 as a family business, Farm Frites is now…
Kazakh economy ministry projects real GDP of 3.8 percent in 2018
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of National Economy projects the nation’s real GDP will reach 3.8 percent this year, which is 0.7 percent higher than the previous projected indicator voiced in August 2017. The ministry also projects per capita GDP will rise to $9,200, Economy Minister Timur Suleimenov told an April 3 government meeting. “Nominal…
First-quarter inflation hits 1.8 percent, says Kazakh official
ASTANA – The Kazakh inflation rate has reached 1.8 percent since the beginning of the year, reported Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov during an April 3 government meeting. At the same time, the rate remained within a 5-7-percent range. The rates demonstrated a downward trend in prices for food products (2.2 percent) and non-food…
Aktobe – eclectic city in western Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Aktobe city in western Kazakhstan is one of the nation’s rapidly growing cities. Founded in 1869 as a fortress to protect the then Russian Empire, the city is now home to more than 417,000 people, making it the fifth largest city in Kazakhstan after Almaty, Astana, Shymkent and Karaganda. Major enterprises are based…
Kazakhstan’s first robotic surgery performed in Ust-Kamenogorsk
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s robot surgery and transplantology centre based in the city hospital in Ust-Kamenogorsk recently performed the nation’s first robotic surgery, removing gallbladder of a 50-year-old woman, reported inform.kz. Italian surgeon and D’Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara Professor Stefano Gidaro managed the operation and Kazakh surgeons Nartai Turakhanov and Rinat Muzdybayev assisted. Robotic surgery refers…
Kazakh Government to spend $47 million on school digitisation in 2018
ASTANA – Schools in Kazakhstan will receive more than 15 billion tenge (US$47.25 million) in 2018 to access broadband Internet and to provide technical equipment for school information systems, said Social and Cultural Development Committee Chair Gulnur Iksanova during a March 19 session in the Mazhilis (lower house of the Parliament). Sixty-two percent of schools…
Astana Business Campus supports entrepreneurs, promotes innovations
ASTANA – Astana Business Campus, project of the Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System (NURIS), seeks to develop the knowledge-based economy in Kazakhstan by equipping entrepreneurs with facilities, resources as well as a community of support, said NURIS Head Aidar Zhakupov. The Astana Business Campus has a 50-hectare campus near Nazarbayev University, the nation’s leading…
Kazakhstan to quadruple five-year budget to fight terrorism
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will more than quadruple its budget to $837 million in the next five years to fight terrorism and extremism, said National Security Committee Deputy Chair Nurgali Bilisbekov during a March 6 government meeting. The 2018-2022 funding is four times the $202.8 million the country spent on its 2013-2017 counterterrorism programme. The additional…
Public figures, regional film industry discuss gender equality during FemAgora week in Almaty
ASTANA – Prominent public figures and members of the film industry from around Central Asia gathered March 8-10 in Almaty to discuss gender issues during FemAgora gender equality week and related film festival. The festival is encouraging the public to examine gender issues through the lens of art, politics, human rights and science. “The main…
Zhambyl region to focus on seven agricultural development priorities
ASTANA – The Zhambyl region will focus on seven priorities to develop the region’s agricultural sector, Regional Agriculture Department Head Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said during a recent meeting of regional officials. Those priorities include developing farming, increasing arable land areas, developing agriculture chemistry, increasing seed production, improving agriculture products processing, protecting flora and updating agriculture equipment.…
Kazakhstan removed from list of most corrupt countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan improved its ranking nine spots to 122 and was removed from the list of the world’s most corrupt countries on the recently released 2017 Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The index is published by Transparency International and analyses the perception of corruption across 188 countries. Nations are ranked from 0 to 100 points…
Radicalisation, drug trafficking, environment are key EU-Central Asia security challenges, say experts and officials
ASTANA – Fighting terrorism and extremism, including radicalisation, tackling drug and arms trafficking as well as environment and water management issues are among key security challenges faced by the European Union (EU) and Central Asia, according to experts who gathered Feb. 22-23 in Astana for the international conference marking the 25 anniversary of diplomatic ties…
TCO reaches record-high oil production in 2017, seeks to expand in 2018
ASTANA – Last year was a milestone for Tengizchevroil (TCO), the Chevron-led joint venture operating the Tengiz oil and gas field in Atyrau region, as the company achieved a record-high 28.7 million tonnes in oil production. TCO General Director Ted Etchison reported the 2017 results and plans for 2018 during a recent press conference in Almaty.…
Bank Astana introduces microbusiness loans for entrepreneurs
ASTANA – Bank Astana recently introduced microbusiness loans for entrepreneurs, reported Forbes.kz. The loans are up to 3 million tenge (US$9,330) for a maximum of 24 months. Kazakhstan’s one million individual entrepreneurs often lack their due attention, said Bank Astana Managing Director Aidos Zhumagulov, as the bigger focus is on large corporations and small and…
We want to continue to be real partner for Central Asia, says EU Special Representative
ASTANA – The European Union (EU) seeks to further expand its partnership with Central Asia and refine new cooperation mechanisms to address existing and emerging security challenges, said EU Special Representative for Central Asia Peter Burian Feb. 22 during the international conference in the Kazakh capital marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the…
Ust-Kamenogorsk – major industrial and tourism centre
ASTANA – Ust-Kamenogorsk, a city in eastern Kazakhstan with a population of more than 300,000, is a must visit destination for someone starting his or her journey through the country. It offers both historic insight and a pleasant vacation near the beautiful Rudny Altai Mountains, canyons and beaches. Located where the Ulba and Irtysh rivers…
Garage incubator selects 14 projects ahead of Astana Hub accelerator launch
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital recently hosted the launch of Garage incubator seeking to provide a platform for start-up development ahead of the upcoming launch of Astana Hub accelerator programme in September. With more than 150 applications, only best 14 were selected for the incubator. Garage is a free start-up incubator offering developers and innovators…