Kazakhstan prosecutes 320 people for corruption, returns $43 million to national economy in 2017
ASTANA – The Kazakh Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption Agency registered 1,835 corruption-related crimes in 2017 and prosecuted 320 individuals, according to agency chair Alik Shpekbayev. The number of cases is 18 percent less than 2016. The measures returned nearly 14 billion tenge (US$43.4 million) to the national budget last year. Shpekbayev discussed the outcomes…
Bekmambetov’s new film “Search” claims award at Sundance Film Festival
ASTANA – Kazakh producer Timur Bekmambetov’s new film “Search” won the Audience Award and Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. North America’s leading independent film festival gathered 123 feature-length and 68 short films this year – the result of a thorough selection from 13,468 submissions. “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” “Kailash,”…
Kazakh Agriculture Ministry to digitise state agricultural services, conduct technology renewal
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture is seeking to incorporate advanced agricultural technologies in the search for digital solutions to boost the nation’s economy as it seeks to join the world’s 30 most developed countries. Digitising state regulation and technological renewal are the two key tasks, according to First Vice Minister of Agriculture Arman…
Arctic cyclone plunges Kazakhstan into deep freeze
ASTANA – Freezing cold weather has settled into Kazakhstan with the arrival of an artic cyclone coming from the Kara Sea located north of Siberia. Recent temperatures have dipped to as low as 39 degrees Celsius below zero, though the weather app showed it felt as low as 53-56 degrees Celsius below zero. Schools have…
Kazakh deputy prosecutor general reports progress in digitisation
ASTANA – The Kazakh Prosecutor General’s Office is planning to implement five projects in the next three years under the Digital Kazakhstan programme which is currently underway and cutting across the nation’s key sectors and areas. Deputy Prosecutor General Marat Akhmetzhanov reported on the progress during the Jan. 23 government hour. The projects include introducing…
Young Kazakh composer pushes boundaries, inspires others
ASTANA – Enrolling in university at 13 and receiving a master’s degree at 18 is beyond the capacity of many, but not of eighteen-year-old Kazakh composer and pianist Rakhat-Bi Abdysagin. Named “Kazakh Mozart,” he is the winner of numerous international competitions and author of more than 100 compositions, including for symphony and chamber orchestras. Adbysagin…
Aktobe bus fire kills 52 Uzbek nationals, investigation underway
ASTANA – A Jan. 18 bus fire in the Aktobe region in north-western Kazakhstan killed 52 Uzbek nationals on their way to the Russian city of Samara. Only five, including three Kazakhs and two Uzbeks, escaped. Fire broke out in the passenger bus carrying Uzbek workers from Shymkent city in southern Kazakhstan, close to the…
Shymkent – the city of medieval culture and vibrant modern lifestyle
ASTANA – Warm weather, relatively cheap prices and hospitable people is how one would describe Shymkent, the third largest city in Kazakhstan and the largest in terms of land area. The city has grown significantly in the last decade and, as of 2017, the population was estimated at 943,000. Officials expect it to grow to…
Kazakh government presents draft plan to implement Nazarbayev’s state-of-the-nation address
ASTANA – The Kazakh government presented a nationwide plan Jan. 16 featuring 87 measures meant to implement 10 key directions in the recent state-of-the-nation address by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, which focused on new opportunities for development amidst the fourth industrial revolution. Addressing the government, Kazakh Minister for National Economy Timur Suleimenov stressed the positive effect…
Afghan student studying in Kazakhstan appeals to Nazarbayev ahead of visit to U.S.
ASTANA – Hafizullah Qaderi, an Afghan student studying in Kazakhstan, recently posted a video on his Facebook page asking Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and U.S. President Donald Trump to step up efforts to find a solution to peace and stability in his homeland. “My address aims solely at peace in Afghanistan. I do not want…
Snow turns dark in Temirtau, working group investigates
ASTANA – Kazakh officials are investigating after the snow in Temirtau city in the Karaganda region recently turned dark from what is believed to be emissions from the city’s numerous industrial factories. Residents also reported a specific smell across the city that feels particularly strong at night and weekends. City residents blame the ArcelorMittal plant, part of ArcelorMittal…
Tokyo audience welcomes Kazakh theatre with deeply moving play
ASTANA – A full house of 800, many of whom waited in line for a seat, were recently treated to Almaty’s Auezov Theatre presentation of the play “Ahiko from Aktas.” The programme also featured Uly Dala Eli, a concert with theatre soloists and dancers performing portions of the well-known play “Kyz Zhybek” and singing Kazakh…
Kazakhstan reconstructs 1,300 kilometres of highways in two years
ASTANA – Kazakhstan saw 1,300 kilometres of highways reconstructed in 2015-2016 within the nation’s large-scale Nurly Zhol programme. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the programme in his annual state-of-the-nation address in 2014. “Movement on Western Europe-Western China transit corridor, Astana-Temirtau, Almaty-Kapshagai, Kapshagai-Balpyk Bi, Beineu-Shetpe and Kokshetau-Petropavlovsk highways was fully opened. The construction of the Central…
Kazakh government approves draft law on foreign currency transactions control
ASTANA – The Kazakh government approved Dec. 26 the nation’s draft law on foreign currency transactions control during its weekly meeting. National Bank Chair Daniyar Akishev noted changes in foreign currency legislation were planned in line with the requirements entailed by Kazakhstan’s membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), establishment of the Khorgos international border…
First Kazakh sports food producer seeks quality, promotes healthy lifestyle
ASTANA – Demand for sports nutrition is rising in Kazakhstan, as people are becoming eager to stay fit and be more involved in sports. Eldar Beldeubayev, Yerzhan Kamzabayev and Erik Karabayev, the founders of Beyond, the nation’s first sports food producer, discussed the challenges of establishing a sports nutrition brand, the company’s activities and sports…
Almaty independent theatre raises socially sensitive issues in Astana performance
ASTANA – The Almaty-based independent theatre Artishock travelled to Astana Dec. 12 to present its hit play “Uyat,” (“Shame” in Kazakh), which was warmly welcomed in Almaty in September 2016. “Uyat,” though translated as “shame,” actually reflects a much stronger social code that condemns any actions that go beyond traditional norms prevalent in Kazakh society.…
Digital Kazakhstan programme to create 300,000 jobs by 2022
ASTANA – The Digital Kazakhstan programme, part of the nation’s effort to build and promote digital infrastructure nationwide, is expected to create 300,000 work places by 2022. The programme, endorsed by the government Dec. 4, is now under consideration by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “The document includes five main directions – digitalisation of the economy, transformation…
Kazakh government approves 2025 Strategic Development Plan
ASTANA – The Kazakh government approved Nov. 28 a national 2025 Strategic Development Plan designed to ensure long-term growth at the level of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The plan includes seven major reforms in human capital, technological modernisation and digitalisation, business competitiveness, rule of law, strong regions, urbanisation, modernisation of public…
We have very friendly ties and people love each other, says Georgian ambassador
ASTANA – Georgian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zurab Abashidze has praised the countries’ friendly ties and expressed a commitment to bringing the partnership to a new level. Abashidze arrived in the capital in March on his initial diplomatic mission as an ambassador, he recalled in a recent interview for this story. “It was the first time…
15,000 people recruited through electronic labour exchange since October
ASTANA – Fifteen thousand people have been employed through the electronic labour exchange platform that has been operating in Kazakhstan since October. The pilot project introducing the new mechanism for employment runs in Almaty, Astana, Shymkent and Pavlodar. Though the labour exchange will be put into operation nationwide starting Jan. 1, the system is already…
Saudi ambassador notes potential for increased Kazakh-Saudi cooperation
ASTANA – Celebrating the 23rd anniversary of Kazakh – Saudi Arabian relations, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan Dr. Dahir Mootish J. Alenaze discussed the state of cooperation and priorities for his term in a recent interview with The Astana Times. Alenaze called the bilateral ties “friendly and based on mutual trust,”…
Kazakhstan and Africa step up South-South development exchange
ASTANA – The capital is serving as the host Nov. 14-17 for the South-South Development Exchange on Economic Diversification and Industrialisation in Africa symposium in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The event gathered high-level participants from 43 African governments and research centres as well as representatives from Eastern Europe and Kazakhstan to…
Global Shapers Astana Hub empowers youth, provides channels for action
ASTANA – The Global Shapers community empowers youth and contributes to driving change and action to address salient local issues. Former capital hub curator Aiman Yedigeyeva and current curator Kuanysh Taishibekov spoke about the organisation’s history, goals and projects in a recent interview with The Astana Times. Established in 2011 by World Economic Forum founder…
Kazakh expo pavilion to reopen as showcase for green technologies
ASTANA – EXPO 2017 ended in September but Kazakhstan’s eight-floor, spherical national expo pavilion will remain open as the Museum of the Future, showcasing alternative energy technology. Beginning Nov. 11, the museum will present exhibitions related to solar, wind, biomass, kinetic, water energy and other forms of green energy. “The preparations are near the end.…
Kazakh government has launched 264 flood prevention, mitigation measures in 2017
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister for Internal Affairs Kalmukhanbet Kassymov and First Vice Minister for Agriculture Kairat Aituganov reported on flood prevention and mitigation measures undertaken by the government during the Nov. 7 government meeting. Different factors may cause floods; in Kazakhstan, however, they come primarily when snow starts to melt fast in late winter and…
