Kazakh economy grows 4 percent in 2017 so far, projected to grow 3.4 percent by year’s end
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy has witnessed a 4-percent growth in the first seven months of 2017 and Minister of Economy Timur Suleimenov marked the overall macroeconomic stability during an Aug. 29 government meeting that focused on the main priorities of the nation’s socio-economic development for 2018-2022. The government also approved the budget for the next…
Zaman-Bank becomes Kazakhstan’s second Islamic Bank
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s previously commercial Zaman-Bank became an official Islamic bank Aug. 17 after receiving a license from the National Bank of Kazakhstan. The license allows the bank to tap into the Islamic banking sector and makes Zaman-Bank the second Islamic bank in the country. Established in 1991, Zaman-Bank announced plans to convert to an…
More than 250 projects worth $5.1 billion launched in first two years of industrialisation plan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan launched 258 projects worth 1.7 trillion tenge (US$5.1 billion) in the first two years of its second five-year industrialisation plan. The plan is meant to diversify the country’s economy and boost domestic production. Kazakhstan’s First Vice Minister of Investments and Development Alik Aidarbayev reported on the country’s progress in its State Industrial…
Charity Tour de Burabay marks fifth anniversary, raises $481,000
ASTANA – Charity Tour de Burabay, an annual cycling ride for charity, gathered 1,500 people Aug. 19, including 718 participants along with professional cyclists, sports and government representatives, to experience a 30-kilometre journey through Burabay scenery, one of the most popular resort areas in Kazakhstan. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the event raised 160 million tenge…
African countries celebrate National Day with energetic dances, coffee and tea tastings
ASTANA – The African countries participating in EXPO 2017 celebrated the continent’s National Day Aug. 15 by featuring dance and musical performances as well as extensive discussions between young people from Kazakhstan and Africa. The African Plaza stretches across 2,700 square metres representing 25 countries and their approaches to green energy development. National Day was…
As trade booms, Kazakhstan, Romania are stepping up bilateral relations, Bucharest envoy says
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Romania are taking bilateral cooperation to a new level, tapping into the huge potential for extensive partnerships between the two nations, Ambassador of Romania to Kazakhstan Cezar Manole Armeanu told The Astana Times during a discussion of prospects for Kazakh-Romanian cooperation and priorities for his term. Armeanu embarked on his duties…
EAEU to adopt pension mobility across member states
ASTANA – The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will have a common pension space soon, ensuring equal pension rights for people across the union. Сitizens of five EAEU member states Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia will also be able to use their drivers’ licences in all member-states, as work is underway to finalise legislative issues…
Three new brands to export Kazakh meat
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Investments and Development along with the Ministry of Agriculture are setting up three meat brands to export to international markets, according to First Vice Minister of Investments and Development Alik Aidarbayev. KazakhMeat, Qazaq Organic Food and Halal Kazakhstan are three umbrella brands controlled by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs incorporating…
Turkish AIGP invests $30 million in pharmaceutical plant in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – This year marks the fifth anniversary of the presence of Turkish pharmaceutical industry leader Abdi İbrahim on the Kazakh pharmaceutical market. Over these years, the company has been expanding its operations in Kazakhstan as well as constructing a modern pharmaceutical plant worth $30 million in Almaty region. In 2012, Abdi Ibrahim bought a…
Kazakh student promotes nuclear weapons-free world at Peace Foundation in New Zealand
ASTANA – Working to promote peaceful practices and a nuclear weapons-free world has been Arailym Kubayeva’s mission for the last five months at the Peace Foundation office in Auckland, New Zealand. Kazakhstan-born Kubayeva spoke about her projects at the organisation and her motivations and challenges in an interview with The Astana Times. After graduating from…
Kazakhstan’s largest Ferris wheel unveiled in Astana
ASTANA – A 65-metre Ferris wheel opened July 31 in Astana. It is the largest in Kazakhstan and the second largest in the Commonwealth of Independent States space after Moscow’s 75-metre wheel. It offers 36 cabins, each designed for six people, with air conditioning and heating. Most importantly, the wheel offers spectacular panoramic views not…
Astana prepares rich cultural programme as EXPO 2017 passes halfway point
ASTANA – EXPO 2017 may have passed its halfway point, but there are still numerous opportunities to enjoy the exhibition. A rich cultural programme of concerts and theatre performances in August and early September awaits capital residents and visitors, offering everyone a chance to get the most out of the expo. Limp Bizkit fans should…
Moody’s Investors Service report upgrades Kazakhstan to ‘stable’
ASTANA – Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) report recently changed Kazakhstan’s rating outlook from ‘negative’ to ‘stable’. In addition, Moody’s confirmed the issue and senior unsecured ratings as well as senior unsecured medium-term note (MTN) rating of Kazakhstan at Baa3. The Baa3 credit rating includes such strengths as a relative large size of the economy, high…
Institutional reforms have improved public services access, transparency, says government official
ASTANA – Implementation of institutional reforms under the 100 Concrete Steps programme outlined by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2015 have increased the transparency of and access to public services, asserted Kazakh Minister of Information and Communication Dauren Abayev and Chairman of Government for the Citizens State Corporation Ablaikhan Ospanov, during a July 27 briefing…
Kazakh high schooler wins gold at International Mathematical Olympiad
ASTANA – Kazakh high school student Amir Mokhammed-Ali won gold at the 58th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held July 12-23 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to Tengrinews. The championship brought together 615 young talents from 111 countries. Mokhammed-Ali, who lives in Pavlodar city in northern Kazakhstan, also captured gold at last year’s IMO in…
1,200 musicians perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at Astana Opera
ASTANA – Approximately 1,200 musicians performing Austrian Gustav Mahler’s famous Symphony No. 8 led by Astana Opera chief and world-famous conductor Alan Buribayev made a splash July 21 at the Astana Opera House. After the performance, the audience exploded in applause that lasted for more than 20 minutes. Symphony No. 8, also known as “A…
EIB provides Kazakhstan half $1 billion clean energy financing over last five years
ASTANA – The European Investment Bank (EIB) provided more than 500 million euros in loans to Kazakhstan for its renewable and clean energy initiatives over the last five years, EIB Secretary General Klaus Trömel reported July 24 as he addressed participants of the Future Energy Forum in Astana. With 25 percent of the lending portfolio…
Seventy percent of civil servants support increasing meritocracy
ASTANA – More than 70 percent of Kazakh civil servants support increasing meritocracy in the country’s civil service, Deputy Chair of Kazakhstan’s Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption Agency Aigul Shaimova told a July 20 briefing, citing an analysis conducted by the agency. A comprehensive set of reforms aimed at enhancing the country’s civil service is…
1,200 musicians to perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at Astana Opera
ASTANA – The capital is offering the public an opportunity to enjoy a concert at the Astana Opera House July 21 featuring Austrian Gustav Mahler’s famous Symphony No. 8. The concert is particularly unique, as 1,200 musicians will appear on the stage to present the composition. Symphony No. 8, also known as A Symphony of…
Hollywood stars to arrive in Astana for Eurasia Film Festival
ASTANA – Astana will welcome Hollywood stars for the 13th International Eurasia Film Festival to take place in Kazakhstan’s capital July 22-28. Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich, Adrien Brody, Bai Ling and a well-known producer Marko Mueller will visit Astana to take part in the festival, noted festival organisers. “Eurasia is the largest film forum in…
Astana Taxi launches at new Nurly Zhol train station
ASTANA – Visitors and residents arriving at a new Nurly Zhol train station in Astana can now use Astana Taxi services right at the train station to get to any part of the city. “The taxi service now has 350 cars. I think it is very convenient for passengers because they can order a taxi…
Astana to host SCO and CICA International Athletics Marathon
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, will host Aug. 27 the International Athletics Marathon of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The large-scale race is part of the celebrations of SCO Day at EXPO 2017. The presentation of the upcoming marathon took place July 10…
Kazakhstan, China ink $160 million in agricultural agreements
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China signed $160 million in agreements July 11 during the Kazakh-Chinese Agriculture Investment Forum held as part of a two-day visit to the capital by Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu at the invitation of the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry. The forum brought together more than 100 business, education and science representatives…
Air Astana presents documentary about Kazakhs living abroad
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national flag carrier Air Astana presented July 6 the documentary “Air Astana: Connecting Destinies” that captures the lives of Kazakhs living abroad. The premiere coincided with Astana Day and 15th anniversary of Air Astana, noted Air Astana President Peter Foster. “Now we are at the middle of international exhibition EXPO 2017, which…
Astana celebrates 19th birthday
ASTANA – A variety of cultural events took place July 6 in Astana as the capital celebrated its 19th birthday. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev kicked off July 4 the celebrations in the capital during a flag raising ceremony. Astana plays a key role in the history of independent Kazakhstan, noted the President. “Astana is a…
