Baiterek Holding, Euler Hermes sign $1.12 billion export credit insurance deal
NUR-SULTAN – Baiterek National Holding Chair Aidar Arifkhanov and Euler Hermes head Ingo Junker signed a $1.12 billion export insurance deal June 3 in Berlin, Germany, Baiterek’s press service reports. This agreement allows Germany to have insurance coverage for its export operation in Kazakhstan for up to $1,119,050,000. The agreement is meant to attract German…
International Eurasian Film Festival to feature awards ceremony, master classes, promote Kazakh filming locations
NUR-SULTAN – The International Eurasian Film Festival to be held in Nur-Sultan from June 30 to July 6 will include the usual film screenings and award ceremonies, as well as master classes and promotional events to Kazakh filming locations, the festival press service reports. Films from China, France, Russia, North Macedonia, Italy, the Philippines, Israel,…
New storm drain systems in Nur-Sultan will mitigate recurring flooding
NUR-SULTAN – Parts of the Kazakh capital with insufficient stormwater drainage systems will see that change in the next two years. The Nur-Sultan akimat (administration) website provides more details on the projects. According to new Nur-Sultan Akim (Mayor) Altai Kulginov, three areas marked for upgrades are Uly Dala Street from Beisekov to Turan Streets, the…
Security, business, education are key areas of Afghan-Kazakh relations, says Kabul’s envoy
NUR-SULTAN – Developing security cooperation, increasing business turnover and maintaining education cooperation are the key areas of the Afghan diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan, the country’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Mohammad Farkhad Azimi told The Astana Times. During recent meetings between the sides, security cooperation was one of the key concerns, with the region’s stability being the…
More than 2,000 head of cattle imported to Pavlodar Region
NUR-SULTAN – Cattle from Russia and the Czech Republic were imported to the Pavlodar Region for its animal husbandry development, Kazinform reported June 10. The 2,485 head (including 691 head of Simmental cow) were imported from Russia’s Bryansk, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Novgorod and Tomsk regions, as well as the European country. The region plans to purchase…
Kazakh camel wool, powdered camel and horse milk to be exported to China
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh enterprises will soon begin exporting camel wool and powdered camel and horse milk to China, the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture announced June 6. Negotiations concerning Kazakh camel wool and powdered milk satisfaction by a veterinarian and sanitary requirements of wool and dairy imported to China were recently completed. As a result of…
Eight-year-old Kazakh player wins rapid chess gold at French Chess Rapid, Blitz Open
NUR-SULTAN – Eight-year-old Kazakh chess player Sauat Nurgaliyev took the rapid chess gold at the French Chess Rapid and Blitz Open tournament June 7, the Kazakh Chess Federation reports. Nurgaliyev was the youngest among the tournament participants and the only participant from Kazakhstan. He won nine out of his 14 games, once beating 22-year-old French…
Kazakh President makes new central and regional government appointments
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made new appointments to government positions June 12 and 13, reported the Akorda press service. Askhat Aimagambetov was appointed June 13 Minister of Education and Science. Aimagambetov previously served as Vice Minister of Education and Science from August 2017 to January 2019 and the deputy akim (governor) of the…
Zerenda-Schuchinsk highway to be improved to make region more attractive to tourists
NUR-SULTAN – The Zerenda-Schuchinsk highway and its surrounding territory will undergo infrastructure development to make the Zerenda resort area more attractive to tourists, reported www.yunews.com. Despite its tourist potential, the resort’s popularity lags behind the Borovoe resort area in Schuchinsk, reported Bnews. In an effort to alleviate the disparity, the Kazakhdorstroi company will straighten complex…
New and emerging musicians, dance competition to be part of June 22 You festival in Nur-Sultan
NUR-SULTAN – Established and emerging Kazakh musicians, street dancers and food trucks will be part of the You music festival, which launches June 22 in Nur-Sultan. The festival line-up includes the Moldanazar indie band, NINETY ONE Q-pop (Qazaq-pop) band, Ghetto Dogs, Captown, Chromosomes and Da Gudda Jazz rap bands, indie musicians Ainur Niyazova, Ziruza and…
MEGA Malls chain gives boost to retailers who produce their goods in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – The company that runs the MEGA Malls chain in Kazakhstan recently gave a boost to retailers who produce their products domestically. The chain, run by the Astana Group, signed an agreement May 28 with 12 retailers, which provides those retailers lower rental rates for one year, individual rental rates concessions for each entrepreneur,…
Kazakhstan evacuates 171 children caught up in Syrian conflict in final stage of Jusan operation
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan returned 171 Kazakh children caught up in the Syrian conflict May 28-31 in the third stage of Kazakhstan’s Jusan humanitarian operation, according to an announcement by Kazakh President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev. Tokayev emphasised the role of the cooperation between Kazakhstan and foreign partners in rescuing children from combat zones and their subsequent rehabilitation…
Kazakhstan’s first Comic Con draws 53,000 guests
NUR-SULTAN – The Comic Con 2019 convention in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan’s first, gathered more than 53,000 people interested in geek culture for two days of events and competitions representing Kazakh and international pop culture. The convention’s headliner was Pilu Asbæk, who portrayed Euron Greyjoy in the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” Asbæk signed autographs and took…
Kazakh national female basketball team takes silver at FIBA Asia Cup
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh national female basketball team took the silver medal May 26 at the Asia Cup 3×3 finale. In the final game, the Kazakh national team lost to the Australian national team 20:9, according to Olympic.kz. The international basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup took place May 22 to May 26 in Changsha, China.…
Lake Alakol infrastructure developments make resort more attractive to tourists
NUR-SULTAN – Improved Lake Alakol resort housing, car and train accessibility and police will make the resort more attractive to tourists. “Therefore, there will be the Keruen Plaza tourist complex, Sanatorium Chaika medical and health complex and Kunshygys-Alakul entertainment complex. Kunshygys-Alakul was designed with an open-air stage and dance floor. A similar project was implemented…
Astana Opera to open summer season with young, established musicians’ concerts
NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Opera will be hosting both festive and regular events in June, with young and established musicians getting a chance to showcase their talent. The festive concert “Children are invited to the theatre,” dedicated to International Children’s Day, will be held 3 p.m., June 1, and 11:30 a.m., June 10. Astana Opera…
EAEU summit emphasises cooperation, ties with China and Serbia and commemorates Nazarbayev’s contributions
NUR-SULTAN – Participants at the May 29 Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit here discussed cooperation within the union, efforts to strengthen its relationship with non-union countries as well as noted its goals and achievements. “Our important task is to ensure the attractiveness of our integration project. We must develop an alliance using the mutually beneficial…
Kazakhstan reduces its prison population, according to ICPR ranking
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan moved from 83rd to 95th place in the International Criminal Policy Research (ICPR) World Prison Population ranking, according to a March 14 statement by the country’s General Prosecutor’s Office press service. Kazakhstan’s prison population was 36,360 in 2016, 35,805 in 2017 and 30,798 in 2018. The change followed the government’s efforts to…
New EU-Central Asia strategy seeks mitigating global risks via close cooperation, says EU ambassador to Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Global challenges and risks can be dealt with via closer cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Central Asia, said Head of EU mission to Kazakhstan Ambassador Sven-Olov Carlsson May 23 during the Day of Europe in Kazakhstan. “What’s new about the strategy is most likely the fact that we took into consideration…
Auyl Party candidate uses agricultural expertise to shape vision for Kazakhstan’s future
NUR-SULTAN – Agriculture is a vital part of Kazakhstan’s future, Auyl Party presidential candidate Toleutai Rakhimbekov said May 22 to Alma TV. Rakhimbekov was born in Atasu village in the Karaganda Region. His wife, public-sector employee Saltanat Rakhimbekova, is the director of the international organisation EXPO&Women. They have two daughters, one of whom also works…
Kazakh athletes win two medals at Karate 1 Premier league tournament
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh athletes Yerkinbek Baiturev and Sofiya Berultseva won silver and bronze medals, respectively, May 17-19 at the Karate 1 Premier league tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, according to the Olympic.kz website. “Yesterday’s juniors took the medals home; the debut of even younger members of the national team, for example, Zhambir Beibars, who had two…
Graduates of first workshop for socially vulnerable women find much-needed employment
NUR-SULTAN – Graduates of Maria, the first workshop for socially vulnerable women, find employment in the studio to help systematically address their problems, said workshop creator and social entrepreneur Lyazzat Alshynova. “Maria social workshop was created to give opportunities to women in difficult circumstances, for them to change these circumstances by obtaining new skills… So,…
Agricultural development is central to Auyl candidate for Kazakh president
NUR-SULTAN – Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party candidate Toleutai Rakhimbekov, who is running for president in Kazakhstan’s upcoming election, will focus on developing the agricultural industry, equal opportunities for rural citizens and promoting traditional values, according to his recently announced platform. Improving agriculture takes centre stage, encompassing his stance on the economy, development and science.…
China-Europe railroad shipment route through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus exceeds expectations in 2019, says UTLC ERA President
NUR-SULTAN – The China-Europe railroad shipment route that crosses Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus has become more popular due to the efforts of the United Transport and Logistics Company – Eurasian Rail Alliance (UTLC ERA) and participating countries, said President Alexey Grom at the company meeting with the press. “When it comes to reverse (from Europe…
Kazakh DJ to play at Berghain in Berlin
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh DJ and electronic music promoter Nazira (Nazira Kassenova) will play May 25 at Berghain in Berlin, Germany, during this month’s European tour. Nazira is listed among the techno artists to be featured at Klubnacht, which also includes Amotik, CJ Bolland, Boris, Marcel Dettmann, Electric Indigo, Terence Fixmer, Phase Fatale and Kangding Ray.…
