Popularising contemporary Kazakh arts and literature is key to preserving cultural identity, say writers
ASTANA – Kazakhstan organised a forum titled “Modern Kazakh Culture in the Global World” in London Nov. 7, showcasing the works of contemporary Kazakh poets, writers, artists and cinematographers. “Our [Kazakh] literature is competitive in terms of content. We are no worse than others, but the problem is in its dissemination. To write a work…
Astana Opera premieres “Abai” in Genoa
ASTANA – The Astana Opera presented “Abai” Nov. 8 and Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven Nov. 10 at the Carlo Felice Theatre in Genoa, reported the theatre’s press service. The opera, created by Latif Khamidi and Akhmet Zhubanov, was also broadcast live in 40 countries. Astana Opera principal soloist Sundet Baigozhin performed the…
Forbes Club launches series of business breakfasts in Kazakh capital
ASTANA – Changes in Russian rouble rate should not be directly projected on tenge and Kazakhs are better off paying attention to the level of inflation instead of currency fluctuations. These opinions were expressed at the Nov. 8 Forbes Club business breakfast, the first in a series of such events. Business people chose Astana’s landmark…
Kazakhstan will support and incentivise IT innovation, says President
ASTANA – Kazakh innovators in information technology (IT) are to be incentivised and supported, said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev Nov. 6 at the Astana Hub opening ceremony. The President said the Astana Hub is to become Kazakhstan’s centre of innovation. To facilitate this, users of the hub’s technopark will enjoy a simplified visa regime, greater…
Kazakh Majilis adopts health legislation amendments
ASTANA – The Kazakh Majilis, the lower house of the country’s Parliament, recently endorsed changes to 11 legislative documents, including the Health Code, Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Administrative Offences Code. The amendments cover several areas, said Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov. The changes include a new model for the country’s guaranteed volume of…
Transporting two Kazakh satellites aboard Falcon 9 will cost $1.3 million
ASTANA – The price tag for Kazakhstan to launch two of its satellites aboard the Falcon 9 launch vehicle will be $1.3 million, said Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibut Atamkulov at the Nov. 6 government meeting. The satellites are scheduled for take-off Nov. 19 in California, Vice Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry…
Chevron pioneering technology in Kazakhstan solves industry’s pipeline challenges
ASTANA – Pipeline corrosion is a major challenge faced by the global oil and gas industry, as a corroded pipeline presents a clear risk to the environment and for the companies responsible. The main obstacle in preventing corrosion is that materials may wear down over time from oil or gas moving through the pipeline, and…
Kazakh FM praises appointment of new U.N. special envoy for Syria
ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov recently praised the appointment of Geir Pedersen as new UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria in comments reported by Zakon.kz. “I am personally acquainted with the well-known Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen who received such an important and responsible post. He assumes a new position after…
Kazakh Senate adopts amendments to 2018-2020 budget plan
ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate adopted changes to the national budget for 2018-2020 during its Oct. 25 plenary session. The updated document increased the expected exchange rate per dollar from 340 tenge to 350 tenge and raised the expected price for a barrel of oil from $55 to $60. It also incorporates the revised data…
Kazakh citizens withdraw more than $21.6 billion from payment cards
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens withdrew 8.6 trillion tenge (US$21.6 billion) from payment cards from January-August, a 26.4-percent increase compared to the same period last year. At the same time, they are more actively using non-cash payments. According to a study by ranking.kz, withdrawals from international system cards accounted for 99.9 percent of the amount. Figures…
Qarakoz features evil spirits from Kazakh folk tales
ASTANA – The new horror film “Qarakoz,” featuring evil characters from Kazakh tales and legends in all their glory, went into wide distribution Nov. 1. The film opens at night, with five youngsters sitting around a campfire in the woods sharing their scary “true” stories of confronting monsters. The demon-like creatures from Kazakh mythology include…
Astana considers reducing speeds in bus lanes to prevent accidents
ASTANA – The speed on certain sections of bus lanes in Astana will be reduced to decrease the number of traffic accidents, said Deputy Chairman of Astana LRT Beibut Yeszhanov at a recent press conference. To reduce the number of accidents involving cars and public transport, the Administrative Police Department of Astana Internal Affairs and…
Kazakh Prosecutor General’s Office transitions activities to digital format
ASTANA – The Kazakh Office of the General Prosecutor is transitioning its criminal and administrative proceedings to electronic format, automating the registration of inspections of state bodies and the consideration of appeals of citizens under Digital Kazakhstan programme. The transition is meant to increase citizen protections, ensure timely justice and increase transparency. Electronic criminal cases,…
Kazakh Senate ratifies border agreements with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan
ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate ratified Oct. 25 the border agreement between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan that determined the points of juncture on the countries’ border. The agreement was signed in November in Samarkand with the participation of Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov and his counterparts from Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov and Turkmenistan Rashid…
Kazakhstan to export gasoline to Kyrgyzstan
ASTANA – As the Russian embargo on gasoline export from Kazakhstan to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has been lifted, Kazakhstan expects to start shipments to Kyrgyzstan in November. Approximately 300,000-400,000 tonnes will be sent by the end of the year, with a forecast of approximately 1.2 million tonnes in 2019. Russia and Kazakhstan signed…
Kazakhstan opens rehabilitation centres across country for children with cerebral palsy
ASTANA – Rehabilitation centres for children with cerebral palsy are being developed across Kazakhstan’s regions to make treatment more accessible. More than 19,000 children have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy in Kazakhstan. Twenty percent are undergoing rehabilitation, and the rest await in line for treatment. There are 35 rehabilitation centres for children with cerebral palsy…
Astana launches housing assistance programme for social sector employee
ASTANA – The Kazakh government will provide one million tenge (US$2,711) for health care, education, police and social sector workers to help purchase new housing, the city administration press service reported on Oct. 24. Providing housing for public sector workers remains an urgent issue, said Astana Construction and Housing Policy Administration head Ruslan Akhmetov. More…
Astana’s school canteens to use video surveillance cameras to enhance food quality
ASTANA – The local government will be installing video surveillance cameras in school canteens and kitchens throughout the city next year in an effort to enhance food quality, said capital education department head Anuar Zhangozin at an Oct. 15 akimat (city administration) briefing. Parents suggested the initiative to observe how and what quantities their children…
Triathlon academy to open next year in Astana
ASTANA – BI Healthcare LLP will open a triathlon academy in July in the capital’s Triathlon Park, reported Elorda Info. The facility will occupy 4,500 square metres at the crossroads of Sarayshyk, Elim-ai and Zhalaiyri streets in the Almaty district. The first floor of the two-storey building will include a sports area with a gym,…
Prime minister visits East Kazakhstan to assess progress on latest presidential address
ASTANA – Prime Minister Bakhytzhan Sagintayev visited the East Kazakhstan region Oct. 10, meeting members of the public and business representatives and visiting social institutions there. He noted the positive experience of the region in implementing the Menin Mektebim (My School) project and in introducing modern healthcare technologies. The region has opened a unique centre…
Kazakhstan following five-year $95 million plan to improve cancer survival rate
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is using a $95 million, five-year plan to improve its cancer survival rate. “(Kazakhstan’s 50 percent survival rate) is not a very high rate, which is approximately 70 to 80 percent in OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries,” Kazakh National Academy of Sciences Scholar Dilyara Khaidarova said at a recent…
Kazakhstan citizens buy rubble and euro more often, as dollar remains in largest demand
ASTANA – Recently the purchase of Russian rubbles and euros increased in Kazakhstan. A year-on-year 56.2 percent rise in expenses for the Russian rubbles in cash at the National Bank is associated with the increased use of national currencies in trade relations, especially in the border regions, according to the National Bank. “In comparison with…
Romanian energy official ‘very optimistic’ about progress, prospects for energy industry cooperation with Kazakhstan
In an interview with this newspaper during his recent visit to Kazakhstan, Robert Tudorache, secretary of state of the Ministry of Energy of Romania, spoke about the state and the future of energy cooperation between his country and Kazakhstan. “The Joint Investment Fund of the Government of Romania and KMGI will strengthen the company’s position…
International Committee of the Red Cross to open office in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) approved in an Oct. 3 plenary meeting an agreement for the International Committee of the Red Cross to open an office in Kazakhstan. The agreement was first reached in 2011 and defines Red Cross operations in the country. “The agreement covers privileges and immunities for the International…
Former Almaty mayor, wife, sentenced to prison
ASTANA – Former Almaty Akim (mayor) Viktor Khrapunov and his wife Leila Khrapunova were convicted in absentia for misappropriation and embezzlement of entrusted property, fraud, money laundering and abuse of office, taking bribes and creating and leading a criminal group Oct. 8 by the Almaty Specialised Inter-District Criminal Court, reported Tengrinews.kz. The financial damage to…
