New Recycling Plant to Be Launched in 2017
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first recycling plant running on green energy will be launched in 2017, according to Kapital.kz. The plant will be located in the Akmola region, not far from the capital. The investor and project contractor is the German company Eggersmann Anlagenbau GmbH, which has built around 800 recycling plants throughout the world. The…
Young Kazakh Author Presents Book in London
ASTANA – Eleven-year-old author and illustrator Maide Akan, who lives in the capital, presented her book “Aysu and a Magic Bag” at the Open Eurasian Literature Festival & Book Forum in London in late November. The book, which addresses environmental issues, is the first in the series and was published by Hertfordshire Press. “The children’s…
Nation’s First Online Music Education Project Launches
ASTANA – Dalatunes.kz, Kazakhstan’s first national music and educational Internet website, was officially launched Dec. 14 in Almaty. Co-founders Gani Toksanbayev and Rashida Tylivaldiyeva have been working for almost a year to present a platform where users can find Kazakh songs, as well as chords, lyrics and notes. Approximately 10,000 songs are currently available. “Unfortunately,…
A1462 Studio Presents Kazakh Modern Design to the World
ASTANA – A1462 is an Almaty-based design studio and workshop, which is a result of collaboration of four young designers Timur Aktayev, Anastasiya Leonova, Aziz Abdulmazhitov and Galym Kairalapov. The studio works in almost all areas of industrial design, including accessories and furniture. “There is no visual image of Kazakhstan in the world of design.…
Kazakh Businessmen Develop Country’s First Watch Brand
ASTANA – Amir Watches was founded two years ago by Kazakh businessmen Adil Nurgozhin and Zhanibek Karsybayev. In its short history, the partners have managed to increase sales to thousands of dollars per month and find their niche in the market. “The brand targets the middle and upper-middle classes. There are also exclusive watches we…
Eagle Huntress on Oscar’s Best Documentary Shortlist
ASTANA – The documentary “Berkutchi,” also known as “The Eagle Huntress,” is on Oscar’s Best Documentary shortlist. The movie about a 13-year old Kazakh girl from Mongolia has made it to the top 15 of 145 features. The list also includes “13th,” “Cameraperson,” “Command and Control,” “Fire at Sea,” “Gleason,” “Hooligan Sparrow,” “I Am Not…
Alcohol Ads Could Return to TV
ASTANA – Plans are underway to allow advertising low-alcohol beverages in order to improve the financial situation of Kazakh TV channels, according to an announcement by Minister of Information and Communications Dauren Abayev during the governmental hour at the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) on Dec. 5. “At the moment, the volume of the advertising…
Kazakh Scientists Acknowledged with Science Leader 2016 Award
ASTANA – Several Kazakh universities and scientists received the Science Leader 2016 award during the Science and Innovation – the Basis of Economic Development forum in Almaty, reported Forbes.kz on Nov. 21. The winners’ achievements were evaluated in terms of publication activity and citations based on data from Thomson Reuter’s Web of Science, according to…
Israeli Paint Manufacturer Enters Kazakh Market
ASTANA – Israeli paint manufacturer Tambour recently entered the Kazakhstan’s market and opened its first office in Central Asia, reported Kapital.kz. “Stable growth of the country’s economy and well-being of the population make Kazakhstan one of the most promising markets of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) where the company plans to become one of…
Prospects for Regional Cooperation in Central Asia Have Not Been Stronger in Long Time, Scholar Says
ASTANA – Dr. Frederick Starr, founder and chairman of the Central Asia-Caucusus Institute and research professor at John Hopkins University, came to the capital to participate in the conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Kazakh independence and present his newest report “Kazakhstan 2041: the Next Twenty-Five Years,” written together with Johan Engvall and Svante…
Kazakhstan’s Achievements Since Independence Discussed at Int’l Conference in Astana
ASTANA – Parliamentarians and experts from almost two dozen countries participated in a Nov. 28 conference in Astana reviewing Kazakhstan’s accomplishments over 25 years of independence and looking into its future. “Looking back and evaluating the results we can state without doubt that during such a short period of time, a quarter of a century,…
Nation’s Leading Souvenir Company Celebrates 10th Anniversary
ASTANA – Empire, Kazakhstan’s first and leading gift and souvenir company, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It has become the country’s business card throughout the decade and one of its most recognisable brands. “Empire is a unique Kazakh brand representing the most vivid and valuable from the artistic heritage of the past in a modern…
Kazakhstan’s Top Winter Destinations
ASTANA – The cold weather is not an obstacle for those who want to spend time outside the city and have a great holiday. Whether it is a just a weekend or a week, that time of the year is a new opportunity to discover new places or rediscover old ones. The closest place to…
Daniel Yergin Presents Kazakh Edition of “The Quest”
ASTANA – Pulitzer-winning author Dr. Daniel Yergin presented the Kazakh edition of his book “The Quest: Energy, Security and the Remaking of the Modern World” Nov. 16 at Nazarbayev University. “I am especially pleased to bring this important story to Kazakh readers because of energy’s central role in helping to build Kazakhstan’s 21st-century economy. I…
Modern Nomad Creates Silicon Valley-Based Luxury Fashion Brand
ASTANA – Nazim Paltachev, a 36-year-old businessman and modern nomad, has created the Silicon Valley-based luxury clothing brand Soul of Nomad. Currently available only online at www.soulofnomad.com, the company’s client base already includes people like Mark Cuban, Kenji Yamamoto, Craig Ziering, top level government officials from several nations and valley executives. The brand name is…
Kazakhstan, Turkey to Cooperate on Radio Communications Equipment Production
ASTANA – A Kazakhstan plant for production of defence electro-optical products, also known as KAE (Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering) and Turkish company ASELSAN agreed Nov. 10 to share technology to produce APC025 Standard professional radio communications equipment, according to a Kazakhstan Engineering National Company’s press service. The equipment will provide secure communications for government authorities and…
Aktobe Region Plans to Attract $14.6 Million for Geologic Exploration
ASTANA – A memorandum of cooperation indicating five billion tenge ($14.6 Million) will be authorised in Aktobe region by foreign and local investors was signed Nov. 3 by regional governor Berdibek Saparbayev and Kazgeology National Geological Exploration Chairman Galym Nurzhanov. “We will cooperate fully with the company on permitting and land issues and will help…
Kazatomprom to Allocate $231.4 Million to South Kazakhstan Region until 2025
ASTANA – Kazatomprom head Askar Zhumagaliyev announced the company’s plans to invest in the South Kazakhstan region during a meeting with regional governor Zhanseit Tuymebayev as part of a visit to Suzak district, according to Kazinform. “I recently had a meeting with the head of state. The national company has committed itself to economic diversification…
EBRD Predicts Growth for Kazakhstan Next Year in New Economic Prospects Report
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has released a new report on regional economic prospects for its countries of operation with the promising title “Return to modest growth.” For Kazakhstan, the organisation projects 0.7 percent growth in 2016. Last year’s growth rate was 1.2 percent. Average annual inflation for 2016 can…
Krav Maga Teaches People to Defend Themselves on Street
ASTANA – Krav Maga, the Israeli self-defence system developed for the nation’s defence forces, has already found some popularity around the world. Almaty citizens have an opportunity to master the same self-defence skills and techniques adopted by Mossad and Shin Bet. Although not considered a sport, Krav Maga consists of a wide combination of skills…
Kazkommertsbank Rebrands into QAZKOM
ASTANA – Kazkommertsbank, one of the largest banks in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, presented its updated retail brand QAZKOM Oct. 21 to mark its 25th anniversary. “The essence of the changes is not in the changed logo and new writing of the brand name, but rather in qualitative changes happening in the bank as part…
Astana Resident Donates Her House as Animal Shelter
ASTANA – City resident Baktygul Zhumabekova has donated her house to create a shelter for homeless animals. The mansion, in Chubary micro district, is now home to more than 280 pets, according to Tengrinews. Zhumabekova has loved animals all her life and opening such a shelter was a dream which has now come true. “Some…
Exhibition Dedicated to Anne Frank Opens in Astana School, More to Follow
ASTANA – An exhibition dedicated to Anne Frank, one of the most famous victims of the Holocaust and the author of “The Diary of a Young Girl,” opened in Astana’s Nazarbayev Intellectual School in mid-October. The one-year joint project of the Yerkindik Kanati Public Foundation and the Embassy of the Netherlands will travel to around…
Abai Monuments Opened in Egypt and France
ASTANA – The opening ceremonies for Abai monuments were held Oct. 13-14, respectively, in Cairo, Egypt and Rennes, France. Memorials dedicated to the great Kazakh poet, philosopher and thinker already exist in Beijing, Budapest, Istanbul, Moscow, Tashkent, Tehran and Vitebsk. The bust in Egypt’s capital is located in the Garden of Freedom and Friendship, one…
Kashagan Ships First Oil, Finally
ASTANA – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has received its first oil from Kashagan offshore field, which is back on stream after a three year pause. By the end of the year, the CPC is expected to pump 1 million tonnes from Kashagan, according to Kapital.kz. “At the moment we receive up to 10,000 tonnes…
