Articles by Staff Report

64-year-old volunteer enjoys her EXPO 2017 experience

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 visitors learn not only about future energy opportunities, but also about the inexhaustible human energy. Native of Kokshetau Batima Kussainova, 64, volunteered to participate in the large-scale event. “When I came to the expo organising committee in February, I was accepted with great pleasure out of the competition and awarded the…

Kazakh alphabet in Latin script to be developed by end of 2017

ASTANA – The Kazakh alphabet in the Latin script will be developed by the end of the year, said Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev during a recent press conference. According to him, this is the country’s most important project and it must be done right. “It is important to be cautious here. This…

Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture to launch more than 30 small dairies

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture has revealed plans to create 31 dairies within the development of small-scale agricultural processing enterprises, said Vice Minister of Agriculture Gulmira Issayeva. “The ministry pays special attention to the development of small processing enterprises; there are plans to create 31 mini-centres for milk processing, so-called cheese-making centres. Also,…

Chinese businessperson plans to export Almaty apples to China

ASTANA – Chinese businessperson Jin Xiau Ming intends to supply Almaty Aport apples to China. Although he has never seen Almaty apples, he has repeatedly heard of this famous variety of the fruit. “I heard that Almaty is known as a city of apples. I was told that an apple here could weigh up to…

Kazakhstan establishes national tourism development company

ASTANA – The Kazakh government recently launched the Kazakh Tourism National Company to develop the sector and attract investment. “The first task for the company is to promote the tourism potential of Kazakhstan abroad and attract investment. We want to attract investors to the tourism industry. I am sure that many investors are interested in…

Kazakh exports increase almost 40 percent, as economy grows 4.2 percent in first half of 2017

ASTANA – Kazakh exports increased 37.6 percent in the first half of 2017, Kazakh Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov announced at a recent government meeting. “In January-May of this year, the country’s foreign trade turnover grew 29.2 percent to $29.9 billion as a result of renewed demand and growth in prices. The export rose…

Government employment, training policies show positive results

ASTANA – One-hundred-seventy-four individuals started their own businesses and 384 loans were granted in the first half of this year as part of the second direction of the Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship Development programme, announced Birzhan Nurymbetov, Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection at a July 11 press briefing. “It is planned to…

State programme helps employ more than 80,000 people

ASTANA – More than 82,000 people were employed in the first half of 2017 under the third direction of the Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship Development Programme. As part of the employment assistance, more than 82,000 Kazakh citizens were employed in social workplaces, youth practice and public works in the first half of the year,…

Most popular vocational specialties in Kazakhstan include cook, seamstress, accountant

ASTANA – Cook, seamstress, accountant, hairdresser, electrician and welder are among Kazakhstan’s most popular vocational specialties, according to Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection Birzhan Nurymbetov. He presented the list at a briefing on the progress in the implement ion of the 2017-2021 productive employment and mass entrepreneurship development programme for the first half…

Doctors, legislatures alarmed that increased number of children falling from loose windows

ASTANA – In connection with the increased cases of children falling from buildings because of windows that give way, doctors recommend changing the design of plastic windows to protect children, the press service of city’s administration reports. In July, young children fell almost every day – 11 children aged 1-4 years fell over 13 days.…

More than 200 children take part in train trip adventure across country

ASTANA – More than 200 children enjoyed a train tour around the country July 2-11. The project was initiated by Fund of Social Projects supported by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Samruk Kazyna Trust and a Kazakh radio station. The unusual excursions and new discoveries were scheduled in the cities of Astana, Ekibastuz, Almaty and Baikonur.…

New traffic enforcement laws approved

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently signed the Law On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Road Traffic, according to the press service of Akorda. Amendments seek to curb corruption, particularly p the cost for good-looking car numbers will rise next year. The duties of the police officers…

Nazarbayev announces opening date for LEU bank in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced July 3 the opening date for low enriched uranium (LEU) bank in Kazakhstan will be Aug. 29. “August 29 marks the International Day against Nuclear Tests designated by the United Nations and we planned to hold the 60th anniversary session of the Pugwash movement of scientists aimed at…

Minister proposes extending Astana’s open skies regime

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek has proposed extending the open skies regime to next year to attract more foreign tourists to the capital. “The open skies regime has been launched in Astana for the period of EXPO 2017; all restrictions on flights of foreign carriers have been lifted up to…

Wind generator production plant to be built in Aktobe

The Aktobe region Akimat and United Energy Aktobe have agreed to build a wind generator production plant in the region’s industrial zone. Aktobe Akim (Governor) Berdybek Saparbayev and enterprise director Mikhail Pauls inked the corresponding memorandum. The project, with a cost of 84 million euros (US$95.3 million), is expected to create 500 jobs. The plant…

National companies of Kazakhstan boost their net profit 2.7 times

ASTANA – Kazakh national companies’ net profits increased 2.7 times in first quarter 2017 over first quarter 2016, reaching 131.6 billion tenge (US$407.8 million). A combination of increased income and the first reduction in expenses in five years accounted for the growth. Over first three months, the aggregate amount of expenses incurred by national companies…

Kazakhstan devotes record funding to attract foreign investment

ASTANA – The government has allocated a record 12.2 billion tenge (US$37.8 million) to attract foreign investment in 2017, reports Finprom.kz. The financing will develop industrial zones and parks as well as the infrastructure of special economic zones (SEZ) in the Almaty, Astana, Mangistau and Pavlodar regions. It will also be used for support services.…

Kazakhstan has huge tourism potential, says UNWTO Secretary General

ASTANA – World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said during the June 26-27 “Tourism and Future Energy: Unlocking low-carbon growth opportunities” conference in Astana that Kazakhstan has great tourism potential and needs to be branded globally. According to him, Kazakhstan is full of mysteries and discoveries, as well as landscapes, history of traditions and…

Astana offers audio tours

ASTANA – Free walking tours with a help of audio guide were recently launched at the Nurzhol Boulevard and the embankment of the Yessil River, according to the Astana administration’s press service. Audio tours about the main sights of the capital are available in six languages. According to the Deputy Director of Astana Convention Bureau…

New street named after Tatar Queen unveiled in Astana

ASTANA – President of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Astana Akim (Mayor) Asset Issekeshev participated in the June 12 opening ceremony of the street named after Kazan Khanate’s Queen Sujumbike in Astana. The new street is in cottage town in Family Village and is the second street named after a representative of Tatars…

Kazakh-built high-speed electric locomotives to be exported to Belarus

ASTANA – The Kazakh Invest National Company announced plans to export 20 passenger electric locomotives to Belarus at the recent meeting of the Trade Mission of Kazakh Producers in Minsk. The event was held with the participation of Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and export contracts worth $20 million were signed. “We are currently…

Kazakhstan to reduce tax inspections

ASTANA – The Kazakh government will reduce the number of tax inspections 37.5 percent in 2017, Minister of Finance Bakhyt Sultanov said during a June 19 joint session of both houses of Parliament. “The implementation of the 2016 budget was aimed at reviving the economy through stimulating entrepreneurship and creating jobs. The economy grew 1…

Forum presents Kazakh President’s model of national unity

ASTANA – The model of public accord and nationwide unity of led by President Nursultan Nazarbayev was presented at the forum of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) called Energy of Peace and Harmony within EXPO 2017, according to the press service of Akorda presidential residence “The Constitution of our country guarantees and…

Kazakh e-government mobile app offers 83 services

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s electronic government mobile app offers 83 services to its citizens, announced  Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Kairat Balykbayev at a June 15 session of the 10th Astana Economic Forum devoted to the digitalisation of world economies. “It is necessary to note that the Global E-Government Forum named Kazakhstan’s e-government mobile app…

Number of foreign companies in Kazakhstan increases 25 percent in the past year

ASTANA – The number of foreign businesses operating in Kazakhstan increased 25 percent in the last year to 3,400, according to finprom.kz. With the number of all businesses increasing 7 percent, the share of foreign companies increased from 5.9 percent to 6.9 percent over the last year. “According to analysts, the growth of foreign companies…