New names starring in Kyz Zhibek
ASTANA – Astana Opera mezzo-soprano soloist Malika Minisini will make her debut in the opera house’s Main Hall Jan. 28 as Batsaiy in Yevgeniy Brusilovsky’s “Kyz Zhibek.” “The most challenging part of this role is the acting. My heroine is an experienced woman who is helping to marry off Kyz Zhibek. Interestingly, there is a…
Kazakh companies boost cooperation with Boeing, GE and Pfizer
ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), SCAT and Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund will be purchasing $2.5 billion in goods and services from such American companies as Boeing, Chevron, GE (General Electric) Digital and GE Transportation. The agreements were made during Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s recent official visit to the United States. The…
Kazakh ice cream producer seeks to boost exports
ASTANA – Shin-Line occupies a 35-percent share of the Kazakh ice cream market, according to a report published by Euromonitor International. The company has already succeeded in neighbouring Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and has plans to enter the Chinese market. “The 13th China ice cream and frozen food exhibition, China Ice Cream Forum, was held…
Kazakh economy minister: inflation rate won’t exceed 7 percent this year
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov said the inflation rate will stay within the projected corridor of 5-7 percent this year. He discussed the preventive measures to curb inflation which the government will take by the end of 2018. Suleimenov noted the inflation rate was 7.1 percent in 2017, when it was…
Major blizzard shuts down Kazakh capital
ASTANA – Due to a major blizzard, Astana Mayor Asset Issekeshev announced an emergency situation in Astana Jan. 11, asking officials and managers of state institutions, private companies to cease operations for the day. Only emergency services are asked to continue working. “We recommend all heads of state bodies, educational institutions, business entities (markets, shopping…
Astana Opera to perform in Almaty
ASTANA – Astana Opera will be touring to the cultural capital of Kazakhstan – Almaty. The opera plans to present a rich programme featuring world art masterpieces at the Abai Opera House, the alma mater of opera and ballet. The tour, to be held Feb. 10-18 under the Rukhani Janghyru programme, is supported by the…
Kazakh TV starts broadcasting in new format
ASTANA – Kazakh TV became the first channel in the country and the Central Asian region Nov. 16 to switch to multi-channel broadcasting. Network director Andrei Tarakov spoke about the transition in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. “Kazakh TV channel has been dynamically developing in the state for the last 15 years, showing…
Kazakhstan increases storage capacity at Khorgos – Eastern Gate
ASTANA – The Kazakh government recently began construction of state-of-the-art storage facilities at the Khorgos – Eastern Gate special economic zone. The facilities are expected to be completed by the end of the year and are part of the national Nurly Zhol economic programme and 100 Concrete Steps Plan of the Nation. The storage capacity…
Mining companies in Kostanai region boost digital technology use
ASTANA – Large mining enterprises in the Kostanai region have developed and implemented roadmaps for technological modernisation under Kazakhstan’s third modernisation programme. Investments in projects executed by companies through 2025 will total 92.7 billion tenge (US$276.2 million). The roadmaps are in use by SSGPO, Kostanai Minerals and Varvarinskoye. Regional deputy akim (governor) Meirzhan Myrzaliyev spoke…
Astana Opera holds charity concert
ASTANA – Approximately 300 children from low-income families, those from large families and youngsters with disabilities attended the Dec. 3 Diversity of Musical Voices charity concert at the Astana Opera Chamber Hall. The opera house holds such events every year for children who otherwise would not have an opportunity to attend the opera. “The Astana…
Pixar heroes start speaking Kazakh
ASTANA – “Coco,” Pixar’s new feature-length animated film, became the 23rd foreign movie sounded in Kazakh. The film, released Nov. 23, is an example of the Bolashak Association continuing quality dubbing of Hollywood movies. “‘Coco’ is my third project as a director, the 11th as an actor and the first animated film in my entire…
Spanish architect to work on unique dome for Astana centre
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital is a fascinating city, but its severe winters tend to limit its year-round tourism potential. In an effort to attract visitors in every season, President Nursultan Nazarbayev met Nov. 27 with Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to discuss constructing a downtown dome. The head of state noted the city is famous not…
EU promotes financing for green projects in Central Asia, urges swift action
ASTANA – Representatives of the European Union, international financial institutions, and international and regional organisations gathered in Almaty Nov. 23 and 24 for a workshop on access to international investments in water, energy efficiency and waste management infrastructure. The experts concluded that the countries of Central Asia should take advantage of international momentum for implementing…
KazTransOil begins pumping Russian oil to Uzbekistan
ASTANA – The first batch of Russian crude oil was pumped through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan by KazTransOil Nov. 16. Such cooperation is possible due to the energy sector cooperation agreement signed by the Kazakh and Uzbek governments in September. “The beginning of the transit of Russian oil to Uzbekistan is an important event for KazTransOil and…
Kazakh scientists produce and maintain automated and robotic systems
ASTANA – The world market of robotics, which reached $91.5 billion this year, is expected to climb to $188 billion by 2020. Introducing automated and robotic systems is part and parcel of Kazakhstan’s national industry 4.0 programme, a process scientists from Nazarbayev University (NU) suggest the nation should begin immediately, reported Kapital.kz. The country can…
Kazakh TV launches show covering hottest trends in Kazakh music
ASTANA – Kazakh TV has launched a new television show covering trends in Kazakh music. Host Timur Balymbetov discusses the hottest news from Kazakh show business, video clips and concert performances. “HOT Q means HOT Queue, that is the queue of the best singers with their best videos. Also Q means Qazaqstan. Our show strives…
Number of transit flights through Kazakhstan increased by 5.2 percent
ASTANA – The Civil Aviation Committee, which recently reported the number of transit flights (indirect flights with a connection) through Kazakh airspace has grown by 5.2 percent, is working to attract more air traffic through the nation. The committee noted 183,877 flights were registered in Kazakh airspace in the first nine months of this year.…
Kostanai teacher creates steampunk masterpieces
ASTANA – Dmitry Govorkov, a teacher at Kostanai Construction College, has an interesting hobby. He creates carnival masks, notebooks and jewellery boxes in steampunk style, using mechanisms from useless alarm clocks as ornaments for his works, reported Khabar. Creativity has always been a part of Govorkov’s life. As a youngster, he painted pictures. “I entered…
EBRD predicts Kazakh economy to grow 3.8 percent in 2017
ASTANA – A recently released European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) report forecasts Kazakhstan’s economy will grow 3.8 percent this year and 3.5 percent in 2018. In a Nov. 7 report, the bank attributes the growth to increased oil production at the Kashagan field, current oil prices and a recovery in real incomes growth.…
Astana Opera star to perform Carmen
ASTANA – Kazakh mezzo-soprano Dina Khamzina will perform the title role in “Carmen” at the Astana Opera. The premier of the George Bizet classic will be staged Nov. 17 and 18 at the opera house’s main hall. Khamzina has performed the role many times, yet considers each to be a different interpretation. “Our life is…
Kazakhstan opens representative office in Skolkovo
ASTANA – The Autonomous Cluster Fund “Park of Innovative Technologies” has opened a representative office in Russia’s Skolkovo Technopark to support cooperation between Kazakh and Russian high tech companies and boost the Digital Kazakhstan programme. Establishing the office, accomplished under the programme, will help synchronise the digital economies of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries. “Kazakhstan…
Electronic bracelets for convicts pass tests
ASTANA – A pilot project using convict electronic bracelets developed and produced in Kazakhstan has been successfully completed. As a result, the government is planning wider use. The bracelets, a means of tracking individuals under suspended sentence with liberty restraints, were created by aerospace committee scientists and engineers at the Institute of Space Techniques and…
Kazakh TV presents unique show about ethnic musical compositions
ASTANA – Kazakh TV starts a unique project “Legends in Music” about ancient art of kui (traditional musical composition) and kuishis, the best musicians of the nation’s folk music. Kazakh songs and music have always reflected the ancient history of the people, its feelings, hopes and dreams, grief and joy. This vast sea of expressive…
Astana Opera to present classic romances
ASTANA – Astana Opera fans have an excellent opportunity to time-travel to the 19th and 20th centuries, when great romances were created. Talented artists will perform the best samples of this soulful genre in the Chamber Hall of the capital’s opera house on Oct. 11. “We are happy to turn to romance once again. This…
Kazakhstan to establish antiterrorist headquarters monitoring Caspian Sea
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (NSC) plans to expand the network of anti-terrorist headquarters in the country by establishing an operational naval headquarters controlling the Caspian Sea. The draft law has been presented and is expected to come into force in early 2018. “To date, all headquarters that operate in the state cover only…
