Articles by STAFF REPORT

A memorandum of understanding and cooperation to create Eurasian spatial data infrastructure was recently signed between Belarus, Kazakhstan and South Korea. The text of the memorandum will be sent to the Russian registry for consideration of possible future accession of the country. The memorandum was signed in the framework of the Second International Conference on…

The Halyk Kazynasy Research Studies Institute of the Kazakh National Museum is now executing archaeological research on more than a dozen sites across the country which belong to different periods of time. During the current research of the 6th-5th century BC burial complex Tortoba located in Kobda district in Aktobe region, archaeologists found intact tombs…

The Kazakh Embassy to Russia and the National Geographic Russia magazine organised a Kazakhstan – Land of the Great Steppe street photo exhibition, reported the press service of the magazine. According to the press statement, the exhibition, opened as of July 21, stationed itself in the centre of the Russian capital, on Nickolskaya Street next…

On July 29, the Kazakh National Bank issued new special 500 tenge (US$1.43) coins made of gold and silver, as well as 100 tenge (US$0.29) coins made of nickel silver. The coins are part of a series dedicated to Abulkhair Khan. All coins have identical front and back sides, while the gold and silver ones…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s state bodies are now using satellite navigation software to better manage logistics, according to the press service of the National Agency for Technological Development. National company Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary has developed a monitoring and control system to track moving objects. The technology was developed with grant funds in the amount of 18,729,937…

World record holder among children and four times champion of Kazakhstan’s Record Book for push-ups and the longest time in an abdominal position Amir Makhmet recently set a new record with a 1,000 push-ups in one go. This time, the top of the Bolektau Mountain was the place of this sports event. Young athlete Makhmet…

In early June, the Kazakh airline company Air Control announced the winner of the competition for the best use of the decommissioned aircraft was the Children’s Scientific and Educational Centre Evrikum in Almaty. “To tell the truth, it was not easy to make a choice. However, the main factors for us were the social approach…

In order to establish a common market in drugs of the Eurasian Economic Union planned for 2016-2018, it was decided to develop 67 new regulations. The corresponding list of regulations has been approved by the member of the Board for Technical Regulation of the Eurasian Economic Commission Valery Koreshkov, reported the press service of the…

The antimonopoly body of Kazakhstan has been accepted as a new member of the Competition Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), reported the press service of the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan. The organisation includes 35 member states, most of which are European countries, including Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, as well…

Kazakhstan recently blocked 94 suspicious websites for spreading extremism and terrorism propaganda messages, reported the press service of the Astana Prosecutor General’s Office. Since the beginning of the current year, the Yessil district court in Astana has issued 18 rulings concerning illegal content and products placed on foreign internet platforms and it was decided to…

Mandela Day, the annual international day of July 18 honouring anti-apartheid leader, philanthropist and former South African President Nelson Mandela, has been observed in Kazakhstan since 2012. The community is becoming aware of the celebration through activities arranged by the South African Embassy in Kazakhstan. The embassy has hosted a number of events in previous…

Kazakh Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the heads of international organisations July 13-15 during a working visit to Geneva, Switzerland. During a meeting with Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, the sides exchanged views on the international agenda as well as the work of the UN Conference on Disarmament. Møller…

Starting in late July, a new project on separate collection of waste launches in Astana under the Astana Tazartu company’s supervision, reported the press service of the company. The press announcement stated that the first phase of the project will involve 50 residential complexes, where plastic trash containers are going to be installed. It is…

The international Akare agency recently announced its survey on higher education. According to the analysed data, Kazakhstan was recognised as a country to offer education opportunities for the most affordable prices. It was stated that one year of studies in a Kazakh university will approximately cost $4,500. This amount also includes accommodation, food and additional…

The first shipment of petrochemical production reactors produced in South Korea was recently fulfilled in the port city of Ulsan. The freight was transported along the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The preparatory works on the shipments have been carried out by the Sales Office of Russia in Seoul since 2015. As a result, several agreements…

ASTANA – The Western Tien Shan, the trans-boundary serial nomination located across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has been included on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The nature of the Western Tien Shan region has a high level of endemism and endangered species of flora and fauna, reports the…

A grand gala concert marked the end of Astana Opera’s third opera season July 16 with a staging of the famous grand pas from the ballet “Paquita” in the theatre’s Great Hall. The ballet was staged by Artistic Director of the Astana Opera ballet troupe and Honoured Art Worker of Russia Altynai Assylmuratova. Among performers…

ASTANA – As national highways pass through the Akmola region, as well as dozens of regional and district roads, Kazakhstan business people have begun to develop roadside businesses. Zukhrab Veliyev started a roadside business 12 years ago along the Astana – Petropavlovsk highway. He started with one small trailer, where only three people were able…

ASTANA – The inflation rate in Kazakhstan for the first six months of 2016 was 4.6 percent, according to the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy. Food prices increased 5 percent, non-food items 4.7 percent and paid services 4.1 percent. Since the beginning of the year, prices have increased for potatoes by…

ASTANA – Sobrio Limited has bought a 24.47 percent stake in national telecom operator Kazakhtelecom, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) reported. “Sobrio Limited became a new major shareholder of Kazakhtelecom as a result of the transaction made within the same group and acquired a stake from its affiliates – companies including Bodam B.V. and Deran…

The Air Astana national carrier introduced a new direct flight from Almaty to Tehran on June 30, reported the press service of the company. The flights will be available three times per week: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and will use Embraer 190 aircraft. The plane offers 88 seats in economy class and nine seats…

ASTANA – Argentine pianist and Geneva Conservatory of Music honourary professor Luis Ascot presented a concert at the Astana Opera Chamber Hall June 16 featuring works by Chopin and Liszt and the Argentine tango. Performing on the main stages of the U.S., Europe, India and China, the musician always includes works by Liszt and Alberto…

This solution to grant more countries visa-free regime will increase the inflow of foreign tourists during the major international event EXPO 2017. This statement was made during the reporting of the delegation of Astana EXPO 2017, headed by Chairman AkhmetzhanYessimov at the 159th session of the General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) in…

Kazakhstan plans to start production of VanHool buses based on the technology of  the Belgian company which annually manufactures approximately 1,400 buses and coaches and as many as 4,000 commercial vehicles. Representatives recently held several meetings in Astana, Almaty and Kyzylorda. The total value of the agreement on bus construction, which will be based in…

ASTANA – Construction of a new district in Shymkent aims to develop the city as the third major city of the state under the order of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Construction of so called “Shymkent City,” a new administrative and residential area started recently. “Today is a fateful moment, when we start to build our…