Kazakhs increasingly buying more euros
ASTANA – The demand for euros has been growing in the exchange offices since the beginning of the year. Approximately 400 million euro (US$449 million) were sold, increasing 70.4 percent. Almaty and Astana are leading in buying euros. Astana and Almaty residents purchased 61.6 percent euro in April. The U.S. dollar losses its own positions…
Kazakh high school students to be taught in English
The Kazakh Ministry of Education recently approved new standards requiring a minimum of 50 to 90 minutes of homework, depending on a specified class. At the same time, assignments will not be given on holidays, weekends and after control tests. First-graders will no longer have the assigned homework. A portion of Kazakh high school students…
China honours EXPO 2017 with issuance of special bank note
ASTANA – With permission from the Astana EXPO 2017 national company, Chinese companies Wanbo and Zhangdao Wenhua have issued memorable banknotes and a postage stamp dedicated to the EXPO 2017 international specialised exhibition in Astana and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and China. The banknotes and stamp were presented…
Tourism company offers double-decker bus sightseeing tours
ASTANA – The private company Visit Astana with the support of the city’s akimat (administration) is providing city sightseeing tours on double-decker buses, according to the akimat’s press service. The Hop-on, Hop-off double-decker buses pass the city’s main attractions, including the territory of EXPO 2017. Buses are equipped with audio guides with the six available…
Astana botanical garden to open in December
ASTANA – The construction of the botanic garden along Kabanbai Batyr Avenue will be completed in December, according to the city akimat (administration) press service. The garden will be open to the public throughout the year. “The arboretum will be spread over a hundred hectares on the left bank of the city. Visitors will find…
Kazakh banks launch housing subsidy programme
ASTANA – The country’s seven banks have begun issuing mortgage loans at 10 percent for residents as part of the Nurly Zher Housing Construction programme supported by the Kazakhstan Mortgage Company. “Subsidising mortgage loans as part of the Nurly Zher programme provides loans at 10 percent per annum to purchase housing, while the maximum pre-subsidy…
France to present cutting edge technologies and culture at EXPO 2017
ASTANA – France will present a futuristic electric Peugeot, the sculpture of Milena Hermon and Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, at EXPO 2017, according to pavilion general commissioner Pascal Loro. “We were one of the first countries in the European Union that signed a strategic partnership agreement [with Kazakhstan] many years ago. Our…
Almaty Deputy Mayor seeks to beautify public space through removal of unused fences
Iron fences placed around facilities and establishments in Almaty disturb and spoil the appearance of the city, said Deputy Akim (Mayor) of the southern capital Yerlan Aukenov recently during an inspection of the Almaty and Bostandyk districts. Aukenov walked the districts with representatives of city utilities services and the management of architecture and town planning…
‘Abai’ opera to be performed during EXPO 2017
ASTANA – “Abai,” the original national opera production staged by a Kazakh and Italian creative team, will be performed in Astana as part of the EXPO 2017 cultural events June 11 at the Astana Opera House. The modern interpretation of the opera promises to provide the audience with maximum open stage space, 3D video installations…
Kazatomprom to use robots for uranium production by end of year
ASTANA – Robots will start working at the uranium plant of the Kazatomprom national atomic company in the South Kazakhstan region by the end of the year. The robots will perform various activities, including drying, loading and shipping products. The first robot will be purchased on a competitive basis in the near future. “This is…
EAEU countries to conduct population census in 2019
ASTANA – Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries intend to carry out a population census for one year beginning October 2019, the press service of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) reported. EEC Collegium meeting participants considered a draft order of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIC) concerning the preparation and conduct of national population censuses in EAEU…
EXPO 2017 expected to add 200,000 cars to area roads
ASTANA – Vice-Minister for Investments and Development of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar warned Astana residents to expect heavier than usual traffic during EXPO 2017. Presumably about 200,000 people will come to visit the exhibition by their private vehicles. “It is clear that we, residents of the city, will feel some kind of discomfort, but this needs…
Electronic health passports to be introduced in 2018
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Healthcare will develop an electronic health passport by 2018 to store health data throughout a person’s life that will be accessible from anywhere, according to the Minister Yelzhan Birtanov. “Currently, the pilot project on the use of the electronic health passport is being tested in Astana’s city polyclinic No.…
Best traffic inspector chosen in Ust-Kamenogorsk
Senior State Traffic Inspector of the Borodulikha district, Major Zhanybek Shaimardanov was recently named Best State Auto Inspector 2017. The award was the result of a contest organised for the first time on the eve of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Kazakh police in June. The contest was sponsored…
Vocational training centre for people with special needs to opens in Almaty
ASTANA – The Resource Centre for Inclusive Vocational Training and Social Adaptation of persons with limited abilities will soon open in Almaty. The goal of the project is to provide vocational training, retraining, advanced training and certification of personnel for persons with special needs to solve their socialisation and adaptation problems. The training centre will…
Astana taxi companies form single association, large unified service
ASTANA – Astana’s taxi companies have formed into a single association called Astana Taxi and will now have a uniform taxi design, tariff’s and point-of-sale for card payments. Hundred of car keys were handed over to taxi companies, such as Taxi Zhebe under the Zhebe brand and Autotrans Hozu (Eco taxi), according to the press…
Almaty police to go live via Instagram to help search for missing persons
Almaty police has decided to conduct constant live broadcasts on Instagram to help search for missing persons. The Instagram account Rozysk_kz (“search” in Russian) has provided the assistance to implement the initiative. The city’s Department of Internal Affairs has been closely interacting with the group’s moderator for a while, noted the department’s press service. The…
Pianos for public use installed around Astana
ASTANA – A creative project under the name Street Piano was launched here for the first time by the Astana socio-entrepreneurial corporation, according to the press service of city’s akimat (administration). The creators of the project say that from now on the public can perform their favourite musical compositions under the open sky. “The main…
Astana to begin light rail system construction in May
ASTANA – The city administration will start construction on a $1.8 billion light rail transport system (LRT) in Astana at the end of May. “A consortium of Chinese companies will built the LRT in accordance with the signed agreement. No changes (have been made) and preparatory work is currently under way. We are committed to…
Radar station production plant starts operation in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Granit-Thales Electronics plant, a joint Kazakh-French venture, has started production of the new generation Ground Master 400 radar equipment in Kazakhstan. The project is being implemented for the first time in the Central Asian region and will meet all state requirements. “The station is constantly on duty, operating day and night. It…
Japan presents plans for container transit route through Kazakhstan to Europe
ASTANA – Representatives of Japanese economic organisations, companies and think tanks discussed Japan’s plans to develop container transit from Japan to Europe through Kazakhstan and China with Kazakh, South Korean and Chinese delegates at a recent business form in Tokyo. Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Japan Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev told the group it is beneficial to transport…
Entertainment, cultural events to be presented around Astana during EXPO 2017
ASTANA – The Astana akimat (city administration) will present free and paid cultural and entertainment events throughout the city during EXPO 2017. Events will include international festivals and exhibitions, concerts by local and international stars, classical and folk music performances, theatrical premieres, circus performances, festivities on the square near the Baiterek monument, on the City…
Kazakhfilm to complete filming of “Mir Mechty” in May
ASTANA – A feature film named “Mir Mechty” (“The World Of Dreams”) produced by the Aimanov Kazakhfilm studio by an order from Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports will complete filming in May, the press service of Kazakhfilm informs. “’One of my friends who lives in Saint Petersburg told me that there is a writer named…
Kazakh trade with EAEU member states grows
Kazakhstan’s trade with its allies within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is growing, according to the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, outlining mineral products as dominant in the structure of the country’s exports. “In January-February 2017, Kazakh mutual trade with the EAEU member countries was $2.5 billion, which is 56 percent…
Chinese company to buy 51 percent of Kazakh automaker AllurGroup
ASTANA – China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) held negotiations and signed an agreement on the intention to acquire 51 percent of common shares of Kazakh carmaker AllurGroup. “The deal has a great importance not only for our enterprise, but for the entire domestic auto industry. A new level of partnership confirms the…
