Iran Introduces Protective Duties for Kazakh Grain Imports
ASTANA – The Iranian government recently introduced protective duties for the import of Kazakhstan grain to protect its domestic market, according to President of Aktau International Seaport Mikhail Yalbachev. This is expected to decrease cargo traffic to Iranian sea ports from Kazakhstan. At that, cargo traffic to Azerbaijan increased and great volumes of cargo traffic from…
Russian, Kazakh Leaders Discuss Crisis in Turkish-Russian Relations
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral ties, the situation in Ukraine and the deterioration of Russian-Turkish relations in a Feb. 8 phone call. Putin reiterated that the current tense state of affairs is Turkey’s doing and it is Turkey who has to take steps to normalise the situation,…
National Bank to Remain in Almaty, Plans for Relocation to Astana Cancelled
The Kazakh President recently halted plans to relocate the country’s National Bank from Almaty to Astana. The government had planned to move the bank in 2017. “In two years, we are preparing to relocate the infrastructure and the head office to Astana. Nonetheless, Almaty remains a major financial centre. I think, two major cities will…
Birlik (Unity) Party Announces Participation in Early Mazhilis Election
ASTANA – On Feb. 5, the second extraordinary congress of Birlik (Unity) announced the party’s intention to run in the upcoming election for the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) and approved an eight-point electoral programme under the slogan “Clean intentions, clean actions, clean environment.” The list of Birlik candidates for the Mazhilis includes eight people.…
Kremnii Kazakhstana Sold for More Than $36 Million
ASTANA – The Investment Fund of Kazakhstan (IFK), a subsidiary of Baiterek Holding, sold 100 percent of Kremnii Kazakhstana (Silicium Kazakhstan) LLP shares to the Tau-Ken Samruk National Mining Company, Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper reported Jan. 29, referring to the press service of IFK. Chair of IFK Rinat Sisembayev and Chair of Tau-Ken Samruk Mazhit Turmagambetov…
Kazakh Specialists Restore Ancient Artefacts Dated from Third Century B.C.
Artefacts dating from the third century B.C. have been restored over 16 years by specialists under the supervision of art restorer Krym Altynbekov, reported Kazpravda.kz, citing MIR 24 TV channel on Jan. 25. Artefacts, including a fox fur coat, hat and stockings of a Saka rider, were found at excavations in different regions of Kazakhstan…
Ak Zhol Party Cautious About Electoral Prospects, Reiterates Pro-Business, Anti-Crisis Agenda
ASTANA – The Ak Zhol (Bright Path) Democratic Party of Kazakhstan approved a list of 35 candidates during its Feb. 3 congress. The slate will run in the March 20 early parliamentary election for seats in the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament). Party chairman Azat Peruashev urged “pragmatism” and not nurturing “exaggerated expectations” to increase…
Communist People’s Party Nominates 22 for Mazhilis, Seeks to Increase Presence in Chamber
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital hosted the extraordinary congress of the Communist People’ Party (CPP) of Kazakhstan on Feb. 2. The congress delegates announced their programme for the March 20 general election and approved the list of the party’s nominees, which includes 22 names. Among them are deputies of the previous convocation of the Mazhilis (lower…
Nationwide Social Democratic Party Seeks Participation in Parliamentary Election
ASTANA – The Nationwide Social Democratic Party (NSDP) ruled during its congress on Jan. 30 in Almaty that the party should seek participation in Kazakhstan’s early parliamentary election set for March 20. The decision was approved by a clear majority of 127 out of 135 delegates of the congress, NSDP Chairman Zharmakhan Tuyakbai announced, according…
Cadet Corps Future Graduates Start Military Internships in Armed Forces
ASTANA – About 200 cadets who will graduate this year started their internships in military units and formations of Kazakh Armed Forces on Jan. 11, according to the Ministry of Defence. “For the students of the Cadet Corps of the Ministry of Defence, it is a new experience and the first opportunity to see the…
KazMunayTeniz, Rosneft Resume Exploration Works in the Caspian Sea
The press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Energy has recently announced plans to carry out additional exploration works in the Kurmangazy oil field located in the Caspian Sea. According to the statement, the abandoned wells are going to be re-monitored and proposals on additional extraction works in the field to be scheduled soon. It…
Astana Energy Companies Reduce Polluting Emissions
The Astana mayor’s office recently reported a 22 percent reduction of emissions’ volume from energy enterprises, leading to a “favourable” pollution rating. According to a city press release, 24,700 tonnes of emissions were released in 2014 with 27,200 released in 2015.Levels of nitrogen oxides also decreased by 19 percent (1,700 tonnes per year) and the…
Kazakh President Says Sports and Horse Meat Keeps him Healthy
During a TV interview aired Dec. 13, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was asked which diet he follows to stay in shape. “According to internet sources, many heads of state use various diets to be able to work with tough schedules. Some of them even do aqua-fitness or pilates. Do you practice such techniques?” asked one…
Monument Dedicated to 25th Anniversary of Independence to Be Installed in Astana
A Monument dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence will be installed in Astana next year. Yedil Alimbekov from Almaty won a national contest, reports the city akimat (administration). According to Alimbekov, the stele-shaped monument reaching into the sky will include 25 edges, each of which represents one of the milestones reached by the…
Akorda Discusses Energy Sector Development in Face of Current Global Economic Conditions
President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently met with government representatives to discuss the development of the energy sector of Kazakhstan under current economic conditions, reported the press service of the Akorda. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Karim Massimov, head of Presidential Administration Nurlan Nigmatulin and other heads of agencies and organisations involved in the energy…
National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, US Business Council Sign Cooperation MoU
The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs (NCE) Atameken and the U.S. Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) signed a memorandum of understanding on Dec. 9 in Washington, according to the 24KZ TV channel. The BCIU is nonpartisan organisation founded as a White House initiative by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955. Today, it links the government and…
National Bank Issues New 100 Tenge Coins for New Year
The National Bank of Kazakhstan has issued four silver and two nickel silver alloy coins, according to the National Bank of Kazakhstan. “The National Bank of Kazakhstan on Dec. 11, 2015, put into circulation a series of coins dedicated to the New Year with a nominal value of 100 tenge,” a bank press release read.…
Reviving the Village Project Delivers Free Fresh Local Farm Products
The free delivery of local farm products has started in Almaty in the framework of the newly launched Reviving the Village social project. The group of eight people participating in the action is accepting about 100 orders every day. Despite the fact that the project was introduced only a month ago, it has already gained…
New Work Estimation Criteria to Be Introduced for Governors
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev announced recently new criteria to be introduced to estimate the level of efficiency of akims (governors), reported the Akorda press service. “The volume of private investment and the number of newly-created jobs will be among major criteria for evaluating the work of governors,” said the President during a meeting with…
EBRD to Fund Large Aircraft Maintenance Facility in Astana
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national airline, Air Astana, will soon get an infusion of cash in the form of a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loan up to $14 million dollars, issued in tenge, according to a press release from the lender. The EBRD plans to issue the loan to help fund the building…
Capital Forecasts $606 Million in City Revenue for 2016
ASTANA – Deputy of the Astana Maslikhat and member of the city’s Economics and Budget Planning Management Committee Gulnar Dzhusupova announced at a recent meeting of the city maslikhat deputies that the projected 2016 income for the city will be 180 billion tenge (US$606 million). She said the funds will be used for construction, road…
Shymkent Factory Launches Country’s First Production of Sterile Garments for Newborns
The MedTexKZ company has launched the production of sterile vests, sliders, caps and other clothing for newborns at a plant in Shymkent. The factory is the only one of its kind in Kazakhstan. All products are made from high-quality cotton and kept in a sealed package. Thirty-seven employees are working at the company with expected…
Golovkin Now Ranks as Second Best Pound-for-Pound Boxer in the World
Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, Kazakhstan’s world champion under the World Boxing Association (WBA Super), International Boxing Organisation (IBO), World Boxing Council (WBC Interim) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight classifications, climbed to second place in the ranking of the best boxers in the world regardless of weight category, known as Pound for Pound (P4P), according to…
Kazakh Director Tackles Issue of Young, Unmarried Women in Latest Film
ASTANA – Kazakh director Askar Bisembin’s new film “Marriage at 30” will attempt to show what the average young, unmarried woman wants. The movie is being filmed in collaboration with actress and producer Assel Sadvakassova. Bisembin has previously directed “Wedding for Three” and “Adel.” According to Bisembin’s interview with Brod.kz, the film is about a…
Almaty Approves Construction of Modern Art Museum
ALMATY – Local patrons from the Museum of Modern Art Public Foundation received approval from the Almaty Planning Council for the construction of a modern art museum in the Bostandyk district. The developers say the goal of the project is to increase the city’s potential as an international tourist centre. The building is proposed for…
