Almaty hosts I’m a Singer international music contest

ASTANA – I’m a Singer, an international vocal competition, is being hosted this fall by the Almaty Akimat (city administration) and Channel 31. The project, aimed at...


S&P expects Kazakhstan’s GDP to grow 3 percent in 2017-2020

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s real GDP growth is projected to reach 3 percent in 2017-2020, according to the recent S&P Global Ratings report. The implementation of government infrastructure...


Digital trends in education transform approaches to teaching and management

ASTANA – The electronic journal system is being widely used in more than 4,000 schools nationwide, said Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev at an Oct....


Central Asia’s largest solar power plant to launch in Karaganda region

ASTANA – A solar power plant with a 100-megawatt capacity will open next year in Saran in the Karaganda region. The facility, with 370,000 next-generation solar panels...


Entrepreneurship plays role in helping to socially rehab former prisoners and probationers

ASTANA – Some of the actions planned to help socially rehabilitate former prisoners and citizens in probation were reviewed by Minister of Internal Affairs Kalmukhanbet Kassymov during...


Qazaqstan TV starts broadcast of Silk Way Star contest

ASTANA – The national TV channel Qazaqstan has launched Sept. 30 broadcasting of the international music television show Silk Way Star. Artists from nine countries will compete...


First Astana Media Week takes place in capital

ASTANA – The first Astana Media Week kicked off in the capital city Oct. 4, bringing major media corporations and production companies together to set up partnerships...


New prisons will burden Kazakh budget, official says

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has abandoned plans to build new prisons as part of the public-private partnership (PPP) due to the high cost of the project, said Minister...


Inflation to remain in 6.9-7.5% targeted corridor in 2017, says Kazakh NB governor

ASTANA – Kazakh National Bank Governor Daniyar Akishev said during an Oct. 3 government meeting that inflation is projected to remain in the targeted corridor of 6.9...


Kazakhstan exports products to 110 countries

ASTANA – Kazakh goods are being exported to 110 countries, said Minister for Investment and Development Zhenis Kassymbek during Nur Otan party hearings on realising the government...


Kazakhstan to export 5 billion cubic metres of gas to China

ASTANA ­– China recently agreed to a deal with KazTransGas to import 5 billion cubic metres of Kazakh natural gas during one calendar year, according to KazTransGas...


Work continues on bill to cut business regulations, costs

ASTANA – Relaxing controls on businesses and other changes to a draft law on business activities, “On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic...


Kazakh IT start-ups to be prepared in Silicon Valley

ASTANA – Almaty Tech Garden is launching the international Startup Kazakhstan programme, with participants to be housed in the IT Quarter, reported Kazinform. The venture is the...


Kazakhstan’s halal labeled products enter UAE and Middle East market

ASTANA – KAZAKH INVEST presented Kazakh-produced items at the Halal Expo 2017 international food exhibit in Dubai, reported the company’s press service. Abai, Disada, Eurasia Invest, Golden...


Kazakh shoemaker highlights concerns hindering domestic producers

ASTANA – Kazakh manufacturer Zhamal-ai has been making footwear for more than 20 years. Company director Zibira Khassanova recently spoke about the obstacles faced by the country’s...


Kazakh government needs to continue consolidating its strategy of attracting more foreign investment

Nearly a decade after the 2008 global financial crisis, the global economy is improving. The most recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast, issued in July, projected global...


Kazakh national women’s volleyball team reaches world championship

ALMATY – Team Kazakhstan secured a place in the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Women’s Volleyball World Championship next year in Japan by finishing as runners-up in...


Astana Pro Team’s Alexei Lutsenko wins Tour of Almaty 2017

ALMATY – The Astana Pro Team’s Alexei Lutsenko of Kazakhstan has once again won the Tour of Almaty, this time in the race’s first iteration as a...


Nation prepares to celebrate Astana’s 20th anniversary

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a directive Sept. 30 to prepare for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh capital – Astana, the...


Kazakhstan, Latvia launch container service along China-to-Europe transcontinental route

ASTANA – Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis and Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin launched Sept. 29 via teleconference in Riga a new container service in the...


Kazakh government takes comprehensive approach to fighting corruption

Most Kazakh citizens don’t litter because they know it’s wrong. The same is true for an individual as he or she considers trying to bribe an official....


Workers receive $6.7 million in back pay after national labour inspections

ASTANA – As of Sept. 21, national labour inspectors revealed salary arrears to 20,000 employees worth more than 2.65 billion tenge (US$7.8 million) in 1,194 enterprises, according...


IT Quarter launches in Almaty

ASTANA – An IT Quarter for the development of information technologies has been launched in the centre of Almaty. The 17,000-square-metre facility will become the new home...


Ancient Botay culture to be explored and displayed in Borovoe

ASTANA – Akmola Region Akim (Governor) Malik Murzalin met with Viktor Zaibert, professor of archaeology and researcher behind one of the most sensational archaeological discoveries in Botay...


Civil servants from Russia improve their qualifications in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan hosted a seminar on introducing modern management technologies in the activities of state bodies for...


Kazhydromet tests automatic air quality monitoring sensor

ASTANA – Kazhydromet experts have started testing a Finnish ambient air pollution sensor they plan to adapt to the climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. “The Vaisala sensor was...


Almaty hosts Central Asia’s first football championship for children with cerebral palsy

ASTANA – Almaty hosted Sept. 26-27 the first football championship in Central Asia among children diagnosed with cerebral palsy and neurological diseases with the support of Kazakhstan’s...


Renewable energy to light 100 pedestrian crossings in Astana

ASTANA – Nearly 100 pedestrian crossings in Astana will be powered by wind and solar energy, said head of the city’s renewable energy sources project Rustam Kadyrov...


President tours memorial in Almaty region

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited recently the Batyr Babalar memorial complex in the Raiymbek rural district of the Karasai district during a working visit to Almaty...


FC Astana draws Slavia Prague in UEFA Europa League

ASTANA – In its first home match at the group stage of the current Union of European Football (UEFA) Europa League season, FC Astana played Sept. 28...


Astana presents first business centre built in compliance with green technology standards

ASTANA – Talan Towers Offices, an A-class business centre built as part of the multifunctional Talan Towers complex, was presented Sept. 28 in the capital. It is...


Kazakh government approves list of state functions to be privatised

ASTANA – The Kazakh Parliament approved Sept. 26 the list of state functions to be privatised, resulting from the revision of the draft law “On amendments and...


Almaty author creates stories with incredible pictures, encourages children to love reading

ASTANA – Almaty-based writer and illustrator Antonina Shipulina’s journey to becoming a children’s author started with motherhood. The fascinating stories immediately captured youngsters’ attention when her first...


Prospects of green economy in Kazakhstan

The completion of EXPO 2017 highlighted the prospects for the implementation in Kazakhstan of the principles of sustainable and harmonious development within the framework of green economy,...


Wood wool cement factory opens in Kazakhstan

KOKSHETAU – A factory to produce Albolite, also known as wood wool cement, has launched operations in Kazakhstan. “Yernazarov and Co LTD produces albolite bricks. Albolite is...


Khorgos saves money, unites people from Kazakhstan and China

ASTANA – Khorgos, a visa free and duty-free zone, was established as a unique project by the Kazakh and Chinese governments. Located on the border, the countries...


Kazakhstan strengthens international ties at 61st session of IAEA general conference

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation signed a cooperation agreement in scientific research and developing nuclear energy, reported Kazakh Ministry of Energy press service. The document...


Insurance coverage options to be simplified, travel insurance to become compulsory, says official

ASTANA – Online insurance will be introduced to increase accessibility not only in large cities, but also in regions, said National Bank Chairman Daniyar Akishev at a...


Kazakh Senate Chairman, Uzbek President praise bilateral relations

ASTANA – Kazakh Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and a parliamentary delegation met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a Sept. 25-27 official visit to Tashkent. Tokayev praised...


Kazakh car manufacturers ask officials to revise tariff policy with Uzbekistan

ASTANA – KazAvtoProm, the Kazakh Car Industry Union, released an open letter to Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov expressing concern about access of their products to...


Kazakh schoolchildren to learn about maintaining healthy lifestyle

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to launch Foodprint, a national programme which aims to promote healthy lifestyle among schoolchildren. “This project envisages the education of schoolchildren starting from...


French artist incorporates renewable energy concept into Nur Alem sculptures

ASTANA – Contemporary French artist Mickael Obrenovitch created five amazing sculptures for the giant Nur Alem sphere at EXPO 2017. Many visitors saw the works, but few...


Astana hosts national tourism meeting, addresses acute issues

ASTANA – The capital was the site for the national tourism meeting organised by the Ministry for Culture and Sports Sept. 27 that brought together representatives of...


Alphabet change is important part of a larger modernisation process, says expert

ASTANA – The draft of the Latin-based Kazakh alphabet presented in September resulted in heated discussions and a number of questions among Kazakh people. Uli Schamiloglu, a...


Panel cautiously optimistic on improving human rights in Uzbekistan

WASHINGTON, DC – A panel of scholars and journalists convened in Washington, D.C. in late September to voice cautious optimism that Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev – overwhelmingly...


Kazakhstan needs to establish Kazakh school of Islamic studies, says minister

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister for Religions and Civil Society Affairs Nurlan Yermekbayev spoke about the need to establish a Kazakh school of Islamic studies during a Sept....


Kazakhstan, Belarus seek trade turnover of $1 billion by 2020

ASTANA – Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin announced at the Sept. 22 13th meeting of the Kazakh-Belarusian Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) for Trade and Economic Cooperation...


More than 1,700 rural settlements to access broadband internet through Digital Kazakhstan

ASTANA – More than 1,700 rural settlements, home to approximately two million people, will gain access to broadband internet as part of the Digital Kazakhstan programme, said...


Almaty to host 25th KIOGE oil and gas conference Oct. 4-6

For a quarter of a century, the Kazakhstan International Exhibition and Conference KIOGE has annually gathered representatives of the world oil and gas market in Almaty. This...


UN disarmament programme fellows visit Kazakhstan, meet officials

ASTANA – Participants in the 2017 United Nations Programme of Fellowship on Disarmament met with Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko Sept. 20 during their three-day trip to...


Kazakh government to change approach to labour migration and repatriation

ASTANA – The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection revised its approaches to migration and the issuance of permits for foreign labour. The new policy lightens repatriation...


Young entrepreneur combines guided hiking tours with culinary experience

ASTANA – Quality service and customer satisfaction are essential in all fields, especially tourism management. In starting her own business, Ainaline.me, Zhansaya Menlibayeva is devoted to following...


Astana economy grows, EXPO 2017 investments expected to drive new trade development

ASTANA – Nine projects worth 13 billion tenge (US$38 million) will have been launched in the industrial zone in Kazakhstan’s capital by the end of the year,...


Experts discuss public governance at Asian leadership forum

ASTANA – Asian civil servants and political figures together with representatives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) secretariat discussed innovative solutions and shared best practices...


Random business checks may be replaced by preventive control measures

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is planning to introduce preventive control of entrepreneurs instead of random checks, according to inform.kz. “The measure envisaged under our law is the introduction...


Wexport online marketplace helps Kazakh farmers supply grain to the world

ASTANA – When you think of grain farming, you might think of dusty tractors, rough hands running over golden fields, the sounds of threshers working. But Kazakhstan’s...


At UN, FM Abdrakhmanov outlines Kazakhstan’s priorities and peacemaking initiatives

NEW YORK – In his first appearance before the United Nations General Assembly as Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Kairat Abdrakhmanov outlined his country’s view of the world and...


Kazakh minister of information and communications addresses draft mass media law

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Information and Communications Dauren Abayev posted a video on his Facebook page Sept. 20 outlining the fundamental changes among the information and...


Kazakhstan’s fight against corruption aims to build a graft-free state, top official says

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation recently attended the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN) meeting in Paris. ACN, a regional programme established under the...


Regional IOM experts address Central Asian migrant vulnerabilities, violent extremism and integration needs

ASTANA – Representatives from the USAID analytical centre and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) met in the Kazakh capital Sept. 10 to address the problems faced by...


Kazakhstan introduces unified rules of conduct in mosques

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will create a pool of qualified imams whose activities will focus on targeted work with representatives of destructive currents, said Minister for Religious and...


Country’s cultural centre celebrates birthday with AlmaFest-2017

ALMATY – The annual festival AlmaFest, which attracts approximately 200,000 people annually, took place Sept. 17 in Almaty. The festival was part of Almaty Day, the city’s...


ADB and WB to establish infrastructure fund in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have proposed establishing a municipal infrastructure fund in Kazakhstan. ADB intends to facilitate financing small utility...


AIFC governor talks blockchain development, mid-shore concept and head hunting

ASTANA – December will be a fascinating month for Kazakhstan’s financial sector, as the long discussed and awaited Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) will be officially presented....


Enhanced Kazakh-Uzbek relations offer opportunity for Central Asian regional cooperation

Against the backdrop of Kazakh boxer Gennady Golovkin’s fight and just because it happened over the weekend, President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to Tashkent and its outcomes did...


American student finds family in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Vera Swanson was one of the 40 student ambassadors who worked at the United States Pavilion at EXPO 2017. Two years ago, she learned Kazakhstan...


As UN waits for Trump speech, reform and refugees take centre stage

NEW YORK – The United Nations General Assembly waits excitedly for President Donald Trump’s maiden speech on Sept. 19, during the organisation’s annual “General Debate”. Manhattan’s traffic...


Anticipated Golovkin-Alvarez bout ends in controversial draw

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (37-0, 33 KO) fought Mexican fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KO) to a controversial draw Sept. 16 at the...


Kazakhstan beats current champ Argentina to return to Davis Cup World Group

ASTANA – After a year-long hiatus, Kazakhstan’s men’s tennis team returned to the Davis Cup World Group by defeating Argentina in the playoffs. The Argentines, the current...


Nazarbayev’s visits to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan strengthen Central Asian ties

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Sept. 16 state visit to Uzbekistan resulted in ten bilateral documents inked by Kazakh and Uzbek governmental bodies and state-owned companies. The...


Kazakh TV unveils fascinating new season

ASTANA – Kazakh TV is an image-building, nation’s leading educational channel about the dynamically developing Kazakhstan, its investment and tourist potential, global initiatives and cultural and historic...


Astana loses first UEFA Europa League match in Spain

ASTANA – FC Astana, the only Kazakh club in this year’s UEFA Europa League, lost 3-1 while visiting Spanish club Villarreal CF in its first group stage...


Kazakh President discusses EXPO 2017, OIC technology summit and other topics during press conference

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev praised the outcomes of EXPO 2017 and stressed the significance of the recent first Organisation for Islamic Cooperation Science and Technology Summit...


Kazakh President’s initiatives to be presented at UN General Assembly

ASTANA – Heads of states and governments, foreign ministers, high-level representatives of UN member states and leaders of regional international organisations have gathered at the UN headquarters...


Almaty awards best landscapers

ASTANA – One hundred landscapers of Almaty took part in the recent competition for the title of the best, held by the Chisto po-Almatinsky (Clean as in...


Nazarbayev, head of National Scientific Cardio Surgical Centre discuss development of cardio surgery in Kazakhstan

President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently discussed the development of cardio surgery in Kazakhstan in a meeting with Chairman of the Board of the National Scientific Cardio-Surgical Centre Yuri...


Draft Latin-based Kazakh alphabet presented in Mazhilis, provokes heated public debate

ASTANA – Kazakh State Secretary Gulshara Adbykalikova, deputies, representatives of state bodies and the alphabet developers attended discussions in the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) Sept. 11...


The Decisive Step towards Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s Identity

The International Turkic Academy team has conducted comprehensive research on adopting a Latin script, studied what it took for several Turkic speaking nations to switch their alphabets...


Life after EXPO: What awaits buildings and infrastructure?

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev shared the future plans for the EXPO 2017 site during the event’s Sept. 10 closing ceremony. “Nur Alem and a number...


Government should control bitcoin operations, says Mazhilis deputy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Mazhilis (lower house) deputy Amanzhan Zhamalov suggested placing bitcoin operations under the government control during a Sept. 13 Mazhilis plenary session. Referring to the...


Jordan launches ‘GGG’ clothing line with Kazakh ornamentation

ASTANA – The Jordan American brand of sportswear recently presented a collection of clothes devoted to Kazakh boxer Gennady Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs), vesti.kz reports. Nike has...


Modernising Kazakhstan’s identity in globalised world discussed in Astana

ASTANA – The Institute for Eurasian Integration held its second international conference in the capital Sept. 15 within a series of meetings on “Modernisation 3.0: Modernisation of...


Prime Minister discusses Digital Kazakhstan with international experts

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev discussed with international experts Sept. 13 in Astana the development of the Digital Kazakhstan programme, according to prime minister’s press...


S&P upgrades Kazakhstan’s outlook to stable

ASTANA – S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook on Kazakhstan from negative to stable. At the same time, the BBB- long-term and A-3 short-term sovereign ratings...


Final de-escalation zone established as Syrian talks end in Astana

ASTANA – The sixth round of the international meetings on Syria ended Sept. 15 in Astana with the participants agreeing on a final de-escalation zone in Syria’s...


UN Rapporteur praises Kazakh commitment to persons with disabilities, notes areas for improvement

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, but has not yet reached international standards in some areas, said UN...


Astana’s international green technologies centre to help Kazakhstan transition to a green economy

ASTANA – The international green technologies centre to open in Astana next month will help Kazakhstan transition to a green economy and will focus on renewable energy...


Electric car charging stations launch in Astana and Almaty

ASTANA – Construction of electric car charging stations under the pilot project has been completed with the active support of the Almaty and capital administrations and private...


Joint development proposed to digitalise Kazakh and Russian economies

ASTANA – Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov, who has proposed strengthening Kazakhstan’s and Russia’s joint digitalisation work, spoke about the initiative during the...


Conference considers updating 10-year-old European Union Central Asia strategy

BRUSSELS – The Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted Sept. 12 in Brussels an international...


Kazakhstan to issue Sukuk worth $300 million next year

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will issue Islamic independent bonds, or Sukuk, worth $300 million next year, according to the announcement of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev during the recent...


KitapFest book festival held in Almaty

ASTANA – For the fourth consecutive year, KitapFest, organised by the Bauyrzhan Charity Foundation and Eurasian Franchise Association with support from the akimat, was held in Almaty...


Kazakhstan to have 36 new schools in 2018

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will unveil 36 schools next year, Kazakh Vice Minister of Education and Science Bibigul Assylova announced at a Sept. 11 Mazhilis (lower house of...


Nurly Zher programme introduces first housing in Aktobe

ASTANA – The first housing constructed under the Nurly Zher programme was commissioned in Aktobe, reported forbes.kz. Regional Akim (Governor) Berdibek Saparbayev, Aktobe Akim (Mayor) Ilyas Ispanov,...


TCO partnership key to Tengiz reaching 3 billion barrels milestone

Significant and often untapped oil and gas reserves can still be found in abundance and in places where the business climate is conducive and attractive to energy...


Harvest campaign shows positive results

ASTANA – Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev reviewed the nation’s harvesting progress Sept. 12, noting the quantity of Kazakh grain has increased this year. The gross grain harvest...


St. Regis opens hotel in Astana

ASTANA – Astana is becoming an attractive tourist destination, as the young and vibrant city has been recently hosting numerous international events and the Aug. 21 opening...


Feasibility study necessary to determine if planned nuclear power plant is built, says Kazakh minister

ASTANA – The Kazatomprom national atomic company will complete a feasibility study by the end of this year before deciding whether to move forward with a planned...


Nazarbayev encourages Polish businesspersons to invest in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev during a Sept. 6 Kazakh-Polish business forum in Astana encouraged Polish business persons to invest in Kazakhstan. “We are interested in...


Films in memory of Nelson Mandela shown in Astana

ASTANA – The South African Embassy in Kazakhstan with the support of Kinopark 8 IMAX Saryarka (Kazakhstan), Videovision Entertainment (South Africa) and the South African Honorary Consulate...