Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – The United Nations’ Global Tourism Resilience Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly on Feb. 17 last year, aims to raise awareness of the need to promote resilient tourism development capable of withstanding both predictable and unexpected challenges. It underscores the tourism industry’s importance in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and calls for…

ASTANA – The second season of the Global Nomads Awards project has been launched on Feb.13, providing young Central Asian creators the chance to craft collaboration collections, encouraging distinctive projects, and promoting cultural heritage globally. Inna Apenko, director and founder of Global Nomads and MIMIORIKI companies, announced this initiative during a press briefing at Kazmedia…

ASTANA – Sixteen-year-old Kazakh performer Adelina Mukhametzhanova recently secured victory in the international Radda Rise International Piano and Vocal Competition held in the United States, delivering Latif Khamidi’s composition “Bulbul” (Cuckoo), reported Kazinform news agency on Feb. 13. “A virtuoso performer chose a rather complex composition, leaving an indelible impression on each of us. I…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Parliament has recently sanctioned the deployment of up to 430 peacekeepers for United Nations missions. The Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defense (KAZCENT) is engaged in training and preparing specialists for the national peacekeeping contingent. Colonel Bauyrzhan Nigmetullin, chief of the center, shared insights with the Kazinform news…

ASTANA – Kazakh yurts erected on the Sütçü Imam University campus in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, continue to provide housing for those displaced by last year’s earthquake, reported the Kazinform news agency on Feb. 10. Tuğba Gülyüz, a resident of the Solidarity Village (Dayanışma obası), shared the challenges faced by the Turkish people after the devastating earthquake,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan produces and processes 19 types of essential raw materials included in the list of critical raw materials for the European Union (EU), reported the Ministry of Industry and Construction on Feb. 6. The list updated by the EU in 2023 includes 34 critical raw materials.  The raw materials from Kazakhstan are also…

ASTANA – Twenty new schools, accommodating nearly 15,000 students, will be constructed using assets seized from corrupt officials, reported the press service of the Ministry of Education on Feb. 6. The strategic plan involves opening three schools in Shymkent, the Zhetysu and the Kyzylorda Regions, with four planned for the Zhambyl Region, two schools in…

ASTANA – Representatives of the Qazaq Jockey Club have announced plans to join the International Federation of Racing at a Jan. 31 press briefing in Almaty.  Kazakh winning and placed horses will be assigned an international rating, with a horse rated at 100 (+/- 5 points) valued between $100,000 and $150,000. This development indicates that…

ASTANA – The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Teachers’ Training project, launched on Feb. 5 by American Corners in Kazakhstan, aims to offer free 3D modeling and robotics training for STEAM teachers. Conducted using Arduino microcontrollers, the training seeks to equip teachers across ten cities in Kazakhstan to instruct advanced STEAM subjects, announced American…

ASTANA – World-renowned eagle huntress Aisholpan Nurgaiypkyzy from Mongolia recently moved to Kazakhstan, her historical homeland. She achieved global recognition following the release of “Berkutchi (Eagle Huntress)” documentary in 2016. In acknowledgment of her bravery and indomitable spirit, Nurgaiypkyzy received accolades in New York, Mongolia’s highest honor, and the Asia Game Changer Award in 2017…

ASTANA – Starting Feb. 1, nearly 6.9 million children in Kazakhstan, who are under 18 years old, began to receive their inaugural payments as part of The National Fund for Children program, announced the State Counselor Erlan Karin in his post on Telegram. Karin underscored that the government officials have explained the mechanisms for fund…

ASTANA – According to the National Bank’s forecasts, inflation is expected to reduce to 5% by late 2025 to early 2026, reported Kazinform news agency on Jan. 31. The latest projections from the bank indicate that inflation in 2024 is expected to range between 7.5% and 9.5%, while in 2025, it is anticipated to be…

ASTANA – A redesigned 5,000 tenge banknote has entered circulation in Kazakhstan, reported National Bank’s press service on Jan.29. Part of the fifth series of national currency banknotes, it draws inspiration from the Saka style, an ancestral influence on Kazakh ornamentation, reflecting the nation’s heritage from nomadic culture to modern-day Kazakhstan. Experts highlight the security…

ASTANA – Last year, security agencies prevented two terrorist acts within the country at the early stages and conducted three collaborative operations with foreign intelligence agencies abroad, said National Security Committee (NSC) Chairman Yermek Sagimbayev at a Jan. 31 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. Sagimbayev informed Tokayev about the convictions…

ASTANA – Chevron is rerouting Kazakh CPC Blend oil shipments to Asia via the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Red Sea to avoid attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, reported Reuters news agency on Jan.30, citing three sources and LSEG ship-tracking data. The move comes in response to escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels,…

ASTANA – Cargo transportation volumes between Kazakhstan and China railways surged by 22%, reaching 28 million tons, reported Kazakhstan Railways’ (KTZ) press service on Jan.25. The operational freight turnover saw a 7% increase compared to the previous year, reaching 269 billion ton-kilometers. Transit container shipments surpassed one million twenty-foot equivalent units, marking a 13.5% rise…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s analytical centers presented their research results on the current value orientations of the country’s residents at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) expert platform on Jan.26, reported the institute’s press service.   According to KazISS Director Yerkin Tukumov, Kazakhstan has witnessed consistent gross domestic product growth over the past decades, leading to…

ASTANA – The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024), aiming to spotlight the crucial role of camelids in the livelihoods of millions of households in over 90 countries. Ranging from alpacas to Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas, these animals significantly contribute to food security, nutrition, and economic growth,…

ASTANA – The winter season in the Burabay resort area provides an enchanting experience. The region is characterized by snowy and frosty weather, with occasional January days experiencing air temperatures dropping to 40 degrees below Celsius. Located in the Burabay State National Natural Park near Kokshetau, it is included in the UNESCO World Network of…

ASTANA – Astana Hub technology park announced its annual results, reporting an IT export growth of $282.4 million.  The hub attracted investments totaling 57.6 billion tenge ($127.8 million), leading to a cumulative revenue of 400.3 billion tenge ($888.7 million) and the creation of over 25,000 jobs, as reported by the hub’s press service on Jan.…

ASTANA – In recent years, Kazakhstan has showcased significant investment potential attributed to its strategic location, favorable business environment, effective investor rights protection, diverse incentives, political stability, and abundant resource base, reported Kazpravda.kz.  According to Vice Minister of National Economy Bauyrzhan Kudaibergenov, the gradual adoption of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards…

ASTANA – Some 80 Kazakh artists took part in the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival in India, highlighting the rich culture of the two countries, reported Kazinform news agency on Jan. 23. The festival spanned two weeks in four Indian cities: Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, and Mumbai. It has held prestige since its establishment in 1992 by…

ASTANA – Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have signed a roadmap for cooperation in pilgrimage tourism, reported the Uzbek Committee on Tourism under the Ministry of Ecology and Environmental Protection on Jan.19. The strategy outlines the development of tourist programs to boost the visitor flow between the two countries, facilitates information exchange among tourism companies, and aims…

ASTANA –  The Shymbulak Mountain Resort’s tourist potential gained recognition in Condé Nast Italia, the Italian edition of the renowned magazine. It was ranked among the top five places in the world that winter sports enthusiasts should visit, reported the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ press service on Jan. 16. The list includes the Troll…

ASTANA – Richard Martin, a French engineer, shifted from a full-time job in the United States during the pandemic in 2020 to become a traveler. He has recently arrived in Kazakhstan, where his vlog documenting Astana has been gaining popularity. In an interview with the Astana Times, Martin shared insights into the country, Kazakh culture,…