Business news in brief

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest flax producer with domestic producers collecting a record harvest of 700,000 tonnes this year, reports Abctv.kz. It surpassed flax export leader Canada...


External news in brief

Kazakh and German business representatives gathered in Hamburg Feb. 4 to explore the role of Kazakhstan as an economic and logistics hub in Eurasia and beyond. The...


Norwegian seed vault preserves seeds for global food security and diversity

ASTANA – Svalbard is home to approximately 2,500 people and one million types of seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a secure bank preserving copies of...


Kazakhstan launches Qazaq Epos contest to promote folk culture among youth

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will launch the Qazaq Epos project to encourage school students’ spiritual development through the prism of the nation’s rich ethno and philosophical legacy in...


From pipelines to apple orchards: Kazakh enterprise sees opportunity in managing diverse businesses

ASTANA – San Mir Astana represents a group of companies that at first glance have little in common. While one deals with repairing and rehabilitating oil and...


Almaty region, bordering China, eyes expanding industry, trade and tourism

ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Akim (Governor) of Almaty oblast Amandyk Batalov shares his views on the region’s transformation from a formerly agrarian...


Year of Youth harnesses one of Kazakhstan’s most valuable assets

Kazakhstan, as we are all aware, has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources under our soil and seas. The growth of our economy and the...


Inclusive global dialogue is Kazakh foreign policy priority, new FM tells diplomatic corps in annual briefing

ASTANA – One of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy priorities is to pursue inclusive dialogue between leading powers to overcome “bloc thinking” and reach consensus on key global issues,...


Child with autism models children’s clothing brands in Astana

ASTANA – Socialisation is vital for children with disabilities, believes educational psychologist and speech pathologist Zarina Dandybayeva. Her 13-year-old son, Alikhan Dandybayev, who has an autistic spectrum...


Sherkala captivates with ancient history, unearthly landscapes

ASTANA – Sherkala (also Shergala), a lone mountain with an unusual shape resembling a piala (small ceramic bowl) or gigantic yurt, is becoming the main tourist attraction...


Astana Opera premieres “Eugene Onegin”

ASTANA – Astana Opera House presented Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” staged by Italian director Davide Livermore Feb. 8-9 in the capital. Russian baritone Alexey Isaev and Talgat...


AFSA, global regulators launch Global Financial Innovation Network

ASTANA – Astana Financial Services Authority along with a newly-formed alliance of 28 financial regulators and organisations, including Financial Conduct Authority (from the U.K.), International Monetary Fund...


Astana Circus artists win prize at Monte Carlo International Circus Festival

ASTANA – The equilibrists of the Astana Circus Yoka Konurbayeva and Nazerke Merekekyzy, won prizes at the 43rd International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo Jan. 17-27. The...


Astana to build gas infrastructure on outskirts of capital

ASTANA – The national government plans to build gas infrastructure around the outskirts of the capital to provide blue fuel for urban heat and power plants, Koktal-1...


Kazakhstan moves annual funding of scientists to earlier in the year

ASTANA – Kazakh scientists implementing research projects and programmes began receiving funding in January for the first time since the country’s independence. Previously they received funding only...


Kazakh Ministry of Healthcare attracts infrastructure modernisation investments, as medical coverage doubles in rural areas

ASTANA – The Ministry of Healthcare intends to attract 1.3 trillion tenge (US$3.4 billion) in investments, bringing private investment in healthcare to 60 percent by 2025, reported...


British expert says AIFC ready to provide Islamic finance-related arbitration in Astana

ASTANA – Born and raised in the U.K., British lawyer and arbitrator, Freeman of the City of London, Shariah scholar and Islamic finance expert Sheikh Bilal Khan...


KazISS among world’s top think tanks for fourth consecutive year

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President (KazISS) was ranked among the world’s top think tanks for the fourth consecutive year, the institute’s...


Neighbourhood outpatient clinics in residential houses to help meet Astana’s demand for health services

ASTANA – Creating multi-profile hospitals and compact outpatient clinics in residential houses should reduce the number of patients visiting traditional clinics, said Astana Public Health Department’s Head...


Kazakhstan ratifies Caspian Sea convention

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the law “On the Ratification of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea” Feb. 8, establishing the...


Two Kazakhfilm productions win honours at Dhaka International Film Festival

ASTANA – Two Kazakhfilm productions were honoured at the 17th Dhaka (Bangladesh) International Film Festival (DIFF) held Jan. 10-18. “Little Prince of Our City” received the Best...


Kokshetau will start Smart City transition with schools and busses, sees steady economic growth

ASTANA – Kokshetau’s transition to a Smart City will start this year by introducing e-tickets on public transport, the Smart School project in five schools and a...


Tomotherapy Centre opens in Astana with innovative approaches in cancer treatment

ASTANA – The city’s Tomotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Centre began receiving and consulting patients this month. The centre uses the most innovative radiation therapy to treat different...


Kazakh government envisions consolidating local exporters through engaging foreign buyers and state service support

ASTANA – The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development has prepared a three-year comprehensive plan to assist export-oriented domestic enterprises in entering foreign markets. The ministry surveyed...


UNESCO includes Kazakh horse breeding spring rites on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list

ASTANA – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has included the traditional spring festive rites of Kazakh horse breeders on the Representative List of...


World weightlifting champion is one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces

ASTANA – When Vitaly Didenko came into the sports club as a boy to improve his health, he could not imagine that within a few years he...


Kazakh, international health experts present cutting-edge heart surgery technology in Astana

ASTANA – Leading Kazakh and international experts presented a fully implanted ventricular assist device (FiVAD) at a Feb. 6 press conference in Astana titled Groundbreaking System for...


National Museum in Astana presents world-famous art masterpieces

ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan unveiled the “Old and New, Great and Unique” exhibition, displaying some of the world’s most prominent art pieces. Among 45...


Kazakh economy has stabilised, says Deputy PM in 2018 year-end summary

ASTANA – The Kazakh economy has reached the point of stability, Deputy Prime Minister Yerbolat Dossayev said Jan. 31 during an extended government meeting in which government...


Kuryk seaport to boost shipment capacity

ASTANA – Approximately 2.5 million tonnes of freight will be shipped through Kuryk seaport in 2019, one million tonnes more than last year. The port, on the...