New High-Speed Train Cuts 12 Hours off Astana-to-Kyzylorda Travel

KYZYLORDA – The Passenger Transportation company launched on Dec. 29 a new high-speed passenger train that will cut the travel time between Astana and Kyzylorda by one...


New Greenhouse Complex Expected to Meet Pavlodar City’s Vegetable Demands

PAVLODAR – The launching of a new greenhouse complex in Pavlodar that is forecast to produce 1,600 tonnes of tomatoes per year, along with other vegetables, is...


Kazakh Medical Tourism Efforts Beginning to Show Results

As Kazakhstan develops its medical competence, with advances in bariatric, cardiac and neurosurgery in the last few years, as well as laser eye surgery and general transplant...


Karaganda Football Coach Completes Internship in Brazil

Shakhtar Football Club Secondary Coach Berik Rakhimbekov completed a one-year internship in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil as part of the state-supported programme at the Olé Brazil Academy. The...


Astana Arlans Kick Off World Boxing Series with New Roster

On the threshold of the Rio Olympics in 2016 and as athletes vied for slots at the World Series of Boxing (WSB), Astana Arlans Head Coach Marat...


Almaty Submits 2022 Winter Olympic Bid Report, Seeks Cost-Effective Ways to Host Games

The delegations from Almaty and Beijing, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games candidate cities, presented their three-volume bid books in Lausanne, Switzerland Jan. 6 for consideration by the...


Visa-Free Regime to Yield Manifold Increase in Kazakhstan, South Korea Travel

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s continued efforts to promote multi-directional foreign policy by introducing a visa-free regime in 2014 with 10 countries which are big investors in its economy...


Astana Opera to Tour Italy

ASTANA – Performances of “Spartacus” will highlight the first appearance by the Astana Opera ballet troupe at the Teatro Carlo Felice, the ancient theatre and principal opera...


Free Ice Skating Draws Crowds in Astana

ASTANA — Relatively mild winter temperatures this year in Astana have allowed city residents to enjoy the city’s outdoor ice skating facilities. “We wanted to enjoy every...


Medieval Reenactment Sport Grows in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Many people claim that nowadays, chivalry is dead; such a statement may seem true anywhere besides at Historical Medieval Battles (HMB). At HMB, different fighting...


Eurasian Economic Union Comes into Force Jan 1, Promising Benefits from Integration

The treaty creating the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) took effect Jan. 1, 2015, with economic borders between Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia becoming significantly thinner. Kyrgyzstan is...


Model United Nations Concept Evolves in Kazakh Schools

Many adults, especially parents, want to educate their children about politics, but most of them confuse learning politics with induction into a political agenda or belief. Yet...


Creation of EEU, Efforts to Pacify Ukraine among 2014 Foreign Policy Priorities, Will Remain in Focus in 2015

ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov stressed the strategic importance of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy as he summarised the outcomes of the nation’s foreign policy...


“Modest” Modernisation Plans, Cost Cutting to Offset Falling Prices, KMG EP Head Says

In his state-of-the-nation address, “Nurly Zhol: The Path to the Future,” President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that falling oil prices would lead to a decrease in budget revenues....


Almaty Folklore Troupe Introduces Kazakh Musical Traditions to Egypt

Performers and bands from Kazakhstan, India, Spain, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Egypt and other countries took part in the International Folk Music Festival in the Egyptian city of Faiyum...


Five Asylum Seekers from Guantanamo Arrive in Kazakhstan, Astana Confirms

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Dec. 31 the acceptance by the country of the five former detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, citing...


Kazakhstan Says Ready to Host Ukraine Talks “on Jan. 15-16 or Any Other Convenient Date”

ASTANA – Astana might be hosting a critical summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany to seek lasting solutions to the months-long conflict in...


Astana, Ankara Want to Grow Mutual Trade to $10 Billion, Strengthen Strategic Partnership

ANKARA – Calling their countries strategic partners and brotherly nations, Kazakhstan’s and Turkey’s foreign ministers announced their intentions to further deepen bilateral political and economic ties, including...


Kazakhstan’s Government, National Bank Project 4-5% Economic Growth in 2015

ASTANA – The Government and the National Bank of Kazakhstan will seek to achieve real economic growth in the country of 4-5 percent next year, the two...


New Enterprises Are the Answer to Economic Crises, President Says

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev, summing up the results of the first five years of the industrialisation programme on Dec. 25, confirmed that new industries, import substitution...


Kazakhstan’s Campaign for UN Security Council: A focus on real issues

It is a little over a year since Kazakhstan formally announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-2018. And it has...


Kazakhstan Works to Improve Protection of Human Rights, Ombudsman Says

As the year 2014 drew to a close, we interviewed Askar Shakirov, Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), to talk about achievements and challenges in this critical...


Kazakhstan Implements Millennium Development Goals

The Constitution of our country defines Kazakhstan as a democratic, secular, legal and social state. From the first days of independence the country’s leadership has paid great...


Kazakhstan’s 2014 Sports Highlights

ASTANA – The year 2014 was full of memorable sports stories involving Kazakh athletes. The Astana Times has chosen a few to highlight for our year-end sports...


EBRD to Lend 10 Billion Tenge for On-lending to Small Businesses in Kazakhstan, Damu Fund to Act as Guarantor

GAITHERSBURG, MD – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has agreed to provide a five-year loan of 10 billion tenge (US$54.7 million) to Kazakhstan’s Bank CentreCredit...


Diplomatic Dispatch

Astana Embassies End 2014 with Concerts, Cultural Events, Receptions Belgian Embassy Organises Sax Concerts in Kazakh Capital As part of the bicentenary anniversary celebration of Adolphe Sax’s...


Place of Water in Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

Kazakhstan is a country rich in oil and natural beauty. But to reach its aspirations under the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, it may be missing one vital resource...


Zhusan Ballet Premieres at Astana Opera

ASTANA – “Zhusan,” a one-act ballet telling a story of the Great Steppe, premiered Dec. 10 and 11 on the stage of the Astana Opera. The performance...


Book about Kazakhstan Presented in Italy

A new book, “Kazakhstan, the Centre of Eurasia,” was presented during the recent Fair Più Libri Più Liberi (More books, more freedom), one of the major Italian...


Kazakh Scholars Take Part in Migration Conference in Spain

The history of European migration and settlement was in the limelight at the international conference, “The Great Migrations: The Colonisation of Europe,” held at the initiative of...