Mystery shoppers to be used against corruption

ASTANA – The Kazakh Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption together with the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan are looking for ways to solve the country’s corruption...


Kazakh experts improve safety at research reactor

ASTANA – International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts recently announced that Kazakh scientists have improved the safety of Kazakhstan’s research reactor after that agency reviewed recent modifications....


New international tourism route through Kazakhstan to launch in April

ASTANA – A new international tourism route passing through Kazakhstan will be launched in April, Marat Igaliyev, head of the Tourism Industry Department of the Kazakh Ministry...


Kazakh diaspora share joy of celebrating Nauryz with people around them

ASTANA – Nauryz, an ancient eastern holiday celebrated March 22 in many Middle and Central Asia countries, is one of the favourite holidays for Kazakh people. The...


Turkestan welcomes guests and receives status of Cultural Capital of Turkic World

ASTANA – The ancient historic, architectural and religious town of Turkestan welcomed thousands of guests March 21, including an official delegation from 22 Turkic and other countries,...


UNICEF Innovation Laboratory Opens in Almaty

ASTANA – The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has opened a laboratory aimed at improving the quality of life of children through the development and...


International brands succeeding, expanding on Kazakh market

ASTANA – Global brands, such as Starbucks and H&M, have entered the Central Asian market and are outperforming some local companies. “H&M will launch an aggressive takeover...


Exhibition opens marking 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s accession to UN

ASTANA – The “Kazakhstan and the United Nations: Interaction for Peace” exhibition has opened in the Museum of the Library of the First President of Kazakhstan to...


Astana Ballet Theatre premiers “Walpurgis Night”

ASTANA – The “Walpurgis Night” ballet premiered March 17-18 at the Astana Ballet Theatre in the capital. The ballet was staged by Honoured Artist of Russia, People’s...


Our relations are based on mutual respect, says Uzbek ambassador in Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is paying a state visit to Astana March 22-23, one of his first foreign trips as the new leader of his country.Ahead of...


Kazakhstan welcomes results of Syria meeting in Astana, as Russia, Iran and Turkey issue joint statement

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan issued a statement March 16 welcoming the outcomes of another international meeting on Syria held March 14-15 as...


Kazakhstan is fascinating place for freelancers, experts believe

ASTANA – The Heritage Foundation recently rated Kazakhstan 42nd in economic freedom and Numbeo, the international information portal, ranked the nation as the 119th most affordable country...


Exhibition dedicated to 25 years of Kazakh-Russian relations opens in Astana

ASTANA – A month-long exhibition titled “Kazakhstan and Russia: a strategy of eternal friendship” dedicated to 25 years of diplomatic relations opened March 16 at the National...


New concept for renting houses in Astana

ASTANA – Local entrepreneurs have set new trends in the hospitality industry in recent years, as the Kazakh capital has become a top tourism and business destination...


Almaty region national parks undergo general improvements, new routes to be added

ASTANA – A new road map is to be developed, while some old ones will be revised and new routes will be added for tourists in national...


EBRD set to refresh cooperation with Uzbekistan under its new leadership

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Uzbekistan are set to re-engage on a new level. During EBRD’s Mar. 15-17 visit to the...


Kazakh director wins short feature award at Barcelona film festival

ASTANA – Twenty-six-year-old Kazakh actor and director Olzhas Nurbayev recently won Best Director at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival for his short film “The Boon” shot in...


Astana to be positioned as one of leading platforms for Islamic finance, says AIFC governor

ASTANA – The future and prospects of Islamic finance in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), as well as investment opportunities, Islamic capital market development and other...


KAZGUU provides additional scholarships to gifted students

ASTANA – KAZGUU University (Kazakh Humanities and Law Institute) allocates 80 million tenge (US$251,440) every year for tuition fee concessions, educational grants and scholarships for gifted students...


Air Astana, Lufthansa passengers can use single code to fly on both airlines

ASTANA – Air Astana and Lufthansa signed March 15 a codeshare agreement to increase from 7 to 14 the number of weekly flights between Kazakhstan and Germany....


Leroy Merlin to invest $31 million in first supermarket in Almaty

ASTANA – French giant in gardening, retailer Leroy Merlin is building the first of three supermarkets in the Almaty region and plans to invest $31 million in...


Baiterek Rocket and Space Complex set to launch in 2025

ASTANA – The future of the Baiterek Rocket and Space Complex project at the Baikonur Cosmodrome depends on Russia developing a new Phoenix carrier rocket which will...


Astana Process guarantor states reaffirm commitment to strengthening Syrian ceasefire

ASTANA – Russia, Iran and Turkey reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating and strengthening the ceasefire regime in Syria during a fresh round of peace talks March 14-15...


Kazakh freestyle skier wins silver at World Championships

ASTANA – Yulia Galysheva gave Kazakh sport lovers another reason for joy by winning a silver medal in the women’s dual moguls competitions at the 2017 FIS...


Finland, Kazakhstan have great potential for cooperation in clean energy, envoy says

ASTANA – Over 25 years of diplomatic ties, Kazakhstan and Finland’s strong and peaceful relationship has grown more intense, Finnish Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ilkka Raisanen said in...


Kazakhstan can be transit hub between Southeast Asia and Europe  

ASTANA – An agreement on a free trade zone between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will increase the flow of goods between these countries, said...


Parcel delivery service now available in Kazakhstan, through an app

ASTANA – Takebs, positioned as the world’s fastest parcel delivery service, has launched in Kazakhstan. The app is available in 11 languages on the IOS platform and...


Baiterek Holding finances construction of hydroelectric power plant

ASTANA – BRK Leasing, a subsidiary of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), has begun financing construction of the Turgusun hydroelectric power plant on the Turgusun River...


Barys has early Gagarin Cup success, stumbles at home

ASTANA – HC Barys had a successful first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, beating Traktor from Chelyabinsk. For the overall victory in that series, it was...


Astana to host another international meeting on Syria

ASTANA – Astana will host another round of talks on settling the conflict in Syria within the Astana Process March 14-15. High-ranking delegations from Russia, Turkey and Iran...