Nutcracker – Astana Opera’s Must-See during Holiday Season

ASTANA – Legendary choreographer Yuri Grigorovich is back at the Astana Opera. “The Nutcracker” is the maestro’s third ballet staged at the theatre, along with immensely popular...


Fitch Ratings Upgrades Kazakhtelecom to ‘BB+’ with Stable Outlook

ASTANA – International agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) for Kazakhtelecom, the country’s largest telecommunications company, from ‘BB’ to ‘BB+,’ according to...


Kazakhstan to Seek Unity, Diplomatic Solutions during Tenure on UNSC

The last 12 months will rank among the most turbulent of recent times. We have seen major political shocks driven by widespread public anger and frustration at...


After Ups and Downs of 2016, Kazakhstan Ready and Optimistic for 2017

The year 2016 will go down as one of the most unpredictable and volatile years in recent history. The election of Donald Trump –  which few anticipated...


Construction, Education, Energy Are Areas Attracting Foreigners to Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s continued efforts to attract foreign investment have spurred an influx of foreign talent and professionals from various fields. Certain factors did influence the outflow...


Head of Astana’s Orthodox Church Wishes All a Merry Christmas

ASTANA – Senior churchman of the Russian Orthodox Church Father Dmitry from Astana discussed the difference between the Orthodox and Catholic Christmas and the meaning and importance...


Kazakh Writer’s “Kirpichi 2.0” to Be Adapted by Kazakhfilm

ASTANA – The Kazakhfilm studio will make a full-length feature based on “Kirpichi 2.0” (Building Blocks 2.0”), a book by Kazakh writer Daniyar Sugralinov. The story revolves...


Kazakh President Appoints New Foreign Minister, Minister of National Economy

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed on Dec. 28 Kairat Abdrakhmanov the country’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Timur Suleimenov the new Minister of National...


Kazakh Farmers Collect Nearly 24 Million Tonnes of Grain

ASTANA – The gross grain harvest in Kazakhstan this year was 23.7 million tonnes, almost 4 million tonnes more than last year’s yield. Kazakh farmers have also...


‘Worthy Citizen of Kazakhstan’ Winners Receive Apartments from Bi Group

ASTANA – Citizens of Kazakhstan chose not one, but two of their countrymen to win the “Worthy Citizen of Kazakhstan” award in transparent online voting held from...


S&P Global Ratings Confirms Tengri Bank’s “B+/B” Rating

On Dec. 22, the S&P Global Ratings confirmed the “B+/B” long-term and short-term credit ratings of the Joint Stock Company Tengri Bank. The outlook of the changes...


FDI in Kazakhstan Grows 4.7 Percent in 2016

ASTANA – Foreign direct investment in the country increased 4.7 percent to 6 trillion tenge (US$18.12 billion) in the first 11 months of 2016, according to Kazakh...


EBRD to Provide $4.53 Million for Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport Modernisation

ASTANA – The Eurasian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set to allocate 1.5 billion tenge (US$4.53 million) for the modernisation of Ust-Kamenogorsk airport, according to...


ATOM Project Ambassador: Kazakhstan Can Call for Nuclear Weapon-Free Future for Mankind

ASTANA – Thinking of New Year’s resolutions, everyone sets goals to become better, faster, larger and one-year wiser. The ATOM Project’s Honorary Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukov is no...


Kazakh Painter in Romania Teaches Culture, Traditions and Customs

ASTANA – Not many people are lucky enough to find their calling on time and love and succeed in what they do best while also being far...


Kasietty Zhol Public Foundation: Inspiring Mission to Help Kids

ASTANA – The Kasietty Zhol (Sacred Path) Public Foundation was established in 2009 to provide charitable assistance to children from underprivileged families, orphanages and children’s homes. Director...


Kazakh Programmers Develop Game to Test Users’ Knowledge of Countries

Kazakh programmers recently created an intellectual quiz mobile application “Smart Country.” The application is for all ages and offers the opportunity to play against people from all...


Air Astana Named Best Foreign Airline by Sheremetyevo Airport

ASTANA – Air Astana recently won the Sheremetyevo Airport Award for the first time in the category “Best Foreign Airlines – Passenger Choice.” The award was based...


More than 10,000 Vehicles Produced in Kazakhstan in 2016

ASTANA – More than 10,000 vehicles valued at 61.5 billion tenge (US$185 million) were produced in Kazakhstan during the first 11 months of 2016. The government aims...


New Recycling Plant to Be Launched in 2017

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first recycling plant running on green energy will be launched in 2017, according to Kapital.kz. The plant will be located in the Akmola region,...


Kazakh FM Reports on 2016 Results: UNSC Membership, Attracting Investment Major Achievements  

ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov reported on the main results of the ministry’s activities in 2016 and highlighted the coming tasks of Kazakh...


EAEU Adapts Regulations toward a Single Customs Code

ASTANA – Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states signed a new Customs Code Dec. 26, laying the groundwork for a single EAEU customs code. The new code...


Kazakh FM, Uzbek Leaders Discuss Bilateral Cooperation, UNSC Priorities

TASHKENT – Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov in Tashkent on Dec. 23 to discuss bilateral...


Winter Charity Ball Raises more than $60,640 for Children with Special Needs

ASTANA – The Winter Charity Ball, held traditionally in the Radisson Hotel Astana, is an enchanting event that brings together capital residents empathetic toward social problems affecting...


Kazakhstan’s Economy Adapts to New Exchange Rates, National Bank Says

Kazakhstan’s economy has adapted to new exchange rate conditions, said National Bank Chairperson Daniyar Akishev Dec. 20 at a governmental meeting. The annual inflation rate fell to...


Military Medicine Centre Implements Global Best Practices Into Training

ASTANA – The Armed Services Medicine Centre of the Kazakh Defence Ministry is bringing the country’s military and medical specialists’ training in line with best international practices...


Hunters Show off Speed of Their Dogs in Karaganda

ASTANA – Hunters recently showed off the speed of their Kazakh borzoi (dog breeds) at a competition during a traditional hunters’ kurultai (meeting) in Karaganda. “Today’s race...


Electric Passenger Trains Launched from Astana to Karaganda, Kokshetau

ASTANA – Two new electric passenger trains servicing Karaganda, Kokshetau and the Kazakh capital were recently launched into service in dedication of the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s...


Denis Ten Featured as Anime Character in Famous Japanese TV Series

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s top figure skater and Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics bronze medallist Denis Ten spotted himself Dec. 16 in the famous Japanese anime series “Yuri on...


Regulations Reducing Visa Categories, Paperwork Come into Force in 2017

ASTANA – New rules reducing the number of visa categories from 14 to three and reducing the paperwork necessary for a visitor to obtain a visa to...