A Peek Into Kazakhstan’s “Protected Corners”

“Protected Corners of Kazakhstan,” a new book of photos by Vladislav Yakushkin and texts by well-known writer and naturalist Boris Shcherbakov, brings to vivid life some of...


Chevron in Kazakhstan Marks 20th Anniversary

This year, Chevron is celebrating 20 years in Kazakhstan in the remarkable partnership that began on April 6, 1993, when President Nursultan Nazarbayev and then Chevron Corporation...


Kazakhstan’s First Full-Length 3D Animated Film Opens

ASTANA – The first full-length 3D animated film ever made in Kazakhstan premiered before the Nauryz holiday on March 21. The film, called “Er Tostik and Aydahar,”...


Paintball Warriors Invade Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Paintball has found a home in the capital of Kazakhstan. Paintball is a team game, where players are eliminated or “killed” when they are shot...


Kazakhstan to Host Expo 2017 on Future Energy

In 2017 the world’s eyes will be on a young nation with a bright future—Kazakhstan. A former Soviet Republic turned engine of economic prosperity, Kazakhstan and its...


Book discovers historical heritage of Zhetysu region

The book “Zhetysu. Monuments and Museums” is a complete and colourful edition of the history of Almaty region, which has not yet been published in the country...


Cafés and Anti-cafés Create Communities in Astana

By Maral Zhantaykyzy ASTANA – Has the Internet become so dominant that face-to-face communication needs a comeback movement? The “anti-café” movement that has now reached Astana certainly...


New Project Will Increase Green Coke Production, Independence

PAVLODAR – The Units of Coke Calcination Refinery-Pavlodar (UCCR-PV) recently announced its readiness to launch a project with a production capacity of 280,000 tons a year of...


Housing Programme to Take Effect in Pavlodar by 2014

PAVLODAR – The Affordable Housing 2020 programme has begun to be implemented in Pavlodar, where more than 560 families – 9,000 people – are on the regional...


Iran, P5+1 Prepare to Hold April Nuclear Talks in Almaty

ASTANA – Iran and the P5+1 powers are preparing to hold the next round of their negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme in Almaty, which already hosted their...


Domestically Produced Cars Gaining Popularity in Public Sector

Kazakhstan produced 21,236 vehicles, including trucks, commercial and passenger cars, in 2012. State agencies purchased 12 percent of the production—2,553 cars—and bought 1,365 units of imported transport....


Taraz Fashion Show Introduces New Names

TARAZ – On March 14 and 15 young fashion designers from Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Spain and other countries showed their collections at the first Aspara International Fashion...


“Kazakhstan’s story is so important, because it disproves the notion that nuclear weapons are important”

OSLO – At a recent major international conference in Oslo called “Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons”, The Astana Times talked to Ward Wilson, a famed scholar on...


Silicon Production Grows in Karatal District

ALMATY REGION – The Kaz Silicon Plant, which reopened in April 2012, is planning to increase its production volume of high-quality refined silicon up to 10,000 tons...


Bananas, Pomegranates Flourish in South

SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN – Fruit trees bananas, persimmons and pomegranates are flourishing at the Saryagash Zher Syiy plant nursery in southern Kazakhstan. “This year we anticipate the first...


Efforts to Modernise National Media Gain Pace

Progress has been made in modernising the media and its interaction with the state, the need for which was pointed out by State Secretary Marat Tazhin at...


Ten Makes Kazakhstan Figure Skating History with Silver

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Denis Ten won the silver medal at the figure skating World Cup held in London, Canada from March 11-17. On his Facebook account, Ten...


Nauryz Celebrations Start across Nation

ASTANA – Nauryz is celebrated in countries of Central Asia on the day of the astronomical spring equinox. In Kazakhstan, it’s an official public holiday, so the...


“Green Energy” Kicks Off Production in Pavlodar; Country Prepares for EXPO 2017

PAVLODAR – The production team of the Television and Radio Complex of the President of Kazakhstan and Pavlodar National Company have started to shoot a documentary film...


EXPO Complex May Become Cultural Centre

ASTANA – Public hearing took place in Korme exhibition centre on March 19 regarding the use of EXPO 2017 objects after the exhibition. The hearing held in...


Kazakh Cinema Remembers a Famous Father

ASTANA – This year marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of the famous Kazakh film director, Sultan-Ahmet Khodzhikov. On March 11, an evening commemorating the memory...


Annual Charity Fair Provides Tradition of Giving

ASTANA – With the relocation of the capital from Almaty to Astana back in 1997, ambassadors and diplomatic missions moved to the new political centre of the...


Demography Crucial for National Progress

President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s state of the nation address on December 14 laid great importance on state support for mothers and children. This is a crucial issue for...


National Bank’s Coins Are Works of Art, Investment Vehicles

ASTANA – On March 1st the National Bank of Kazakhstan issued a commemorative coin to mark the 100th anniversary of People’s Artist of the USSR, Kazakh composer...


Kazakhstan Businessman Finds Hi-Tech Success

ALMATY – Serikbai Bisekeyev has become the first Kazakhstan businessman to win the Ernst & Young Company’s prestigious “Entrepreneur of the Year” award. Bisekeyev who is based...


Author-Fighter to Shoot Series about Kazakhstan’s Olympians

ASTANA – The well-known Kazakhstan’s and Dutch director Peter Berman is to begin shooting a television series titled “The Olympians.” The series will focus on the stories...


UN to Launch Human Rights Project in Central Asia

ASTANA – A new project, “Human Rights Protection in Central Asia,” has been launched by the Central Asia Regional Office of the United Nations Office of the...


Government Launches Major Civil Service Reform

ASTANA – Astana has hosted two high-level meetings to launch a wide-ranging programme of civil service reform in Kazakhstan. On March 15, Alikhan Baimenov, the chairman of...


Government Forecasts 6 Percent 2013 Growth

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy is projected to grow by a robust 6 percent this year, the government and the National Bank announced March 13. In a statement,...


Kazakhstan Becomes Green Energy Leader

Kazakhstan is forging ahead to become a regional and global leader in developing solar power and other sustainable energy technologies. On March 7, a pilot line for...