To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Business & Economics, Kazakhstan

New head to be appointed for Kazakh Kashagan project’s operator
17.05.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

A new head will be appointed for the North Caspian Productions Operations Company, which is Kazakh Kashagan project's operator, on the eve of oil production start at Kashagan field, Kazinform reported.

The acting managing director of the company Hans Bakker will leave his post on June 1. He will be replaced by the acting deputy managing director of the company, Adian Van Dyke.

Speaking about the Kashagan project, Hans Bakker expressed hope that oil production at Kashagan will start successfully in near future.

KazMunaiGas to increase geological work financing in Kazakhstan
29.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's National Company KazMunaiGas is going to increase the financing of geological exploration work to 1.5 trillion tenge ($1 - 151.17 tenge), chairman of the board of JSC National Company KazMunaiGas, Lazzat Kiinov said at a briefing in Astana on Monday.

"We want to bring exploration financing up to 1.5 trillion tenge," Kiinov said.

The head of the company explained that the increase of reserves due to the discovery of new fields will increase the company's value.

Fitch assigns Kazakh KazMunayGas's notes an expected 'BBB(EXP)' rating
16.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

Fitch Ratings has assigned JSC National Company KazMunayGas's (NC KMG) USD-denominated notes an expected foreign currency senior unsecured 'BBB(EXP)' rating, Fitch reported on Tuesday. The notes are issued under NC KMG's the USD10.5 billion medium term programme rated at 'BBB' by Fitch.

Fitch upgraded NC KMG's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) in November 2012 to reflect the upgrade of Kazakhstan's Long-term foreign and local currency IDRs to 'BBB+' and 'A-' respectively.

National Investors Council created in Kazakhstan
11.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

A National Investors Council has been created in Kazakhstan.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at the Council of Entrepreneurs meeting this week: "In 'Strategy - 2050' we denoted domestic business as the main source of domestic investments. Correspondently, I think it is important to strengthen the role and status of our Council. I decided to convert it to the National Investors Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan."

Energy efficiency to become main trend of Kazakhstan’s energy strategy
11.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

Energy efficiency should become the main trend of Kazakhstan's Energy Strategy being developed by our association, the chairman of the KAZENERGY Association Timur Kulibayev said at a meeting with representatives of national companies, interested ministries and foreign experts.

"Energy efficiency is the main and primary trend in the development of the national energy strategy. The goals for 2020 should be defined clearly. Achievement of a 30 per cent reduction of energy consumption in the country by increasing energy efficiency which is an achievable figure," Kulibayev said.

Kazakh president to meet with business representatives
09.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev will hold a meeting of the Council of Entrepreneurs in Astana next Wednesday, spokesman for the central communication service Altai Abibullayev said at a press briefing on Monday.

"According to the presidential press service, President Nazarbayev will hold a meeting of the Council of Entrepreneurs under the president in Astana on April 10," Abibullayev said.

EBRD to provide 10.3 mln euros extra for Shymkent wastewater modernisation in Kazakhstan
09.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will increase the amount of financing for modernisation of the wastewater treatment facilities in the city of Shymkent in southern Kazakhstan, EBRD reported on Monday.

The new 10.3 million euros loan will be added to earlier financing of €13.6 million to Water Resources Marketing, a private water utility company in Shymkent, the report said.

Grain shortage at cereal receiving enterprises in Kazakhstan
09.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

A grain shortage at the cost of 5.7 billion tenge (150.90 tenge = 1 dollar) was detected at cereal receiving enterprises of Kazakhstan. This was announced on Tuesday, Deputy Chairman of the State Agricultural Inspection of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Mars Almabek announced on Tuesday.

Expert: Several reasons given for transfer of Kazakh presidential adviser to ambassadorship
05.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

The main reason behind appointing former adviser to the Kazakh president Yermukhamet Yertysbayev ambassador is to try to renew the work of the ideological sphere and domestic policies, head of internal policy department of the Institute of Political Solutions, Maxim Kaznacheyev said.

A new candidate will be chosen for the position of Presidential Adviser, he told Trend on Thursday.

Regular flights open between Astana and Kiev
01.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

As of April 1, regular flights are opened between Astana and Kiev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Kazakhstan Oleg Demin said on Monday.

"An agreement was reached on carrying out of flights on parity basis between the Ukrainian and Kazakh airline - "Air Astana" and SCAT from April 1," Demin said.

He said the flights will be between Aktau and Kiev and three times a week between Almaty and Kiev and three times a week from Astana to Kiev.

Earlier Ukrainian Airlines operated the flights, Demin said.