Kazakhstan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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New International Terminal Opens at Almaty Airport

On June 1, a new international terminal was opened at Almaty Airport in readiness to launch its first flights by the middle of the month. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the new terminal will increase the airport's capacity to 14 million passengers per year and before long, launch 15 new international routes to 10 countries. On 31 May, prior to the opening, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, accompanied by Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Management Board visited the new terminal for a tour of its check-in, border and customs control areas and baggage services. The EDB was part of a syndicate of lenders which included the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the German Investment Corporation (DEG). Their total investment in the project amounted to US $450 million. In praise of the project, Tokayev remarked, “Almaty International Airport is the nation’s largest air hub. Inbound tourism to the southern capital grows every year, with over 2 million people having visited the city in 2023. Two years ago, I participated in the time capsule laying ceremony on this site, and tomorrow the new terminal at Almaty International Airport will serve its first flights.” With reference to security, Alp Er Tunga Ersoy, President of Almaty International Airport drew attention to the fact that the terminal was designed to meet seismic and fire safety requirements and withstand a magnitude 10 earthquake. The new international terminal was originally scheduled to open in late summer 2024. However, due to a rapid increase in passenger traffic, construction was expedited. All international flights will be transferred to the new terminal by mid-June and the old terminal, repurposed for domestic flights. The President of Kazakhstan expressed his gratitude to TAV GROUP for constructing the terminal to international standards and thanked the syndicate of lenders for its vital support. In response, EDB chairman Podguzov commented, “The construction of a new international terminal and the modernization of Almaty Airport is a significant initiative for the development of Kazakhstan’s transport sector, as it is the country’s largest air hub and part of an extensive international network of routes. We highly appreciate the trust and support of the Government of Kazakhstan and our partners – the EBRD, Germany’s DEG, and the IFC.”

Netherlands to Help Develop Kazakhstan’s Water Sector

On May 29, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the construction and use of water facilities, flood forecasting and flood control planning. The agreement will draw on an exchange of experience in the regulation and use of flood waters, as well as a study of Dutch river flow management. A further memorandum was signed with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education to provide training of specialists and interaction with science and innovative technologies in the water industry. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov welcomed the two countries’ formal agreement to further cooperation and expressed confidence that it would help implement large-scale projects, and through the exchange of experience and technology, unlock the potential of the domestic water sector.

A Welcome Expansion of Kazakhstan’s Invataxi Fleet

On 28 May, Kazakhstan Transport Minister Marat Karabaev and Astana’s Mayor Zhenis Kasymbek attended a demonstration of advantages afforded to citizens with special physical needs and impaired mobility by vehicles adapted to serve their needs. Back in 2008, the Saby Charitable Foundation provided 16 Kazakh cities with a fleet of 62 Invataxis. Equipped with wheelchair-friendly hydraulic lifts, the specially adapted minivans have long facilitated travel for adults and children, opened up opportunities for work and study, and contributed towards their social integration. Since then, the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with local executive bodies, has continued to expand the fleet across Kazakhstan and this year alone, the number of Invataxis operating in the capital has risen by 26 to 145. A total of 119 Invataxi services with the combined fleet of 760 vehicles currently operate in the country’s regions.

International Flights from Kazakhstan on the Rise

As reported by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the country currently operates 567 international flights per week to 28 countries. The greatest number of flights are destined for Russia with 139 taking off each week to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Mineralnye Vody, Kazan, Sochi, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Makhachkala, and Grozny. Turkey is also a popular destination, with 125 flights per week to Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya. The United Arab Emirates receives 58 flights per week in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. China has 43 flights per week to Beijing, Urumqi, Xi'an, Hangzhou, and Sanya. Kazakhstan plans to significantly increase the number of flights to Vietnam, Thailand, Egypt, and Georgia this year.

Kazakhstan’s Reservoirs Brimming with 12 billion Cubic Meters of Water

As a result of unprecedented high levels of rainfall this spring, over 12 billion cubic meters of water has collected in Kazakhstan’s reservoirs, 2.5-fold more than last year. In an announcement on 28 May, Minister of Water Resources, and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said that water accumulated through channelling flood water to estuaries, lakes and reservoirs which have experienced water shortages in previous years, will greatly benefit irrigation, and in turn, the economy. Looking ahead, Nurzhigitov stated that the ministry is to develop a long-term strategy for flood water management and reducing the consequences of droughts. Plans include the development of an electronic map of the movement of flood waters to indicate populated areas most at risk, and a unified system for accounting, monitoring, and forecasting water resources. The announcement follows a previous report that since the beginning of the year, the water level in Kazakhstan’s largest lake, Balkhash, fed by the transboundary Ili River that originates in China, has risen by 23 cm.

Kazakhstani Movies No Longer Playing Just a Supporting Role

Until recently, the idea of Kazakhstani movies grossing a billion tenge ($2.5m) was a pipe dream. But in the last two years several films have earned this amount. The number of films being co-produced with world-leading studios is growing. However, domestic cinema still struggles to overcome funding and content quality problems. At the end of last year, the romantic comedy Taptym au seni (I Found You) earned more than a billion tenge in just 10 days of screenings. But the real shock came later, when the box office receipts of the suspense film Dastur (Tradition) exceeded a billion tenge after only a week of distribution. In one weekend alone it significantly outperformed Hollywood's Aquaman. In just the second half of last year, Kazakhstani films at the domestic box office earned over $14 million. One of the highest-grossing films was Kazakhstani Business in India, directed by Nurlan Koyanbayev. The film grossed over 1.25 billion tenge, and it was followed by Maghan Nazar Audar (Look at Me). The top ten includes Zhaidarman (Cordial), Zhynim Sol (My Gene) and Azhyrasam (Divorced). Domestic films now account for 30% of total box office receipts in Kazakhstan. Domestic analysts are confident that in the near future Kazakhstani cinema will overtake Uzbekistan to become the leader in Central Asia. In addition to the national Kazakhfilm studio and private studios, production is being driven forward by the State Center for Support of National Cinema. The Center allocates grants to industry figures on a competitive basis, and although there are heated discussions around the terms of the competition and the awardees, state support has a significant impact on the release of films. As for the subject matter, comedies are usually the leaders at the box office. They are often devoted to crime, drug trafficking, fraud, dishonest business, and corruption. Romance and historical figure movies remain popular as well. There is also a growing trend of condemning violence against women in the industry. Dastur, for example, tells the story of a rape victim who violently avenges not only the offender but also his neighbors, with whose tacit consent her life and dignity were devalued. Some sources are speculating that there will soon be a film adaptation of the story of the murder of Saltanat Nukenova by former minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev, which has attracted worldwide attention. A decline in the popularity of western and Russian films, which have led the box office in past decades, is also helping the growth of domestic movies. The share of international projects in the Kazakhstani film industry is growing. In March, the series Assassins Beginning, produced in Egypt, showed spectacular locations across Kazakhstan, including Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lakes. In January Kazakhstan and Nigeria's 'Nollywood' joined forces for the first time to create a movie called Adam Bol. The film will be shown in both countries, with Nigeria steadily taking over movie markets in Africa and Asia. Joint production helps to not only create jobs in the film industry, but to support businesses as well....