Capital of Kazakhstan celebrates its anniversary

Flag rising ceremony began the celebration of the Day of the Capital City on 6 July.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said: “Astana’s 15^th birthday is a national holiday. The city has become a center of innovation for the whole Kazakhstan where we saw the inception of new industries, such as locomotive manufacturing, building of railway carriages, helicopters, engines, etc. The history of the young Astana is a record of how the national dream came true”.

Called Akmola until Nay 1998, Astana became capital on 20 October 1997 thanks to its beneficial location and the need for regional development. In 1999 Astana was awarded City for Piece Honorable Mention by UNESCO.