Kazakhstan, Belgium Hold Political Consultations on Expanding Bilateral Ties
ASTANA — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and the Director-General for Bilateral Relations of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jeroen Cooreman took part in the fifth round of political consultations on Oct. 18 in Brussels. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs release, the consultations addressed various topics, including…
Lord Burnett Leads AIFC Court as Chief Justice After Decades as Lawyer and Judge in UK
ASTANA — Born in Sussex, the United Kingdom (UK), in 1958, Ian Duncan Burnett, Baron Burnett of Maldon, who held the position of Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2017 to 2023, was appointed Chief Justice of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Court in November 2023. From an early age, Burnett’s career…
Astana Think Tank Forum: Middle Powers’ Strategies, Kazakhstan’s Role in Fostering Global Supply Chains
ASTANA — The session, Navigating Global Influence: Strategic Responses, that took place at the Astana Think Tank Forum on Oct. 16 in the Kazakh capital, explored how middle powers can expand their influence and respond to global challenges. The session brought together notable experts, including Darren Spinck, Associate Fellow, Henry Jackson Society, Dr. Kamran Bokhari,…
Astana-Based Chef Chekanin Showcases Kazakh Cuisine Globally, Fosters Collaboration With Local Farmers
ASTANA — This is the second part of The Astana Times’ exclusive interview with Evgeniy Chekanin, chef at the renowned Selfie restaurant in Astana. In the first part, he shared how Kazakhstan has become a profound source of inspiration for him, leading to the creation of a unique set of dishes inspired by Kazakhstan that…
Astana-Based Chef Evgeniy Chekanin: Discovering Kazakhstan’s Essence Through Cuisine
ASTANA – The life of the Kazakh people has always been marked by resilience, shaped by constant migrations, clashes with hostile tribes, and the harsh conditions of the Kazakh steppe. Yet, even in the face of adversity, the Kazakhs infused their food with deep cultural and spiritual significance, crafting dishes that not only nourished the…
IMF: Climate Change Resilience and Economic Reforms Key for Central Asia’s Growth
ASTANA — In an interview with The Astana Times YouTube channel, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Bo Li discussed the urgency for the region to invest in climate resilience and focus on structural reforms to boost economic growth. Li also emphasized the economic resilience of the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)…
Survey Reveals Strong Public Interest in Nuclear Power Plant Referendum
ASTANA — According to a comprehensive survey conducted by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, more than half of surveyed Kazakh citizens are prepared to participate in the upcoming referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP). Over 8,000 citizens participated in the survey, Kazinform reported on Sept. 20. Among those surveyed, 59.2%…
Top Diplomats Discuss Global Challenges Before UN Summit of Future
ASTANA — In anticipation of the upcoming Summit of the Future, scheduled for Sept. 22-23 in New York, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey, along with distinguished Ambassadors from Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden to Kazakhstan, convened to discuss the upcoming summit and the pivotal documents to be adopted, on Sept. 10 at Narikbayev…
Astana Finance Days: Transforming Payments to Boost Financial Literacy and Social Impact
ASTANA — Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) launched the Astana Finance Days (AFD) Innovate. Invest. Impact on Sept. 5 focused on exploring technologies in the financial sector, investment opportunities in Kazakhstan, and the role of finance in promoting sustainable development and positive social change. The session, Payments Landscape Transformation in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, delved…
Tokayev Stresses Unity and Rule of Law in Vision for Kazakhstan’s Future
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of Kazakhstan’s commitment to progress, urging the nation to look beyond provocations and rely on the rule of law in his Sept. 2 state-of-the-nation address, as reported by the Akorda press service. He stated that there is no place for oppression in Kazakh society, whether on linguistic,…
Kazakhstan and Netherlands Collaborate to Enhance Flood Risk Management
ASTANA — The key stakeholders engaged in water and flood management from the Netherlands and Kazakhstan, including representatives from the Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the Institute of Geography and Water Security and others, convened for training on Aug. 26 to exchange information and technology aimed at improving…
Exploring Nuclear Fuel Production: Insights from Kazakhstan’s Ulba Metallurgical Plant
ASTANA — Kazakhstan is preparing for a public referendum to determine the location of its first nuclear power station. Many experts believe this move will pave the way for the development of nuclear energy in the country. If the public votes in favor of nuclear power construction, a critical question arises: where will the fuel…
Nazarbayev University is Catalyst for Kazakhstan’s Development, Says its New President
ASTANA — According to Dr. Waqar Ahmad, the newly appointed president of Nazarbayev University (NU), the university is a pivotal force in Kazakhstan’s development. This is largely due to the foresight of the country’s leadership, which recognized early on that investment in education is key to national advancement and global presence. Dr. Waqar, a British…
USAID Enhances Kazakhstan’s Customs Processing with New Computer Servers
ASTANA — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Ambassador Daniel Rosenblum delivered advanced computer servers to the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Kazakhstan on Aug. 14. During the handover at the SRC headquarters, ambassador Rosenblum and SRC Chairman Zhandos Duisembiyev underscored the significance of this upgrade in bolstering Kazakhstan’s customs infrastructure.…
Rediscovering Kokshetau: Echoes of Home and Timeless Heritage
Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, in the marvelous city of Kokshetau. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA — This year marks a significant milestone for Kokshetau as the…
Kazakhstan Poised to Become Educational Hub: Monetizing Export Beyond Central Asia (Part 2)
ASTANA – This is the second part of The Astana Times exclusive interview with Hugh Hallman, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan. In the first part, he elaborated on the transformative potential of diversifying Kazakhstan’s economic focus. He discussed how prioritizing education, agriculture, and human capital development can drive the nation’s progress beyond its reliance on oil and…
UN Secretary-General Urges SCO to Leverage Influence for Peace, Warns of Global Existential Threats
ASTANA — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) — the largest regional organization in the world — has the power and the responsibility to push for peace, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his address at the SCO Plus session on July 4 in the Kazakh capital. Guterres highlighted the Summit’s taking place under difficult global…
PepsiCo Sees Kazakhstan as Gateway to Central Asia’s Economic Promise
ASTANA — Central Asia holds significant economic potential, and Kazakhstan provides the necessary economic and geopolitical stability for projects to thrive, stated David Manzini, the president of PepsiCo for Central Asia, Russia, Belarus, and the Caucasus, in an interview with The Astana Times during the official launch of the plant’s construction in the Almaty Region…
Kazakhstan Has Perfect Recipe for Renewable Energy Transition, Says ACWA Power’s Head for Central Asia
ASTANA — With abundant wind and sun resources, Kazakhstan has the perfect recipe for transitioning to renewable energy, said Abid Malik, the Geo Head of Central Asia at ACWA Power, during The Astana Times YouTube interview on the sidelines of QazaqGreenFest on May 30-31 in Burabay, the Akmola Region. Malik noted that based on a…
Kazakh-Hungarian Strategic Partnership Marked by Dynamic Cooperation, Says Kazakh Official
ASTANA — We have every reason to take pride in the long journey we have shared with Hungary, said Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko in an interview with Hungary’s Mandiner weekly magazine during his working visit to Budapest earlier this month. In the interview, Vassilenko highlighted several key points of Kazakh-Hungarian cooperation, including the…
Roche’s Bold Vision: Revolutionizing Kazakhstan’s Pharmaceutical Landscape
ASTANA — Toylan Senel, the head of Roche in Central Asia, spoke about the company’s ambitious mission to maximize its influence, focusing on Roche’s commitment to providing the most significant impact in Kazakhstan’s pharmaceutical industry in an interview with The Astana Times. Notably, in October of last year, Roche and Kazakhstan forged a groundbreaking agreement…
Central Asia Trade Forum Promotes Regional Prosperity Through Collaboration
ALMATY — The 13th Central Asia Trade Forum kicked off in Almaty on May 14 with a resounding call to enhance trade across Central Asia to catalyze regional prosperity. The panel included Zeinah Salahi, the senior Deputy Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Asia Bureau in Washington, Kazakh Vice Minister of…
Turning Environmental Crisis into Opportunity: Inspiring Efforts of Aral Tenizi
ASTANA—The tragic tale of environmental devastation in the Aral Sea is well-documented, marking it as one of the most significant ecological disasters of the 20th century. However, amidst the desolation lies a beacon of hope in the town of Aralsk, where the Aral Tenizi (from Kazakh – Aral Sea) public association spearheads remarkable initiatives to…
IMF Report for Central Asia: Uneven Recovery, Resilience, and Middle Corridor Opportunities
ASTANA — Jihad Azour, the Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), emphasized the expectation of an uneven recovery among economies in the Central Asia and Caucasus (CCA) region amidst significant uncertainty during an April 18 press briefing in Washington D.C.. While inflation trends align with global…
USAID Expedition to Oasis Project on Aral Sea Marks Milestone in Ecosystem Restoration
ASTANA—The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will lead an expedition to the USAID Oasis project on the former shores of the Aral Sea in the Kyzylorda region of Kazakhstan from April 12 to 16, the agency’s press service reported. Established through a collaborative effort between USAID and the Kazakh partners, the Oasis project…
