Jibek Joly Tourist Train Sets Off on First Journey via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
ASTANA – A tourist train, dubbed Jibek Joly (Silk Road), departed from Almaty on Nov. 16 on a five-day journey via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, reported the press service of the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway operator. Launched by KTZ as a pilot project, the tourist train takes passengers from Almaty to Turkistan and Tashkent…
What COP29 in Baku Taught Me About Climate Action (and Inaction)
There is something surreal about attending a global climate event like COP29. One day, you are reporting on the massive floods that hit your home country, Kazakhstan, resulting from climate change. A few months later, you are elbow-to-elbow with world leaders and policymakers who negotiate billion-dollar pledges for climate finance. And when you are in…
Kazakhstan’s Special Representative Addresses Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Finance at COP29
BAKU – Zulfiya Suleimenova, the advisor to the President of Kazakhstan – Special Representative of the President on International Environmental Cooperation, stressed the importance of transitional finance at the sixth High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Long-Term Climate Finance on Nov. 14 at the 29th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku. Transitional finance provides…
Kazakh Ministry Signs Strategic Agreement on Regenerative Agriculture at COP29
BAKU – As the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference continues on its fourth day in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources signed a memorandum with Ormex, a Paris-based company specializing in regenerative agriculture practices, and Chapter Zero Kazakhstan. This agreement will support the development of sustainable agricultural practices that reduce…
Central Asian and Turkic Youth Climate Leaders Speak Out at COP29 in Baku
BAKU – Youth climate activists from Central Asia and Turkic countries discussed how youth can drive climate action at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on Nov. 13. The event, dubbed Next COP Dialogue of Central Asian and Turkic Youth Climate Leaders, convened young environmental advocates from Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kazakhstan, the…
Kazakhstan Presents National Pavilion as COP29 Kicks Off in Baku
BAKU – Kazakhstan presents the national pavilion at the 29th United Nations Climate Conference of the Parties (COP29), which kicked off on Nov. 11 at the Olympic Stadium in Baku and will run through Nov. 22. Kazakhstan’s pavilion, a centerpiece of the country’s presence at the UN Climate Conference, highlights what the nation is doing…
Kazakh Officials, Foreign Investors Highlight Growth Opportunities in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is cementing its position as a regional powerhouse for industrial growth and innovation, attracting foreign investments in logistics, green technologies, and manufacturing. During the recent Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR), the country’s officials and representatives of foreign companies discussed what makes Kazakhstan an attractive investment destination. Kazakhstan is committed to creating favorable…
UNODC Regional Representative Highlights Kazakhstan’s Asset Recovery Efforts
ASTANA – Oliver Stolpe, regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and Pakistan, highlighted Kazakhstan’s efforts to recover assets illicitly transferred abroad in a recent interview with The Astana Times. Stolpe wrapped up his visit to Astana on Oct. 31 with discussions with the Kazakh…
Tokayev’s Return to Paris Strengthens Strategic Partnership with France
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid an official visit to France on Nov. 4-5, meeting with French President Emmanual Macron and top business leaders. In a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, Tokayev’s visit to France, his second in two years, signals a deepening strategic partnership with France, one of the European Union’s (EU) most influential states. …
UK Ambassador Highlights Strengthened Climate Initiatives in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach highlighted the importance of climate initiatives in the bilateral ties with Kazakhstan and expressed the U.K.’s continued support in addressing the consequences of climate change at a Nov. 1 press briefing in Astana. Leach noted a deep personal commitment to environmental issues, highlighting how…
Kazakhstan’s Ecology Minister Shares Expectations Ahead of COP29 in Baku
ASTANA – Multilateral initiatives on carbon farming, a global low-carbon platform, more than 40 thematic sessions, and its national pavilion – these are the priorities for Kazakhstan as the nation prepares for the 2024 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference on Nov. 11-22 in Baku. Kazakh Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev spoke…
Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable Secures $7 Billion in Contracts
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR) showcased the emerging trends in the investment landscape on Nov. 1, culminating in a landmark $7 billion in signed agreements. The high-profile event brought together international investors, government officials, and industry leaders, all eager to explore new opportunities in Kazakhstan’s evolving investment landscape. “We are in a time…
World-Renowned Violinist Marat Bisengaliev Brings Extraordinary Symphonic Concert Home
ASTANA – The grand stage of the Astana Opera welcomed Marat Bisengaliev, the world-renowned violinist, conductor, and Kazakhstan’s Goodwill Ambassador, for a symphonic concert blending classical and Kazakh music. Bisengaliev’s symphonic concert became a standout event for audiences eager to experience a unique musical vision crafted by one of Kazakhstan’s own. Born in 1962 in…
EU-Funded Project Promotes Public Engagement in Climate Change Mitigation in Karagandy Region
ASTANA—Astana hosted the conference on Oct. 23, marking the end of a two-year European Union-funded project aimed at empowering local communities and enhancing public involvement in environmental decision-making in the Karagandy Region, one of the country’s most industrialized areas. The project, implemented by the Karagandy Regional Ecological Museum with the support of German and Czech…
Turkish Designers Take Center Stage at Fashion Show in Astana
ASTANA—Astana hosted a fashion show on Oct. 22 featuring the creations of nine talented Turkish designers. The event showcased Turkish designs and served as a bridge for new business partnerships between Kazakhstan and Türkiye. The event, which was organized with the support of the Embassy of Türkiye in Kazakhstan and the Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association…
Gender Equality in Green Transition: Kazakhstan’s Push and Challenges
ISTANBUL – The Kazakh delegation participated in the Istanbul Development Dialogue event on Oct. 17-18, which called for increased investments in gender equality and inclusive climate action. They shared the challenges Kazakhstan faces towards gender equality and the measures it has undertaken so far. Addressing the panel session, dubbed Women’s Leadership for Just Transition and…
QIC Independent Director Highlights Kazakhstan’s Push to Expand Presence in Global Markets
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is adopting a more proactive approach in presenting itself to international markets, with increased outreach efforts, including toward the United States, the Middle East, and Asia, said Nicholas Page, a member of the board and an independent director at the Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC), in a recent interview with The Astana Times. …
Experts and Policymakers Address Gender Equality, Climate Action at Istanbul Development Dialogue
ISTANBUL – More than 160 representatives of governments, international organizations, experts, and policymakers gathered in Istanbul on Oct. 17-18 for the second edition of the Istanbul Development Dialogue (IDD) to explore how to integrate gender equality in climate policies and empower women and girls in climate action and a broader green transition. The two-day event,…
Kazakhstan’s 6% Economic Growth Target is Achievable, but Demands Stronger Reforms, Says IMF Official
ASTANA — Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Kazakhstan, Nicolas Blancher, recently spoke to The Astana Times, discussing the structural reforms the country needs and its efforts to curb inflation. According to Blancher, Kazakhstan’s ambitious target of 6% economic growth is within reach, but only if the country implements bold and decisive…
UN, Kazakh Officials Discuss Cooperation Framework for Next Five Years
ASTANA – The United Nations Country Team in Kazakhstan and the Kazakh government held a workshop on Oct. 8 to define key priorities for the upcoming UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2026-2030. The discussions focused on how the UN will support Kazakhstan’s national development over the next five years. The event, officially called a…
Kazakhstan’s Official Referendum Results Out: 71% Back Nuclear Power Plant Proposal
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Referendum Commission has officially announced the results of an Oct. 6 national referendum at an Oct. 8 meeting, revealing 71.12% support the construction of a nuclear power plant. According to the commission, out of the 12.28 million eligible voters, 7.82 million participated in the referendum, a turnout rate of 63.66%. Of…
Nuclear Power Plant Gets Green Light in Kazakhstan
ASTANA—The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kazakhstan has announced the preliminary results of an Oct. 6 national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant. “As of 8 a.m. of Oct. 7, the votes at 10,323 polling stations in all regions of the country and abroad have been tallied,” said CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov…
Prominent Kazakh Expert on Astana Think Tank Forum: Middle Powers and Future of Central Asian Integration
ASTANA – Astana will host the inaugural Astana Think Tank Forum 2024 on Oct. 16-17. Organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) as part of the Astana International Forum (AIF), the forum will explore the role of middle powers. The Astana Times spoke with Sanat Kushkumbayev, a chief research fellow at the KazISS,…
Preliminary Results Show Voter Turnout at Nearly 64% in Kazakhstan’s National Referendum
ASTANA — Preliminary results from an Oct. 6 national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan indicate a high level of civic participation, with regional variations in voter turnout across the country. Voter turnout reached 63.87% as of 8 p.m. Astana time, reported the Central Election Commission (CEC) at a press…
Referendum Valid: Majority of Eligible Voters Turn Out for Kazakhstan’s National Referendum
ASTANA – More than half of the eligible voters participated in the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, reported the Central Election Commission (CEC) at an Oct. 6 press briefing. “Overall, nationwide, as of 2 p.m., 6,399,425 citizens have received their ballots, which accounts for 51.77% out of the…
