Articles by Assem Assaniyaz

ASTANA – Educational opportunities in Central Asian states have been improving, but there is still room for significant enhancement in terms of creative and critical thinking skills development. In an interview with The Astana Times, Begzod Hakimov, a study abroad mentor, provided insights into academic and cultural differences between East and West. For the last…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times introduces a new series, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of Kazakhstan’s cities. Starting with Zhezkazgan, Shymkent and Taldykorgan, we continue our journey in the glorious city of Karagandy. By exploring each city’s unique history and culture, we aim to bring you…

ASTANA – In an effort to shed light on Central Asian women-led initiatives and to promote them on a global scale, the FemAgora public foundation marked its first participation in the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) in New York this March. In an interview with The Astana Times, founding…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to hold talks at the foreign ministers’ level to prepare a peace treaty between the two states in Almaty, reported the Akorda press service on May 1. During his official visit to Yerevan last month, President Tokayev expressed Kazakhstan’s readiness to…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times introduces a new series, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of Kazakhstan’s cities. Starting with Zhezkazgan and Shymkent, we continue our journey in the wonderful city of Taldykorgan. By exploring each city’s unique history and culture, we aim to bring you closer…

ASTANA – The TechnoWomen Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum presented the key aspects of the AI development agenda on April 18 in Astana. On the second day of the forum, international experts and private sector representatives outlined the priorities of digital transformation. The high demand for AI in the market indicates the need to create a…

ASTANA – The TechnoWomen Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum kicked off on April 17 in Astana with a roundtable on opportunities and risks posed by the problem-solving systems. In a hybrid format, international experts, government officials, and private sector representatives reviewed the far-reaching implications of the use of modern technologies and addressed international practices in their…

ASTANA – The seasonal flooding in 2024 has escalated to become the most extensive in Kazakhstan for the last decades. The natural phenomenon occurred as a result of an intensive snowmelt and the government’s unpreparedness for its regulation. Meanwhile, this is not the first time Kazakh authorities have failed to prevent and address the water…

ASTANA – Google has selected two startup projects from Kazakhstan to participate in accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Kazakh students entered the list of the global 100 teams on April 5, reported the Google Developers website.  The competition was held following the Google Solution Challenge, an annual initiative that encourages the use of technologies…

ASTANA – Since gaining its regional status in May 2022, the Zhetisu Region has demonstrated an 18% economic growth rate. For the local authorities, the sustainability approach is becoming a guiding principle in modernizing industrial facilities and implementing greener solutions. Taldykorgan, the administrative center, is a central focus within the step-by-step transformation. Kazakhstan’s economic upturn…

ASTANA – Geopolitical shifts call for cultural diplomacy to foster interethnic understanding, a crucial component of maintaining stability. In this landscape, the Turkic world is on the rise, with culture standing at the forefront of its growing integration, said Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) Sultan Raev in an interview with…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev convened a meeting of national headquarters on April 1 to discuss measures to address the aftermath of massive floods that affected at least seven regions of the country, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev guaranteed financial assistance for all flood victims. The national headquarters, led by Kazakh Prime…

ASTANA – Almaty hosted the 69th meeting of the Ski Club of International Journalists (SCIJ) in early March. This was the first edition of the annual week-long meeting of the club in Central Asia. Swiss journalist and filmmaker Fritz Muri, one of the participants, shared impressions from his winter trip to Kazakhstan in an interview…

ASTANA – This week, Mazhilis Chairman Yerlan Koshanov led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Switzerland. High-level discussions between the head of a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament and Swiss officials in Bern renewed mutual commitment to deepen political dialogue and enhance economic cooperation, reported the Mazhilis’ press service on March 26.…

ASTANA – Nauryz celebrations in Kazakhstan serve as a cornerstone for strengthening the national identity. On this festive occasion, the Kazakh government puts forward new initiatives aimed to foster societal cohesion and bolster unity. Nauryz in Kazakhstan is a state holiday celebrated within three days, according to the country’s law on holidays.   This year, without…

ASTANA – The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) can be a game changer in the connectivity between Asia and Europe, said Henrik Hololei, Hors Classe Adviser, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission, in an interview with The Astana Times. This is the third time the top-ranked official has traveled to Kazakhstan within the last five…

ASTANA – This year, the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 13-14 will reunite the global community by providing a dialogue platform for more than 5,000 attendees from over 50 countries, said AIF Executive Director Zhandos Imanaliyev at a press briefing on March 19. The mission of the forum, which is titled “Empowering People, Uniting…

ASTANA – The new format of the Nauryz celebration in Kazakhstan has introduced the National Clothing Day on March 18 with a wide range of festivities aimed at popularizing traditional attire of the Kazakh nation, leaving space for modern interpretation of centuries-old patterns. As part of the third meeting of the National Kurultai (Congress) on…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has deployed its first independent peacekeeping contingent to the Golan Heights under the United Nations (UN). Upon reaching the Syrian capital on March 15 the convoy, escorted by a UN special unit and Syrian police, proceeded to Camp Faouar, the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) headquarters, according to the Kazakh Defense Ministry.  …

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens are celebrating Kaiyrymdylyk (the Day of Mercy) on March 15, as part of the Nauryz festivities nationwide. The day symbolizes values of generosity, compassion, and benevolence, fostering a spirit of empathy and goodwill among the people. In 2024, the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information introduced a new format of the…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the prospects for bilateral cooperation in a March 10 interview with the Azerbaijani Press Agency (APA) ahead of the state visit to Baku. Tokayev emphasized the common cultural heritage of the two nations, the growing role of strategic initiatives in transport and transit cooperation, as well as…

ASTANA – It has been 25 years since the establishment of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy in Kazakhstan. The institution made significant steps in the protection of women and children through hundreds of projects, going beyond its designated role as the advisory and consultative body under the President of Kazakhstan.…

ASTANA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the UN Women Kazakhstan, presented the results of sociological research on public perception of gender equality and female empowerment in the country on March 5. The report delves into the examination of gender stereotypes, sex-based discrimination in education, employment, and family relationships. The data…

ASTANA – The National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy in Kazakhstan held its 25th anniversary forum in Astana on March 6. The discourse covered the key results of the activities carried out by the advisory and consultative body under the President of Kazakhstan. Opening the event, Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information…

ASTANA – Education and culture have long been central pillars of the enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan. The latest developments in cooperation between the two nations underscore a shared commitment to further enhancing collaboration.  In a short space of time, the agenda included the opening of the Kazakh Centre in the United…