Articles by Assem Assaniyaz

ASTANA – The World Bank commended Kazakhstan’s progress in improving budget transparency and ensuring social protection, as well as covered complications in quasi-fiscal activities and revenue collection during the presentation of the Kazakhstan Public Finance Review 2023 at the Economic Research Institute in Astana on Sept. 28.  The event featured a panel discussion on the…

LONDON – Kazakh female artists Aigana Gali and Gulnur Mukazhanova presented their artworks on the ancestral connection at the La Makan, Cosmic Corporeality exhibition in the Three Highgate Gallery in London on Sept. 19.   The exhibition, which will last through Oct. 15, immerses the audience in the intertwined notions of life and death combined with…

LONDON – Oxford University scholars use Kazakh and Malay proverbs in pedagogical approach for storytelling about sustainability. Olga Mun, a doctoral researcher at Oxford University from Kazakhstan, and Aizuddin Mohamed Anuar, a writer and lecturer at Keele University from Malaysia, developed an arts-based project based on the analysis of traditional proverbs on environmental responsibility, economic…

LONDON – Weather statistics show that September is the sunniest month in Almaty. It is the right time to make up the leeway for those who skipped opportunities to explore the city’s hidden gems during this summer.   “Kazakhstan’s landscapes are diverse. The uniqueness lies in the opportunity to see forests, deserts, mountains, canyons, and steppes…

LONDON – Fourteen years ago, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared Aug. 29 the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Initiated by Kazakhstan, its increasing relevance for the entire world community is fueled by sprawling geopolitical instability. In an interview with The Astana Times, Margarita Kalinina-Pohl, a U.S.-based expert in nuclear and radiological security, addressed…

ZURICH – Few would consider space rocket debris to be of any value. Yet for a Swiss watchmaker, this debris found in the Kazakh steppes turned out to be of use. In an interview with The Astana Times, Patrick Hohmann, founder and Managing Director of Werenbach, shared his story of creating spaceborne timepieces.   Hohmann was…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to hold public hearings and government consultations with experts on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP), said Minister of Energy Almasadam Satkaliyev at the July 25 press briefing.    According to the minister, the project is under review of the government. “We plan to hold public hearings and determine the…

BASEL – Kazakhstan’s football team Tobol defeated FC Basel (3:1) in the first leg of the second qualifying round as part of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa Conference League at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in the Swiss city of Basel on July 27.      Despite Switzerland’s confidence in the beginning of the game,…

BERN – The awareness of the need for regional cross-border water cooperation in Central Asia has substantially increased in recent years. Its complexity requires smart solutions and policies both at national and regional levels, said Head of Global Program Water at Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Simon Zbinden in an interview with The…

GENEVA – Bridging East and West, Kazakhstan is now strengthening its position in political, economic and trade partnership with Switzerland. The willingness to expand bilateral cooperation and develop economic ties comes from both sides, said Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Switzerland, Jean-Paul Periat, in an interview with The Astana Times. Periat is chairman of the…

LONDON – The Kazakh Embassy in the United Kingdom held the Kazakhstan-U.K. Mining Business Forum in London on July 6. It featured two panel discussions on critical mineral development opportunities and investment options for the British mining community.      British Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, Nusrat Ghani, noted the unprecedented attractiveness…

LONDON – Agricultural cooperation, water management, and female empowerment are the main objectives of the XCSS Climate Can’t Wait project, scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan next year, said Estelle Peyen, President of the XCSS – Cross Country Skiing Sand Association and the project’s director, in an interview with The Astana Times.  “Incredible development prospects…

LONDON – Brussels Energy Club (BREC) held a first-ever conference on energy security and sustainability in Central Asia on July 4 in the Belgian capital. Four panel sessions explored regional and interregional collaboration in delivering the energy transition in Central Asia, a fast-growing region. The event was organized in partnership with the diplomatic missions of…

LONDON – The shifting geopolitical landscape is increasing the significance of Central Asia. Kazakhstan, with its abundant resources and advanced infrastructure, is emerging as a frontrunner in reshaping public perception and knowledge about the region, said Michael Rossi, a professor at Rutgers University in the United States, in an interview with The Astana Times. “As…

BRUSSELS – The European Union (EU)-Kazakhstan cooperation goes beyond political arrangements, forging solutions in easing visa restrictions, removing trade barriers, promoting sustainability, and transferring new technologies. Brussels-based EURACTIV media outlet organized a debate on how the EU is advancing its agenda in Central Asia, addressing Kazakhstan’s role in interregional cooperation on June 14. “Geopolitically, Central…

ASTANA – Astana International Forum (AIF)’s panel session Mapping Central Asian Connectivity, on June 8 addressed key achievements and obstacles in regional cooperation in energy, security, economic integration, and private sector development. Experts held insightful discussions exploring new ways to improve regional engagement in resolving common challenges.  The participants noted that demographic shifts motivate countries…

ASTANA – Astana International Forum (AIF) panel session gathered international experts to delve into the impact of global supply chain disruption on food security. The June 8 discussion meeting outlined Kazakhstan’s huge potential in overcoming breakdowns in supply chains and ensuring food security in the region.  “There is no other country like Kazakhstan in the…

SINGAPORE – The state visit by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Chinese city of Xian and his participation in the China-Central Asia Summit last week emphasized the importance of bilateral relations and multilateral interaction. It highlighted Kazakhstan’s eagerness to engage with China, said Raffaello Pantucci, a senior fellow at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies…

LONDON – The results of Kazakhstan-Switzerland academic exchanges are conclusive and beneficial for both countries. We want to further develop them in research, doctoral, and postdoctoral training, said Abdeljalil Akkari, an international expert, in an interview with The Astana Times. He is a professor and the director of the research group on international and comparative…

ASTANA – Kazakh Embassy in Switzerland and the Switzerland-Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus Joint Chamber of Commerce (JCC) organized an investment roundtable on April 27 to address business opportunities in Kazakhstan.  As part of the meeting, the Kazakh Invest national company and JCC signed an agreement to expand cooperation between Kazakhstan and Switzerland.     The…

LONDON – With a mission to bring Italian innovations in professional practice, technologies, education, and sustainability to Central Asia, Italy4East, an international management consulting company, specializes in the internationalization of Italian and European companies through business partnerships, B2B (business-to-business) matchmaking meetings, international projects, and events.    Its objective is not only to introduce the Made in…

LONDON – Recent events in cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom have opened new horizons for both countries to maximize the benefits in trade and investment. The test of time and geopolitical developments have proved the stability of this partnership, enabling the countries to further enhance business ties and work together to address emerging…

ASTANA – The United Nations Country Team in Kazakhstan published the UN Kazakhstan Annual Report 2022 on April 1, which outlined the country’s progress in strengthening human rights and gender equality, enhancing social policy and digitalization, developing economic diversification and decarbonization after facing the challenges associated with the January unrest, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the…

LONDON – The U.K.-based companies are expanding their mining and metallurgical operations in Kazakhstan, as the country’s strong potential in critical minerals exploration and development aligns with the United Kingdom’s industrial strategy. This was noted at the webinar organized by the British-Kazakh Society (BKS) on April 6, which explored key trends and drivers for industrial…

ASTANA – Turan, an ethno-folk ensemble from Kazakhstan, is giving concerts in Switzerland, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, and Hungary on its 15th anniversary as part of the European tour this month, according to the ensemble’s announcement on Instagram.      Supported by the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports, the five-member group of Maksat Medeubek, Baurzhan…