Japanese, Central Asian ministers discuss how to adapt Japan’s success to Central Asia
Nur-Sultan – Foreign ministers from Central Asia and Japan discussed ways Japan’s economic and technical development could help modernise and diversify Central Asian economies during the May 18 Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue (CAJD) in Dushanbe. “Central Asia is one of the dynamically developing regions of the world, which is strategically situated and has significant…
Kazakh FM meets with Kyrgyz President, FM and attends CSTO, SCO meetings in Kyrgyzstan
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov met with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov as well as participated in the Foreign Ministers’ Council (FMC) of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and the FMC of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during a May 20-22 official visit to Bishkek. Atamkulov and Jeenbekov…
European Commission adopts strategy to deepen relations with Central Asia
NUR-SULTAN – The European Commission adopted May 15 a new strategy on relations with Central Asia meant to deepen relations and capitalise on the region’s growing influence. “Central Asia has always been a key region: for its history, for its culture, and for its role of connecting East and West. Today it is becoming more…
Pavlodar Region is attracting investment, further developing industry, says region’s governor
NUR-SULTAN – In this exclusive interview, Pavlodar Region Akim (Governor) Bulat Bakauov talks about industrial development, fields attractive for foreign investments, tourism and infrastructure. What socio-economic issues are on the agenda in your region? What work is planned to improve performance in the coming years? We have been increasing industrial production in the region for…
Kazakhstan evacuates 231 more citizens from Syria
NUR-SULTAN – Two-hundred and thirty-one Kazakh citizens, including 156 children, were evacuated from Syria May 7 and May 9, according to a special announcement by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The evacuations were part of a large-scale humanitarian effort, called Operation Jusan, that began in January under former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The most recent evacuees included…
Incumbent President, Ak Zhol Democratic Party candidate collect most signatures among presidential candidates
NUR-SULTAN – Incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ak Zhol Democratic Party nominee Daniya Yespayeva have collected the most signatures of the seven candidates registered as of May 6 by the Kazakh Central Election Commission for the June 9 presidential election. According to CEC regulations, the candidates are required to collect at least 118,146 signatures, which…
Tokayev collects more than double required signatures, is registered by CEC for presidential election
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Central Electoral Commission (CEC) registered May 3 President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as the Nur Otan party candidate for the June 9 presidential election after Tokayev collected 313,653 signatures from 17 regions of Kazakhstan. Candidates are required to collect at least 118,146 signatures, which is 1 percent of Kazakhstan’s 11,814,019 registered voters, according…
Kazakhstan has turned into ‘competitive transit hub’, Nazarbayev tells Belt and Road forum
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev briefed the April 25-27 Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on the country’s infrastructure development and transport potential. “Over the past ten years, Kazakhstan has invested about $30 billion on infrastructure development, transport and logistics assets and competence. Almost 3,000 kilometres of national railways and…
Kazakh President visits Uzbekistan, assures current bilateral policies will continue
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid the state visit to neighbouring Uzbekistan April 14-15. The visit saw a number of intergovernmental documents signed in the area of economy, investment, defence and migration. Tokayev’s visit to Tashkent saw the heads of the two states sign the Joint Statement outlining key priorities for further expansion of…
Atyrau Region is working to improve investment climate, increase foreign investment, says governor
NUR-SULTAN – In this exclusive interview, Atyrau Region Akim (Governor) Nurlan Nogayev talks about continued efforts to develop major industries and SMEs in the region famous for its abundant oil and gas reserves and being home to Tengiz, one of the world’s largest onshore oil fields. What types of social and economic development issues are…
Kazakhstan opens application process for media, observers to June 9 early presidential election
NUR-SULTAN – Foreign observers and international organisations observing Kazakhstan’s June 9 presidential election must complete an accreditation process and can be accompanied by one interpreter, according to Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan rules announced April 12. The accreditation process will be conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and must be completed by June 3…
Kazakh presidential hopefuls must gather 118,000 signatures to be on early election ballot
NUR-SULTAN – Presidential hopefuls will need to gather approximately 118,000 signatures to be included on the ballot for Kazakhstan’s June 9 early presidential election, according to an April 10 announcement by the Kazakh Central Election Commission (CEC). Nominations began April 10 and will continue until 6 p.m. April 28. Candidates must be nominated, according to…
CIS foreign ministers approve 2019 consultation plans, welcome new chair in Moscow
NUR-SULTAN – The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) approved April 5 in Moscow a plan for multi-level consultations between CIS foreign ministries for 2019, drafts of multiple international treaties and an agreement concerning preservation of World War II history. The consultation plan includes plans to hold meetings on…
Kazakh Deputy FM says country committed to deeper cooperation in Central Asia
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko briefed professors and students at the March 28 lecture at the Italian Society for International Organisations (SIOI) in Rome on ways Kazakhstan is working on deeper cooperation among Central Asian states. President of SIOI and the former Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini introduced Vassilenko noting the role…
Implementing action plan to improve social welfare among top priorities for Kyzylorda Region, says governor
NUR-SULTAN – In an exclusive interview to this newspaper, Akim (Governor) of Kyzylorda Region Krymbek Kusherbayev discusses major developments in the region to develop industry based on the public-private partnership principle, promote tourism to the region famous for hosting the Baikonur space launch site, among other subjects. What is on the agenda in terms of…
Kazakh President, UAE Crown Prince discuss economic relations, attend Special Olympics ceremony in Abu Dhabi
ASTANA– President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed economic, transport and digitisation cooperation among other topics with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan March 13-14 in Abu Dhabi. The two leaders also discussed cooperation in tourism, space exploration and agriculture as well as…
Kostanai Region seeks major industrial investments while focusing on recreational and hunting tourism, Akim says
ASTANA – As the series of exclusive interviews with the regional governors in Kazakhstan continues, Akim (Governor) of Kostanai region Arkhimed Mukhambetov describes the efforts of his administration aimed at attracting major investments thanks to the specially created industrial zone, while its abundant recreational resources provide ample opportunities for developing tourism of various sorts. What…
Kazakh FM urges diplomatic solutions to global conflicts, highlights Kazakh initiatives at OIC meeting
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov stressed the need to find comprehensive solutions to the Palestinian problem, promote the Middle East peace process and stabilise Afghanistan during the March 1-2 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi. Foreign ministers and top officials…
Almaty region, bordering China, eyes expanding industry, trade and tourism
ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Akim (Governor) of Almaty oblast Amandyk Batalov shares his views on the region’s transformation from a formerly agrarian to a combined agrarian and industrial one, its efforts to attract tourists to its diverse destinations as well as its growing role as a key entry point into…
Kazakh economy has stabilised, says Deputy PM in 2018 year-end summary
ASTANA – The Kazakh economy has reached the point of stability, Deputy Prime Minister Yerbolat Dossayev said Jan. 31 during an extended government meeting in which government officials reported 2018 performance outcomes to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “GDP [gross domestic product] grew four percent, and 70 percent of growth was provided by the manufacturing sectors.…
Karaganda region set to expand infrastructure construction, attract tourists
ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Karaganda region Akim (Governor) Yerlan Koshanov speaks about the prospects of the region’s economic development, including infrastructure construction, and plans to attract tourists to the most promising destinations. What is on the socio-economic agenda for the region? What is planned to improve the situation in…
Kazakh FM supports stronger regional relationship with India at India-Central Asia-Afghanistan Dialogue
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Beibut Atamkulov stressed the need to establish a closer relationship between India and Central Asia during the Jan. 13 India-Central Asia-Afghanistan Dialogue in Samarkand. The event included the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the host nation, Uzbekistan. Atamkulov urged the implementation of joint projects…
Kazakh students stage energy themed model UN as Jas Diplomat project ends
ASTANA – Students from seven Astana schools and representatives from seven diplomatic missions gathered Dec. 13 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to finish preparations for the final meeting of the model UN, titled Future Energy. The preparations were part of the Jas Diplomat educational project under the national Rukhani Zhangyru programme. The programme seeks…
Kazakhstan offers Astana as central location to address challenges during OSCE meeting in Milan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan presented its proposals to strengthen the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to increase its role in addressing international challenges during the organisation’s Dec. 6 Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Milan. Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov briefed the meeting on President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s proposal to hold…
Eurasian Intergovernmental Council discusses economic cooperation in Minsk
ASTANA – Prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states met Nov. 27 in Minsk, Belarus to discuss economic cooperation, the status of previous agreements and future cooperation. The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIC) meeting included the prime ministers of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Belarus Sergei Rumas, Kyrgyzstan Mukhammetkaly Abulgaziev, the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and…
