Articles by Saniya Sakenova

ASTANA—Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) welcomed its first international student Zhaiylkhan’s quadruplets, Alikhan, Alizhan, Zaragul, and Zeregul, all 17, from Kazakhstan on Sept. 8. They will pursue their studies at the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) in Kuala Lumpur, reported the EMGS’s press service. Based on the latest statistics from EMGS, Kazakhstan…

ASTANA — The fifth World Nomad Games became the center of attraction this week, drawing people from around the world to witness traditional nomadic competitions. According to Kazinform, many were inspired to explore Kazakhstan’s rich nomadic heritage and even create art based on their experiences. French journalist Lucas Pueyo is working with two colleagues to…

ASTANA — The Turkic World Common Alphabet Commission has agreed on a proposal for a Latin-based Common Turkic Alphabet consisting of 34 letters during its third meeting, held from Sept. 9 to 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan. According to the Turkic Academy’s press service, each letter in the proposed alphabet represents different phonetic sounds found in…

ASTANA – Togyzkumalak competition participants from the Kyrgyz Republic, Hungary, Germany, Bangladesh, Argentina, and other countries planted 50 spruce and pine seedlings along Turan Avenue in Astana as part of the Taza Kazakhstan eco-campaign on Sept. 11. According to the Astana administration’s press service, this initiative also included landscaping flower beds near the Khan Shatyr…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national team secured 21 medals on the fourth day of the World Nomad Games, including six gold, seven silver, and eight bronze. The overall medal count now stands at 69, reported the National and Equestrian Sports Center’s press service. Kazakhstan’s togyzkumalak team claimed two golds in individual events and another gold in…

ASTANA – The UN Development Program (UNDP) and the Japanese government signed a $4.9 million project to strengthen urban resilience against climate-driven risks in Central Asia on Sept. 11 in Astana, reported the UNDP’s press service. The project will be implemented as a part of the regional cooperation under the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue.…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reiterated the importance of promoting working professions, particularly among youth, as he toured the KamLitKZ iron foundry during his working visit to the Kostanai Region on Sept. 10, reported Akorda. High-Tech Foundry creates 500 jobs and boosts efficiency The plant, which has an annual capacity of 45,000 tons of castings,…

ASTANA — A Qatari investor plans to attract nearly $50 million to construct a new airport complex at Atyrau International Airport named after Khiuaz Dospanova, as reported during a working visit by Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev to the Atyrau Region on Sept. 9. According to the ministry’s press service, construction will begin in…

ASTANA – Astana Opera House opened its 12th theatrical season with the “Kazakh Opera Gala” concert on Sept. 9, showcasing the rich tradition of Kazakh classical music, reported the Astana Opera’s press service. “Such concerts, performed with high quality, are a real rarity, and a tribute to the great composers school of Kazakhstan,” shared spectator…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov discussed the prospects for joint cooperation and potential projects with Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, and Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, Director-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development, during bilateral meetings on Sept. 10. According…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev confirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to close cooperation with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and expressed readiness to implement joint initiatives in tourism at a Sept. 9 meeting with UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. According to the press statement released by Akorda, Tokayev thanked the UNWTO delegation and personally Pololikashvili for their…

ASTANA—The U.S. kokpar team arrived in Kazakhstan on Sept. 5 to compete in ethnic equestrian sports at the fifth World Nomad Games, Kazinform reported. Ladd Howell, the team captain, shared his lifelong passion for horses, which began with his interest in American professional rodeo. He first discovered kokpar in 2018 through a YouTube video, instantly…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu reiterated Kazakhstan’s commitment to advancing the priorities of its chairmanship in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) at a Sept. 5 meeting with IFAS Executive Committee Chairman Askhat Orazbay. Kazakhstan assumed the three-year chairmanship of IFAS from Tajikistan on Jan. 1.…

ASTANA – Akmaral Nauatbek from Kazakhstan claimed a gold medal in para judo at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris on Sept. 5, reported the National Olympic Committee. She triumphed in the 48-kilogram weight category, defeating France’s Sandrine Martinet with an ippon score (one full point) in the final. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the Paralympic…

ASTANA – On Sept. 5, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with key leaders of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development, and the Arab Coordination Group to discuss expanding cooperation, reported Akorda. During the meeting with IsDB President Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Tokayev highlighted the bank’s…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Gilbert Houngbo on Sept. 5, noting the exceptional importance of his first official visit to Kazakhstan, as it gives serious impetus to cooperation with the country, reported Akorda. The President emphasized the ILO’s role in promoting the principles of social justice…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined several critical points during a Sept. 5 meeting of the AIFC Management Council aimed at strengthening the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) as a thriving regional financial hub, reported Akorda.  He stressed that boosting investment in Kazakhstan’s economy and improving the investment ecosystem are crucial. Tokayev highlighted that the…

ASTANA — The Digital Family Card, designed to ensure equal access for Kazakh citizens to state support in the social sector, was among the innovative GovTech solutions Kazakhstan presented at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation on Sept. 3. According to the UN Development Program’s (UNDP) press service, the Digital Family Card…

ASTANA— The Koshpendiler Alemi (World of Nomads) ethno-village will be set up near the Kazanat racetrack in Astana for the fifth World Nomad Games. Spanning ten hectares, the village will immerse visitors in the rich traditions of the Kazakh people and the unique cultures of nomadic nations.  According to the Astana administration’s press service, the…

ASTANA — Kazakh universities will now offer individual Learning Paths for undergraduate and graduate students through the Coursera platform, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s press service reported on Sept. 4. This is part of the ministry’s initiative to provide high-quality teacher training. These paths include courses and projects specifically selected to develop the…

ASTANA – The Uly Dala Zhorygy (The Great Steppe Tour in Kazakh) international horse race (baige) marathon began on Sept. 3 in Botai settlement in the North Kazakhstan Region. The event is held in the run-up to the fifth World Nomad Games, reported the National Sports Association’s press service. The 500-kilometer race starts from Botai…

ASTANA – The Central Election Commission (CEC) approved the calendar plan on Sept. 3 for the upcoming referendum, which will decide on the construction of a nuclear power plant, scheduled for Oct. 6, reported the CEC’s press service. The question presented to the referendum will be: do you agree with the construction of a nuclear…

ASTANA — The General Committee of the International Canine Federation (FCI) decided on Sept. 4 to grant preliminary recognition to the Kazakh Tazy as an official dog breed, designating Kazakhstan as the breed’s standard holder. According to Kazakhstan’s Presidential Administration’s press service, this decision is a key and final step before fully recognizing the Tazy…

ASTANA – Tengizchevroil (TCO) has completed its planned turnaround maintenance on two of the five production trains at the Complex Technological Lines (KTL) plant in the Tengiz oilfield, TCO’s press service reported on Sept. 3. The maintenance, finished on schedule and within budget, achieved a 23% improvement in execution efficiency compared to the 2019 turnaround…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during his Sept. 2 address that his main priority is to ensure Kazakhstan becomes a place of safety and comfort. He instructed law enforcement and specialized state bodies to ensure the comprehensive security of citizens, reported Akorda. President Tokayev also addressed the issue of fraud, which has become increasingly…