Nauryz Is Reflection of New Kazakhstan, Says President Tokayev
ASTANA – The Nauryz holiday has marked a new political milestone in the development of Kazakhstan, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev while attending events celebrating the occasion, the Akorda press service reported on March 21. Speaking at a public event, the President noted the large-scale political modernization that has been ongoing since last year. The idea…
Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan Receives Air Transport Award in Canada
ASTANA – The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan received the Air Transport News (ATN) Corporate Award, recognizing the transition to new civil aviation management, at the Global Connectivity Challenges Air Transport Symposium in Montreal, Canada, the country’s Civil Aviation Committee announced on March 20. “The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and the Civil Aviation Committee will continue…
Kazakhstan and UN Mark 31 Years of Partnership
Kazakhstan became a member of the United Nations on March 2, 1992. In 31 years, Kazakhstan has gone from joining the organization to chairing a session of the General Assembly. Over these decades, Kazakhstan has contributed to many aspects of the UN’s work across the globe. In this article, we look back at some of…
Kazakhstan Can Preserve Aral Sea Ecosystem Stability with Support of International Partners, Expert Says
ASTANA – Last month, Italian capital Rome hosted the seventh EU–Central Asia High-Level Conference, which Kazakhstan chaired. One of the areas of cooperation between the EU and Central Asia is addressing the Aral Sea crisis. Bolat Bekniyaz, director of the Executive Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, discussed the lake’s ecosystem…
Central Election Commission Announces Preliminary Election Results: Six Parties Elected to Parliament
ASTANA – Six parties have been elected to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on March 20. Six out of the seven parties that participated in the election received enough votes to pass the required five percent threshold to gain seats…
Voters Abroad: Expectations of Kazakhs from New Parliament
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens abroad had the opportunity to vote in Kazkahstan’s parliamentary election at 77 polling stations opened by diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan in 62 countries. Members of election commissions noted active participation in the election. The Astana Times interviewed voters in various capitals of the world to get their thoughts on the election…
Kazakh Minister Addresses Security Issues of Caspian Region at Baku Forum
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Information and Social Development Darkhan Kydyrali participated in the 10th edition of the Global Baku Forum, which took place on March 9-11 in Azerbaijan, reported the ministry’s press service. Among several issues he singled out were ecological challenges of the Caspian Sea. “The Caspian Sea is a unique body of…
Foreign Observers Assess Kazakhstan’s Election as Transparent and Democratic
ASTANA – Foreign observers praised the well-organized process of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election on March 19, high voter turnout, and people’s freedom of expression at a press conference in Astana on March 20. According to Sadi Jafarov, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, the organization’s mission witnessed thorough preparations to safeguard people’s will.…
UNICEF: Kazakhstan’s Repatriation Program Serves as Model for Other Countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan set an example for other countries in the region facing similar challenges by being one of the first to repatriate its women and children from Syria and Iraq and effectively reintegrate them into society, said United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative Arthur van Diesen at a March 16 conference dedicated to the…
Kazakhstan’s Top Seed Climbs to 7th Spot in WTA Tour’s Singles Ranking
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s tennis player Elena Rybakina clinched her first triumph at a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 tournament and climbed from tenth to seventh in the singles ranking, Kazakhstan Tennis Federation’s press service announced on March 20. Rybakina beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in five tries with a 7-6 (13-11) 6-4 victory at the Indian…
Amanat Party Leads in Kazakh Parliamentary Election, According to Three Exit Polls
ASTANA – Amanat party is leading in the parliamentary election, according to exit polls conducted by three public institutions. The results were announced live after midnight on March 20 during the Sailau 2023 TV marathon. The exit poll conducted by the Institute of Eurasian Integration shows the Amanat party receiving 53.46 percent of the vote,…
Almost 42 Percent Voter Turnout Abroad in Kazakhstan’s Parliamentary Election as Voting Continues
ASTANA – Voter turnout abroad has reached 41.8 percent as of 7 p.m. Astana time, representing more than 5,071 people out of 12,016 registered voters, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko said during an evening briefing at the Central Election Commission. Kazakh citizens can cast their ballot at 77 polling stations opened in the…
Voter Turnout for Parliamentary Election in Kazakhstan Hits 53.11 Percent
ASTANA — Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election reached 53.11 percent as of 6 p.m. local Astana time, Central Election Commission (CEC) member Shavkat Otemisov announced at a press briefing today. 6,390,046 out of 12,032,550 eligible voters have cast their ballot in 10,223 polling stations across Kazakhstan. The Kyzylorda Region has the highest voter turnout,…
Kazakh Voters Show High Engagement and Best Outfits on Election Day
ASTANA – As the parliamentary election continues nationwide, voters in the country’s regions are exercising their constitutional rights at an increasingly higher rate than those in big cities. According to the latest data from the Central Election Commission (at 4:30 p.m.), the highest voter turnouts are in the Kyzylorda Region at 64.95 percent, Kostanai Region…
Parliamentary Election Receives Broader Public Attention, Say Kazakh Voters
ASTANA — Kazakh citizens across the country who went to the polls in today’s parliamentary election to exercise their constitutional duty and civic right underlined broader public interest and increased participation, expressing hope about the election. Assel Akhmetzhanova, 28, from the capital Astana, cast her vote early in the morning. She said she was surprised…
Top Kazakh Officials Cast Their Ballots in Parliamentary Election
ASTANA – Top government officials have cast their vote early in the morning in the March 19 parliamentary election to the Mazhilis and the maslikhats, including Senate Chairman Maulen Ashimbayev, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, and State Counselor Erlan Karin. Maulen Ashimbayev, chairman of the Senate, the upper house of the Parliament, also commented on the…
Foreign Ministry Says Overseas Voting in Kazakhstan’s Parliamentary Election Began
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens can cast their ballot at 77 polling stations opened in Kazakhstan’s diplomatic missions in 62 countries on election day today, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko said during an early morning briefing at the Central Communications Center on March 19. Kazakhstan is holding parliamentary elections for the Mazhilis, the lower…
Kazakh President Tokayev, Top Officials Vote in Parliamentary Election
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his vote in the parliamentary election to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament, and the maslikhats, local representative bodies, which began on March 19 in the country, the Akorda press service reported. The President was among the first who voted at the polling station in…
Voting in Parliamentary and Local Elections Begins in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Parliamentary election for the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, and maslikhats, local representative bodies, kicked off across Kazakhstan on March 19. More than 12 million people are eligible to vote today. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), 10,233 polling stations are operating in 17 regions and three cities of national significance…
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Meets with Kazakh President, Praises Reforms
ASTANA – The protection of human rights should be an integral part of the country’s reforms, said the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, during his March 17 meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. Türk’s visit to Kazakhstan on March 16-17 follows his trip to Uzbekistan…
Skytrax World Airport Awards Recognizes Astana Airport as Region’s Top Facility
ASTANA – For the second year in a row, the capital’s airport has been selected as the top regional airport in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) by the World Airport Awards, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development’s press service on March 16. The World Airport Awards were presented at…
Kazakh President Outlines Key Directions for Cooperation at Organization of Turkic States Summit
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key areas of cooperation, including in emergency management, during the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Extraordinary Summit in Ankara on March 16, the Akorda press service reported. According to President Tokayev, the first step is to join efforts to avert natural disasters, citing the earthquake in Türkiye as evidence…
Kazakh President Meets President Erdoğan to Reiterate Bilateral Relations During Working Visit to Türkiye
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara as part of his working visit to Türkiye on March 16, the Akorda press service reported. Tokayev also took part in an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Tokayev extended his condolences to the families and friends of…
President Tokayev’s Reforms Stimulate Civic Activity and Participation in Decision-Making, Says State Counselor Karin
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s reforms heralded the beginning of the renewal of the system of social values, revived civic engagement, and fostered citizens’ participation in the country’s fundamental transformation process, wrote State Counselor Erlan Karin on his Telegram channel on March 16. President Tokayev presented a comprehensive reform program a year ago, resulting in…
Kazakhstan Underlines Importance of Regional Counter-Narcotics Initiatives and Cooperation With Austria
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov stressed the importance of regional initiatives amid growing global and regional instability at the opening of the 66th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on March 13 in Austria’s capital Vienna, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. One such initiative is the…
Kazakhstan Ranks in Top Five in 2023 World Para Nordic Skiing Championship
ASTANA — Kazakhstan team made it to the top five with 3,944 points scored in the para biathlon, and cross-country skiing competitions at 2023 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships, the Kazakh Culture and Sports Ministry’s press service reported on March 15. The team won 13 medals, including two gold, five silver, and six bronze. Yerbol…
Kashagan to Ship 7,000 Tons of Oil Through Aktau Seaport to Baku
ASTANA – The KazTransOil oil transportation company plans a test shipment of 7,000 tons of oil from the Kashagan oil field through Aktau seaport to Baku port this month, reported the company’s press service on March 10. The oil shipper is INPEX North Caspian Sea, which has been participating in developing the Kashagan oil field…
Kazakh PM Instructs to Remove Barriers, Facilitate Cargo Transportation from China
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov urged the government to remove transportation barriers within three days and ease the passage of trucks through checkpoints on the Kazakh-Chinese border at a March 14 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Following the lifting of the restrictions from the Chinese side, the volume of cargo…
Kazakhstan to Send Third Batch of Oil to Germany via Druzhba Pipeline in April
ASTANA – The KazTransOil oil transportation company plans to send another 20,000 tons of oil to Germany via the Druzhba oil pipeline in April, said Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov on the sidelines of the March 14 government meeting, reported Kazinform. According to Akchulakov, Kazakhstan transported two batches of oil totaling 40,000 tons in February…
Top Kazakh Expert Argues People Should See Reforms’ Results Firsthand
ASTANA – Director of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) Yerkin Tukumov argued the new efforts outlined by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a March 13 meeting with the heads of government bodies would encompass the economic sphere. “Now, it is important that people see the results of the ongoing reforms firsthand. On the other hand,…
Kazakhstan Welcomes Restoration of Diplomatic Ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran
ASTANA — Kazakhstan has welcomed the agreements achieved on March 10 in the Chinese capital, Beijing, to reestablish diplomatic ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran seven years after the two states severed relations, the March 14 statement from the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “We highly appreciate…
UK Foreign Secretary to Participate in Opening of Queen Elizabeth II Square in Astana
ASTANA — Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom James Cleverly will visit Kazakhstan on March 17-18 and attend the opening of a new square named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov announced at a March 13 press briefing. Cleverly is expected to meet with the country’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and…
President of Kazakhstan to Pay State Visit to China This Year
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to pay a state visit to China this year, the Akorda press service reported, following Tokayev’s meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Zhang Xiao, on March 14. Both sides highlighted the significance of tightening bilateral relations and expanding economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian ties. They stressed the relevance…
President Tokayev to Attend Extraordinary OTS Summit in Türkiye
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a working visit to Ankara, Türkiye, on March 16, at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to attend an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), reported Akorda press service. During the visit, President Tokayev is expected to meet with President Erdoğan. The OTS…
EBRD to Assist East Kazakhstan Region in Upgrading Street Lighting
ASTANA — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will lend 4.1 billion tenge ($8.9 million) to the East Kazakhstan Region for 10 years to improve street lighting in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, the EBRD’s press service reported on March 10. The project under the Green City Action Plan (GCAP) envisages the installation of…
Kazakhstan’s GDP Grows Four Percent in Two Months of 2023
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown by 4.3 percent in the first two months of 2023, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov at a March 14 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Kazakhstan is seeing positive dynamics in major sectors of the economy, including the real sector (2.7 percent)…
Kazakh Vice Minister of Health Outlines Epidemiological Recommendations on Election Day
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor Aizhan Yesmagambetova outlined several recommendations for the upcoming parliamentary and local elections amid the current epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan at a March 13 Central Election Commission (CEC) meeting. Eight or more CEC members, observers, and election officials will be present at each polling…
President Tokayev Congratulates Nation on Amal Holiday
ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated citizens on the Amal holiday (‘Korisu’ in Kazakh, meaning to meet each other) or the Day of Greeting, on his Twitter account on March 14. “Since ancient times, people have been looking forward to this day of spring awakening. The holiday, calling for unity and harmony, is…
China Restarts Outbound Travel to 40 Countries, Including Kazakhstan
ASTANA – China is set to resume outbound travel to 40 countries starting from March 15, including to Kazakhstan, reported Kazinform. According to China’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, travel agencies and online tour operators across the country will resume providing outbound group tours for their citizens in pilot mode. Alongside Kazakhstan, China will restart outbound…
Astana Opera to Celebrate 200th Anniversary of Acclaimed Kazakh Composer Kurmangazy
ASTANA – The Astana Opera House will stage a concert to mark the 200th anniversary of famous Kazakh folk composer and virtuoso dombra player Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly at its Chamber Hall on March 19, according to the theater’s release. Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly was a great composer, the founder of the dombra school, who had a tremendous influence…
President Tokayev Outlines Core Tenets of Country’s Social Wellbeing and Economic Development
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the main pillars in ensuring social and economic development of the country during a March 13 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, heads of state agencies, and akims (governors and mayors) of regions and cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent attended the meeting. The President…
Kazakh Senate Adopts Law to Toughen Punishment for Torture and Enhance Human Rights Protection
ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate, an upper chamber of the Parliament, adopted on March 9 amendments to the law on human rights, outlining harsher punishments for torture and ill-treatment and securing stronger protection for human rights and freedom, reported the Senate press service. Among the 45 introduced amendments, the law features norms concerning strengthening liability…
Top 20 IT Startups from Organization of Turkic States to Get Grants for Training in Silicon Valley
ASTANA – Astana Hub international technopark of IT startups and California-based Draper University signed an agreement on March 10 to allow 20 promising startups from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to participate in the Hero Training acceleration program in Silicon Valley, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and…
Kazakh Businesswomen Promote National Culture in Paris
ASTANA – The Kazakh Embassy in France, together with the Kazakh Businesswomen community, showcased national culture in Paris as part of an event dedicated to the International Women’s Day on March 9, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. The event brought together representatives of the French establishment, business, and cultural community, the United Nations Educational,…
Egypt and Turkmenistan Launch Flights to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Egypt’s Air Cairo airline is launching two direct flights a week (on Monday and Friday) between Astana and Sharm El Sheikh, and twice a week between Almaty and Sharm El Sheikh (Tuesday and Saturday) from March 13 and 14, respectively, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service. The flights will be conducted by…
Kazakh Citizens Can Use Digital ID at Polling Stations in Upcoming Parliamentary Election
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens can vote using digital identification documents (IDs), announced the country’s eGov portal on its Instagram page on March 10. “Digital documents are equivalent to paper documents. Citizens can use the eGov mobile application to present an electronic version of the original voter identification document. The digital document is also available in…
Kazakh Yurt Captivates Visitors at ITB Berlin Exhibition
ASTANA – Kazakhstan took part in the ITB Berlin international tourism exhibition on March 7-9 in Germany, where visitors were captivated by a Kazakh yurt, the Ministry of Culture and Sports reported. The Kazakh yurt, decorated with natural materials and displayed at the Kazakh Tourism national company’s stand, was of significant interest to the visitors,…
Japan and UNDP Provide Drought Forecasting and Prevention Equipment to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japanese government have donated computer equipment to the Kazhydromet national hydrometeorological service, which will be integrated into the country’s current forecasting and preventive system, the UNDP press service reported on March 9. The computer technology will enable rapid generation and prediction of drought forecasts to…
Central Asian Countries and India Reiterate Importance of International Efforts to Support Afghanistan
ASTANA – Central Asian countries and India adopted a joint statement on the importance of coordinating international efforts to foster peace and stability in Afghanistan at a March 7 meeting in New Delhi, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The first meeting of a joint working group on Afghanistan is part of Central Asia…
Kazakhstan’s Citizens to Be Able to Vote Abroad in 62 Countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s citizens will be able to vote in the upcoming parliamentary and local elections on March 19 at 77 polling stations set up at the country’s diplomatic missions in 62 countries, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s statement released on March 10. “To vote, citizens of Kazakhstan with active voting rights residing or…
Kazakh Legendary Boxer Gennadiy Golovkin Officially Resigns His WBA Middleweight Title
ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Gennadiy Golovkin has formally resigned his world champion position, World Boxing Association (WBA) announced on Twitter on March 10. Former WBA Middleweight Super Champion Golovkin took this decision in the face of a scheduled purse bid on March 13 with WBA regular champion Erislandy Lara, now the sole recognized WBA middleweight…
Kazakhstan Ready to Share its Digital Government Products with Other Countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to join the GovStack initiative, which entails promoting Kazakh-made products in open-source format to other countries, said Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin during a meeting with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, United Nations Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, as part of his working visit to the…
Kazakhstan and Canada Explore Cooperation Prospects in Mining and Metallurgy
ASTANA – The Kazakhstan-Canada Business Forum was held in Toronto on March 6, which focused on exploring promising investment opportunities in mining and metallurgy, reported the Kazakh Invest national company’s press service. Nearly 150 delegates participated in the forum, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Almas Aidarov, representatives of government and business associations, as well…
Kazakhstan’s Top Students to Participate in Amazon’s Flagship Project
ASTANA – More than 100 top Kazakh students will be the first in the world to work on the OpenSearch Service project, an open-source search and analytics suite, as part of the College Contributor initiative launched in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced on its Facebook page on March 9. The…
Kazakhstan to Export Over Nine Million Tons of Grain and Flour in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to export 9.4 million tons of grain and flour this year, said Azat Sultanov, director of the agricultural department at the Agriculture Ministry, at a March 9 Central Communications Service press briefing. According to Sultanov, Kazakhstan usually exports six to seven million tons of grain and 1.5-2 million tons of flour,…
National Museum Opens Unique Exhibition of Famous Kazakh Jeweler and Restorer
ASTANA – An exhibition, named Tekti Onerdin Shenberi (Circle of the Noble Art), opened at the National Museum of Kazakhstan on March 3 in Astana, displaying works of a well-known Kazakh jeweler, teacher, and restorer Serzhan Bashirov, reported Jibek Joly TV channel. Serzhan Bashirov, a member of the Kazakh Union of Artists and collector, initiated…
Chevron Aims to Increase Oil Production in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Chevron plans to increase oil production to one million barrels per day in Kazakhstan, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth announced at the CERAWeek conference in Houston, United States, on March 6, reported Kazinform. According to Wirth, Chevron has been focusing on expanding its activities in Kazakhstan for nearly a decade. “Chevron was the first…
Kazakh Government Addresses Gender Equality, Employment, and Women’s Health
ASTANA – Kazakh officials addressed gender equality, employment, and women’s health at a government meeting on March 7, chaired by Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the government’s press service. According to the Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov, Kazakhstan has made significant progress in building a society with equal rights and opportunities, creating a…
Kazakh President Highlights Women’s Contribution to Nation’s Development
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the valuable role of women in the nation’s development at a festive event to mark the International Women’s Day on March 8, reported the Akorda press service. “Kazakhstan’s women are studying in the world’s best universities and working in large global companies. They work in various fields having…
Kazakh Silkway Transit Railway Carrier Invests $100 Million in New Locomotives
ASTANA – Silkway Transit, a private freight railway carrier in Kazakhstan, invested more than $100 million in new locomotives, reported Kazinform on March 6. By the end of the first half of 2023, the freight railway carrier will replenish its fleet with 16 new shunting and export diesel locomotives of the TEM9 series. The four-axle…
US-Based Global Firepower Ranks Kazakhstan 63rd Among 145 Powers in 2023 Military Strength Ranking
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ranked 63rd out of 145 countries in the 2023 Military Strength Ranking by Global Firepower review. Global Firepower ranking considers over 60 factors ranging from the number of military units and financial standing to logistical capabilities and geography. According to Global Firepower, Kazakh military forces have 237 aircraft units, 300 tanks,…
Kazakhstan Outlines Economic Development Model at UN Conference in Doha
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov presented the country’s economic development model at the fifth United Nations (UN) conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Doha on March 5-7, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. According to Umarov, this model allowed the country to reach the level of an upper-middle-income country…
Kazakh Student Promotes National Board Games through Startup Project
ASTANA – A student of Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU), Ainur Polatova, who promotes national board games, announced plans to present her startup to the French companies, the university’s press service reported. Polatova is a first-year student in the Kazakh Philology master’s program who has implemented a unique startup project called Talapai. She decided to…
UN Implements Over 400 Projects in Kazakhstan in Three Decades
ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) has implemented more than 400 projects in Kazakhstan in the last 30 years, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov during a March 6 press briefing. “In the past 30 years, the UN has implemented over 400 projects in Kazakhstan at the national, regional, and local levels in a…
Strong Cooperation and Market Links Critical for Asian Interconnectivity, Says CICA Secretary General Sarybay
ASTANA – Establishing interconnectivity in Asia requires countries to cooperate closely and form interwoven market linkages at the subregional level, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Kairat Sarybay told Azerbaijan’s Trend news agency. Sarybay added that in a positive sense, Central Asia’s regional cooperation tendencies are at odds…
Kazakh National Pavilion Opens at Major Mining Exhibition in Canada for First Time
ASTANA – The Kazakh National Pavilion unveiled its doors at the Association of Geologists and Developers of Canada (PDAC) – 2023 exhibition in Toronto, Canada, on March 5, reported Kazakh Invest national company’s press service. In his welcoming address, Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Almas Aidarov emphasized that every year for the past decade,…
Scholar Presents Book on Fascinating History of Kazakhstan’s Statehood to President Tokayev
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met on March 6 with Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, director of the Institute of Modern Studies at the Gumilev Eurasian National University, who presented a book about the uninterrupted history of Kazakh nationhood in the 16th-19th centuries, reported the Akorda press service. The book “Uninterrupted History of Nationhood in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh…
Kazakhstan, China Bilateral Trade Turnover Increases by One-Third in 2022
ASTANA – In 2022, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China reached $24.1 billion, a 34.1 percent rise from the year before, reported Energyprom.kz on March 6, citing the data of the Bureau of National statistics. The Kazakh government is set to increase mutual trade with China by up to $35 billion by 2030 following…
Kazakh Security Forces Detain Suspected Initiator of Attacks on Journalists
ASTANA – The Kazakh security authorities and the Prosecutor General’s Office detained on March 4 Arkady Klebanov (Manevich), a Kazakh citizen suspected of ordering and organizing a series of recent attacks on journalists, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to Albina Makhambetova, chief of communications department at the Kazakh Internal Affairs Ministry, Klebanov…
Kazakh Fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov Scores Another UFC Victory
ASTANA – Kazakh fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov remained undefeated after his fifth UFC fight in Las Vegas on March 4, Sports.kz reported. Rakhmonov defeated American Geoff Neal in the welterweight fight with a rear-naked choke submission in the final 43 seconds of the third round. Rakhmonov and Neal won the Fight of the Night title. Shavkat…
World Bank: Central Asia Requires $20 Billion of Investment in Green Energy by 2030
ASTANA – Central Asia will need $20 billion of investment in solar, wind, hydro, and modernizing national and regional grids for improved trade and interconnectivity by 2030, according to the preliminary estimates announced at the Central Asia Energy Trade and Investment Forum 2023 in London on March 2-3, World Bank’s press service reported. A two-day…
Syrian President Sends Gratitude to Kazakhstan for Humanitarian Aid in Aftermath of Deadly Earthquake
ASTANA – President of Syria Bashar al-Assad sent a telegram to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extending gratitude for the humanitarian assistance provided by Kazakhstan to the Syrian people after the devastating earthquake that hit Syria and Türkiye on Feb. 6, the Akorda press service reported on March 6. “The Syrian people highly appreciate the position of…
Standard & Poor’s Revises Kazakhstan’s Rating Outlook from Negative to Stable
ASTANA – Standard & Poor’s (S&P) international rating agency confirmed Kazakhstan’s sovereign credit rating at BBB-/A-3, improving its outlook from negative to stable, according to its rating released on March 3. The Kazakh economy’s fiscal and external balance sheets are the key factors supporting the country’s credit rating. The S&P report states the significant amount…
UN Kazakhstan, Kazpost Launch Campaign to Combat Gender Stereotypes
ASTANA – A campaign to combat gender stereotypes was launched on March 6 by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Kazpost national postal operator, the press service of UN Kazakhstan reported. Posters with the slogan “Empowered woman –…
Tokayev Discusses Allied Relations with Uzbek President During Informal Meeting in Shymkent
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev trade and prospects for strengthening allied relations between the two countries during an informal meeting on March 3 in Shymkent, the Akorda press service reports. Tokayev and Mirziyoyev addressed the details of the agreements reached following Tokayev’s state visit to Tashkent in December 2022,…
Kazakhstan to Promote Bozok Ancient Settlement National Park with Open-Air Museum
ASTANA – A new open-air museum will be built at the Bozok ancient settlement site near Astana to showcase the life, history, and cultural features of ancient nomads, according to the Jibek Joly TV channel. The Bozok settlement is a significant archaeological site that provides evidence of the formation and development of steppe civilization, including…
Kazakhstan Names Five Top-Rated Tourist Destinations
ASTANA – More than 610,000 foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan in 2022, reported the Ministry of Tourism and Sports on Feb. 27. There was an increase in domestic tourism as well. Here is the list of the most visited places in the country in 2022. Charyn Canyon National Park Approximately 200 kilometers east of Almaty, the…
Kazakh Film “The Rat” Wins Awards at Five Global Festivals
ASTANA – Kazakh film “The Rat” directed by Zhantemir Baimukhamedov won awards at five international film festivals in Brazil, Macau, Malta, Scotland, and Russia, reported Jibek Joly TV channel on Feb. 21. The film won a Grand Prix at the 60th anniversary edition of the Golden Knight International Short Film Festival in Malta, competing with…
Kazakh Universities Welcome Nearly 30,000 Foreign Students
ASTANA – Some 28,169 international students study at 113 universities in Kazakhstan as of March 2023, according to the Study in Kazakhstan platform, which shares information about the country’s available educational programs for international students. In recent years, the country has seen an increase in the number of students coming from African countries, Russia, the…
Francophonie Spring Festival Kicks Off in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Francophonie Spring 2023 Festival kicked off on March 1 and will run until April 30 to promote the French language and Francophone cultures in Kazakhstan, said French Ambassador to Kazakhstan Didier Canesse at a Central Communications Service briefing on March 1. The festival, which has been held in Kazakhstan for the past 13…
London-Based Brand Strategy Consultancy Ranks Kazakhstan 79th Among 121 Nations in Global Soft Power Index
ASTANA – Kazakhstan rose from 88th to 79th place out of 121 countries in the 2023 Global Soft Power Index by Brand Finance, the world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy, according to the company’s report. The ranking was announced on March 2 at Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Summit in London, where delegates…
Kazakhstan Needs $610 Billion in Investments in Low-Carbon Technologies, Says Minister
ASTANA – The net investment in Kazakhstan’s low-carbon technologies is estimated at $610 billion, said Kazakh Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov at a Feb. 28 seminar dedicated to the country’s strategy for achieving carbon neutrality, the ministry’s press service reported. “Our goal is to reduce our carbon footprint and reap the new benefits of…
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia to Build Wind Farm in Zhetisu Region
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Energy, Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power company signed an agreement to build a one-gigawatt wind farm in the Zhetisu Region during a working trip of Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov to Riyadh on March 1, the ministry’s press service reported. The construction will start in…
Kazakhstan Calls for Resumption of Dialogue Between Nuclear Powers at Disarmament Conference
ASTANA – The resumption of dialogue between nuclear powers is necessary as never before, said Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi at a Feb. 28 High-level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, reported the UN Office press service. “Over the past year, the world has become even…
Kazakhstan Seeks to Increase Agricultural Exports to EU
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Karashukeyev said during a Feb. 27 meeting with top EU officials in Brussels that Kazakhstan is ready to expand trade and economic partnership with the European Union, reported the ministry’s press service. During talks with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, the sides discussed exporting Kazakh fish…
EU Clarifies Procedures for Issuing Schengen Visas for Kazakh Citizens
ASTANA – The European Union made no significant changes to the Schengen visa application procedure for Kazakh citizens and did not place Kazakhstan on a “black list”, according to a March 1 statement from the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan. “As a general rule, a decision to issue a Schengen visa is taken by the respective…
IAEA Expert Mission to Review Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Infrastructure
ASTANA – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission started its work in Kazakhstan on Feb. 27 to help prepare a comprehensive report on the country’s nuclear power infrastructure, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry’s press service. The mission, which will last until March 3, will explore the development of Kazakhstan’s nuclear energy infrastructure, including…
Kazakhstan, UNICEF Join Efforts to Raise Awareness of Kazakh Open-Source IT Products Worldwide
ASTANA – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Nazarbayev University Innovation Cluster (NURIS) launched a project to raise global visibility, support, and publicity of Kazakh open-source IT products, UNICEF Kazakhstan reported on Feb. 24. Every product will pass the Digital Public Goods Alliance’s (DPGA) global standards verification to enter the DGPA global registry,…
Mexican Metro Broadcasts Dimash’s Video to Celebrate Nauryz (VIDEO)
ASTANA – The official fan club in Mexico of the world-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen has broadcast his music video for the song “Kieli Meken” (Sacred Place) on 576 media facades of the Mexican metro to mark the upcoming Nauryz holiday, reported Dimashnews.com on Feb. 28. The video will be broadcast every hour from Feb.…
Almaty Court Arrests Suspected Coordinator of Attacks on Journalists for Two Months
ASTANA – The Almaty specialized interdistrict investigation court ruled on Feb. 24 to arrest for two months a person suspected of coordinating provocative attacks against journalists, reported the court’s press service. “The court decided to satisfy the request of the pre-trial investigation and authorized the use of a preventive measure in the form of an…
New York-Based Think Tank Includes Astana in Smart Communities List
ASTANA – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a New York-based global network and think tank, listed Astana among the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2023, the organization announced during a Feb. 23 virtual conference. “This may be ICF’s most ‘youthful’ and diverse group of cities,” said ICF co-founder Lou Zacharilla. “As we continue to move to…
President Tokayev Congratulates Nation on Gratitude Day
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the nation on the Day of Gratitude celebrated on March 1, the Akorda press service reports. Celebrated since 2016, the holiday marks the establishment of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan on March 1, 1995. “This holiday embodies the enduring values of friendship, kindness, and solidarity, which are…
New Rules for Schengen Visa Not to Delay Applications for Kazakh Nationals, Says MFA Spokesperson
ASTANA – As of March 1, Kazakhstan will be included in the list of countries whose citizens will be required to pass through additional consultations to obtain a Schengen visa, Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov noted at a press briefing on Feb. 27. “As for the question that supposedly Kazakhstan is included in some kind…
Kazakh CEC Announces Schedule for Pre-Election TV Debates
ASTANA – Pre-election debates among political parties ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election will take place throughout March, the Kazakh Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on Feb. 27. Sixty-three million tenge (US$141,158) will be allocated to organize the debates. Both Khabar and the Qazaqstan TV channels were selected to air the debates, with the aim…
More Than 200 Voter Services Call Centers Now Operate Nationwide in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Since the beginning of the election campaign, 230 call centers have received more than 17,000 requests on voter verification and registration as of Feb. 27, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Aset Turysov said the ministry organized call centers for voter services in…
Oman to Launch Direct Flights to Kazakhstan in July
ASTANA – Oman’s Salam Air low-cost airline plans to launch regular direct flights between Almaty and Muscat from July 1, reported the press service of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development. Flights will be operated two times a week on Thursdays and Sundays on Airbus A320neo and А321neo…
Maternal Mortality Rate Declines in Central Asia, According to Latest UN Report
ASTANA – Central Asia’s maternal mortality rate declined by 67.5 percent in the last 20 years, according to a study on the trends in maternal mortality prepared by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group and released on Feb. 23. According to the UN report, the region of Central and Southern Asia saw the…
Kazakh Break-Dancer Wins 2023 Breaking for Gold World Series in Japan (VIDEO)
ASTANA – Kazakh breakdancer Amir Zakirov won the Breaking for Gold World Series 2023 in Japan’s Kitakyushu, reported the tournament’s press service on Feb. 25. In the fight for gold, the Kazakh break-dancer overpowered opponents from the United States and Japan. The competition brought together 180 strongest break-dancers, including 99 boys and 81 girls, from…
National Bank to Keep Base Rate at 16.75 Percent
ASTANA – The monetary policy committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided on Feb. 24 to keep the base rate at 16.75 percent, according to the bank’s press service. The decision is based on the bank’s updated forecasts, data analysis, and an assessment of the inflation risks balance. External pro-inflationary factors remain…
Kazakh FM Meets with UN Officials in Almaty, Reaffirms Country’s Commitment to Multilateralism
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi congratulated the United Nations on the 30th anniversary of UN presence in Kazakhstan during his meeting with representatives of UN agencies and diplomatic corps on Feb. 24 in Almaty, reported the ministry’s press service. Tileuberdi noted the high level of interaction between Kazakhstan and…
