Kazakhstan Considers South Korea for Nuclear Technology Partnership
ASTANA – Almassadam Satkaliyev, the chairman of Kazakhstan’s newly established Nuclear Energy Agency, completed negotiations with Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) President and CEO Whang Joo-ho, a potential supplier of nuclear technologies for the construction of a nuclear power plant on March 26, Kazinform reported, citing the agency’s press service. Satkaliyev highlighted KHNP’s experience…
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs to Visit Kazakhstan This Week
ASTANA – Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Vice-President of the European Commission, will visit Almaty on March 28 to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, reported the press service of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan. Her visit will follow the 20th…
Kazakhstan Emerges as Leading Tech Hub, Growing 18x Since 2019
ASTANA – Dealroom.co report released on March 25 highlights Kazakhstan’s remarkable transformation from a resource-based economy to one of the fastest-growing tech hubs globally, with significant growth in its startup ecosystem and government-backed initiatives supporting technology and AI development. “In just six years, Kazakhstan has evolved from a resource-driven economy to become one of the…
World Bank Backs Crucial Kambarata HPP Project for Central Asia
ASTANA – The Kyrgyz Republic will receive an $11 million concessional loan and a $2.6 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank to provide technical support for the Kambarata-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) construction project, Kazinform reported. On March 18, Kyrgyzstan ratified the Financing Agreement and Grant Agreement Letter with…
Ancient Burials in Kazakhstan Reveal High Status of Women in Nomad Culture
ASTANA – Ramazan Zhanuzak, an anthropologist at the Alkey Margulan Institute of Archaeology, spoke about the ancient burials with the high status of women in ancient nomadic societies of the Saka and Turkic periods in an interview with Kazinform. The institute’s physical anthropology laboratory studies and preserves human remains from archaeological excavations across Kazakhstan. Findings…
Kazakhstan Introduces Mutual Visa-Free Travel with Morocco
ASTANA – The agreement on mutual exemption from visa requirements between Kazakhstan and Morocco came into force on March 19, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Citizens of both countries with national passports can stay visa-free for up to 30 days within six months. The agreement is expected to boost tourism, business, and cultural…
Astana Finance Days 2025 to Take Place in September
ASTANA—The eighth Astana Finance Days (AFD) will be held on Sept. 4-5 and will bring together over 5,000 participants, according to the Astana International Financial Centre’s press service. The theme highlights the dual meaning of “capital:” Astana as Kazakhstan’s capital — a growing financial hub connecting East and West — and the three critical forms…
Kazakhstan Welcomes Peace Agreement Between Azerbaijan and Armenia
ASTANA — Kazakhstan welcomes the statements from the Ministries of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the conclusion of negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Inter-State Relations between the two countries. “We express confidence that the agreements reached and the signing of this historic document will be an important…
SCAT Airlines to Launch Shymkent-Munich Route in May
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines will launch a direct Shymkent-Munich flight on May 27, reported the airline’s press service. The flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The flight duration is approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. The total number of flights between Kazakhstan and Germany will increase from 11…
Visa, Halyk Launch Women in Tech Entrepreneurship Initiative
ASTANA – Visa multinational card payment system and Halyk Bank will launch the fourth wave of the She’s Next initiative this spring, expanding support for women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, reported the press service of Visa on March 7. The initiative offers grant opportunities and loans with a focus on IT businesses to support women in…
Kazakhstan to Cut Oil Production in March
ASTANA — Kazakhstan intends to reduce oil production in March following the January excess to meet its OPEC+ obligations, Minister of Energy Almassadam Satkaliyev said at a March 7 press conference. According to the ministry, the overproduction was caused by an early start to production at the Tengiz oilfield. Originally scheduled for June-July, project partners…
Kazakhstan Donates Locomotives to Kyrgyz Republic
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has donated five locomotives, including two shunting and three mainline, to the Kyrgyz Republic, the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) reported on March 7. The locomotives were handed over to Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, the country’s largest railroad carrier, from Kazakhstan’s Karatau, Zhem, and Shymkent railroad stations. The transfer was facilitated by…
AIX Starts Trading Renewable Energy Certificates, Advancing Green Finance
ASTANA — Astana International Exchange (AIX) has launched the trading of International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC), marking a milestone in developing sustainable finance and the carbon market in Kazakhstan. The Astana International Financial Centre’s (AIFC) press service reported on Feb. 25 that the first transaction involved the London-based trading firm Valor Carbon purchasing 1,000 I-REC…
First Container Train from India Dispatches to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – A subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), in cooperation with Uzbekistan’s and Turkmenistan’s railway companies, organized the first shipment of 12 twenty-foot containers carrying ceramic tiles from Mundra Port, India, to Astana on March 4. The KTZ press service reported that the train will travel 1,585 kilometers by sea and 4,300 kilometers by…
Dimash to Release New Song with Grammy-Winning Producer
ASTANA – A world-renowned singer Dimash Qudaibergen will premiere his new song and first collaboration with two-time Grammy Award winner, world-renowned producer and composer Walter Afanasieff on March 7, reported DimashNews.com Afanasieff has worked with global music legends such as Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Ricky Martin, Leona Lewis, and…
Kazakhstan Fulfills OPEC+ Obligations in February
ASTANA – Kazakhstan took all necessary measures to fully implement its OPEC+ obligations in February, Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev stated during a March 3 virtual meeting, reported the ministry’s press service. The meeting involved eight OPEC+ countries that previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United…
Kazakhstan Identifies Preliminary Cause of Recent Mine Collapse
ASTANA – A preliminary investigation has revealed that the mine collapse at Kazakhmys Corporation in the Ulytau Region on Feb. 17, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, was caused by the buildup and release of methane from the mine works, followed by an explosion triggered by a spark from electrical equipment. The Prime…
Kazakhstan Presents Digital Investment Coin at Berlin’s World Money Fair
ASTANA—The National Bank of Kazakhstan presented the digital investment coin ÚKI at the World Money Fair in Berlin on Feb. 28, the bank’s press service reported. The global presentation unveiled the key features of the project’s launch and implementation. International experts highly appreciated the project’s advancement, focus on financial education, quality, and exclusive design. The…
Kazakhstan Launches Digital Nomad Residency Project
ASTANA – Kazakhstan announced plans to introduce the Digital Nomad Residency for foreign IT professionals to work and reside permanently in the country, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry reported on March 3. Kazakhstan introduced the Digital Nomad Residency, a pilot project offering a simplified path to permanent residency (PRP). Applicants must…
Central Asia is Key Part of Europe-Asia Economic Integration, Ambassador Simkić Says
ASTANA – The European Union and countries of Central Asia seek to strengthen partnership through political, economic and security cooperation. As the 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Ashgabat approaches, EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aleška Simkić spoke about the EU’s strategic vision, investments, and plans for future collaboration with the region in an interview with…
Kazakhstan to Launch Shymkent-Cairo Flights in May
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines will open a new Shymkent-Cairo route starting May 29, the Transport Ministry reported. Flights will be operated twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Additionally, Qazaq Air will launch Astana-Samarkand flights on May 1, with convenient transit in Turkistan. This route allows passengers to explore Turkistan, Kazakhstan’s spiritual and historical…
Kazakhstan to Build First Nuclear Power Plant in Almaty Region
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has designated the Zhambyl district of the Almaty Region as the site for its first nuclear power plant (NPP), according to a government decree, reported Kazinform on Feb. 25. The country recently completed a dialogue with potential technology suppliers for the plant’s construction. The Ministry of Energy estimates the plant could be…
European Council Appoints New EU Representative for Central Asia
ASTANA – The Council of the European Union (EU) appointed Eduards Stiprais as Central Asia’s new EU Special Representative (EUSR) on Feb. 24. According to the council’s press service, Stiprais will take up his duties on March 1 for an initial two-year mandate, succeeding Terhi Hakala. Stiprais, a Latvian diplomat, has served as Latvia’s Permanent…
Kazakhstan to Develop Joint Satellites with Mongolia and Congo
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary national space company has signed agreements with Mongolia and Congo to develop joint satellites, Kazinform reported on Feb. 24, citing the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry. These countries are interested in Kazakhstan’s Earth remote sensing technologies for monitoring agriculture, ecology, and natural resources. The company has been…
SCO Legal Framework Updates Take Center Stage at Beijing Meeting
ASTANA — Updating the legal framework took center stage at the regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of National Coordinators, chaired by China and held in Beijing from Feb. 18-21. The national coordinators advocated a thorough elaboration of all the proposals to transform the SCO into a practical and mobile multilateral structure.…
