Articles by Dana Omirgazy

Kazakhstan Launches Migration Data Website to Simplify Procedures 

ASTANA – The migration.enbek.kz migration data website has been launched in Kazakhstan, reported the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Dec. 21. The website, which contains information about arriving foreign citizens, aims to improve the quality of government services for migrants. A unified platform will allow for synchronizing various stages of migration processes, managing…

Saudi Arabia’s Flynas to Launch Almaty – Riyadh Flights Next Year

ASTANA – Saudi Arabia’s Flynas low-cost airline will start operating Almaty – Riyadh flights seven times per week from the spring-summer season next year, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service on Dec. 21. A decision was reached during the visit of the Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to Saudi Arabia to…

George Washington University Holds Discussion on Aral Sea Crisis

ASTANA – The George Washington University and the Kazakh Embassy in the United States discussed the shallowing of waters, including the Aral Sea, on Dec. 11, reported Kazinform news agency. Director of the Central Asia Program Sebastien Peyrouse, who moderated the event, noted that the climate crisis is a crucial topic not only for Central…

UN Experts Assess Readiness of Kazakh Troops for Peacekeeping Activities

ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) experts conducted a comprehensive inspection of the material and technical base and the level of training of Kazakh military personnel planning to participate in peacekeeping operations, reported the Defense Ministry on Dec. 19. During one week, inspectors led by Cédric Pascal, planning officer for the troop formation service of…

Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency Recovers $120 Million After Investigation Probes

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency recovered $120 million in December as a result of investigations on the fund embezzlement from Kazakhtelecom and the Transport Service Center against Kairat Satybaldyuly, who held stocks in these companies and other persons, reported the agency’s press service on Dec. 20. According to the agency, assets and funds worth more…

First Oxford Kazakh-English Dictionary Unveiled at Nazarbayev University

ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) hosted a presentation of the first Kazakh-English and English-Kazakh Oxford Qazaq Dictionary on Dec. 19, developed by the Qazaq Tili international association, reported the university’s press service. NU Acting President Ilesanmi Adesida, Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, Mazhilis Deputy Kazybek Isa, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy…

Investments in Kazakh Airports Infrastructure Totals $2.4 Billion

ASTANA – Investments in Kazakh airports infrastructure reached $2.4 billion, said Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev at a Dec. 19 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov,  reported the Prime Minister’s press service. At the Almaty airport, work is underway to overhaul the apron and improve the cargo handling procedures. The construction of…

Kazakhstan to Launch Flights to Mumbai, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo in 2024-2025

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to launch flights to Mumbai, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo in 2024-2025, said Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev at a Dec. 19 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Air Asia, the Malaysian multinational low-cost airline, will start operating flights on the Almaty-Kuala Lumpur route from March…

Air Passenger Traffic at Kazakh Airports Nears 13 Million This Year

ASTANA – In January-November, Kazakh airlines transported 12.3 million passengers, which is 23% more than last year, said Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev at a Dec. 19 government meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The volume of services at airports increased by 25%. There is significant growth…

Harvard University Graduates Address Human Capital Development in Kazakhstan 

ASTANA – Harvard University graduates discussed aspects of human capital development in the economic modernization in Kazakhstan during a recent meeting at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), reported the institute’s press service. During the expert meeting, KazISS Director Yerkin Tukumov noted that the quality of human capital affects economic development, which is a…

Kazakh, German Officials Focus on Scientific, Innovative Cooperation at Berlin Eurasian Club Meeting

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko outlined major achievements in the Kazakh-German partnership and focused on the main areas of Kazakhstan’s policy in innovative development of the economy and commercialization of scientific work in his welcoming speech at the 39th meeting of the Berlin Eurasian Club (BEC) on Dec. 14, reported the ministry’s…

Kazakh President Visits Astana Industrial Park Enterprises

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited major enterprises of the capital’s Industrial Park No.1 on Dec. 15, reported the Akorda press service. Astana’s Deputy Akim (Mayor), Yevgeniy Glotov, informed that the volume of the capital’s gross regional product (GRP) for the first half of the year reached 4.7 trillion tenge ($10.3 billion), marking a…

Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Addresses Cooperation With Int’l Organizations Top Officials in Geneva

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov took part in the high-level event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in Geneva, reported the ministry’s press service on Dec. 13. During the working trip, Umarov held talks with the heads of international organizations – Office of the United Nations…

News Digest: Foreign Media on EU Investments in Kazakhstan, Middle Corridor and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media worldwide. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on Kazakhstan’s action plan on human rights, the European Union (EU) investments in Kazakh economy and the Middle Corridor’s potential. President Tokayev signs Action Plan on human rights ahead of…

Kazakhstan’s Ambitious Green Agenda Requires $600 Billion Investment, Says Kazakh PM

ASTANA – Kazakhstan needs more than $600 billion to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, said Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, urging relevant ministries to intensify efforts to attract investments in green technologies during a Dec. 14 meeting of the council on the transition to a green economy, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. According to…

Foreign Ministry: Kazakhstan Evacuates Almost All Nationals From Gaza Strip

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has evacuated 127 citizens and members of their families from the Gaza Strip, said Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in an interview with Kazinform on Dec. 14. According to Nurtleu, one Kazakh citizen and ten members of his family – Palestinian citizens who voluntarily refused to evacuate – remain in Gaza. “The ministry…

Roe Deers Take to Kokshetau Streets to Warm Up (Video)

ASTANA – Roe deers took to the streets of Kokshetau in search of warmth, as the air temperature dropped to 24 degrees Celsius below zero in recent days, reported the Kazinform news agency on Dec. 12. An Instagram video showed how a roe deer, running through the streets of Kokshetau, jumped onto the roadway in…

Kazakh Singer Dimash Kudaibergen Performs With Croatian Cellist Stjepan Hauser (Video)

ASTANA – Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen and Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser released an Instagram video on Dec. 11 where they performed “Ave Maria” in Budapest. The version of “Ave Maria”’ was written by composer Igor Krutoy, especially for Kudaibergen. He first performed it at the New Wave 2021 song contest.     “Dimash, the most beautiful…

Kazakh Seaports Serve 25% More Vessel Calls in Nine Months

ASTANA – In January-November this year, Kazakh seaports served a quarter more vessel calls compared to the same period last year, said Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev at a Dec. 12 government meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. However, the growing intensity of shipping and the shallowing…

Kazakhstan, Romania to Enhance Multifaceted Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu paid first official visit to Bucharest and held talks with Romanian top officials on Dec. 12, reported the ministry’s press service. At the meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu, the sides confirmed Astana and Bucharest’s commitment to an open and trusting dialogue. Nurtleu…

Kazakhstan’s Inflation Slows Down to 10.3% in November

ASTANA – The inflation rate in Kazakhstan slowed down in November to 10.3% in annual terms, said Deputy Chair of the National Bank Vitaliy Tutushkin at a Dec. 12 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. In the coming months, annual inflation in Kazakhstan is expected to decrease below 10%. “The decline in annual…

Dimash Kudaibergen Becomes Jury Member of Placido Domingo’s Talent Show

ASTANA – World-renowned Spanish opera singer Maestro Placido Domingo offered Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen to do a duet and invited him to become a jury member of the “Virtuosos” show, according to video published on Kudaibergen’s Instagram page on Dec. 9. “Back in 1999, we had a cassette of a concert of the great three…

Kazakhstan Intends to Enhance Cooperation with Cyprus, UAE  

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu held talks with his foreign counterparts to outline prospects for cooperation during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reported the ministry’s press service on Dec. 10. During the meeting with Foreign Minister of Cyprus Constantinos Kombos in Abu Dhabi, the sides addressed…

Kazakhstan Plans to Build Twenty New Reservoirs to Reduce Volume of Purchased Water

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to construct 20 new reservoirs in the coming years to reduce the country’s dependence on water supply from neighboring countries by an average of 25%, said Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov at a Dec. 11 government meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s…

Top Kazakh Diplomat Outlines 2023 Trends in Country’s Foreign Policy 

ASTANA –  Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko spoke about the meaning of 2023 for Kazakhstan’s foreign policy, how middle power countries can contribute to the restoration of dialogue at the global level, and cooperation prospects with the European Union (EU) in his interview with Jibek Joly TV channel, released on Dec. 8. In the…