Articles by Assel Satubaldina

Kazakhstan’s Tourism Industry Recovers, Sees New Opportunities

NUR-SULTAN – Tourism around the world continues to recover at a strong pace. Globally, there were almost three times as many international arrivals in the first quarter of 2022 as in the same period of 2021. Kazakhstan is no exception and is ready for foreign and local tourists. The Astana Times spoke with Talgat Amanbayev,…

First National Kurultai Outlines Priorities, Seeks to Strengthen National Unity and Encourage Broader Public Involvement in Decision-Making

NUR-SULTAN – The Ulytau Region, a sacred place for Kazakhstan, hosted the first National Kurultai (congress in Kazakh) today to outline the priorities of the work of the new institution and the country’s development. “It was right to begin the National Kurultai in Ulytau. This sacred land has become a symbol of unity as we…

President Tokayev Arrives in Ulytau Region to Take Part in First National Kuryltai

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in the Ulytau Region in the morning to take part in the first National Kuryltai (National Congress) later in the day, reports the presidential press service.  In Zhezkazgan, the administrative center of the newly formed region, Tokayev will discuss the prospects for the development of the Ulytau Region…

Kazakhstan’s Trade and Integration Minister Focuses on Pandemic Response, Trade and Food Security at WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Trade and Integration Bakhyt Sultanov participated in the World Trade Organization (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference that is taking place at WTO headquarters in Geneva from June 12 until June 16. Kazakhstan, which has been a WTO member since November 2015, co-hosted the conference and Timur Suleimenov,…

Kazakh Economy Grows 4.6 Percent in Five Months

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s economy has witnessed a 4.6 percent growth between January and May, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov at a government meeting on June 14 summing up the results of the country’s social and economic development. Key factors driving the growth were rising dynamics in the services sector and in exports. “Growth…

Kazakhstan’s Qazaqstan Halqyna Fund to Organize National Charity Conference in September

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Qazaqstan Halqyna Fund will organize the National Charity Conference in September, the fund’s chair Bolat Zhamishev told President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during their meeting on Monday. Zhamishev said the fund now implements ten programs and projects. Eight are aimed at providing medical care, while one project focuses on improving social conditions in the…

Regional Appointments Made in Kazakhstan After Referendum to Strengthen Local Self Governance

NUR-SULTAN – Over the weekend, Kazakhstan has seen several new appointments of regional (governors) and city akims (mayors) that now follow the new rules designed to strengthen local self-government adopted by the June 5th constitutional referendum. The June 8 decree signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gives the maslikhats (local representative bodies) the right to choose…

Foreign Investors’ Council Meeting Focuses On Carbon Neutrality Efforts and Improvement of Investment Сlimate

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will continue fulfilling its plans to reduce its carbon use and undertake more efforts to improve the investment climate, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as he chaired the 34th plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council on June 10, reports the presidential press service. Heads of major multinational companies working in Kazakhstan, government…

National Kuryltai to Convene Next Week in Ulytau, Encourage Broad Public Discussions

NUR-SULTAN – The newly formed Ulytau Region will host the Ulltyk Kuryltai (National Congress) meeting next week on June 16, Kazakhstan’s State Secretary Erlan Karin announced on his Telegram channel.  “Members of Parliament, representatives of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, civil society and political parties, business people and prominent experts, as well as…

Kazakh Capital to Host Foreign Investors’ Council Meeting Today

NUR-SULTAN – As the Kazakh capital prepares to host today the 34th meeting of the Foreign Investors Council under the President of Kazakhstan, top management of multinational companies are arriving in the capital. Before convening later this day, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with business giants to discuss their activities in Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy…

Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies Convenes Local Experts to Talk Referendum Results

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) invited experts on  Monday for its Gylym, Pikir, Sayasat (science, opinion, politics) platform to sum up the results of the June 5 referendum on the constitutional amendments in Kazakhstan, reports the institute’s press service. In the national referendum on Sunday, 77.18 percent voted in favor of…

Chinese Foreign Minister Visits Kazakhstan, Commends President Tokayev’s Reforms

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and China celebrated their commitment to productive bilateral relations, which mark their 30th anniversary this year, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his four-day visit to Kazakhstan.  Wang met President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi to discuss the bilateral ties which have…

Young People Should Be Drivers of Change, Says Nazarbayev University President Shigeo Katsu

NUR-SULTAN – Just ten years ago, the idea of having a world-class university in the middle of the steppes would seem close to impossible, but it is now becoming a reality – since its creation in 2010, Nazarbayev University (NU) pioneered educational reforms, academic freedom, merit-based admission, and progression as well as academic integrity serving…

New Kazakhstan Will Depend on Collaboration Between Government and Civil Society, Says Human Rights Commissioner

NUR-SULTAN – Regardless of its outcome, the national referendum will not bring change in one day. The country’s fate and future will depend on the collaborative effort between the government and citizens, Human Rights Commissioner Elvira Azimova said at a June 5 press briefing. A lot will depend on the civic responsibility of citizens. “One…

Referendum Through Popular Vote is Bold Move for President, Says Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies Director 

NUR-SULTAN – Holding the referendum through a popular vote was a bold move for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said the director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies Yerkin Tukumov. “Some criticize the President that he writes the Constitution as he sees fit. If this were true, it would be more rational [for him] to hold…

Kazakhstan Expects Major Changes, Says President Tokayev After Casting Vote in Constitutional Referendum

NUR-SULTAN – As the vote on the national referendum kicked off today, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was among the first to cast vote in the capital’s Schoolchildren Palace.   “Today is an important historical day for our country, indeed. People are making a fateful decision. There is no compulsion,” said Tokayev. He said the constitutional…

Kazakhstan Committed to Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Agenda

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has been committing to promotion of the gender equality agenda in the context of the country’s international devotion to the  implementation of  the principles of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Akan Rakhmetullin told Anita Bhatia, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and…

Kazakhstan Presents Tourism Potential at World’s Leading Business Tourism Exhibition in Frankfurt

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan presented its vast tourism opportunities at IMEX Frankfurt, one of the world’s leading exhibition platforms in the field of tourism and business tourism, from May 31 to June 2, reports Kazakh Tourism national company’s press service.  Kazakh Tourism, the country’s national company tasked with promoting tourism, headed the country’s delegation at the…

Constitutional Reform in Kazakhstan Aims at Strengthening Principles of Democracy, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Says

NUR-SULTAN – The upcoming referendum is a real breakthrough in terms of the constitutional amendments and the country’s approach to social structure and promotion of market oriented reforms, said Polish Foreign Minister and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office Zbigniew Rau during his June 2 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Nur-Sultan.…

No Intention to Reset Presidential Term, Says President Tokayev

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev does not intend to reset his presidential term by means of a referendum, he told participants of the meeting on the 75th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences on June 1 in Almaty, reports the presidential press service. President Tokayev was on a working visit in Almaty from…

EU, Central Asia Special Envoys for Afghanistan Convene in Almaty 

NUR-SULTAN – The European Union (EU) and the Central Asian Special Representatives for Afghanistan convened in Almaty on May 31 for discussions on developments in Afghanistan, and recent policies affecting the rights and freedom of women and girls as well as solutions to challenges in the Afghan economy.  Kazakhstan’s delegation was headed by the Deputy…

President Tokayev Meets UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Reiterates Kazakhstan’s Support

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Deborah Lyons on June 1 in Almaty reaffirming Kazakhstan’s unwavering commitment to supporting Afghanistan, reports the presidential press service. They discussed prospects for cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UN as part…

EU, UNICEF, Human Rights Commissioner Office Wrap Up Four Year Program to Expand Migrant Children’s Access to Educational and Social Services

NUR-SULTAN – Some 1,273 children have received birth certificates and have been able to access educational and social services as part of the Protection of Children in Migration Processes project implemented by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Office in partnership with Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan and the…

Pope Francis Commends Kazakhstan’s Contribution to Interreligious Dialogue, Reaffirms Plan to Visit Kazakhstan in September

NUR-SULTAN – Pope Francis commended Kazakhstan’s contribution to the promotion of interfaith harmony and interreligious dialogue during his May 31 meeting with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi, reports the Foreign Ministry press service. Tileuberdi is on an official visit to the Holy See.  Pope Francis reaffirmed his intention to…

U.S. Assistant Secretary Donald Lu Visits Kazakhstan to Strengthen U.S. Relations with Region

NUR-SULTAN – United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu visited Kazakhstan on May 27 as part of his Central Asia tour from May 23 to May 27.  The delegation included the National Security Council’s Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia Eric Green, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense…