International Monetary Fund Reaffirms Willingness to Support Kazakhstan’s Reforms and Development
ASTANA – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is willing to support Kazakhstan’s reforms and development, said the Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission for Kazakhstan, Nicolas Blanchet, during a June 6 meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The sides addressed the state and measures to develop…
Kazakh Musical Triumphs at Daegu International Musical Festival
ASTANA – A musical dedicated to legendary Kazakh pop and opera singer Roza Baglanova won two awards at the Daegu International Musical Festival in South Korea, reported the Kazakh Ministry Culture and Sports on June 6. The production, staged by Astana Musical Theater based at the Kazakhconcert state musical organization named after Roza Baglanova, won…
Kazakhstan’s Freight Transportation by Sea Surpasses 1.1 Million in 2022
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s freight transportation by sea surged by 46,8% in 2022, compared to the previous year, exceeding 1.1 million tons, reported the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics on its Telegram channel on June 5. Freight turnover by sea climbed by 23,3% to 681.9 million ton-kilometers, with 89,200 people transported. Kazakhstan registered 282 sea vessels,…
Kazakhstan Expands International Flights to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is expanding international flights to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye. Turkmenistan Airlines launched regular flights from Almaty to Ashgabat on June 2, reported the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development on June 3. The flight will be carried out once a week on Fridays on the Boeing-737 aircraft. Uzbek low-cost airline My Frighter…
Astana International Forum to Open with Panel on Peace, Conflict and Global Order
ASTANA – The first day of the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 8 will open with a panel session Rethinking Peace, Conflict, and the Global Order, which covers one of the AIF’s four major themes – Foreign Policy and International Security. The other three pillars of the AIF are International Development and Sustainability, Energy…
Tokayev Reviews Key Issues of Upcoming Astana International Forum
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reviewed key issues on the agenda of the upcoming Astana International Forum (AIF) at a June 6 meeting with Margareta Cederfelt, the President of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, reported the Akorda press service. The AIF, a major international conference aiming to…
Kazakhstan Skateboard Federation Constructs Modern Skatepark for SOS Children’s Village to Promote Active Lifestyle
ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Skateboard Federation (KSF) has begun the construction of a cutting-edge skateboard park at SOS Children’s Village to promote physical and emotional well-being, the federation announced on June 2. The new facility provides a safe place tailored to teenagers from the SOS Children’s Village, Astana’s only children’s home for teenagers. KFS donates…
New York City Plays Dimash Kudaibergen’s Music Video on Times Square
ASTANA – New York City displayed a music video of Kazakh popstar Dimash Kudaibergen on its landmark Times Square’s LED screen on June 3 to promote his new song “Omir” (Life) and his upcoming solo concert in Malaysia on June 24, reported Dimashnews.com. The broadcast of the video, shown every 20 minutes during the day,…
Kazakhstan Has Set New Agenda After National Referendum Last Year, Says State Counselor
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has set a new agenda, embarking on the reforms that have become a unique phenomenon in the region, following the national referendum on constitutional amendments on June 5, 2022, State Counselor Erlan Karin wrote on his Telegram channel on June 5. The referendum became a milestone event, ushering in a new era…
Kazakhstan Commits to Prolonged Oil Output Cuts Until 2024
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will continue cutting oil output by 78,000 barrels per day through the end of 2024, following the latest agreement reached by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on June 4, announced by the Ministry of Energy. During the 35th OPEC and OPEC+ ministerial meeting in Vienna, participating countries, including Kazakhstan, decided…
Kazakhstan Successfully Tests Upgraded Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Engineering National Company has successfully flight-tested the upgraded unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Shagala-M, the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development announced on June 1. The test demonstrated improved tactical and technical characteristics of the drone, including speed, altitude, and flight range. Temirzhan Abdrakhmanov, Chairman of Kazakhstan Engineering, said the UAV is widely…
Tokayev to Attend Erdoğan’s Inauguration Ceremony in Türkiye
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend the inauguration ceremony of Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 3, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev will pay a working visit to Ankara at the invitation of Erdoğan, who was re-elected on May 28. Earlier, the Kazakh President congratulated Erdoğan on an election win…
Kazakhstan and EBRD Join Efforts to Modernize Mining Sector
ASTANA – Tau-Ken Samruk national mining company and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will consolidate efforts to stimulate the domestic mining sector’s technical and innovative development and introduce cutting-edge technologies, the company’s press service reported on June 1. The steps are envisioned in the memorandum of understanding signed on June 1, a…
Kazakh Movie Wins Grand Prix at Eurasian Creative Guild Film Festival
ASTANA – “The Crying Steppe,” a film directed by Marina Kunarova and produced by Yerlan Malikov, won the Grand Prix at the Fifth Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG) Film Festival, reported Kazinform on May 31. The movie about the tragic Kazakh famine as a result of the Soviet collectivization campaign in the 1930s, has been recognized as…
Kazakh Foreign Ministry Announces Call for Applications for Foreign Media Contest
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with Kazakhstan’s Chief Editors’ Club and the Kazakh Tourism national company, announced the start of accepting applications for the eighth Kazakhstan through the Eyes of Foreign Media contest for foreign journalists. The contest is open to foreign journalists and bloggers who have published original articles,…
Art and Fashion Event Celebrates World Environment Day in Almaty
ASTANA – Almaty hosted the Reuse. Recycle. Reduce sustainable fashion and art event on May 31 ahead of the World Environment Day, which is marked on June 5, reported the United Nations (UN) press service. The event was organized by the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Kazakhstan, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the…
Astana Hosts BIZZ Awards Eurasia 2023 to Celebrate Business Excellence
ASTANA – Astana hosted the BIZZ Awards Eurasia 2023 at the Sheraton Astana Hotel on May 25-28, reported the Kazakh Tourism national company. The awards ceremony was organized by the World Confederation of Businesses (WORLDCOB), an American business organization that promotes business development worldwide, recognizing and boosting the growth of leading companies. The event brought…
Unmissable Events for First Week of Summer in Kazakh Capital
ASTANA – The first day of summer on June 1 marks the International Children’s Day to honor children and promote their welfare. Numerous festivities dedicated to this day will be held nationwide, including concerts, sports competitions, intellectual games, and masterclasses in the capital. The Astana Times has picked the top events to attend this week.…
Almaty to Host World Forum of Central Securities Depositories in 2025
ASTANA – Almaty is set to host the World Forum of Central Securities Depositories (WFC) in 2025 for the first time, reported the Kazakhstan Central Securities Depository (KCSD). This decision was announced at the final day of WFC, which took place on May 24-26 in Prague. Kazakhstan will become the first country in Central Asia…
USAID Expedition to Aral Sea Focuses on Ecosystem Restoration and Donor Coordination
ASTANA – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized an expedition to the dried bottom of the Aral Sea and a donor coordination conference on May 21-26 to draw attention to the Aral Sea disaster and foster dialogue and knowledge sharing among organizations working in the region, reported USAID on May 22. As…
Kazakh National Bank Keeps Base Rate at 16.75 Percent
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has decided on May 26 to keep the base rate at 16.75 % for the fourth time since December last year, according to the bank’s press service. The decision is based on the bank’s updated forecasts, data analysis, and the inflation risks balance assessment. Pro-inflationary pressures remain in…
Astana to Host Climate Congress in June
ASTANA – ECOJER, Kazakhstan’s Association of Regional Environmental Initiatives, is organizing a third international climate congress dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality. The event will be held in the Kazakh capital on June 2, announced ECOJER. The congress will focus on Kazakhstan’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce the impact of climate change on the…
Kazakhstan and UK Agree to Increase Flight Frequency
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national carrier Air Astana is set to increase the number of flights between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom from five to seven per week by year-end, reported the Civil Aviation Committee on May 26. Talgat Lastayev, Chair of the Civil Aviation Committee, held talks in London on May 24-25 with Jeff Bevan,…
Four Kazakh Films Reach Final of Eurasian Creative Guild Film Festival
ASTANA – Four Kazakh movies have reached the final of the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG) Film Festival, reported the festival’s press service. The “Barn” picture by Ramazan Khaliolla is nominated in the Best Short Film category. The “Awakening of a Sleeping Beauty” by Akbobek Tolzhanova and “Segiz” (Eight) by Almas Maksut have been nominated for…
Astana International Forum Announces Lead Speakers
ASTANA – The Astana International Forum, a major international conference aiming to tackle global challenges in foreign policy and international security, climate, food scarcity, and energy security, unveiled keynote speakers among distinguished and influential guests, including heads of state and international leaders. The June 8-9 forum, hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will cover relevant…
