Articles by ASSEL SATUBALDINA

Qualitative Development of Partnership with Kazakhstan is Important, Says EU Special Representative for Central Asia

NUR-SULTAN – The European Union delegation led by EU Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala met with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko on July 13 to discuss strengthening regional cooperation, connectivity, digitalization and the country’s political reforms, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service. Before visiting Kazakhstan, the delegation spent one week in…

Homecoming: Wimbledon Champion Elena Rybakina Returns to Kazakhstan, Receives Huge Support (Video)

NUR-SULTAN – A late July 11 evening at the Nursultan Nazarbayev international airport was filled with joy and excitement, where fans gathered to meet Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina after her triumphant win last Saturday.  One of them was Deputy Prime Minister Yeraly Tugzhanov who personally conveyed the congratulations from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The President signed…

New Turgensai Visitor Center in Ile Alatau National Park to Foster Ecotourism in Almaty Region

NUR-SULTAN – The Turgensai visitor center unveiled its doors on July 9 in the Ile-Alatau National Park in the Almaty Region, reports the government’s press service. The new center, the second in the national park after the Ayusai visitor center, is expected to boost eco-tourism development in the region.  Located 80 kilometers from Almaty, the…

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina Wins Wimbledon Women’s Singles Title, First Grand Slam for Nation

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon women’s singles final, first grand slam for her and for Kazakhstan.  She beat World No. 3 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Though Jabeur took the first set, Rybakina started slowly but gradually rose to overcome Jabeur.  Not only did she become the first…

Elena Rybakina Makes History by Becoming First Singles Player from Kazakhstan to Reach Grand Slam Final

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina made it to the final of Wimbledon with a straight-sets win against former world No 1 Simona Halep, becoming the first singles player ever from Kazakhstan to reach a Grand Slam final. Kazakhstan’s top seed Rybakina, 23, overpowered 2019 champion and world’s No.18 seed Simona Halep from Romania 6-3, 6-3…

Kazakh and German Economies Complement Each Other, Says German Ambassador to Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – In February, Kazakhstan and Germany marked 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, an important milestone in their bilateral ties. The Astana Times spoke to Ambassador of Germany to Kazakhstan Monika Iwersen to learn about the key milestones achieved over these years and prospects for moving forward. Before being appointed to Kazakhstan…

Kazakh Government Discusses Measures to Address CPC Terminal Month-Long Shutdown

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government convened for an urgent meeting on Wednesday to discuss the response to the shut down of a Novorossiysk oil terminal on the Caspian Pipeline, critical for Kazakh oil exports, for 30 days, reports the government’s press service. The meeting discussed steps to “minimize the negative consequences and losses to the…

Kazakh Company Unveils Plant in Nur-Sultan to Manufacture Commercial Vehicles

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Orbis Heavy Machinery unveiled its multi-brand plant for the production of commercial and specialized vehicles on July 6, reports the company’s press service. The investments in the project are estimated at 11 billion tenge (US$23.6 million). Orbis Heavy Machinery is part of the Orbis Kazakhstan Group, a multi-profile Kazakh company operating in…

Kazakhstan, Russia Consider Increased Industrial Cooperation

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan seeks to boost industrial cooperation with Russia, said Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov attending the INNOPROM international industrial exhibition taking place July 4-7 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, reports his press office.  INNOPROM is one of the largest industrial exhibitions in Russia. Kazakhstan is the partner country of the event this year, unveiling its…

Kazakh Delegation Focuses on Aral Sea Problem at OSCE Summer Session in Birmingham

NUR-SULTAN – As the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) began in Birmingham, UK, the delegation from the Kazakh Parliament focused on the Aral Sea problem, reports the press service of the Senate. Hosted by the UK Parliament, it is the first in-person annual…

Kazakh Parliament Approves Sending Military Personnel to Further UN Peacekeeping Missions

NUR-SULTAN – The joint session of the chambers of the Kazakh Parliament approved the proposal from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to send a peacekeeping contingent from Kazakhstan to the United Nations missions in Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mali, reports the Kazakh Defense Ministry. The text of the address by President…

President Tokayev Chairs Supreme Council For Reforms, Addresses Financial Sector Development, Atomic Energy

NUR-SULTAN – The Supreme Council for Reforms, a supreme body for finalizing and adopting the nation’s reform plan, convened their meeting on June 30 to discuss reforms in the financial sector, atomic energy and migration policies, reports the presidential press service. The council is chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The meeting began with a discussion…

EBRD Approves Strategy for Kazakhstan, Focuses on Fostering Private Sector, Economic Inclusivity, and Green Agenda

NUR-SULTAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved the new strategy for Kazakhstan for the next five years with a focus on private sector competitiveness, economic inclusivity, and carbon neutrality, the bank’s press service announced on Tuesday. The bank has invested more than US$10.3 billion in the country to date, the largest…

Kazakhstan Has a Vital Interest in Developing Vibrant Partnership with BRICS, Says President Tokayev

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has a vital interest in developing a vibrant partnership with BRICS countries, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development on June 24 on the margins of the 14th BRICS Summit, reports the presidential press service. The 14th summit of BRICS, which owes its name to the initials of its…

Kazakhstan’s Police Celebrates 30 Years of Service, Sets New Tasks Ahead

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev commended the development of the police system in Kazakhstan, an institution that is celebrating its 30th anniversary today. Attending the ceremony, Tokayev stated that there is a lot of work yet to be done to reform the police, reports the presidential press service.  He visited the operational management center, where…

Kazakhstan Completes Chairpersonship at WTO MC-12 with Landmark Agreements on Fishery, Food Security and E-Commerce

NUR-SULTAN – The 12th Ministerial Conference (MC-12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) chaired by Kazakhstan concluded on June 17 with the adoption of major decisions on fisheries, food security, the fight against COVID-19, and electronic commerce, reports the presidential press service.  Kazakhstan, which has been a WTO member since November 2015, co-hosted the conference…

Kazakhstan Proposes to Establish International Trust Fund to Raise Money for People Affected by Nuclear Fallout

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi participated in the first meeting of state parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) taking place June 21-23 in Vienna. He reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to a nuclear-weapons-free world and proposed several initiatives, where one of them is to…

Kazakh PM Addresses Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Calls on Member States to Boost Industrial Cooperation, Remove Trade Barriers

NUR-SULTAN – The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), an economic alliance between Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, possesses huge economic potential but lack of industrial cooperation and multiple trade barriers inhibit its growth, said Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov addressing the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on June 21 in Minsk, reports his press…

President Tokayev Answers Tough Questions at Economic Forum in Russia

NUR-SULTAN –  President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about his country’s large scale reforms and relations with Russia at  the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, reports the presidential press service. President Kassym- Jomart Tokayev. Photo credit: Akorda In his remarks, Tokayev emphasized the forum was taking place in a situation of increased political…

Kazakh PM Stresses Regional Cooperation at UN Regional SDG Summit in Almaty

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov addressed the Second Regional Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) taking place June 16-17 in Almaty calling on Central Asian countries to intensify cooperation, reports the Prime Minister’s press service.  One of the key initiatives is to open the UN Center for SDGs for Central Asia and…

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…