Kazakhstan, Netherlands Sign Eight Commercial Documents
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed eight commercial documents aimed at promoting bilateral relations in agriculture, healthcare, ecology, and education, reported the Kazakh Invest on May 10. The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture and the Dutch company VISCON signed a memorandum of understanding on implementing a project for the construction of an…
Kazakhstan, Vietnam Introduce Visa-Free Travel This Month
ASTANA – The agreement on a visa-free regime between Kazakhstan and Vietnam will come into force on May 25, said Aibek Smadiyarov, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson, during his weekly briefing on May 6, reported the ministry’s press service. The relevant agreement was signed in August last year in Hanoi. “Citizens of the two nations…
Floods in Kazakhstan: More People Return Home, Companies Donate Funds
ASTANA – According to the latest Ministry of Emergency Situations data, 54,276 people returned to their homes, and 5,284 people remain in temporary accommodation centers. The Kazakh government continues compensating families affected by devastating floods, and more large businesses are expressing their readiness to assist with flood mitigation measures. Kazakhstan’s three large companies will allocate…
Kazakhstan Highlights OIC’s Vital Role in Ensuring Peace in Muslim States
ASTANA — Kazakhstan stressed the significance of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) role in ensuring peace and security in several Muslim countries during the 15th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Gambia on May 4-5, reported the ministry’s press service. A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and other event…
Kazakhstan to Use Flood Water Collected in Reservoirs for Agricultural, Industrial Needs
ASTANA — Water collected in reservoirs will be used for agricultural and industrial needs, reported by the press service of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation on May 3. Specialists in the West Kazakhstan Region are carrying out the safe passage of flood waters, as the region experiences its second wave of floods. The region’s…
Chinese Companies Donate Funds for Flood Victims in Kazakhstan
ASTANA — The General Association of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan organized a fundraiser to help with flood relief and reconstruction work after a natural disaster, reported the Kazakh Invest national company’s press service on May 3. To date, Chinese companies have allocated funds worth 300 million tenge (US$676,896) and provided humanitarian assistance through special equipment,…
Kazakh Invest Presents Investors’ Guide for Project Implementation
ASTANA – The Kazakh Invest national company presented a new methodological guide, which describes the investor’s path at a May 4 Investment Promotion Council, chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on May 4. The guide maps the route from initiation to the implementation of the project. The…
Washington Hosts Green 5+1 for Central Asia to Address Environmental Challenges
ASTANA – The Jamestown Foundation think tank hosted The Green 5+1 for Central Asia event on April 25 in Washington, D.C. to examine Central Asia’s environmental challenges and discuss cooperation between Central Asian states and the United States in addressing the impact of climate change, water management, and energy transition in the region, reported the…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Azerbaijani-Armenian Talks in Almaty, Kazakh-US Ties and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Azerbaijani-Armenian talks in Almaty, Kazakh-U.S. cooperation, and more. Kazakhstan and U.S. strategy The National Interest published an article on May 1 about the U.S. engagement with the Central Asian region, notably with Kazakhstan, authored…
Residents in Affected Regions Return Home as Floodwaters Recede
ASTANA – As of May 4, around 48,750 Kazakh citizens have returned to their homes in flood-affected regions, according to Askar Sharip, a representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, speaking at a briefing at the Central Communications Service on the same day. Across the country, water has been diverted and pumped from 8,378 residential…
Tashkent Investment Forum Focuses on Central Asian Development
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Nazira Nurbayeva took part in the Tashkent International Investment Forum, which focused on the development prospects of the Central Asian region and launched the Trade Connect Central Asia+ project on May 2-3, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. During the event, Nurbayeva outlined combined efforts by Kazakhstan and…
President Tokayev Outlines AIFC’s Key Role in Region’s Development
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the critical role of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in attracting green funding for the region and developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) during a May 2 meeting with AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev said that more than 60% of green bonds…
Kazakhstan Prioritizes Development of Special Economic, Industrial Zones
ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to allocate more than 70 billion tenge (US$157.7 million) to construct missing infrastructure at the special economic (SEZ) and industrial zone (IZ) sites, said Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev at an April 29 meeting in the Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, reported the Mazhilis’ press…
Shymkent to Launch New Agriculture Production Facilities
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin visited Shymkent on May 1 to take a closer look at the progress of construction and the work of existing large production and agricultural facilities, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. A 5-hectare multifunctional warehouse complex, estimated to cost 10.2 billion tenge (US$23.1 million), is being built…
Kazakhstan to Boost Investments in Rare Earth Metals Production
ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to increase investments in the production of rare and rare earth metals, said Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev at an April 29 meeting in the Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, reported Mazhilis’ press service. “The Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Rare and Rare…
Kazakh Business Leaders to Assist State in Eliminating Flood Aftermath
ASTANA – Leaders of Kazakhstan’s major businesses announced their readiness to assist the state in eliminating the consequences of floods in the Kostanai Region during an April 30 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. ERG, Allur Group, and RG Brands allocate millions for reconstruction in Kostanai region The…
Kazakhstan at Arab-Central Asian Forum: Strengthening Interregional Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev took part in the third session of the Arab Economy and Cooperation Forum with Central Asian states and Azerbaijan, organized by the League of Arab States (LAS) on April 30 in Doha to explore promising areas for cooperation, reported the ministry’s press service. Bakayev…
Kazakhstan Establishes National Hydrogeological Service to Boost Water Resource Management
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed a government resolution to create the Kazhydrogeology national hydrogeological service on April 30, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The new service is expected to thoroughly inventory hydrogeological water intake wells, deposits, and groundwater areas. Consequently, a comprehensive database covering more than 4,300 explored groundwater areas and…
Floods in Kazakhstan: Protection Efforts in Atyrau Region, Humanitarian Relief, Donations
ASTANA – During an April 29 meeting, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov assigned the Atyrau Region’s administration to protect the city and surrounding settlements from approaching flood waters, as the Zhaiyk River water level is rising every day, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov instructed the work to be arranged akin to that in…
Kazakh, Tajik Governments Ready to Strengthen Strategic Partnership
ASTANA — Kazakh and Tajik officials reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the high dynamics of the strategic partnership in all areas and outlined prospects for trade and economic cooperation during Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s official visit to Tajikistan on April 30, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov’s visit program to Dushanbe included meetings…
Kazakh Commission Approves Return of Illegally Acquired Assets
ASTANA — The Kazakh Commission on the Return of illegally acquired assets approved Agreements on the voluntary return of illegally acquired assets worth over 40 billion tenge (US$ 90.5 million) to the state. This was announced at an April 29 meeting chaired by Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. In…
Kazakhstan, Singapore Committed to Expand Collaboration
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Speaker of Singaporean Parliament Seah Kian Peng expressed a commitment to expanding bilateral ties between the states during an April 30 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. The sides underlined prospects for economic and investment cooperation. “We are reliable, time-tested partners. We have made great progress in fortifying our…
Nationwide Telemarathon to Address Aftermath of Massive Floods
ASTANA – Ten national TV channels will broadcast live a nationwide telemarathon dubbed “Biz Birgemiz” (“We are together” in Kazakh) at 5 p.m. Astana time on April 30 ahead of the Day of Unity, reported the Khabar TV channel. It will be live-streamed on the official websites of TV channels, Facebook and YouTube pages, as…
Islamic Development Bank Sets to Finance Water Projects in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will provide grants and financing for implementing water projects in Kazakhstan. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and National Economy Minister Nurlan Baibazarov and IDB Group Chair Muhammad Al Jasser in Saudi Arabia reached the relevant agreement on April 29, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. IDB will invest in…
Kazakhstan, China to Launch Xian-Almaty Passenger Train
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China agreed to launch an international tourist passenger train from Xian to Almaty, reported Kazakhstan Temir Zholy’s (KTZ) press service on April 29. According to KTZ, the management of the national railway company and Passenger Transportation JSC discussed relevant topics with the Xian administration during a working meeting. “The tourist train…
