Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – By 2028, Kazakhstan plans to triple container throughput at the Aktau and Kuryk seaports and boost their capacity by 50%, according to the adopted comprehensive plan for the development of maritime infrastructure, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service on May 22. The document, designed for 2024-2028, provides for the creation of a large…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed the implementation of the flagship Alatau City project in the Almaty Region during a May 23 meeting with Singaporean large business leaders, reported the Akorda press service. Welcoming potential partners, Tokayev noted the importance of Alatau City as a catalyst for the economy not only of Kazakhstan, but…

ASTANA – Olzhas Bektenov, Kazakh Prime Minister, met with Tobias Bartz, CEO of the Rhenus Group international logistics service provider based in Germany, to discuss cooperation in the transport and logistics sector, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on May 23. The sides reviewed current projects and explored opportunities for new Kazakh-German enterprises to increase…

ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev proposed creating an international center for afforestation of dried Aral seabed and semi-desert zones at a May 22 meeting of ministers and heads of departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for environmental protection, reported Kazinform. “Considering the vast experience of…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the invitation of President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, will pay a state visit to Singapore on May 23-24, reported the Akorda press service. The visit program includes a number of meetings between Tokayev and the top leadership of Singapore, heads of large international companies, as well as…

ALMATY – The Mass Alert earthquake early warning system will be introduced in pilot mode in Kazakhstan by June 1. This was announced at a May 18 meeting on ensuring seismic safety in Almaty, chaired by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bozumbayev instructed to accelerate the process of…

ASTANA — Oman’s low-cost airline Salam Air plans to resume flights on the Almaty-Muscat route from June 18, the Kazakh Transport Ministry’s press service reported on May 21. Flights will be operated twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays on Airbus A320/A321 type aircraft with 180-230 seats.

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 52nd among 119 nations in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024, published on May 21. In the previous 2021 rating, Kazakhstan ranked 66th among 117 countries. Kazakhstan received high scores in categories such as health and hygiene, price competitiveness, and socioeconomic impact of tourism and travel. The…

ASTANA — The National Bank of Kazakhstan presented its annual report for 2023 at a May 21 meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. The National Bank Chair Timur Suleimenov attended the meeting alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov, Chairperson of the Agency for Regulation and…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and National Economy Minister Nurlan Baibazarov attended the inaugural meeting of the Turkic Investment Fund’s (TIF) Board of Governors in Istanbul on May 21, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. TIF is the first cooperative financial organization for the economic integration of Turkic nations. It will start with $500…

ASTANA – Twenty-two resolutions regarding multilateral cooperation in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian sectors were signed at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on May 21 in Astana. The meeting was chaired by Murat Nurtleu, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.…

ASTANA – The volume of Kazakhstan’s uranium transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) increased by 4.5% in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to the Energy Ministry’s report on the implementation of the concept for the development of the fuel and energy sector for 2023, published on May 2. Starting in 2018,…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met on May 20 to address prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation, reported the Akorda press service. During the meeting, Tokayev underscored China’s critical role in global diplomacy. According to him, Chinese initiatives shape the global agenda and significantly contribute to maintaining…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chair of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmuş discussed strengthening the expanded strategic partnership during a May 20 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. The President expressed great appreciation for the possibilities of parliamentary diplomacy and noted the significance of Kurtulmuş’s visit. “Today’s meeting is…

ASTANA – The U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya arrived in Astana to co-chair the third annual United States-Kazakhstan High-Level Dialogue (HLD) on Human Rights and Democratic Reforms on May 20 to underscore partnership and support for Kazakhstan’s domestic reforms, reported the U.S. Department of State’s press…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed condolences over Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s death on May 20 after his helicopter crashed in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, reported the Akorda press service. On behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and himself, Tokayev sent condolences to the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, the Vice President of Iran…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan joined the United Nations (UN) Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) for 2025-2027 for the first time during its 33rd session, which took place on May 13-17 in Vienna, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service on May 17. With its extensive national expertise in crime prevention and criminal justice,…

ASTANA – The World Bank has published its monthly economic update for Kazakhstan for April, covering trends in economic activity, inflation, bank lending, and budget spending. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 3.9% in the first quarter year-on-year and 0.9% quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted, following solid advances in the second half of 2023. The…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on May 16, reported the Akorda press service. Ibrahim was on an official visit to Kazakhstan. President Tokayev stated that Malaysia is one of Kazakhstan’s essential and reliable Southeast Asian partners. “Kazakhstan and Malaysia have long-standing ties of friendship and mutual cooperation. I…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko paid a working visit to Latvia on May 16, where he met with Latvian officials to discuss key areas of cooperation, reported the ministry’s press service. Vassilenko and Latvian Minister for Welfare Uldis Augulis co-chaired the ninth meeting of the Kazakhstan-Latvia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council Liu Guozhong expressed their commitment to enhancing ties in all areas of strategic partnership during a May 16 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, transport and logistics,…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the main pillars to strengthen security cooperation between Central Asian countries and expressed gratitude to neighboring countries for helping Kazakhstan during the massive floods at a May 16 meeting with the Security Council Secretaries of Central Asian countries in Astana, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev noted that the…

ASTANA – From January to April, KazTransOil national oil transporter delivered 420,000 tons of Kazakh oil to Germany, which is 330,000 tons more compared to the same period last year, reported the company’s press service on May 15. KazTransOil supplied oil via Russia’s Transneft system of trunk oil pipelines in the direction of the Adamowo-Zastawa…

ASTANA – Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin spoke about the possibilities of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and large lithium deposits in Kazakhstan during a May 15 meeting with Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam Nguyen Hong Dien, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Zhumangarin encouraged Vietnamese companies to explore the possibilities of…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev strongly condemned and rejected the horrific act of terrorism following the assasination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in the town of Handlová, located approximately 145 kilometers from the capital, Bratislava, on May 15, reported the Akorda press service. Kazakhstan and Slovakia have long-standing ties of friendship and…