Kazakh PM Urges Streamlining Investment Procedures, Reducing Barriers
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov directed state agencies to streamline investment project launch procedures, urging for a swift evaluation of support measures and proposing improvements at a March 5 government session dedicated to the efficacy of investment stimulation, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov instructed to ensure the full-fledged launch of the…
Kazakhstan, US Strengthen Partnership in Geological Exploration with AI Integration
ASTANA – Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev expressed Kazakhstan’s intention to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into geological exploration processes at a roundtable with Paul Johnson, the president of the Colorado School of Mines, on March 2 as part of his visit to Denver, the United States, reported the ministry’s press service. The initiative…
President Tokayev Attends Oath-Taking Ceremony of AIFC Court Chief Justice
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the official oath-taking ceremony of The Lord Ian Burnett of Maldon, the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Court, on March 4, reported the Akorda press service. The President congratulated Lord Burnett on assuming the position, affirming that his appointment reflects the commitment of…
Kazakhstan Enhances Strategic Partnership with OPANAL in Nuclear Safety
ASTANA – Kazakh Ambassador to Mexico Timur Primbetov had a comprehensive discussion with Flavio Roberto Bonzanini, Secretary General of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) on the interaction between OPANAL and Kazakhstan as a member state of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia…
Kazakhstan Opens Innovation Hub in Dubai
ASTANA – The Qaz Steppe Innovation Hub of promising Kazakh startups opened at the pavilion of Kazakhstan’s trade house in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on March 1, reported the Trade and Integration Ministry’s press service. The pavilion is establishing a coworking center to maximize the potential of the Kazakh IT industry, whose exports…
Kazakhstan Participates in Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2024
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu took part in the third edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) 2024 on March 1-3 in Antalya, Türkiye, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. The forum, themed Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil, was attended by over 100 heads of state and governments,…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Dedication to Nuclear Disarmament, Enhanced Collaboration with Uzbekistan and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles from global media outlets on news about Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on Kazakhstan’s commitment to nuclear disarmament, the country’s rise to a middle power, enhanced collaboration with Uzbekistan, Germany’s intention to explore the potential for lithium mining in the country,…
Kazakhstan Provides More Than 90% of Government Services Online
ASTANA – Kazakhstan provides 92% of all government services online, with 85% of them available from a mobile phone, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin said during the ministry’s extended meeting on Feb. 28, reported the ministry’s press service. Summarizing the outcomes of last year, Mussin informed about the launch of…
Family Support Centers in Kazakhstan to Shelter Domestic Violence Victims
ASTANA – Victims of domestic violence will now have access to shelter through Family Support Centers, as per a bill approved during the second reading by the Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, on Feb. 28. Under the provisions, these centers now offer temporary accommodation to those displaying signs of domestic violence. The…
EDB Proposes Solutions to Enhance Economic Cooperation Among Eurasian Countries
ASTANA – The Eurasian Development Bank published the report titled Economic Cooperation in Eurasia: Practical Solutions on Feb. 26, offering pragmatic solutions aimed at fostering economic cooperation among Eurasian countries. New priorities and interaction formats are linked to a multiplicity of cooperation vectors and a shift in trade and economic ties toward the Asian region,…
Kazakhstan Issues Guidelines for Transition to Single Time Zone
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will switch to a single time zone (UTC+5) from 12 a.m. on March 1 following a government decree on time calculation procedures. From the night of Feb. 29 to March 1, the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, as well as the Abai, Akmola, Almaty, Zhambyl, Zhetisu, Karagandy, Kostanai, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan,…
Kazakhstan, Switzerland Bolster Investment Collaboration
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu discussed the investment projects within Kazakhstan’s key economic sectors with the leadership of Swiss companies INOKS Capital, Stadler Rail, Воѕсhung, and MSC during his working visit to Geneva on Feb. 28, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press office. The priority areas of the national economy…
President Tokayev Chairs Key Meeting on Enhancing National Security Strategy
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Security Council discussed upgrading the main approaches to implementing the National Security Strategy at a Feb. 27 meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. The President stressed the importance of fortifying Kazakhstan’s economic and military capabilities amid the complicated global geopolitical situation. He emphasized the need for an…
Four Teams to Represent Kazakhstan at FIRST Robotics World Championship in US
ASTANA – Following the Central Asia FIRST Championship in Astana, four Kazakh teams earned the opportunity to represent their country at the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, Texas, scheduled for April 17-20, reported the Kazakh Education Ministry’s press service. In the FLL Explore age category (6-10 years old), the IQRobots team from the capital’s…
QazTrade Reveals Key Non-Oil Exports of Kazakhstan in 2023
ASTANA – QazTrade Trade Policy Development Center has disclosed the primary goods of Kazakhstan’s non-oil exports in 2023, Kazinform reported on Feb. 26. Exports of inorganic chemical products, including uranium, aluminum oxides, inert gas, chromium oxides, phosphoric acids, and carbides, totaled $4.3 billion. Kazakhstan exported ferrous metals worth $4.1 billion, comprising ferroalloys, hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled…
Kazakhstan Exports One Million Tons of Cargo to China in January
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s cargo exports to China exceeded last year’s figure by 43% and reached one million tons in January, Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund’s press service reported on Feb. 26. Iron ore supplies increased by 19%, grain – by 37%, ferrous metals – by two times, and non-ferrous metals – by 2.2 times. Meanwhile,…
Cargo Transportation Through Middle Corridor Soars 147% in January
ASTANA – Cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) reached 274,200 tons in January, a 147% increase compared to last year, as was reported during a Feb. 26 meeting chaired by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin in the Mangystau Region, according to the Prime Minister’s press office. As a serious alternative to…
Kazakh FM Stresses Country’s Human Rights Progress at UN Council in Geneva
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu highlighted Kazakhstan’s achievements in improving its national human rights system and outlined further priorities at the High-level Segment of the 55th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva on Feb. 26, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. He focused…
Kazakhstan to Produce Modern Solar Panels
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to launch a solar panel production line following the delivery of equipment within 1-1.5 months, Kazinform reported on Feb. 13, citing the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The initiative involves the establishment of a 50-megawatt plant for the production of solar panels using heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer…
President Tokayev Meets with Constitutional Court Chairwoman
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev commended the Constitutional Court’s effectiveness in ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution and protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms at a Feb. 23 meeting with Constitutional Court Chairwoman Elvira Azimova, reported the Akorda press service. The Constitutional Court began its work on Jan. 1, 2023, as part of the broader political…
Kazakh Tourism Opens First International Office in India
ASTANA – Kazakh Tourism national company opened its first international office in India during South Asia’s largest international tourism exhibition, SATTE, on Feb. 22 in New Delhi, reported the company’s press service. Kazakh Tourism Chairman Kairat Sadvakassov appointed Prashant Chaudhary, the head of Salvia Promoters, as the office’s representative in the Indian market, awarding the…
Kazakhstan Presents Ongoing Reforms to Protect Children’s Rights at Int’l Conference
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Dinara Zakiyeva addressed the ongoing reforms in the country to protect children’s rights at the international conference on children’s rights in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on Feb. 22, reported the conference’s press service. Addressing her colleagues at an online conference, Zakiyeva outlined several measures, including the…
Kazakhstan’s National Bank Lowers Base Rate to 14.75%
ASTANA – The National Bank announced plans to reduce the base rate by 50 basis points to 14.75% per annum, with a corridor of +/- 1 percentage point, the bank’s press service reported on Feb. 23. The annual inflation slowed to 9.5% in January, and the bank forecasted inflation to maintain in the range of…
Business Forum: Women’s Leadership Drives Kazakhstan’s Economy
ASTANA – The creative principle of women’s leadership has been transforming various aspects of the economic and everyday life of Kazakhstan for many years, Ayala Charitable Foundation President Aidan Suleimenova said at the annual Women in Business forum on Feb. 20 in Almaty, reported the forum’s press service. Over 300 women entrepreneurs, public figures, heads…
Kazakh Folk Dancer Claims Gold at International Dance Festival in Berlin
ASTANA – Akkanat Smagulova, an artist from the Kazakhconcert state musical organization named after Roza Baglanova, clinched the first prize in the Folk Dance Solo category at the Tanzolymp International Dance Festival, held on Feb. 15-19 in Berlin, Germany, reported the Kazakh Culture and Information Ministry’s press service. Smagulova performed “Akku,” choreographed by Anvara Sadykova…
