Articles by Saniya Sakenova

ASTANA – As of Feb. 1, 12,882 foreign nationals are employed in Kazakhstan under permits issued by local executive bodies, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population reported on Feb. 20. Specialists comprise the largest group of attracted foreign labor, totaling 5,871 people. Next come heads of structural divisions, corporate transfer employees, skilled…

ASTANA – The Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, approved legislative amendments to promote the safety of women and children and prevent crimes against them in the first reading at a Feb. 21 plenary session, reported the Mazhilis’ press office. The amendments impose stricter penalties for crimes committed against minors and enhance measures…

ASTANA – Maulen Ashimbayev, the chairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, emphasized the need to boost the country’s population to 30-40 million people in the next decade to propel the nation’s development during a Feb. 20 government session, reported Kazinform. According to Ashimbayev, developing the world’s ninth-largest territory in the…

ASTANA – American top travel magazine Travel+Leisure published the ultimate Kazakhstan itinerary on Feb. 18, offering readers a What To Do, Where To Stay, What To Eat guide, reported the Kazakh Tourism and Sports Ministry’s press service. Journalist Yashita Vashishth put together a tour of unique places in Kazakhstan, which has become a tourist trending…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is interested in building a prosperous and peaceful region and in the sustainable development of Central Asian countries, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said at a Feb. 20 meeting with Kaha Imnadze, the newly appointed Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General and Head of the UN…

ASTANA – The American company Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) has acquired full ownership of the locomotive assembly plant in Kazakhstan, the Railway Supply reported on Feb. 18. From October to December last year, Wabtec acquired another 50% stake in the locomotive assembly plant for $81 million. Previously, the company held a 50% stake…

ASTANA – The United Kingdom’s (UK) government has established an international fund dedicated to climate change in Central Asia for the first time, UK Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach said at a Feb. 16 meeting with Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, reported the ministry’s press service. The fund will provide support…

ASTANA – Since the beginning of 2024, 1,306 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to their historic homeland, reported the press service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. More than half of them, or 48.9%, came back from China, 29.6% – from Uzbekistan, 8.3% – from Mongolia, 7.3% – from Turkmenistan, 4.4%…

ASTANA – The Kazakh film “Aikai” (Scream) by Kenzhebek Shaikakov secured four awards at the 30th edition of the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas (VIFFAC) in France, held from Feb. 6 to 13, reported 24.kz channel. The movie clinched the Grand Jury Award for its magical realism style that is “truly commendable, and…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan’s National Sports Association Islambek Salzhanov received a certificate of official membership from World Ethnosport Confederation President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan at the sixth International Ethnosport Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, held from Feb. 16 to 18, reported the association’s press office. Erdoğan extended his best wishes for holding the upcoming World Nomad…

ASTANA – At the 17th meeting of the Kazakh-Romanian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation on Feb. 15-16 in Bucharest, Kazakhstan and Romania agreed to establish a joint working group to develop mechanisms to enhance bilateral cooperation further and support mutual investments in the energy sector, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry’s press…

ASTANA – While Kazakhstan and China offer visa-free travel, citizens are taking this opportunity to explore boundlessly. Jason Feng, a 35-year-old Chinese adventurer, has embarked on an ambitious solo journey aboard a motorhome with a dream to travel all over the world. In an interview with The Astana Times, he shared insights into his brave…

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested $41.99 million into shares of Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, acquiring a minority stake of 5% through the country’s first partial privatization via an initial public offering (IPO), the EBRD’s press service reported on Feb. 14. The shares will be listed on both…

ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s largest airline, kicked off its initial public offering (IPO) on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) on Feb. 15, the AIX’s press service reported. Following three and a half days of conditional trading, Air Astana’s ordinary shares and global depositary receipts (GDRs) are now unconditionally traded on AIX, representing a milestone…

ASTANA – The fifth European Union (EU)-Central Asia meeting focusing on Afghanistan took place in Bishkek on Feb. 14, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Discussions centered around the situation in Afghanistan, with particular emphasis placed on finding effective ways to interact with the country’s de facto government. The head of the Kazakh delegation,…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became the first foreign leader to address the Consultative Assembly of the State of Qatar (Shura Council) on Feb. 14, reported the Akorda press service. He noted the importance of Qatar’s decision to hold its first legislative elections in 2021, highlighting its potential to strengthen prosperity and international reputation. The…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Doha continued with meetings with executives of major Qatari business entities, resulting in several agreements on Feb. 14, reported the Akorda press service. Economic and investment cooperation At a meeting with Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, Chairman of Al Faisal Holding and the Qatari Businessmen Association, coordinator…

ASTANA – Central Asia FIRST Championship, the largest regional robotics competition, will take place on Feb. 23-25 in Astana, reported the Kazakh Education Ministry’s press service. The event will bring together over 3,000 schoolchildren from ten countries, including Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye. Kazakhstan will be represented by 200 teams that received…

ASTANA – Satbayev University and Pennsylvania State University signed a general agreement for academic cooperation during the visit of the Satbayev University delegation of senior administrators and faculty to Penn State on Feb. 1-2, reported Penn State’s press service. The visit included facility tours, presentations, a library tour, break-out sessions with Penn State faculty, and…

ASTANA – During the Samarkand Tourism Forum last week, Kazakh Tourism national company signed a memorandum of cooperation with Uzbekistan’s large tour operator Rocket Group to attract tourists from Türkiye, South Korea, and several other countries to Turkistan, the company’s press service reported on Feb. 12. “This year, Turkistan promises to become a real oasis…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed several memorandums of understanding on exporting its government technology (GovTech) solutions during the Digital Almaty 2024 forum on Feb. 1-3, Profit.kz reported on Feb. 13. Kazakhstan’s IT solutions for e-government development, such as Smart Bridge, the Unified Platform for Internet Resources of Government Agencies, and the Smart Data Ukimet information and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has secured a place among the world’s middle powers for the first time, joining the ranks of countries such as India, Israel, and Türkiye, according to a comprehensive compilation of articles published by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) on Jan. 23. The middle powers concept refers to countries…

ASTANA – The growth rate of Kazakhstan’s economy stood at 3.9% in January, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov said at a Feb. 13 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The construction sector grew by 12.8%, transport and warehousing by 11.4%, information…

ASTANA – The second annual Astana International Forum (AIF) will take place on June 13-14 and will be chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service announced on Feb. 12. The premier international conference in Central Asia, which demonstrated its inaugural success in 2023 by drawing over 5,000 participants from more than…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin, the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, and Presight AI signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Presight AI Holding on Feb. 12 on the basic terms for the creation of a supercomputer in Kazakhstan and the construction of a corresponding Data…