Kazakh Movie Wins Grand Prix at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
ASTANA – “Dala Kaskyry” (“Steppenwolf”), a film directed by Adilkhan Yerzhanov, won the grand prize, the Golden Raven statuette, at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF), reported Kazinform on April 21. BIFFF is one of the most popular genre European festivals, held since 1983. The movie tells the story of Tamara, who hired a…
International Aid Flows as Countries Rally for Flood-Hit Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Countries continue expressing support and sending humanitarian aid to Kazakhstan amid devastating floods that hit several regions. United States Sends ARC Drones The United States delivered three Advanced Remote Customs (ARC) drones to deliver humanitarian aid to the flood-affected regions of Kazakhstan, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin said,…
Kazakh PM Explores Tech Innovations at Astana Hub
ASTANA — Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov visited the Astana Hub technology park’s digital infrastructure on April 20 and learned about some startup initiatives, according to the Prime Minister’s press service. During the meeting with Astana Hub participants and Nazarbayev University (NU) researchers, the Prime Minister reiterated the President’s task of increasing the annual export…
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina Wins Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina secured the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 500 title in Stuttgart, defeating Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final with a dominant score of 6:2, 6:2 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on April 21. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Rybakina on her victory. “I would like to extend my congratulations to Elena…
Netherlands to Assist Kazakhstan in Developing Flood Management Plan
ASTANA — Experts in water management from the Netherlands are willing to work with their Kazakh counterparts to develop an action plan that will help prevent future floods, reported Tengrinews on April 18. As a state partially located below sea level, the Netherlands has historically faced the threat of floods. For hundreds of years, the…
Kazakhstan Starts New Housing Construction in Regions Affected by Flood
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s authorities have started building new houses in the flood-affected Pavlodar, Karagandy and Aktobe Regions, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on April 18. The commission inspected 2,602 residential buildings in the affected regions, of which 1,499 were assessed. As a result, it was revealed that 794 houses are subject to restoration, and…
Kazakh Irrigation Ministry: Floods Fill Water Reservoirs in Arid Regions
ASTANA – Floods made it possible to fill reservoirs even in the arid regions of Kazakhstan, said Moldir Abdualiyeva, an official representative of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, at an April 16 briefing at the Central Communications Service. “Flood waters made it possible to fill all reservoirs, even in arid regions, which is…
Kazakhstan Expands Cooperation With SpaceX
ASTANA — Bagdat Mussin, Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, met with Rebecca Hunter, Starlink Global Licensing and Market Activation Director at SpaceX, on April 16 to discuss cooperation prospects, reported the ministry’s press service. The sides discussed creating digital projects, providing broadband internet to rural schools, and expanding Starlink technology in…
Kaspi.kz, TechnoWomen Provide Assistance to Flood Victims
ASTANA – Co-founders of Kaspi.kz, one of the region’s most prominent fintech companies, Vyacheslav Kim and Mikhail Lomtadze, will transfer 20 billion tenge ($44.6 million) to help people affected by devastating floods in Kazakhstan, reported Kazinform on April 17. The allocated funds will be sent to the North Kazakhstan and Akmola Regions to restore, purchase…
Kyrgyz Republic Sends Third Batch of Humanitarian Aid to Flood-Hit Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs sent more than 50 tons of humanitarian aid to Kazakhstan on April 18 amid large-scale floods, reported the ministry’s press service. The humanitarian cargo includes food, blankets, pillows, bed linens, inflatable boats, medications, rubber boots, diesel and electric generators, and other essential supplies. “Our cooperation with Kazakhstan has…
Kazakhstan Develops Digital Tools to Improve Flood Forecasting
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reviewed digital tools to improve flood forecasting and instructed a swift launch of a service for accepting claims for compensation for damage caused by floods during an April 17 meeting at the Digital Government Office, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov urged the Ministry of Digital Development,…
President Shows Support to Residents of Flood-Hit Kostanai Region
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with residents of the Kostanai Region and inspected the flooded areas to assess the damage caused by the emergency situation on April 16, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev thanked everyone for their involvement and concern, emphasizing that people show their unity in such difficult periods. “I came to…
Kazakh Investment Committee Concludes 29 Agreements Worth $973 Million
ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Investment Committee concluded 29 contracts worth 436.6 billion tenge (US$973.2 million) with investors from Cyprus, the Netherlands and Russia in the first three months of 2024, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov during a press briefing on April 15. According to Smadiyarov, 86 applications for investment preferences were…
Kazakhstan Launches Healthcare Program for Central Asian Students
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) and the Astana Medical University launched Avicenna, a healthcare program for medical students from Central Asian countries, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov on April 15. The program, funded by KazAID, includes training courses covering various aspects of medical education, as well as a cultural program…
Foreign Ministry: Kazakhstan Maintains Contact with its Citizens in Iran, Israel
ASTANA – There are 123 Kazakh citizens registered with the Kazakh consulate in Israel and 104 people in Iran, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov during a briefing on April 15, reports Tengrinews. “According to unconfirmed reports, nearly 100 Kazakh citizens may also be living in Israel without registration. Also, 174 employees of one…
KazTransOil to Send 120,000 Tons of Oil to Germany in April
ASTANA – KazTransOil national oil transporter plans to deliver 120,000 tons of Kazakh oil to Germany this month, reported the company’s press service on April 15. Between January and March, the volume of Kazakh oil delivered through the trunk oil pipeline system of Transneft towards the Adamova Zastava oil delivery point for further delivery to…
UK Extends Support to Kazakhstan Amid Devastating Floods
ASTANA – British Minister of State (Minister for Europe) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Nusrat Ghani expressed support for everyone impacted by Kazakhstan’s severe floods. “The ongoing flooding in Kazakhstan has devastated communities across the north and west of the country. My thoughts are with all who have been impacted, especially those who…
Kazakhstan Takes Part in Central Asia – Gulf Cooperation Council Strategic Dialogue Meeting
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev took part in the second Ministerial Meeting of the Central Asia – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Strategic Dialogue on April 15 in Tashkent, reported the ministry’s press service. The ministers from Central Asia and GCC discussed the state and prospects of interregional cooperation, as well as current…
State Will Take Care of Every Citizen, Says Tokayev During Visit to Flood-Affected Region
ASTANA – The next 10 days will be critical for Kazakhstan, which has been grappling with floods since the end of March, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his meeting with the evacuated people of flood-hit North Kazakhstan Region on April 16, reported the Akorda press service. He assured the public the state would take care…
UN Welcomes Kazakhstan for Passing a Significant Law That Criminalizes Domestic Abuse
ASTANA—The United Nations (UN) expressed appreciation to Kazakhstan on April 15 for enacting legislation to protect victims of domestic violence, reported the UN news service. “This is a significant advancement in eradicating gender-based violence,” said UN Resident Coordinator for Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey. On April 15, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law amending penalties…
Tokayev Outlines Priorities for Kazakhstan’s Science, Technology Development
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set goals for the advancement of science and technology in Kazakhstan during an April 12 meeting of the National Council for Science and Technology, reported the Akorda press service. The event marked the Day of Science Workers. Welcoming the meeting participants, Tokayev drew their attention to the current situation in…
Kazakhstan, Belarus Set to Foster Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik expressed intention to foster cooperation during an April 11 meeting in Minsk, reported the ministry’s press service. The parties discussed the current state and prospects for the development of Kazakh-Belarusian ties in the political, trade, economic, cultural and…
Kazakhstan, Georgia to Enhance Cooperation in Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
ASTANA – Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, supported the initiative of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the joint development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) during an April 12 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. The President stated that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the comprehensive strengthening of relations with Georgia, one…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Critical Raw Materials and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the European Union-Kazakhstan’s cooperation on critical raw materials, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and more. EU expands international cooperation on critical raw materials EU Reporter published an article on April 7 by Political Editor Nick…
Brussels Meeting Focuses on Kazakhstan-EU Trade, Investment Ties
ASTANA – Brussels hosted the seventh meeting of the Kazakhstan-European Union (EU) Committee in trade configuration on April 9, chaired by Kazakh Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev and Acting Director of Directorate E in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade Léon Delvaux, reported the ministry’s press service. The discussion focused on a…
