National Bank of Kazakhstan Keeps Base Rate at 14.75%
ASTANA – The monetary policy committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided on April 12 to keep the base rate at 14.75%, announced the bank’s press service. The annual inflation slowed to 9.1% in March, slightly above the forecast trajectory. “As the global grain price trend continues to decline, the external inflationary…
Kazakhstan Evacuates Almost 100,000 People Amid Massive Floods
ASTANA – According to the latest data from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 99,869 people, including 36,591 children, have been rescued and evacuated since the beginning of the floods. This was announced by Saipash Erasyl, a senior officer of the Civil Defense and Military Units Committee, during an April 12 briefing at the Central Communications…
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Kazakh Officials Focus on Climate Change, Ecology
ASTANA — The Delegation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA), headed by the Special Representative on Central Asia Farah Karimi, arrived in Astana to discuss cooperation prospects, climate change and ecology with Kazakh officials and a number of international organizations. During an April 9 meeting with the Chairman…
Kazakh Oil Transporter Maintains Operations Amid Massive Floods
ASTANA — Despite an emergency due to floods in 10 regions of Kazakhstan, the system of main oil pipelines of KazTransOil, the national oil transporter, operates as usual, reported the company’s press service on April 9. “There is no threat of flooding of KazTransOil’s production facilities. Oil transportation to the country’s refineries and export destinations…
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic Seek to Bring Trade Turnover to $2 Billion
ASTANA – Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov expressed the country’s commitment to promote the continued growth of trade and economic cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic during an April 9 meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Bishkek, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. During negotiations with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, the sides discussed…
Int’l Community, Kazakh Business, Cultural Figures Donate Funds to Help Flood Victims
ASTANA – Multinational organizations and local businesses continue contributing funds to help Kazakhstan’s citizens affected by the devastating floods. Kazakhstan’s famous singer Dimash Kudaibergen donated 15 million tenge (US$33,542) to the Demeu Kazakhstan charity fund to help flood victims, reported Kazinform on April 9. Kudaibergen also visited the Anaga Tagzym (Mother Worship in Kazakh) volunteer…
Kazakhstan Evacuates Over 96,000 People Amid Massive Floods
ASTANA – According to the latest data from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, over 96,472 people, including 31,640 children, have been rescued and evacuated since the beginning of the floods. This was announced by Saipash Erasyl, a senior officer of the Civil Defense and Military Units Committee, during an April 10 briefing at the Central…
President Tokayev Congratulates Muslims on Eid al-Fitr
ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated citizens on Oraza Ait (Eid al-Fitr) on April 10, a holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, reported the Akorda press service. “During the holy month of Ramadan, believers pay close attention to universal human values and genuinely strive for spiritual purification, extending a…
Finland’s Officials, Business to Visit Kazakhstan This Week
ASTANA—Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will lead a trade mission to Almaty and Astana from April 9 to 12, the ministry’s press service reported on April 8. Tavio will be accompanied by a delegation of 17 Finnish companies representing industrial sectors important for Finland’s exports. The agenda includes trade promotion, bilateral…
Businesses Make Donations to Help Flood Victims
ASTANA—Kazakhstan has been reeling from flooding for nearly two weeks, and water levels are continuing to rise. The state and volunteers are doing their best to help those affected by the natural disaster. Kazakhstan’s large businesses also made donations to help flood victims following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s call to do so at an April 1…
Floods in Kazakhstan: 75,982 People Evacuated, Relief Efforts Ongoing
ASTANA – According to the latest data from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 75,982 people, including 18,681 children, have been rescued and evacuated across the country due to massive floods. This was announced by Saipash Erasyl, a senior officer of the Civil Defense and Military Units Committee, during an April 8 briefing at the Central…
Foreign Countries Express Support to Kazakhstan Amid Devastating Floods
ASTANA – Several foreign countries expressed support for Kazakhstan amid the massive floods that hit the country’s regions and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. The Kyrgyz Republic sent 300 tons of humanitarian aid to Kazakhstan’s regions on April 6. “The cargo includes oil, sunflower, sugar, rice, pasta and confectionery, as…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Commitment to OSCE, Trans-Caspian Route and More
ASTANA—The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan’s commitment to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and more. Caspian Sea possesses huge natural resources – Kazakh deputy prosecutor general Trend reported on…
Tokayev Chairs Emergency Meeting on Floods, Thanks Rescuers, Volunteers
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired an emergency headquarters meeting on April 4 in the West Kazakhstan Region, one of the regions most affected by the massive floods, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev highlighted that several areas were heavily damaged by flooding and urged the meeting participants to collaborate in addressing the natural disaster.…
Netherlands, Kazakhstan Establish Business Council to Boost Cooperation
ASTANA – BeNeLux Chamber of Commerce, uniting the trade circles of the Kingdoms of Belgium and the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the Kazakh Chamber of International Commerce signed an agreement on April 4 to establish the Netherlands-Kazakhstan Business Council, reported the BeNeLux press service. The establishment of the council is expected…
Tokayev Meets With Residents in Flood-Hit West Kazakhstan Region
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev flew over flooded areas and met with evacuated residents on April 4 in the West Kazakhstan Region, one of the regions adversely affected by floods, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev assessed the situation in the Terekti, Syrym and Karatobe districts. According to Akim (local mayor) of the West Kazakhstan…
SCO Secretary-General Supports Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship Initiatives
ASTANA – Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Ming expressed support for Kazakhstan’s initiatives aimed at strengthening the SCO potential during an April 3 meeting with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, reported the ministry’s press service on April 3. Kazakhstan is chairing the organization in 2024. During the…
OPEC Committee Welcomes Kazakhstan’s Pledge to Compensate for Overproduction
ASTANA—The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) welcomed Kazakhstan’s pledge to achieve full conformity and compensate for overproduction during the committee’s 53rd meeting held via teleconference on April 3, reported the OPEC press service. The committee also welcomed the announcement by Russia that its voluntary adjustments in…
Direct Flights to New York: US to Assess Kazakhstan’s Aviation Compliance
ASTANA – The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC signed an agreement with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a preliminary International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) as part of the plans to launch direct flights between the countries, reported the Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Transport Ministry on April 4. The agreement…
Kazakhstan Welcomes Nearly 130,000 Chinese Tourists in Five Months
ASTANA—Some 126,000 Chinese citizens have visited Kazakhstan, and 173,000 Kazakh citizens have visited China since November last year when both countries waived visa requirements for mutual travel of citizens, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov on April 1. Smadiyarov noted that the ministry intends to expand the list of visa-free countries for Kazakh passport…
Kazakhstan Unveils $2.46 Billion Mineral Discovery in Single-Industry Towns
ASTANA — Mineral resources worth 1.1 trillion tenge (US$2.46 billion) were discovered in the vicinity of single-industry towns, Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev said during an April 2 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. “Private investments worth 28.7 billion tenge ($64.2 million) were attracted to explore the territory. This year,…
French Cargo Aircraft Lands at Shymkent Airport to Pick Up Goods
ASTANA — FTL Airlines, a French cargo carrier, made its first technical landing at Shymkent airport on March 29 to pick up goods on the route from Paris toward Hainan, reported Shymkent Akimat (administration). “According to the previously reached agreements, air cargo transportation to Shymkent is planned to be organized on a regular basis. This…
At Least 15,000 People Evacuated in Kazakhstan Amid Massive Floods
ASTANA – Some 15,786 people, including 6,187 children, have been rescued and evacuated as massive floods hit 12 regions of the country, said Kazakh Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Baurzhan Syzdykov at an April 2 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. “The flood situation is complicated. … The ministry deployed forces to the…
Tokayev, Defense Minister Address Efforts to Solidify Military Readiness
ASTANA – Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov briefed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the combat readiness of the nation’s army during an April 1 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Zhaksylykov reported on the operational and combat training of army units and efforts to train command and control bodies and personnel. The sides underlined the importance…
News Digest: Foreign Media on US Relations With Kazakhstan, EU Investments 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 covers the United States-Kazakhstan partnership, European Union’s (EU) investment prospects, creative economy, Nauryz celebration, and more. Kazakhstan opens door to European investments in rare mineral extraction Kazakhstan, a country immensely rich…
