Kazakhstan’s IT Services Sector Shows Rapid Growth in 2023
ASTANA – The volume of services in programming, consulting and related fields in Kazakhstan reached 734.5 billion tenge ($1.6 billion) in January-September 2023, marking a 43.5% surge in value terms compared to the same period in 2022, Finprom.kz reported on Jan. 11. A year earlier, the country witnessed a 46.8% increase. The growth trend extended…
Astana International Exchange Reports Significant Results in 2023
ASTANA – This year, the Astana International Exchange (AIX) demonstrated positive results in listings, trading volume, and capital raised despite challenges posed by high market interest rates and geopolitical uncertainties, the AIX’s press service reported on Jan. 12. As of Dec. 31, 94 different issuers listed 150 securities on the AIX. Debt capital raised since…
New York Times Features Almaty in 2024 Top Travel Destinations List
ASTANA – The New York Times published on Jan. 9 its annual list of 52 travel destinations in 2024, featuring Kazakhstan’s Almaty on the 25th spot. From the Portal Eclipse Festival in Mazatlán in April to Yamaguchi city in Japan to Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat in Bolivia, the list highlights 52…
Kazakhstan Achieves Record Grain Exports to China in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has set a new record for grain exports to China in 2023, encompassing wheat, barley, soybeans, flax, and sunflower seeds, with the total shipments reaching 2.2 million tons, reports El Dala news website focusing on agribusiness in Kazakhstan. Experts from DataHub, an analytical service in Kazakhstan, note the surge in exports was…
Kazakh Schoolchildren Secure 7 Awards at International Robotics Competition
ASTANA – Kazakh schoolchildren won seven awards in the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition that took place on Jan. 5-7 in Depok, Indonesia, announced the Kazakh Education Ministry on Jan. 9. The Kazakh students were among 150 young robotics enthusiasts from grades 9-11 from Southeast Asian countries who showcased their innovative projects. Four teams represented…
World Bank: Economic Growth in Europe and Central Asia Remains Stable Amidst Global Slowdown
ASTANA – In 2023, economic growth in Europe and Central Asia surged to 2.7% compared to 1.2% recorded in 2022, marking a rebound attributed to the expansion of domestic demand, stable market conditions in the labor market, and the resumption of growth in the Russian Federation and Ukraine, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic…
Kazakhstan Welcomes New Town – Alatau
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on Jan. 9 to turn the village of Jetigen in the Ili district of the Almaty Region into a town of regional significance and rename it Alatau, reported the Akorda press service. With a total area of 88,000 hectares, Alatau is located 47 kilometers north of Almaty’s…
American Students to Spend One Month Teaching Kids in Eastern Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Two students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will spend 26 days teaching schoolchildren at the secondary school named after Seitkamzy Lastayev in the Katon-Karagai village in the East Kazakhstan Region, the Fund for Sustainable Development of Education (FSDE) reported on Jan. 8. Alexander-Eduard Shertsnev and Hanna Park will lead workshops for…
World Bank Releases Monthly Economic Update for Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The World Bank has published a monthly economic update for Kazakhstan for December, reviewing trends in business activity, inflation, and trade dynamics. Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing contracts decreased to 48 points from 50.3 points in October. Services PMI also dropped to 49.2, indicating weakening activity in both sectors. Real GDP grew…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Sign Protocol on Mutual Cooperation Expansion
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev and Uzbek Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov signed a protocol on expanding mutual cooperation at a Jan. 5 meeting in Tashkent, reported the Kazakh Trade and Integration Ministry’s press service. The ministers discussed the stages of implementation of agreements within the roadmaps…
Kazakhstan’s Aviation Administration Confirms Safety of Boeing 737 MAX 9 Fleet Following US Incident
ASTANA – Five Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft registered in Kazakhstan have valid airworthiness certificates, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK) reported on Jan. 7. The statement comes after an incident involving Boeing 737 MAX 9, operated by Alaska Airlines, which lost a fuselage section mid-flight in Oregon, United States (U.S.) on Jan. 5. On…
Kazakhstan’s SDG Coordination Council Approves 2024 Action Plan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Coordination Council on the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approved a plan of measures for 2024 at the council’s seventh meeting on Jan. 5, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, the meeting highlighted the need to revise national indicators, particularly to update those on…
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina Wins Brisbane International, Defeats World No. 2
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s top seed Elena Rybakina defeated world’s No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus with a 6-0, 6-3 score to clinch the Brisbane International on Jan. 7, reported the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Rybakina expressed her sentiments on the court after receiving the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy from former world No. 3 Wendy Turnbull,…
Square in Bishkek Raises New Kyrgyz Flag
ASTANA – A new flag of the Kyrgyz Republic was hoisted on Ala-Too square in Bishkek, accompanied by the renovation of the guard of honor cabin, 24.kg reported on Jan. 3. President Sadyr Japarov endorsed the law on the updated national flag, which was approved by the Parliament on Dec. 20. Initiated by Parliament Speaker…
Kazakhstan Reduces Quota for Attracting Foreign Workers in 2024
ASTANA – The Kazakh Minister of Labor has issued an order dated Dec. 28, 2023, setting the quota for attracting foreign workers for labor activities in Kazakhstan in 2024, reported Zakon.kz. The order, effective from Jan. 14, delineates the following quotas as a percentage of the workforce: 0.23% for permits issued by the local executive…
Inflation in Kazakhstan Falls Below 10% for First Time Since February 2022
ASTANA – The annual increase in prices for goods and services in December hit 9.8%, 0.5% less than in November, DataHub reported on Jan. 3. Throughout 2023, the indicator has consistently fallen since March, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The most noticeable price increase was recorded in paid services, which grew 12.4%. Inflation…
Kazakhstan Secures Sixth Position in FDI Standouts Watchlist 2024
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has claimed the sixth spot in the foreign direct investment (FDI) Standouts Watchlist 2024, according to a report by fDi Intelligence on Dec. 11, 2023. The study, based on data from the International Monetary Fund and foreign investment monitor fDi Markets, evaluates the macroeconomic and FDI trajectories of the world’s top 50…
Kazakhstan Plans to Auction Nearly 70 Precious Metal Deposits
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction has announced its intention to facilitate electronic trading for about 70 deposits of precious metals soon, Kazinform reported on Jan. 3. The upcoming electronic auctions will involve the transfer of over 20 vacant underground deposits to investors, where contracts for solid minerals were terminated ahead of…
Kazakh Prime Minister Highlights Robust Economic Growth in 2023
ASTANA – Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov shared positive developments in Kazakhstan’s economy over the year in an interview with the 24KZ TV channel, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Dec. 28. Economic outlook Despite global challenges, the country’s economy has shown a steady growth, reaching 4.9% over the first 11 months, with an expected…
Saudi Arabia Becomes Observer State in CICA
ASTANA – Saudi Arabia joined the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) as its tenth observer state on Dec. 26, reported the CICA’s press service. The decision to grant observer status to Saudi Arabia was made during the CICA Ministerial Council following the pre-approval of the country’s application at the CICA…
Number of Domestic Tourists in Kazakhstan Surpasses 5.5 Million This Year
ASTANA – The number of domestic tourists in Kazakhstan grew 12% to over 5.5 million in the first nine months of 2023, Silk Way TV Channel reported on Dec. 26. Meanwhile, the inflow of foreign travelers increased by one-third to 835,000 people. Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev reported on the ministry’s efforts…
Kazakhstan Enhances Peacekeeping Presence in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan extended the scope of its peacekeeping missions in 2023, as was instructed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said Deputy Minister of Defense Lieutenant-General Sultan Kamaletdinov at a Dec. 26 briefing in the Central Communications Service, reported the ministry’s press office. The ministry organized six international exercises within Kazakhstan, while Kazakh military personnel participated…
Kazakhstan’s State Commission Rehabilitates 311,000 Victims of Soviet Political Repression
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s State Commission for the Full Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repressions has rehabilitated over 311,000 victims, State Counselor Erlan Karin said at the commission’s final meeting on Dec. 26, reported the Akorda press service. The commission was formed after the presidential decree signed on Nov. 24, 2020. The commission has undertaken systematic…
Kazakhstan’s Energy Sector Surges This Year
ASTANA – Reviewing the accomplishments in Kazakhstan’s energy sector over this year, the Prime Minister’s press service issued an overview on Dec. 26, highlighting significant achievements. Oil and gas production In January-November, oil and gas condensate production reached 82.2 million tons, an 8% increase compared to the previous year. Gas production rose by 12% to…
Kazakhstan’s Exports to EAEU Countries Increase by 90%
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exports to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) increased by 90% from $5.1 billion in 2015 to $9.7 billion in 2022, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said on Dec. 25 in the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, the ministry’s press service reported. In seven years,…
