Articles by Saniya Sakenova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan climbed to 26th place among 71 pension systems in the Allianz Pension Index (API), surpassing Austria, Spain, Chile, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and other countries, the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund reported on March 18. In 2023, Kazakhstan ranked 34th among 75 countries. The API evaluates pension systems based on sustainability and adequacy,…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will take part in the Earth Hour 2025 campaign on March 22 at 8.30 p.m. local time. The annual event, initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2007 in Sydney, encourages people all around the world to turn off lights for one hour to raise awareness of environmental issues.…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital began to host concerts, exhibitions, performances, creative evenings, and other events on March 14 in the ten-day celebration of the Nauryz holiday, reported the Astana administration’s press service. On March 19, Renewal Day, a citywide clean-up will be held as part of the Taza Kazakhstan environmental campaign. The event will…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan with partners has provided humanitarian aid to farmers in Logar Province, Afghanistan, as part of the newly launched Promotion of Wheat Cultivation for Sustainable Development in Central Afghanistan program, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. The program’s official inauguration took place on March 6 in Pul-i-Alam, the administrative center of Logar Province. The…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will establish six specially protected natural areas, said Daniyar Turgambayev, the chairman of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources at a March 13 briefing in the Central Communications Service, the ministry reported. In addition to the new areas, Kazakhstan plans to expand the…

ASTANA – Despite challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic and global geopolitical tensions, Kazakhstan has made significant economic progress over the past six years under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s leadership, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stated in a March 17 article. By the end of 2024, GDP reached $288 billion, and GDP per capita increased by nearly…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s delegation, led by Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev, met with representatives of the United States (U.S.) Chamber of Commerce, headed by Senior Vice President Khush Choksy, on March 15 to discuss trade and economic cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. According to the ministry’s press service, Satkaliyev outlined Kazakhstan’s ongoing oil and gas…

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Nazym Kyzaibay won the 2025 International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships from March 9 to 16 in Niš, Serbia, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service. Competing in the 48-kilogram category, Kyzaibay secured a decisive victory in the final against Russia’s Iuliia Chumgalakova. Having previously won world championship titles…

ASTANA – Tourism is becoming one of the priority sectors in Kazakhstan’s economy. The industry showed growth last year but there is a lot of work ahead, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerzhan Yerkinbayev said in an interview with Kazinform.  Earlier, Yerkinbayev spoke about the opportunities for remote workers with the launch of Neo…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has completed large-scale work on a unified database of rare and endangered animal species, Kazinform reported on March 12. According to Marina Chirikova, the deputy director general for science at the Institute of Zoology, the project integrates 2,959 records into a single information system for the first time. The system features 217…

ASTANA — The EU intends to ensure deeper and more sustainable engagement with Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said at a March 13 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who is visiting all five countries in the region. According to the Akorda press service, Tokayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s role…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the strategic importance of developing Kazakhstan’s digital infrastructure, particularly the creation of a supercomputer cluster, during a March 13 meeting with Presight.AI CEO Thomas Pramotedham, reported Akorda. One year ago, Kazakhstan signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Presight AI Holding to establish a supercomputer and a Data…

ASTANA – President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed a landmark agreement on the state border on March 13 during Rahmon’s official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, reported the Kyrgyz Presidential Administration’s press service. The countries agreed to reopen the border, which had been closed since May 2021…

ASTANA — KazMunayGas (KMG) Chairman Askhat Khassenov reinforced Kazakhstan’s commitment to the full-scale development of the Kashagan oilfield and broader energy initiatives during key meetings with industry leaders in the United States. Discussions focused on increasing local content in major oil and gas projects, advancing renewable energy cooperation, and enhancing operational efficiency, according to KMG…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s GDP grew 5.4% in January-February, as reported during a March 12 meeting of the economic bloc ministries chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. According to the Prime Minister’s press service, dynamics improved in the production of goods and services. Industrial production rose by 5.7%, while the manufacturing industry increased by 8.9%. Key…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will participate in the fourth meeting of the National Kurultai (Congress) on March 14 in Burabai, reported Akorda. He will deliver a speech, while members of the Kurultai will present their proposals on current public issues. Previous meetings took place in Ulytau, Turkistan, and Atyrau. Established in 2022, the National…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s official visit to Astana on March 11 in strengthening multifaceted interstate ties, reported Akorda. Bayramov expressed gratitude on behalf of President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan for Kazakhstan’s prompt assistance following the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Aktau. The…

ASTANA — The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has raised the base rate from 15.25% to 16.5%, an unprecedented 1.25 percentage point increase amid growing economic uncertainty.  Independent financial analyst Rassul Rysmambetov described the move as preemptive, highlighting concerns over rising tariffs, a planned VAT hike, and economic deregulation, which could accelerate inflation, Kazinform reported…

ASTANA – World-renowned composer and pianist Steve Barakatt visited Kazakhstan for the first time, performing at Astana Opera on March 8 in celebration of International Women’s Day. Speaking to Kazinform, he described Kazakhstan as a dynamically developing, trendy place. Barakatt, a Canadian artist of Lebanese heritage, noted that Kazakhstan’s winter climate reminded him of home.…

ASTANA – More than ever, current global challenges emphasize the need for solid partnerships, said European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, who is expected to visit five Central Asian countries from March 12 to 18 to strengthen the EU-Central Asia partnership ahead of the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit in early April and the Global…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev marked International Women’s Day on March 7 by recognizing the contributions of Kazakh women at an award ceremony, reported Akorda. Tokayev praised women’s achievements and highlighted their role in driving the nation’s prosperity. He reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and creating pathways for women to thrive in economic,…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) announced to raise the base rate to 16.5% per annum with a corridor of +/- 1 percentage point this Friday.  The bank’s press service reported that inflation in Kazakhstan increased to 9.4% in February, and expectations rose to 13.7%. Prices are growing most due to the rise…

ASTANA – Regional Director for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) European and North Atlantic Office Nicolas Rallo commended Kazakhstan and its investigation commission for a preliminary report on the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer-190 crash near Aktau in under 1.5 months. At a March 6 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, Rallo urged to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will host more than 1,500 events nationwide during the Nauryznama Decade, celebrated every year from March 14 to 23, the Ministry of Culture and Information reported. Nauryz is a holiday that celebrates spring and the New Year according to the solar astronomical calendar of Persian and Turkic-speaking nations. Historically, Nauryznama is the…

ASTANA – The tax and budget reform will strengthen support for businesses in Kazakhstan and increase the inflow of investment, Vice Minister of National Economy Bauyrzhan Kudaibergenov said at a March 1 meeting of the Coordination Council on cooperation between the ministry and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). According to the ministry’s…