Articles by Aida Haidar

ASTANA — Almaty attracted a staggering 1.5 trillion tenge ($3.2 billion) in investments in 2023, marking a remarkable 19.9% increase, announced Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev during a Dec. 21 press briefing at the Central Communications Service.  Private investment growth exhibited even more impressive numbers, accelerating to 30.3%, highlighting the city’s appeal as a hub for…

ASTANA — The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation marked a significant achievement in its negotiations with China on Dec. 21 concerning a water distribution agreement, the ministry’s press service reported.  Both parties have successfully reached a consensus on key articles, marking a crucial step in broader negotiations to address the management of water…

ASTANA — A soon-to-be-finalized free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran will elevate annual mutual trade to $18-20 billion and open doors for Kazakhstan, EAEU member, to fortify its presence in the Iranian market, said Andrey Slepnev, the member of the Board for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), during…

ASTANA — Catalin Radu, the director-general of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK), sheds light on the organization’s role in fostering international collaboration, particularly in the realm of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies in an interview with The Astana Times.  With a commitment to propelling the aviation industry towards a sustainable future, Radu unveils…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has reported record-breaking exports of processed uranium in the first ten months of 2023. The total value of uranium sales abroad during this period surged to an impressive $2.46 billion, marking a substantial 33% increase compared to the same timeframe in the previous year, according to a Dec.19 post by First Credit…

ASTANA — Southern Kazakhstan attracts tourists globally who are eager to explore its blend of historical and natural wonders and visit sites believed to possess unique energy. Among these, the pilgrimage complex of Adam and Eve, also known as the Forty Disappeared Shrines, stands out as a popular destination, promising wish fulfillment and spiritual cleansing…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited a newly constructed school in the capital on Dec. 15, funded entirely by assets reclaimed from corrupt officials, the Akorda press service reported.  The establishment of the school resulted from President Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1 last year, which proposed utilizing recovered funds for constructing educational institutions. This…

ASTANA — As Kazakhstan eagerly anticipates the upcoming long weekend to commemorate Independence Day on Dec. 16, the Kazakh capital is hosting various events to bring joy to the young and old during these chilly days. Here’s a glimpse into the curated lineup of events awaiting you in the heart of Kazakhstan’s winter wonderland. Tauelsizdik…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has witnessed a robust 19 % increase in transit traffic over the first ten months of 2023, reinforcing its role as a pivotal hub for Eurasian transit transport, according to a Nov. 30 Infrastructure in Eurasia monitor by Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).  Looking forward, Kazakhstan has ambitious plans to further solidify its…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a landmark decree on Dec. 4 regarding measures to increase the efficiency of attracting investment into Kazakhstan’s economy and accelerating economic growth, reported the Akorda press service. The decree outlines a comprehensive plan to empower the Investment Promotion Council (Investment Headquarters) with unprecedented authority. As stipulated in…

ASTANA — Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, reiterated an ambitious target set by the leaders of Kazakhstan and Iran of achieving a $3 billion bilateral trade turnover at the 19th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Iran held in Tehran on Dec. 4,…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a significant impact at the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on Dec. 2 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by overseeing the signing of ten agreements between government agencies and business entities of Kazakhstan and various countries.  On…

ASTANA — Plans to construct a state-of-the-art plant to produce ferroalloys in Ekibastuz, Pavlodar Region, with a production capacity of 80,000 tons of ferrosilicon annually, were announced during a Dec. 1 state commission on economic modernization meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, the Prime Minister’s press service reported.  The plant will contribute significantly to…

ASTANA — First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Umarov took part in the 13th annual meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asian countries on Nov. 28, organized by the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, ministry’s press service reported.…

ASTANA — The financial sector of Kazakhstan underwent a thorough evaluation as part of the 2023 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s 2023 IV Article Mission, which concluded this November. This assessment aims to identify critical areas for reform to enhance the sector’s resilience and policy framework.  The Astana…

ASTANA — Education and Labour Deputy Ministers from Central Asian countries convened in Torino, Italy, on Nov. 22 for a high-level meeting of the € 10 million ($ 10.9 million) Dialogue and Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia (DARYA) project to foster regional cooperation and inclusive development, reported European Training Foundation’s press service.  This…

ASTANA — The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) reduced the base rate to 15.75% per annum, with a corridor of +/- 1 percentage point on Nov. 24, NBK’s press service reported. The decision, driven by updated forecasts, data analysis, and an evaluation of inflation risks, reflects a strategic response to…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijan’s people for their monumental achievement in safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity in compliance with international law and United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions during his Nov. 24 working visit to Baku to attend the first UN Special Program for the Economies of…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored the gravity of the evolving situation in the Middle East, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action in the face of escalating international tensions during a narrow format session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) held in Minsk on Nov. 23, Akorda press…

ASTANA — In November of last year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev unveiled his ambitious election program titled Just Kazakhstan – for all and for everyone, signaling a commitment to usher in a new economic era. A Nov. 22 article from the Kazakh Prime Minister’s press service provides a comprehensive overview of the significant strides made during…

ASTANA — Kazakh Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union Barlybai Sadykov met with key officials from the African Union (AU) Commission focusing on the potential collaboration between the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID) and the AU Commission on Nov. 16, Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. Sadykov met with Education,…

ASTANA — Pfizer, Çalık Holding, Alarko Holding, and several other foreign companies have inked new contracts for projects worth $ 1.6 billion during the Kazakhstan Round Table on Global Investment (KGIR) held on Nov. 17, with the presence of Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, the Prime Minister’s press service reported. Overall, 26 memorandums and commercial documents…

ASTANA — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts a more moderate growth rate of 3-3.5% next year from 4.8% this year, said the IMF mission chief for Kazakhstan Nicolas Blancher during a Nov. 21 press conference on the outcomes of Article IV consultation with Kazakhstan. According to Blancher, the spillovers of the Russian-Ukraine conflict had…

ASTANA — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, at the invitation by India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Subrahmaniyam Jaishankar, participated in a ministerial meeting India and the Global South: Joint Development for a Better Future on Nov. 17, a crucial component of the second Voice of the Global South…

ASTANA — Exactly one year ago, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev secured a resounding mandate from the people, receiving over 80% of the votes in the presidential elections. Since then, President Tokayev has steadfastly pursued a path of deep and sustainable reforms he initiated in 2019, wrote State Counselor Erlan Karin in his Nov. 20 Telegram post.  Reform…