Kazakh and Turkish FMs Reiterate Commitment to Strengthening Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Feb. 29 as part of his participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The discussions addressed the transit and transport potential of the two countries, the development of cultural and…
Kazakhstan Sends 2,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel as Humanitarian Aid to Kyrgyz Republic
ASTANA – Kazakhstan allocated 2,000 tons of diesel fuel as humanitarian aid to the Kyrgyz Republic in addressing the aftermath of the accident at the Bishkek Thermal Power Plant, reported the Kazakh Ministry for Emergency Situations on Feb. 29. The first shipment of 1,000 tons was dispatched on Feb. 28 from the Zarya branch of…
President Tokayev Congratulates People on Gratitude Day in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the nation on the Day of Gratitude celebrated on March 1, reported the Akorda press service. “This is an important holiday that contributes to strengthening the unity of our people. By expressing gratitude and respect to each other, we promote such fundamental values as friendship, harmony, and…
Eight Przewalski’s Horses to Return to Kazakhstan in Summer
ASTANA – On June 3, two CASA C-295 aircrafts of the Czech Air Force will transport eight Przewalski’s horses to Kazakhstan. After landing in the Arkalyk Airport, the endangered species of wild ungulates will be accommodated in the Altyn Dala state nature reserve in the Kostanai Region. This was announced at a Feb. 29 conference…
Automotive Industry in Kazakhstan Outpaces Expectations
ASTANA – In recent years, Kazakhstan has been experiencing rapid growth in the automotive industry. In 2023, the country produced over 148,000 cars, which is 30% more than a year earlier. One step at a time, economic diversification policy brings promising results in the development of the real economy. Last year marked the 5.1% growth…
Pan-Turkism: Turkic Vector in Kazakhstan’s Foreign Policy
ASTANA – Kazakhstan emerged as a key player in Turkic reintegration following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the ideology advocating for the unity of Turkic-speaking peoples began to gain traction. Since then, the Turkic vector in Kazakhstan’s foreign policy has served as the basis for strengthening national identity, ensuring regional stability,…
Kazakh Entrepreneur’s ARTparty Popularizes Sip and Paint Industry in Europe, Enters London Market This February
ASTANA – The sip and paint experience, a combination of artistic expression and social interaction, enjoys high demand among modern entertainment preferences. One brushstroke at a time, ARTparty founder Akbota Akylbayeva turned an art concept into a go-to destination in Europe and now introduces her project in London. Its opening in the heart of the…
Kurmangazy National Conservatory’s 80th Anniversary: Grand Tour, Gala Concerts, and Scientific Forums
ASTANA – On its 80th anniversary this year, the Almaty-based Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory arranges a raft of jubilee events. For eight decades, the institution has been pursuing its mission to form national cadres of composers, vocalists, conductors, performers on academic and folk instruments, and musicologists. In an interview with The Astana Times, the conservatory’s…
KazAID: Kazakhstan’s New Diplomatic Powerhouse for Development
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) serves as yet another diplomatic tool in the country’s arsenal, pursuing state policy in the official development assistance (ODA). The Astana Times interviewed KazAID Chairman Arken Arystanov to learn the details of the ongoing projects, results and prospects for the development of regional and international cooperation. “ODA…
World Bank Survey: 70% of Kazakh Citizens Report Satisfaction, as Economic Optimism Prevails
ASTANA – The Listening to Kazakhstan survey conducted by the World Bank revealed that nearly 70% of Kazakh citizens are satisfied with their lives, reported the bank’s press service. The survey encompassed 1,400 households across urban and rural areas in Kazakhstan. “We found it very encouraging to see that the overall well-being of Kazakhstan has…
Scientists to Expand Kazakh-Language Content on Wikipedia
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education held a seminar on expanding and creating Kazakh-language content on the Wikipedia online encyclopedia on Jan. 25, reported the ministry’s press service. The event gathered over 100 scientists and researchers from Kazakhstan’s higher educational institutions and scientific institutes. The committee on language policy and the…
Kazakh Government Reshuffle: New Cabinet Expected to be Announced in Next Few Days
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree Feb. 5 on the dismissal of the government, reported the Akorda press service. First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar was named acting Prime Minister of Kazakhstan in the same decree with incumbent ministers tasked with continuing to fulfill their duties until the formation of the…
Kazakhstan Ranks 63rd in 2024 Social Progress Index Among 170 Countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ranked 63rd in the 2024 Social Progress Index among 170 participating states. With an overall score of 69.73 points, the country once again surpassed the global average of 63.44 points, reported Kazakhstan’s Economic Research Institute on Feb. 4. Kazakhstan’s indicators mark an increase of two points compared to 2022 when the…
Persian Gulf’s Qatar Scales Up Investments in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan remains a key recipient of the gross foreign direct investment (FDI) from the Persian Gulf countries. Qatar’s contributions of $13.1 million constituted an impressive threefold growth in 2022. In the first three quarters of 2023, Qatari investments reached $4.4 million, reported Ranking.kz analytical website. Since 2015, FDI inflows from Qatar to Kazakhstan…
Kazakh Foreign Ministry Hosts First 2024 Human Rights Dialogue Platform Meeting
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry held this year’s first meeting of the dialogue platform on the human dimension on Jan. 29, reported the ministry’s press service on Feb. 3. Government officials and public figures reviewed the country’s accomplishments in human rights. They outlined priorities for the upcoming work at national and international levels. Established in…
Kazakhstan Wins First-Ever Gold at 2024 World Aquatics in Doha
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s artistic swimming team won a historic gold medal at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha on Feb. 4, reported the press service of the National Olympic Committee. Nargiza Bolatova, 20, and Eduard Kim, 18, performed in the mixed duet technical program. “Kazakhstan upset the odds to take gold in the mixed…
Kazakhstan Forecasts 5.3% Economic Growth in 2024 Amid Strong Performance in Key Sectors
ASTANA – The Kazakh government is optimistic about economic development in 2024, forecasting a minimum of 5.3% growth. In the past year, Kazakhstan demonstrated resilience by adapting to new conditions and achieving a robust economic growth of 5.1%, according to the Prime Minister’s press service. In 2023, the key sectors of the country’s economy experienced…
Kazakh PM Proposes to Create Eurasian Digital Platform
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov proposed the idea to create a digital platform for the exchange of technological solutions, patents, and innovative ideas between the Eurasian countries. This was announced at a Feb. 2 plenary session of the Digital Almaty 2024 forum, reported its press service. The panel discussions gathered over 200 government…
Kazakhstan to Create Pool of Lawyers to Protect Interests Abroad
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to create a pool of accredited lawyers and experts to protect the country’s interests abroad, announced Dastan Smagulov, the deputy director of the department for the protection of state property rights at the Ministry of Justice, at a Jan. 30 Central Communications Service (CCS) press briefing. The primary emphasis lies in…
US Think Tanks Review Scientific Cooperation with Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) and the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) examined Kazakhstan’s role in the changing threat landscape of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as part of the Jan. 30 panel session. Panelists delved into historical insights and discussed the key aspects of scientific cooperation between Kazakhstan and…
Kazakhstan Hosts First SCO Digital Forum, Announces New Initiatives
ASTANA – The first day of the Digital Almaty 2024 forum featured the inaugural meeting of the heads of ministries and agencies of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) responsible for the development of information and communication technologies (ICT), reported the press service of the forum. Participants from the SCO countries exchanged…
Oxford Researcher Suggests Measures to Address Central Asia’s Water Crisis
ASTANA – Water scarcity in Central Asia poses a persistent threat to the socio-economic progress of the region, with climate change exacerbating its vulnerability. In an interview with The Astana Times, Genevieve Donnellon-May, a geopolitical and global strategy advisor specializing in regional resource governance and environmental conflict in Asia, proposed a set of measures both…
EU-CA Investors Forum Announces €10 Bln Commitment for Development of Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor
ASTANA – The Global Gateway Investors Forum for the European Union – Central Asia Transport Connectivity kicked off with a plenary session on Jan. 29 in Brussels. The European and international financial institutions announced the 10 billion euros (US$10.2 billion) commitment to invest in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) connecting Europe and…
Kazakhstan, Holy See Stand for Open Dialogue in Favor of Global Peace, Says Apostolic Nuncio
ASTANA – The course of events on Kazakhstan’s diplomatic front in 2024 unfolded with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visits to Italy and the Vatican. Kazakhstan-Vatican relations are poised to advance with a shared commitment to interreligious dialogue – a theme dear to both sides, said Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan Archbishop George Panamthundil in an…
Kazakh Entrepreneur Shares Story of Opening First-Ever Qazaq Coffee House in Amsterdam
ASTANA – Global fascination with coffee culture has transformed the industry into a trend. For over half a year, an entrepreneur from Kazakhstan Talgat Aubakirov has been learning the business features of this fast-paced sector in the Netherlands. In an interview with The Astana Times, he shared a story of opening the first-ever Kazakh enterprise…
