Articles by Saniya Sakenova

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…

ASTANA – The number of women-led IT companies at the Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups has surged from 179 in early 2023 to 301 in 2025, the Astana Hub’s press service reported on March 4. Astana Hub Managing Director Daniya Akhmetova noted, however, that despite this growth, women still make up only 30%…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to build a $1.35 billion gas chemical production facility to manufacture 700,000 tonnes of urea and 42,000 tonnes of ammonia annually. This was announced during a March 4 meeting with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and ESTA Construction CEO Mustafa Toprak. According to the prime minister’s office, the plant will be located…

ASTANA – The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on the establishment of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty during a March 4 session in New York. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, this initiative was first presented by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev…

ASTANA – The New York Film Academy (NYFA) has launched a branch in Kazakhstan, making it the third NYFA campus outside the United States and the first world-class creative university in the country. The online signing ceremony took place on March 1 at the Energo University site with the participation of Minister of Science and…

ASTANA – The Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025 will take place on May 29-30, fostering cross-border dialogues on international diplomacy and cooperation amid global disruption and polarization, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Building on the success of the 2023 forum, which drew over 5,000 international participants, this year’s event will address pressing global challenges and…

ASTANA – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has placed three-year bonds worth 50 billion tenge (US$100.4 million) on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) to finance the modernization of Almaty combined heat and power plant-3 (CHPP-3), the EDB’s press service reported on Feb. 27. The project involves transitioning CHPP-3 from coal to natural gas, significantly reducing…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s largest airline Air Astana plans to launch a new Almaty-Da Nang route starting June 4, the Transport Ministry reported. Flights will operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, increasing the total number of weekly flights between Kazakhstan and Vietnam from 32 to 34. Air Astana has also expanded its flight schedule…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a law granting special status to Turkistan, further solidifying its role as Kazakhstan’s spiritual and cultural hub, Akorda reported on March 3. “Turkistan is a cradle of the Kazakh nation, while Khoja Ahmed Yasawi  mausoleum is one of its sacred legacies. By preserving its uniqueness as a UNESCO…

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said the Kazakh government will support Moroccan businesses in strengthening economic and investment ties with Morocco. Nurtleu made the statement on Feb. 28 in Rabat, during meetings with leading Moroccan companies. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, Nurtleu discussed potential cooperation in…