Articles by Saniya Sakenova

ASTANA – As of April 9, over 86,000 people, including 29,000 children, have been rescued and evacuated since the floods began in Kazakhstan, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations. According to the ministry, the involved aircraft rescued 2,823 people, of whom 865 were children. Temporary accommodation centers housed 8,472 people, including 4,055 children. Over…

ASTANA – Kazakh kobyz player Olzhas Kurmanbek will accompany world-famous singer Dimash Kudaibergen in performances across Hungary and Türkiye as part of the Stranger concert tour in May, the Culture and Information Ministry’s press service reported on April 2. After playing the traditional Kazakh instrument for two decades, Kurmanbek has been performing on the big…

ASTANA – Heads of several United Nations’ (UN) agencies presented their outcomes and identified key priorities for work in Kazakhstan for 2024 at an annual meeting of the Steering Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2021-2025 on April 4, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov…

ASTANA – With significant influence on local and international levels, spiritual leaders could assist in addressing climate change, inequality, and extremism, helping to end conflicts and wars through unity, Maulen Ashimbayev, chairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, said at an April 4 roundtable discussion during his working visit to the…

ASTANA – The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) positively noted Kazakhstan’s efforts in improving anti-corruption legislation following the country’s first report presented at the 96th plenary meeting of GRECO in Strasbourg, France, the Anti-Corruption Agency’s press service reported on April 5. In particular, experts commended actions on the return of criminal proceeds, establishing a…

ASTANA – The Kazakh leadership is committed to upholding gender equality and protecting women’s rights, Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko said during a two-day seminar on April 4 in Astana, reported the ministry’s press service. The seminar, titled Protection of Women’s Rights: International and European Approaches, was organized with the support of the Council of…

ASTANA – Inspired by Kazakh skyrunner athlete Anar Burasheva, the Kazakh Everest Team is all set to conquer the highest peak on Earth, Mount Everest, starting April 6, reported El.kz. The expedition’s goal is to hoist the national flag of Kazakhstan on Everest. Burasheva is confident that gender equality needs to be developed in mountaineering,…

ASTANA – The traditional KazChess Awards honored top players, coaches, referees, and those who have contributed to chess sports’ development in Kazakhstan on April 2 for the second consecutive year, reported the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s press service. This year, the list of nominations has been expanded to 12 categories from last year’s nine. The…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon signed a memorandum to provide scholarships to Kazakh students at a meeting on April 2, reported the ministry’s press service. Starting this year, the Seoul administration will provide five educational grants to Kazakh citizens for master’s studies in technical…

ASTANA – The Aisholpan international cultural and educational project introduced PODCAST AISHOLPAN: the power of inspiration, a series of educational podcasts for teenage girls on YouTube on April 3 in Astana, reported the project’s press service. The project’s mission is aimed at empowering adolescents, enhancing female leadership from an early age, building generational connections, and…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID) and the Singaporean Foreign Ministry launched the Dostyk Digitalization program to enhance the digital skills of civil servants from Central Asian countries, the agency’s press service reported on April 1. The program, running from April 1 to 5, provides training on digital governance and e-government in English…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to collaborate on introducing digital solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Kazakhstan’s financial sector, the National Bank’s press service reported on March 28. These agreements were reached at the meetings of delegates from the National Bank and the Agency for Regulation and Development…

ASTANA – The Hansa Consortium of Germany is set to invest in constructing an international cargo and passenger airport at the Khorgos – Eastern Gate special economic zone, the press service of the Zhetisu Region’s administration reported on March 28. The joint Kazakh-German project, valued at 250 billion tenge ($559.2 million) worth of investment, is…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Xi Jinping launched the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China at the China National Opera House on March 29, reported Kazinform news agency. In a congratulatory letter, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highly assessed notable achievements both countries reached through the constant deepening of mutual political trust. The two countries…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu attended the first meeting of the Strategic Dialogue of foreign ministers from both countries and signed the corresponding memorandum on March 29 during the official visit to Beijing, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, he reviewed political,…

ASTANA — The Astana Hub International Technopark of IT Startups has witnessed a surge in projects initiated by female entrepreneurs. Nearly 250 women-led companies are registered, 25% of which have successfully expanded their services abroad, the hub’s press service reported on March 7. One standout startup, ZebraEye, founded by Yana Ten, gained attraction at the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev exchanged views with Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Ming on enhancing the SCO’s effectiveness at a March 28 meeting on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia, reported Akorda. In light of the present geopolitical landscape, President Tokayev underscored Kazakhstan’s significant emphasis on the forthcoming Astana…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan regards cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a giant economic community in which the country plays a fairly important role, especially in the regional dimension, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a March 28 meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, reported Akorda. Tokayev noted Kazakhstan’s participation in OECD…

ASTANA – Friendship and cooperation with China are an absolute priority for Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a March 28 meeting with Zhao Leji, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in Boao, China, reported Akorda. Acknowledging the significance of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), Tokayev expressed anticipation for…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, President of the Assembly, and Chair of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute on March 28 in Boao, China, reported Akorda. Tokayev expressed gratitude to Ban Ki-moon for the invitation…

ASTANA—The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, in collaboration with Google, launched Street View in Kazakhstan on March 27, reported the ministry’s press service. According to Minister Bagdat Mussin, this big step forward marks a pivotal moment for the country, enhancing navigation, boosting tourism, and offering virtual tours of Kazakhstan’s picturesque landscapes…

ASTANA – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Upstream Director of the Italian company ENI Luca Vignati reviewed ongoing joint work at the Karachaganak and Kashagan fields and explored opportunities for launching new projects in renewable energy sources at a meeting on March 27, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Today, Kazakhstan continues the process of…

ASTANA – The Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China commenced with the Kazakh-Chinese tourism and investment forum on March 28 in Beijing, reported the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s press service. Minister Yermek Marzhikpayev underscored the Year’s role in fortifying the friendly relations between the two countries and expressed optimism that the dialogue would give new…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has secured 31 licenses across 11 sports for the 2024 Olympics in Paris to be held on July 26 – Aug.11, the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s press office reported on March 26. These sports include men’s and women’s boxing, shooting, archery, fencing, road cycling, modern pentathlon, taekwondo, Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling, artistic…

ASTANA – Kazakh Ambassador to Belgium Margulan Baimukhan and Chairman of Kazatomprom national atomic company Meirzhan Yussupov participated in the inaugural Nuclear Energy Summit on March 21 in Brussels, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The summit aimed to highlight the pivotal role of nuclear energy in addressing global challenges such as climate change,…