Kazakhstan to Build First Nuclear Power Plant in Almaty Region
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has designated the Zhambyl district of the Almaty Region as the site for its first nuclear power plant (NPP), according to a government decree, reported Kazinform on Feb. 25. The country recently completed a dialogue with potential technology suppliers for the plant’s construction. The Ministry of Energy estimates the plant could be…
European Council Appoints New EU Representative for Central Asia
ASTANA – The Council of the European Union (EU) appointed Eduards Stiprais as Central Asia’s new EU Special Representative (EUSR) on Feb. 24. According to the council’s press service, Stiprais will take up his duties on March 1 for an initial two-year mandate, succeeding Terhi Hakala. Stiprais, a Latvian diplomat, has served as Latvia’s Permanent…
Kazakhstan to Develop Joint Satellites with Mongolia and Congo
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary national space company has signed agreements with Mongolia and Congo to develop joint satellites, Kazinform reported on Feb. 24, citing the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry. These countries are interested in Kazakhstan’s Earth remote sensing technologies for monitoring agriculture, ecology, and natural resources. The company has been…
SCO Legal Framework Updates Take Center Stage at Beijing Meeting
ASTANA — Updating the legal framework took center stage at the regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of National Coordinators, chaired by China and held in Beijing from Feb. 18-21. The national coordinators advocated a thorough elaboration of all the proposals to transform the SCO into a practical and mobile multilateral structure.…
Almaty to Open Visitor Center in Tuyuk-Su Tract
ASTANA – A modern visitor center will be opened in the Tuyuk-Su tract, Almaty, the city administration’s press service reported on Feb. 12. The center, estimated to cost 380 million tenge (US$767,049), will include a guest house, café, pharmacy, equipment rental shop, souvenir shop, and space for creative events. It will also offer electric vehicle…
Kazakh Airlines to Launch New Flights to Georgia and China in May
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s airline Air Astana plans to launch direct flights from Atyrau in the western part of the country to Tbilisi, Georgia, on May 27, reported the Ministry of Transport. Flights will be operated three times a week on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. This direction is now available from Almaty and Aktau. Another air…
Kazakhstan to Open First External Sea Terminal in Poti This April
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s first external sea terminal will open in Poti, Georgia, in April, Kazinform reported on Feb. 18, citing Jibek Joly TV Channel. The $30 million project, launched by a domestic investor two years ago, will have an annual capacity of 120,000 containers. Located in the Poti port, which features over 20 berthing cranes…
Almaty Hosts First UNESCO Global Youth Forum
ASTANA – Almaty hosted the opening of the First Global Youth Forum of UNESCO Clubs and Associations on Feb. 19, welcoming over 150 participants from nearly 60 countries worldwide, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. During the two-day event, participants plan to discuss key issues such as capacity building, youth empowerment, artificial intelligence ethics,…
Kazakhstan to Cut Oil Production to Offset January Overproduction
ASTANA — Kazakhstan will take further measures to meet its OPEC+ commitments, including cutting production at other oilfields, to offset the January excess, Minister of Energy Almassadam Satkaliyev said in telephone talks with several OPEC+ officials and energy ministers on Feb. 17, according to the ministry’s press service. Satkaliyev explained that the January increase was…
Kazakhstan Proposes Simplifying Business Travel with France
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev proposed simplifying business trips with France at a meeting with Patrick Stefanini, the Special Representative of the French Interior Minister, on Feb. 10 in Astana, reported the ministry’s press service. This move would open up new opportunities in investment, innovation, culture, sports, science, and education. The Kazakh…
Canadian Mining Company to Explore Kazakhstan’s Chu-Sarysu Copper Basin
ASTANA – Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines announced the formation of an exploration joint venture to explore the Chu-Sarysu Copper Basin in Kazakhstan, which is the world’s third-largest sediment-hosted copper district, on Feb. 12. Ivanhoe has committed to fund $18.7 million in exploration activities over an initial two year period, with earn-in rights to further…
Kazakhstan and EU Discuss Cooperation Plans in Brussels
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko held a series of meetings with representatives of key European Union institutions in Brussels to discuss the prospects for deepening Kazakhstan-EU cooperation and strengthening regional partnerships in Central Asia. Discussions focused on priority areas of collaboration, including transport and infrastructure projects, sustainable development, energy partnerships, and the…
Swiss Company to Invest in Сaviar Production in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Swiss Choice Holding will invest in a fish farm project on the Caspian Sea coast, aiming to produce 100 to 600 tons of sturgeon and 100 tons of caviar annually, as was reported during a meeting between the company representatives and Mangystau Region Governor Nurdaulet Kilybai on Feb. 12. According to the regional…
First Comic Book About Bozok Medieval City Unveiled
ASTANA – The Bozok State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve presented the first edition of the comic book “Journey of Alikhan and Aikerim” on Feb. 12, reported the Kazakh Culture and Information Ministry’s press service. Released in Kazakh, Russian, and English, the comic book targets children and adolescents and aims to promote Kazakh literature through stories…
Kazakhstan’s Proved Oil Reserves Reach 30 Billion Barrels
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s proved oil reserves totaled 30 billion barrels as of Jan. 1, according to the United States (U.S.) Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report, published on Feb. 6. The report notes that the Caspian Sea has substantial oil and natural gas reserves from offshore deposits and onshore fields. Traditionally an oil-producing area, it has…
Kazakhstan to Increase Gas Supplies to China
ASTANA – QazaqGaz national company and PetroChina International have agreed to increase gas supplies to China in 2025, reported QazaqGaz’s press service. The corresponding addendum to the existing three-year natural gas purchase and sale agreement was signed by QazaqGaz Chairman Sanzhar Zharkeshov and PetroChina International Executive Chairman Wu Junli during the Kazakhstan-China Business Forum in…
Kazakhstan to Use Recovered Assets to Build Medical and Social Center
ASTANA – The Kazakh government has allocated 2.6 billion tenge (US$5.1 million) from recovered illegally withdrawn assets to build a special social services center in the Abai Region, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Feb. 12. The 100-bed facility will be constructed in Semei and is expected to expand access to high-quality medical care…
New Program to Help Central Eurasian IT Companies Enter US Market
ASTANA – The Silkroad Innovation Hub has launched SCALE2US: IT Outsourcing Bootcamp, a new educational program designed to help IT outsourcing companies in Central Eurasia enter the United States market, The Tech reported on Feb. 12. The program, targeting IT firms with at least ten developers, international experience, and strong technical specialists, focuses on sales…
Kazakhstan’s Transport Sector Sees 10% Growth in 2024, Led by Maritime Expansion
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s transportation sector experienced a 10% growth in 2024 across all modes, reported Trend on Feb. 7. A total of 1.0788 billion tons of cargo was transported, with freight turnover reaching 514.5 billion ton-kilometers, marking a 5% increase over 2023. Passenger turnover grew by 13.8%, reaching 82.8 billion passenger kilometers. Rail transport saw…
Kazakhstan-UK Strategic Dialogue Deepens, Focusing on Trade, Investment, Labor Rights Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom continue to expand their bilateral strategic dialogue and cooperation steadily. Having marked a symbolic anniversary on Jan. 19, the 33rd year since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries held the eighth meeting of the Kazakhstan-U.K. Strategic Dialogue in London on Feb. 11. Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister…
Kazakhstan Uses Recovered Assets to Build Another School
ASTANA – The Kazakh government has allocated 1.4 billion tenge (US$2.7 million) from recovered illegally withdrawn assets to build a new school in Koksai village, the Zhetisu Region, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Feb. 7. A similar amount was recently used to construct a school in the Ulytau Region. Koksai’s existing school, where…
Sixth EU-Central Asia Meeting: Despite Economic Growth, Afghanistan’s Situation Remains Dire
ASTANA — Despite the observed economic growth, the situation in Afghanistan remains dire — a quarter of the population is starving. This was noted at the sixth European Union (EU)-Central Asia meeting on Afghanistan, which took place in Dushanbe on Feb. 5. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, the participating countries agreed that…
Kazakhstan Allocates $2.7 Million in Recovered Assets to Build New School
ASTANA – The Kazakh government has allocated over 1.4 billion tenge (US$2.7 million) from recovered illegally withdrawn assets to build a new school in the Ulytau Region, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Feb. 5. The 80-seat school in Karazhal will improve the lives of local children, many of whom travel to other parts…
Almaty Museum of Arts Launches Official Website
ASTANA – Almaty Museum of Arts has launched an official website, offering a digital archive and database to provide researchers and contemporary art lovers access to its collection, the museum’s press service reported on Jan. 31. The website, developed by a Dutch studio, features information on upcoming exhibitions, the museum’s history, and its growing collection…
Italy Includes Mangystau in Travel Tour Catalog
ASTANA – An Italian tour operator has added eco-friendly routes of Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region to its travel catalog alongside trips to Almaty and the Turkistan Region, Kazakh Tourism National Company reported on Feb. 4. Promoting new routes and expanding tourism ties between Kazakhstan and Italy were key points in a recently signed memorandum of cooperation…
