Kazakhstan’s Exports to EAEU Countries Increase by 90%
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exports to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) increased by 90% from $5.1 billion in 2015 to $9.7 billion in 2022, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said on Dec. 25 in the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, the ministry’s press service reported. In seven years,…
AI Language Models in Process of Adaptation to Kazakh Language
ASTANA – Til-Qazyna National Scientific and Practical Center named after Shaisultan Shayakhmetov announced its readiness to adapt existing international large language models (LLM) to the Kazakh language at a Dec. 22 meeting with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Tamara Duisenova. This initiative aims to provide the results free of charge to government agencies and domestic companies…
Dimash Kudaibergen’s Solo Concert in Hong Kong Marks Seven Years of His Debut
ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen mesmerized fans with a solo concert on Dec. 23 in Hong Kong, commemorating seven years since his debut in the I am a Singer project in China, reported dimashnews.com. Dears from Africa, Asia, China, Europe, and the United States gathered at the Hong Kong Exhibition Center to enjoy the…
Model SCO Interactive Game Unfolds in Beijing During Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship
ASTANA – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat hosted a Model SCO interactive game on Dec. 22 in Beijing as part of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the organization, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The event brought together youth from member states to delve into the theme of a green economy and strategies for sustainable…
Kazakhstan to Strengthen E-Commerce Infrastructure in Partnership with International Investors
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to develop the e-commerce infrastructure by constructing and launching logistics and warehouse centers with foreign investors, particularly from China, said Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev on Dec. 25 in the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, the ministry’s press service reported. He highlighted the rapid growth of…
Leonardo DiCaprio Applauds Kazakhstan’s Saiga Conservation Success
ASTANA – Leonardo DiCaprio, renowned Hollywood actor and environmentalist, congratulated the Kazakh government on the conservation success of the saiga population on his Instagram page on Dec. 25. This comes as the antelope species is reclassified from critically endangered to near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.…
Kazakhstan Set to Increase Exports to Pakistan by $21.5 Million
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports to Pakistan on 40 processed goods worth $21.5 million, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said at a Dec. 21 meeting with Secretary for Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs Kazim Niaz, reported the Kazakh Trade and Integration Ministry. Shakkaliyev highlighted Kazakhstan’s opportunities for exporting processed products…
Kazakhstan Observes Positive Trends in Employment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan employed 908,500 people as part of the regional employment maps in 11 months of this year, the Prime Minister’s press service reported in a Dec. 21 review of the country’s development in the social sphere over 2023. According to Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Svetlana Zhakupova, 196,300 people were…
UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on Semipalatinsk Rehabilitation
ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on international cooperation and coordination for the human, ecological, and economic rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region for the eleventh time on Dec. 19 in New York, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. A total of 85 UN member states co-sponsored the resolution,…
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia Strengthen Strategic Partnership
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu highlighted the strategic importance of intensifying cooperation between the public and private sectors of Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia at the sixth meeting of the Kazakh-Saudi Intergovernmental Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation on Dec. 20 in Riyadh, reported the Kazakh…
Diplomatic Business Club Reviews Kazakhstan’s Investment Opportunities
ASTANA – The Diplomatic Business Club (DBC) members gathered on Dec. 14 in the Kazakh capital to explore investment opportunities in Kazakhstan and discuss the upcoming fifth World Nomad Games, reported the DBC’s press service. Maulen Ashimbayev, сhairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, noted the comprehensive reform initiated by President…
Over 19,400 Ethnic Kazakhs Return Home This Year
ASTANA – As of Dec. 1, 19,476 ethnic Kazakhs returned to their historical homeland and received Kandas status, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population’s press service reported on Dec. 19. Overall, 1,126,500 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to the country since 1991. This year, 51.9% of the Kandas people arrived in Kazakhstan from…
Private Investor to Allocate Funds in Modernization of Karagandy Metallurgical Plant
ASTANA – A private investor will allocate approximately $1.3 billion at the first stage to modernize and enhance safety at the Qarmet Karagandy metallurgical plant, previously known as the ArcelorMittal Temirtau mining company. During a working trip to the Karagandy Region, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar highlighted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s acknowledgment of the transfer…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Position in Eurasia’s Mutual Direct Investments
ASTANA – Kazakhstan reinforced its position as the regional leader in Eurasia for inward mutual direct investment stock, with a share of 27.2% in June compared to 26.6% in 2021, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) reported in a Dec. 19 Monitoring of Mutual Investments publication. According to the report, other key players in the region…
Kazakh Artists Shine in UNESCO Concert Celebrating 30th Anniversary of TURKSOY
ASTANA – Kazakh artists performed at a gala concert We Are Together hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters on Dec. 15 in Paris, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the International Turkic Culture Organization (TURKSOY), reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. The large-scale concert in the main hall of UNESCO…
Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth to Reach 5% at Year-End
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth may reach 5% at the end of the year, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov summing up the results of 2023, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Dec. 18. Kazakhstan’s economy showed sustainable growth of 4.9% in January-November from 2.7% in 2022. “Overall, GDP per capita increased from…
President Tokayev Champions Global Climate Solutions and Urges Collaborative Action at COP28 in Dubai
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev conveyed Kazakhstan’s strong commitment to addressing global climate challenges and outlined key initiatives during the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on Dec. 1 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Akorda press service reported. Tokayev drew attention to the…
Kazakhstan Participates in 30th Meeting of OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu took part in the 30th meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Council of Foreign Ministers on Nov. 30 in Skopje, North Macedonia, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press office. Nurtleu underscored the significance of preserving the OSCE as the…
Caspian Pipeline Consortium Resumes Oil Shipment After Temporary Weather-Related Suspension
ASTANA – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) resumed oil shipments to tankers at the marine terminal on Nov. 30, after a temporary suspension a few days before due to storm warnings and adverse weather conditions, reported the CPC’s press service. Inspection revealed damage to one floating hose of the outer sheath of the third single…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Growing Significance Worldwide, Experience in Nuclear Testing and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media worldwide. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on Kazakhstan’s experience in nuclear testing, its expanding relationship with the European Union (EU), increasing role worldwide, and the Middle Corridor’s potential. Kazakhstan’s lessons for the climate transition The National…
SCO Member States Promote Regional Cooperation Priorities Under Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship
ASTANA – Kazakhstan chaired a meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 in Beijing, focusing on advancing priorities for regional cooperation, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Participants reviewed Kazakhstan’s proposals to fortify and develop the SCO with practical measures.…
Kazakhstan Participates in Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia
ASTANA – Kazakhstan took part in the Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia, held on Nov. 28-30 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, reported the press service of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The event also brought together government representatives from the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, along with national and international organizations,…
Kazakhstan to Build and Repair Over 10,000 Kilometers of Roads by Year-End
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will build and repair 10,700 kilometers of roads by the end of this year, including 6,500 kilometers of highways of national importance and 4,200 kilometers of local roads, Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev said at a Nov. 28 government session chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press…
Western Kazakhstan Enhances Energy Reliability to Minimize Consumer Disconnection Risks
ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) built five 220-kilovolt power transmission lines with a total length of approximately 780 kilometers along the West Kazakhstan Power Hub – Atyrau – Mangystau route to increase the network capacity and enhance the reliability of power supply to consumers in western Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister’s press…
Kazakhstan Set to Double Economic Output to $490 Billion by 2029
ASTANA – The Kazakh government is assigned to double the volume of the country’s economy to $490 billion by 2029, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said at a Nov. 25 interim session of the Foreign Investors’ Council, dedicated to measures and proposals to improve the investment climate in Kazakhstan, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. During…
