Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is poised to become a key player in shaping the future of Eurasian trade and transport by prioritizing infrastructure development and strengthening cooperation with regional partners, reported Kazinform on March 13 in an article about the development of cargo transportation logistics in Central Asian countries. New transport routes Central Asian countries are…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s current oil reserves amounted to 4.4 billion tons as of the beginning of the year, said the Energy Ministry in an official response to Tengrinews on March 19. Nearly 80% of all recoverable oil reserves come from 10 large fields: Kashagan, Tengiz, Karachaganak, Uzen, Korolevskoye, Zhanazhol, Kalamkas, Karazhanbas, Buzachi Severnyy and North…

ASTANA – Military personnel of the national peacekeeping contingent began their daily activities in the Golan Heights, reported the Kazakh Defense Ministry on March 18. Kazakh peacekeepers take over base, affairs and responsibilities from the Irish peacekeeping contingent, touring the Camp Faouar, where the operation headquarters are located. “Our unit is the reserve of the…

ASTANA – As part of the Nauryznama Decade, Kazakhstan citizens marked the National Clothing Day on March 18 by launching challenges, holding exhibitions and shows. Capital’s Youth Policy Department and more than 10 youth organizations launched a video challenge promoting national clothes and encouraging the country’s citizens to continue the initiative. The Ground Forces soldiers…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan needs to create its own communication satellites, said Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin during a March 18 solemn meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh National Center for Space Communication at the National Space Center, reported Kazinform. The center is recognized as the nation’s…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan expressed mutual commitment to deepening interstate cooperation based on friendship, mutual respect and partnership during their meeting in Yerevan, reported the ministry’s press service on March 16.   During the talks, the parties addressed cooperation in political, trade, economic,…

ASTANA – Mazhilis Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security hosted the expanded meeting on attracting foreign investment in Kazakhstan’s economy on March 14, reported the Mazhilis’ press service. In opening the meeting, the Committee’s Chairwoman Aigul Kuspan emphasized that Kazakhstan presents new opportunities and considerable prospects for profitable investment today. According to Deputy Foreign…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged to look for new points of economic growth and instructed the government to implement four large-scale infrastructure initiatives this year during the March 15 National Kurultai (Congress), reported the Akorda press service. Utility networks and construction of housing Tokayev emphasized the need to repair 55 existing heat sources and…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles from global media outlets on news about Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the B5+1 forum in Almaty, Kazakh-Azerbaijani ties, foreign employees working in Kazakhstan, the Middle Corridor, and more. United States launches initiative to foster Central Asian connectivity The inaugural B5+1 forum,…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of eliminating destructive behavioral patterns during the third gathering of the National Kurultai (Congress) on March 15 in Atyrau, reported the Akorda press service. Opening the meeting, Tokayev stated that this year, the Nauryz holiday coincides with the first days of the Holy Month of Ramadan. The…

ASTANA – Atyrau hosted the working sessions of the third meeting of the National Kurultai (congress in Kazakh) on March 14, reported Khabar TV channel. Experts, human rights activists and political scientists held four sections to discuss the development of civil society, including human rights protection, domestic violence, youth problems, culture, socio-economic and regional development,…

ASTANA — Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov underscored the importance of preserving the historical appearance of the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum in Turkistan on March 14, according to the Prime Minister’s press service. He was visiting the region on a working trip.   Bektenov visited the mausoleum to inspect the progress made in fulfilling the President’s…

ASTANA – In the latest United States Geological Survey (USGS), released in January of the previous year, Kazakhstan was named among the top 10 countries for the most significant iron ore production and reserves in 2022, reported Energyprom.kz agency on March 7. According to the USGS, Kazakhstan ranked ninth in output, producing 66 million tons…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the nation’s railway and logistics company, and China’s Jiangsu International Rail Freight Express company agreed on the joint organization and dispatch of container trains through Kazakhstan, including along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), reported the KTZ press service on March 5. In Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Deputy Chairman of…

ASTANA – The KazMunayGas (KMG) national oil and gas company invited SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) to consider projects related to geological exploration in Kazakhstan, said KMG Chairman Magzum Mirzagaliyev in a March 11 interview with Trend during his visit to Baku. “KazMunayGas wants its relationship with SOCAR to go beyond transportation and include…

ASTANA – Ambassador-at-Large of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Talgat Kaliyev chaired the March 12 online meeting of the Special Working Group (SWG) of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), reported the ministry’s press service. The meeting participants reviewed the draft Memorandum on the Creation of the Partnership Network of Leading…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has delivered 15,000 tons of heating oil to Dushanbe for the Tajik people, the Foreign Ministry’s press service reported on March 12. According to Kazakh Ambassador to Tajikistan Valikhan Turekhanov, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to provide 2.542 billion tenge (US$5.65 million) in humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan to ensure the stable operation of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to introduce at least 40 major projects with foreign capital this year. This was announced at the March 12 government session with the Kazakh Invest national company’s board of directors chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Kazakh Invest now supports 200 projects worth $27.3 billion,…

ASTANA — YouTube Premium became available to Kazakhstan residents on March 13, opening up new opportunities on the video hosting platform, reported the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry’s press service. “I am pleased to share great news with you. YouTube Premium is now in Kazakhstan, with new opportunities for users and content…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s boxer Aibek Oralbay clinched license for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the first World Qualification Tournament on March 11 in Italy’s Busto Arsizio, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service. In the quarterfinals, Oralbay defeated U.S. athlete Jamar Talley in the weight category up to 92 kilograms. In October last year, at…

ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part online in the ceremony marking the arrival of a container train from Xian to Absheron along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) on March 11, reported Akorda press service. The event was preceded by the opening of Kazakhstan’s terminal in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan plan to create an investment fund worth $300 million, said Chairman of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund Nurlan Zhakupov on the sidelines of the meeting between the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in Baku, reported the Silk Way TV channel on March 11. According to Zhakupov, the investment fund…

ASTANA—President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev discussed prospects for future cooperation and participated in the Supreme Interstate Council meeting on March 11 in Baku, reported the Akorda press service. During the narrow-format talks, Tokayev congratulated Aliyev on his election victory and on hosting the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference,…

ASTANA – Five Kazakhstan’s boxers reached the quarterfinals in the first World Qualification Tournament in Italy’s Busto Arsizio, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service on March 10. The tournament will last through March 12. On March 10, Kazakh boxers Nurbek Oralbay (up to 80 kilograms), Mahmud Sabyrkhan (up…

ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva, 20, took first place at the Aeroflot Open 2024 international chess festival, which took place on March 2-8 in Moscow, reported the Kazakhstan Chess Federation’s press service. The competition gathered at least 500 participants with over 2,300 points in the FIDE rating, as well as chess players aged…