Articles by Saniya Sakenova

Kazakh Prime Minister Commits to Ensuring Accountability for Coal Mine Tragedy

ASTANA – A special commission will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances behind the deadly accident at the ArcelorMittal-operated Kazakhstanskaya mine in the Karagandy Region, as instructed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Aug. 19. There were 227 workers underground when a conveyor belt caught fire on Aug. 17.…

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Reinforce Strategic Partnership and Alliance

ASTANA – President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of further enhancing multifaceted collaboration with Kazakhstan to strengthen the strategic partnership and alliance, as he received Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in Tashkent on Aug. 17, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. President Mirziyoyev commended the significant progress the two countries…

President Tokayev Pays First Official Visit to Vietnam

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived on his first official visit to Vietnam on Aug. 20, reported the Akorda press service. He was welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi by Le Khanh Hai, Chairman of the Vietnamese Presidential Office. Tokayev’s official visit began with a flower-laying ceremony at the monument to national heroes…

Kazakh Interior Minister Briefs President Tokayev on National Crime Situation

ASTANA – Kazakh Interior Minister Marat Akhmetzhanov briefed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the crime situation in the country at an Aug. 17 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Akhmetzhanov informed Tokayev about the progress in implementing the instructions the President gave at an expanded Ministry of Internal Affairs meeting on June 30. The minister reported…

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Develop Potential of Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Marat Karabayev highlighted the achievements reached by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in developing the Middle Corridor, as he met with Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev during his working trip to Baku on Aug. 14, reported the ministry’s press service. Prioritizing the expansion of…

Over 20.5 Million People Cross Kazakhstan’s Border in Seven Months

ASTANA – Over 20.5 million people and 4.4 million vehicles have crossed Kazakhstan’s state border over seven months of this year, Colonel Gani Agadilov, first deputy head of the Border Control Department of the National Security Committee’s Border Service, said at an Aug. 16 briefing in the Central Communications Service (CCS), reported CCS. The twofold…

Mangystau Region Limits Electricity to Curtail Power Outage During Emergency Shutdown

ASTANA – A power outage in western Kazakhstan caused by another emergency shutdown at the Mangystau Atomic Energy Complex (MAEC) forced the Mangystau Region Akimat (governor’s office) to roll out controlled blackouts of three to five hours a week, the governor’s office informed on Aug. 14. The cities of Aktau and Zhanaozen and several villages…

Kazakhstan Hosts Joint Military Exercises with Uzbekistan

ASTANA – The second stage of the Kanzhar (Dagger) 2023 joint military exercises of the Kazakh and Uzbek armed forces took place in Aktau, Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry reported on Aug. 12. Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov and Uzbek Defense Minister Bakhodir Kurbanov watched the escalation of the exercise aimed at developing interoperability and a response…

Kazakhstan’s Exports of Wheat and Meslin Increase Almost 17%

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has exported 3.3 million tons of wheat and meslin worth $876.7 million over the first five months of this year, a 16.5% increase by volume and 3.5% by value, EnergyProm.kz reported on Aug. 15. Delivery prices decreased by 3.5% over the month of May and 6.3% over the year. The global price…

Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 4.8% in January-July

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth reached 4.8% in seven months of this year, recording a 4.6% increase in the real sector and 4.7% in the service sector, Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said at an Aug. 15 government meeting dedicated to the results of the socio-economic development and chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov,…

Constitutional Court Chair Outlines Kazakhstan’s Reforms at International Chief Justice Forum

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court Chairperson Elvira Azimova outlined reforms the country has implemented since the start of the year at the International Chief Justice Forum on Aug. 9-11 in Jakarta, Indonesia, reported the court’s press service. “Protection of human rights is a fundamental principle of a just and democratic society. Constitutional oversight bodies play…

Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 5% in First Half of 2023

ASTANA – The growth of Kazakhstan’s economy reached 5 % in the first half of this year, with a 4. 8% increase in the real sector and 4.9 % – in the service sector, Ranking.kz reported on Aug. 9. All major industries witnessed positive dynamics, with the highest indicators recorded by the construction sector with…

Kazakh Animated Noir Film Wins Award at France’s Expo 

ASTANA – Seriktes (translated from Kazakh as Partner), an animated noir film made by Kazakh Tasqyn Studio, was recognized as the Best Short Film at the Animated Expressions Expo on Aug. 5 in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, the film studio announced on Aug. 8. Seriktes is a vibrant animation with a fascinating plot. It tells a story…

Kazakhstan Marks Day of Abai Kunanbaiuly

ASTANA – Today marks the 178th anniversary of Abai Kunanbaiuly, a renowned Kazakh poet, composer, educator, philosopher, public figure, and the founder of Kazakh written literature and its first classic. The birthday of the great poet has been officially celebrated in Kazakhstan since 2020.  President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Kazakh citizens on the Day…

Pavlodar Region Attracts Nearly $ 771 Million in First Half of This Year

ASTANA – The Pavlodar Region attracted 344 billion tenge ($ 771.2 million) in the first half of 2023, 30% more than in the same period last year, Akim (governor) Asain Baikhanov told President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who arrived in the region on a working visit on Aug. 9, reported the Akorda press service. Baikhanov mentioned the…

Kazakh Prime Minister Instructs to Simplify Entry for Foreigners

ASTANA – One of the key objectives of the 2023-2027 Migration Policy Concept is to attract highly qualified specialists to Kazakhstan, including entrepreneurs and potential investors, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said at an Aug. 8 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Business migration According to Tamara Duissenova, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister…

President Tokayev Says Kazakhstan Needs New Economic Model During Regional Visit

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Ekibastuz power plant on Aug. 9 during his working visit to the Pavlodar Region and urged the government and Akim (governor) to monitor the quality and duration of its restoration, reported the Akorda press service. The President emphasized that the suspension in the work of the Ekibastuz power…

Kazakhstan Team Wins 20 Medals at Summer FISU World University Games

ASTANA – Kazakh national team secured 20 medals, including two gold, seven silver, and eleven bronze at the Summer International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games, which took place from July 28 to Aug. 8 in Chengdu, China, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek wrote on his Telegram channel on Aug. 8.…

Olympic Training Base in Almaty Region Nears Completion

ASTANA – The construction of an Olympic training base with a capacity of up to 2,300 athletes in the Almaty Region is set to be completed by year’s end, Minister of Culture and Sports Askhat Oralov said at an Aug. 7 meeting with the region’s administration. Covering an area of 40 hectares, the small Olympic…

Public Foundation Builds Shelters for Homeless Cats in Almaty

ASTANA – Twenty houses with feeders for stray cats have been built in Almaty city’s Medeu and Almaly Districts as part of a project launched by Animal Security, a public foundation, the organization announced on Aug. 6. According to Animal Security, nearly 50 more similar houses are under construction. All the cats living in these…

Kazakhstan Considers Route for Exports to Persian Gulf Countries

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin and CEO of Simatech Shipping and Forwarding Davood Tafti discussed the possibility of creating the shortest direct route for Kazakh exports to the markets of the coast of East Africa, India, the Middle East, Pakistan, and the Persian Gulf at an Aug. 7 meeting, reported…

Kazakhstan Should Attract Educated and Qualified Migrants, Says Expert

ASTANA – Kazakhstan should involve its diaspora to facilitate the attraction of investments, innovations and technologies, according to Gabit Matayev, the chief researcher at the Economic Research Institute.  In a recent study published on July 27, Matayev said the Kazakh diaspora can act as a human link to attract the inflow of capital, knowledge, and…

Kazakhstan Returns Mineral, Hydrocarbon Deposits to State Ownership

ASTANA – Deposits of gold, coal, iron, copper, hydrocarbons, bauxites, poly metals, and other materials have been returned to the state fund, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said at an Aug. 3 meeting on returning solid minerals and hydrocarbon deposits to state ownership, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. According to Sklyar, subsequent deposit…

Investments in Kazakh Finance Ministry Bonds Hit All-Time High 

ASTANA – Investments in the bonds of the Kazakh Finance Ministry have soared to a historic high of 453 billion tenge ($1 billion), said Olzhas Igsatov, the head of the monetary operations department at the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the bank’s press service reported on Aug. 2. According to Igsatov, investments of non-residents in the…

Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Discuss Trade Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan proposed to Afghanistan to use the potential of a Kazakh trade house in Herat and to open an Afghan trade office in Kazakhstan to boost cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin said at an Aug. 2 meeting with Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry Alhaj Nooruddin…