Kazakhstan Underlines Importance of Regional Counter-Narcotics Initiatives and Cooperation With Austria
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov stressed the importance of regional initiatives amid growing global and regional instability at the opening of the 66th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on March 13 in Austria’s capital Vienna, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. One such initiative is the…
Kazakhstan Ranks in Top Five in 2023 World Para Nordic Skiing Championship
ASTANA — Kazakhstan team made it to the top five with 3,944 points scored in the para biathlon, and cross-country skiing competitions at 2023 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships, the Kazakh Culture and Sports Ministry’s press service reported on March 15. The team won 13 medals, including two gold, five silver, and six bronze. Yerbol…
Kashagan to Ship 7,000 Tons of Oil Through Aktau Seaport to Baku
ASTANA – The KazTransOil oil transportation company plans a test shipment of 7,000 tons of oil from the Kashagan oil field through Aktau seaport to Baku port this month, reported the company’s press service on March 10. The oil shipper is INPEX North Caspian Sea, which has been participating in developing the Kashagan oil field…
Kazakh PM Instructs to Remove Barriers, Facilitate Cargo Transportation from China
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov urged the government to remove transportation barriers within three days and ease the passage of trucks through checkpoints on the Kazakh-Chinese border at a March 14 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Following the lifting of the restrictions from the Chinese side, the volume of cargo…
Kazakhstan to Send Third Batch of Oil to Germany via Druzhba Pipeline in April
ASTANA – The KazTransOil oil transportation company plans to send another 20,000 tons of oil to Germany via the Druzhba oil pipeline in April, said Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov on the sidelines of the March 14 government meeting, reported Kazinform. According to Akchulakov, Kazakhstan transported two batches of oil totaling 40,000 tons in February…
Top Kazakh Expert Argues People Should See Reforms’ Results Firsthand
ASTANA – Director of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) Yerkin Tukumov argued the new efforts outlined by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a March 13 meeting with the heads of government bodies would encompass the economic sphere. “Now, it is important that people see the results of the ongoing reforms firsthand. On the other hand,…
Kazakhstan Welcomes Restoration of Diplomatic Ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran
ASTANA — Kazakhstan has welcomed the agreements achieved on March 10 in the Chinese capital, Beijing, to reestablish diplomatic ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran seven years after the two states severed relations, the March 14 statement from the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “We highly appreciate…
UK Foreign Secretary to Participate in Opening of Queen Elizabeth II Square in Astana
ASTANA — Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom James Cleverly will visit Kazakhstan on March 17-18 and attend the opening of a new square named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov announced at a March 13 press briefing. Cleverly is expected to meet with the country’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and…
President of Kazakhstan to Pay State Visit to China This Year
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to pay a state visit to China this year, the Akorda press service reported, following Tokayev’s meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Zhang Xiao, on March 14. Both sides highlighted the significance of tightening bilateral relations and expanding economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian ties. They stressed the relevance…
President Tokayev to Attend Extraordinary OTS Summit in Türkiye
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a working visit to Ankara, Türkiye, on March 16, at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to attend an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), reported Akorda press service. During the visit, President Tokayev is expected to meet with President Erdoğan. The OTS…
EBRD to Assist East Kazakhstan Region in Upgrading Street Lighting
ASTANA — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will lend 4.1 billion tenge ($8.9 million) to the East Kazakhstan Region for 10 years to improve street lighting in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, the EBRD’s press service reported on March 10. The project under the Green City Action Plan (GCAP) envisages the installation of…
Kazakhstan’s GDP Grows Four Percent in Two Months of 2023
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown by 4.3 percent in the first two months of 2023, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov at a March 14 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Kazakhstan is seeing positive dynamics in major sectors of the economy, including the real sector (2.7 percent)…
Kazakh Vice Minister of Health Outlines Epidemiological Recommendations on Election Day
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor Aizhan Yesmagambetova outlined several recommendations for the upcoming parliamentary and local elections amid the current epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan at a March 13 Central Election Commission (CEC) meeting. Eight or more CEC members, observers, and election officials will be present at each polling…
President Tokayev Congratulates Nation on Amal Holiday
ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated citizens on the Amal holiday (‘Korisu’ in Kazakh, meaning to meet each other) or the Day of Greeting, on his Twitter account on March 14. “Since ancient times, people have been looking forward to this day of spring awakening. The holiday, calling for unity and harmony, is…
China Restarts Outbound Travel to 40 Countries, Including Kazakhstan
ASTANA – China is set to resume outbound travel to 40 countries starting from March 15, including to Kazakhstan, reported Kazinform. According to China’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, travel agencies and online tour operators across the country will resume providing outbound group tours for their citizens in pilot mode. Alongside Kazakhstan, China will restart outbound…
Astana Opera to Celebrate 200th Anniversary of Acclaimed Kazakh Composer Kurmangazy
ASTANA – The Astana Opera House will stage a concert to mark the 200th anniversary of famous Kazakh folk composer and virtuoso dombra player Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly at its Chamber Hall on March 19, according to the theater’s release. Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly was a great composer, the founder of the dombra school, who had a tremendous influence…
President Tokayev Outlines Core Tenets of Country’s Social Wellbeing and Economic Development
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the main pillars in ensuring social and economic development of the country during a March 13 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, heads of state agencies, and akims (governors and mayors) of regions and cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent attended the meeting. The President…
Kazakh Senate Adopts Law to Toughen Punishment for Torture and Enhance Human Rights Protection
ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate, an upper chamber of the Parliament, adopted on March 9 amendments to the law on human rights, outlining harsher punishments for torture and ill-treatment and securing stronger protection for human rights and freedom, reported the Senate press service. Among the 45 introduced amendments, the law features norms concerning strengthening liability…
Top 20 IT Startups from Organization of Turkic States to Get Grants for Training in Silicon Valley
ASTANA – Astana Hub international technopark of IT startups and California-based Draper University signed an agreement on March 10 to allow 20 promising startups from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to participate in the Hero Training acceleration program in Silicon Valley, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and…
Kazakh Businesswomen Promote National Culture in Paris
ASTANA – The Kazakh Embassy in France, together with the Kazakh Businesswomen community, showcased national culture in Paris as part of an event dedicated to the International Women’s Day on March 9, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. The event brought together representatives of the French establishment, business, and cultural community, the United Nations Educational,…
Egypt and Turkmenistan Launch Flights to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Egypt’s Air Cairo airline is launching two direct flights a week (on Monday and Friday) between Astana and Sharm El Sheikh, and twice a week between Almaty and Sharm El Sheikh (Tuesday and Saturday) from March 13 and 14, respectively, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service. The flights will be conducted by…
Kazakh Citizens Can Use Digital ID at Polling Stations in Upcoming Parliamentary Election
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens can vote using digital identification documents (IDs), announced the country’s eGov portal on its Instagram page on March 10. “Digital documents are equivalent to paper documents. Citizens can use the eGov mobile application to present an electronic version of the original voter identification document. The digital document is also available in…
Kazakh Yurt Captivates Visitors at ITB Berlin Exhibition
ASTANA – Kazakhstan took part in the ITB Berlin international tourism exhibition on March 7-9 in Germany, where visitors were captivated by a Kazakh yurt, the Ministry of Culture and Sports reported. The Kazakh yurt, decorated with natural materials and displayed at the Kazakh Tourism national company’s stand, was of significant interest to the visitors,…
Japan and UNDP Provide Drought Forecasting and Prevention Equipment to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japanese government have donated computer equipment to the Kazhydromet national hydrometeorological service, which will be integrated into the country’s current forecasting and preventive system, the UNDP press service reported on March 9. The computer technology will enable rapid generation and prediction of drought forecasts to…
Central Asian Countries and India Reiterate Importance of International Efforts to Support Afghanistan
ASTANA – Central Asian countries and India adopted a joint statement on the importance of coordinating international efforts to foster peace and stability in Afghanistan at a March 7 meeting in New Delhi, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The first meeting of a joint working group on Afghanistan is part of Central Asia…
