Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and South Korea intend to increase the number of flights between the countries, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service on Feb. 20.   During the meeting between Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev and Korean Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Wonjae Lee in Seoul, the sides agreed to resume…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s January industrial production reached 3.7 billion tenge (US$ 8.3 million), including 1.8 billion tenge ($ 4 million) in the mining industry and 1.5 billion tenge ($ 3.4 million) in the manufacturing industry, reported the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics on Feb. 15. In the mining and quarrying industry, the industrial production index…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan as a world middle power, new government, the Middle Corridor, and more. German think tank ranks Kazakhstan as ‘world middle power’ Kazakhstan has been ranked for the first time as a “middle power” by …

ASTANA – Leading German companies – Knauf Group, GP Günter Papenburg AG, Roxtec, as well as the German Institute of Lithium (ITEL) – have joined forces to form a consortium for lithium mining using Kazakhstan’s deposits, reported the Ministry of Industry and Construction on Feb. 16. During the working visit to Germany, Minister of Industry…

ASTANA – Sniffing dogs have helped Kazakh police detect 575 crimes since the beginning of the year, reported the Ministry of Internal Affairs press service on Feb. 16. According to the ministry, Kazakh-trained dogs solved 190 thefts, 16 robberies, two assaults, seven murders and 129 drug offenses. Nearly 130 kilograms of narcotic drugs were seized…

ASTANA – Almaty International Airport is set to increase passenger traffic to 14 million people per year after launching a new terminal in June, reported the Almaty akimat (city administration) press service on Feb. 15. Akim (Mayor) of Almaty Yerbolat Dossayev visited the passenger terminal under construction at Almaty International Airport. The investment project worth…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov called on Chevron to increase the share of procurement from local manufacturers at a Feb. 15 meeting with Managing Director for Chevron’s Eurasia Business Unit Derek Magness, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov emphasized that the country’s economic policy prioritizes local content development. “Kazakhstan requires closer interaction…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina came back from 4-1 down in the first set and beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open quarterfinals on Feb. 15 in Doha, reported the WTA press service. “She [Fernandez] is a very good player, lefty, tricky one. I did not start the match that well,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Qatar inked commercial documents worth $18 billion at a Feb. 14 investment roundtable in Doha as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Qatar, reported the Akorda press service. Opening the meeting, attended by senior officials and business leaders from both countries, Tokayev expressed hope that many of those present…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to prioritize initiatives on gender equality and domestic violence prevention at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) sessions this year, said First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov, reported the Foreign Ministry on Feb. 13. At the meeting attended by the diplomatic corps accredited in Kazakhstan, Umarov delivered a report on…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to join efforts in fauna conservation, specifically in the Ustyurt Plateau region lying between the Aral Sea and the Amu Darya River, reported Kazinform on Feb. 13. A corresponding memorandum was signed by the Uzbek Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov and the Kazakh Deputy…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan to embark on a trade and economic mission to Chengdu (China) to establish cooperation with business partners from China, negotiate with importers, traders and distributors, and  promote the export of processed products on March 19-21, reported the QazTrade for Trade Policy Development press service on Feb. 12.    China is one of the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina rose in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking to fourth place after defeating Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, 6:1, 6:4 in the final of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Feb. 11, reported the Hologic WTA Tour’s press service. “I’m thrilled with this week and how I played throughout the week.…

ASTANA – Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen took part in the 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concerts, broadcast by China’s CCTV-3 and Liaoning TV channels on Feb. 8, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, reported dimashnews.com.   At the 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concert, broadcast by CCTV-3, Kudaibergen performed his songs “Umytylmas kun” (An Unforgettable Day) in…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Qatar on Feb. 13-14, reported Akorda press service on Feb. 12. During the visit, Tokayev plans to hold talks with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched the two-month Tech Girls program, a new initiative to increase the digital literacy of young women, teach the basics of programming and encourage participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), reported the Central Communications Service press office on Feb. 9. According to Aziza Shuzheyeva, a National Commission for Women’s…

ASTANA – The forward-looking development of Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure requires nearly $40 billion, said Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev at the Astana International Financial Centre meeting, reported the ministry’s press service on Feb. 12. The ministry has formed a pool of investment projects totaling more than $31 billion in railway and maritime transport, aviation…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s new government, birthplace of the apple – Almaty, two national Tazy dog breed puppies presented to Emmanuel Macron, and more. Kazakhstan’s President names chief of staff as new premier Kazakhstan’s President appointed his chief…

ASTANA – Kazakh experts have shared their views on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directives following the extended government session on Feb. 7, where Tokayev outlined ten priorities for the country’s social and economic development.  Political expert Daniyar Ashimbayev suggested that the President’s address essentially represents a swift response to the initiatives of the prior government, which…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the extended session of government in new composition on Feb. 7 to review the country’s social and economic development for 2023 and set main tasks for the coming period, reported Akorda press service. Opening the session, Tokayev said the country managed to maintain the positive dynamics of…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed numerous decrees Feb. 6 relieving some key ministers from their posts and appointing others after the government’s dismissal the day before, reported the Akorda presidential office. Earlier in the day, Olzhas Bektenov was appointed the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.  The new composition of the government was announced the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Australia will host the International Conference on Nuclear Safety (ICONS-2024) under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on May 20-24 in Vienna, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service on Feb. 5.   Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations (UN) Mukhtar Tileuberdi and Permanent Representative of Australia to…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on Feb. 6 to appoint Olzhas Bektenov as the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, reported Akorda press service. He was relieved of his duties as the head of the President’s Executive Office, a position he had held since April last year. During the plenary meeting of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to launch 180 industrial projects worth 1.2 trillion tenge (US$2.6 billion) this year, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Feb. 5. Last year, 170 projects worth 928 billion tenge ($2 billion) were implemented in the manufacturing industry, and 179 long-term agreements and off-take contracts were concluded with domestic producers. Owing…

ASTANA – Amanat party, which won the parliamentary election in March 2023, proposed the candidacy of Olzhas Bektenov, who has been serving as the head of the Executive Office (chief of staff) of the President since April last year, as the next Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, reported Akorda press service on Feb. 6. Born in…