Kazakhstan Set to Launch 180 Industrial Projects This Year
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…
Amanat Party Proposes Olzhas Bektenov as Kazakh PM Candidate
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…
Kazakhstan to Increase Oil Supplies Along Middle Corridor to 3 Million Tons
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is committed to increasing the volume of oil supplies along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or the Middle Corridor, to three million tons within two years, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Feb. 5. Nearly one million tons of oil were transported along the Middle Corridor in 2023. The country…
Kazakhstan’s CodiPlay Startup Participates at Bett 2024 London, Partners With UK Schools
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s EdTech startup CodiPlay presented its innovative solutions at the world’s largest education technology event Bett 2024, which took place on Jan. 24-26 at the ExCeL London international exhibition and convention center, the startup’s press service reported on Jan. 31. In the United Kingdom, CodiPlay acquired important partners in a number of local…
Kazakh PM Outlines Key Areas for EAEU Cooperation at Eurasian Intergovernmental Council
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov took part in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Almaty on Feb. 2, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The event was also attended by Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Chairman of the Russian government Mikhail Mishustin, First Deputy…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Central Asia’s Rare Earth Deposits and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers the European Union’s investments in the Middle Corridor, Central Asia’s rare earth elements, Kazakh movies, and more. EU identifies TITR-framed investments The European Union (EU) has identified 33 areas for investing in the physical infrastructure…
Beijing Hosts Meeting of SCO Council of National Coordinators
ASTANA – The Council of National Coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held the meeting on Feb. 1 under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan in Beijing, reported Foreign Ministry’s press service. The meeting participants focused on developing joint decisions to strengthen interaction in politics and security, trade and economics, and the cultural and…
AIFC Presents Cooperation Opportunities for UK Investors
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) hosted the event dubbed AIFC Connect: London 2024 on Feb. 2 to exchange views on investment opportunities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, reported the AIFC press service. The meeting brought together around 120 representatives from more than 70 organizations, including investment banks, international financial companies, law firms,…
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Registers Record Net Profit of $344 Million in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company’s net profit hit a record 154 billion tenge (US$344.2 million) in 2023, four times more compared to the last year, said KTZ Chair Nurlan Sauranbayev during a Feb. 1 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported Akorda. According to Sauranbayev, the company’s production figures have shown growth…
President Tokayev Appoints New Ombudsperson for Socially Vulnerable Groups Amid Just Kazakhstan Reforms
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Kenzhegul Seitzhan as the new Ombudsperson for the Rights of Socially Vulnerable Categories of the Population on Feb. 2, reported the Akorda press service. Seitzhan replaced Svetlana Zhakupova, the ombudsperson since June last year. Born in 1982, Seitzhan graduated from the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with a degree…
Fifth World Nomad Games to Involve 1,000 Volunteers
ASTANA — Kazakh and foreign candidates willing to volunteer at the upcoming fifth World Nomad Games are welcome to apply until June, said Head of Astana Department for Youth Policy Samat Ibrayev, reported Kazinform on Jan. 31. According to Ibrayev, it is planned to involve 1,000 volunteers, including translators, logisticians and those who will help…
Kazakhstan, Romania Agree to Boost Cooperation, Promote Middle Corridor Route
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev and Romanian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Sorin Grindeanu discussed prospects for expanding cooperation during a Jan. 31 meeting in Bucharest as part of Karabayev’s official visit to Romania, reported News.ro. Karabayev and Grindeanu addressed collaboration in cargo transportation within Romania-Black Sea-Caucasus-Caspian Sea-Kazakhstan, through which the Trans-Caspian International…
Kazakhstan’s Peacekeeping: New Role and Logistics Unveiled for UN Mission on Golan Heights
ASTANA – The Kazakh Defense Ministry explained the differences between the first independent peacekeeping contingent within the mission on the Golan Heights and the previous Kazakh peacekeepers after the Kazakh Parliament approved the deployment of up to 430 servicemen to participate in United Nations (UN) missions on Jan. 19, reported Kazinform on Jan. 30. Unlike…
Kazakhstan’s Kairat Kemalov Wins Best Actor Award at Yarha Film Festival in Cameroon
ASTANA – Kazakh actor Kairat Kemalov won the Best Actor award for his role in “A Lonely Yurt” movie, based on the novel by Smagul Yelyubai, at the Yarha International Film Festival held on Jan. 14 – 21 in Cameroon, reported Kazpravda on Jan. 30. The movie, directed by Begars Yelyubai, tells a real story…
Halyk Finance Reports on 2023 Record Economic Growth in 10 Years
ASTANA – The analytical center of the Halyk Finance investment bank released a macroeconomic report for the fourth quarter of 2023 on Jan. 30, reporting on the 2023 record economic growth over the past decade. “For the first time in the last 10 years, the economic growth rate exceeded the 5% mark, reaching 5.1%,” reads…
Kazakh Pianist to Premiere Robert the Bruce Opera in Scottish Churches
ASTANA – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s PhD composer and pianist Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin, from Kazakhstan, will premiere his one-hour opera, “The Bruce,” written for the 750th anniversary of the birth of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, in four landmark Scottish churches this year, reported the conservatoire’s press service on Jan. 23. Abdyssagin will stage a…
Starlink Initiative: 270 Schools in Akmola Region to Receive High-Speed Internet Access
ASTANA – High-speed internet access will be provided to nearly 270 Akmola Region schools, reported by Kazinform on Jan. 30, citing Bayurzhan Rapikov, head of the regional digitalization and archives department. According to Rapikov, Starlink, a high-speed satellite internet, will provide a stable and fast connection for remote and rural areas, allowing students and…
World-Famous Eagle Huntress Moves to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The world-famous Kazakh eagle huntress born in Mongolia Aisholpan Nurgaipkyzy moved with her family to Kazakhstan, reported Kazinform on Jan. 28. According to Nurgaipkyzy, she has not abandoned the ancient tradition and practices once a week. Due to her academic workload, she does not take part in competitions but attends them as a…
Kazakh School Students Create AI App for Kazakh-Speaking Users
ASTANA – A sixteen-year-old school student from the Kyzylorda Region, Assylzhan Abdullayev, has developed the QazaqGPT artificial intelligence application in the Kazakh language, reported Khabar TV channel on Jan. 26. Artificial intelligence can draw, write, answer questions, and generate information, photos and voice messages for the Kazakh-speaking audience. Abdullayev, who studies at school No. 210…
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Scientists Hold Innovation Exhibition in Urumqi
ASTANA – Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) held its first scientific and innovation exhibition in Urumqi, reported the Ministry of Science and Higher Education on Jan. 27. The exhibition brought together 196 provosts and heads of research centers of local universities, representatives of more than 600 Chinese universities, heads of 40 large manufacturing enterprises, and…
Kazakh MPs Visit CICA Headquarters, Address Tasks for 2024
ASTANA – Kazakh MPs paid a visit to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) headquarters in Astana on Jan. 25, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Addressing the meeting participants, Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev spoke about the achievements of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the CICA, emphasized the importance of…
Kazakhstan Opens Third Honorary Consulate in Canada
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has opened its Honorary Consulate in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), to attract more investment and expand trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Canada, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service on Jan. 25. CEO of Arras Minerals mining company Darren Klinck has been appointed to serve as Honorary Consul. The opening ceremony…
Kazakhstan, EU Continue Talks on Visa Facilitation for Kazakh Citizens
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Kazakhstan Kestutis Jankauskas discussed holding the second round of what they termed “formal consultations” to facilitate the visa application process for Kazakh citizens on Jan. 27, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. Visa facilitation means reduced consular fees, increased…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kaspi.kz’s Nasdaq Debut, Aport Apples and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican, Almaty’s aport apples, Nasdaq IPO from Kaspi.kz, and more. Fintech heavyweight Kaspi.kz valued at $17.5 billion in tepid Nasdaq debut Kaspi.kz was valued at…
Kazakh President Visits Almaty Situational Center for Residents
ASTANA – Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev introduced the work of the city’s Situational Center, an automated information-analytical system, to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Jan. 25, reported Akorda press service. According to Dossayev, the center serves as an effective tool for making quality decisions based on Big Data analysis and the implementation of the Open Data…
