Central Asian Foreign Ministers, U.S. Senior Officials Attend C5+1 Meeting in Tashkent
NUR-SULTAN – The heads of the foreign ministries of Central Asia and the United States gathered in Tashkent on July 15 for the regular C5+1 meeting, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of…
Kazakhstan’s Trade with Central Asia Reaches $4.6 Billion in 2020, Says Kazakh Minister
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with the Central Asian countries amounted to US$4.6 billion in 2020, said Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Bakhyt Sultanov at a July 13 press briefing. Kazakhstan’s largest trade partner in the region is Uzbekistan. In 2020, Kazakhstan’s exports made nearly $2.1 billion, including wheat, oil, and metal products. Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan Fulfills Oil Production Quota Under OPEC+ Agreement
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has fulfilled its oil production quota under the OPEC+ (Organization for the Petroleum Exporting Countries) agreement producing 1.465 million barrels per day in June against the planned 1.469 million barrels, reports the Kazakh Energy Ministry. “According to preliminary data, the volume of oil and condensate production in Kazakhstan in June amounted to…
Kazakhstan to Supply Pfizer Vaccine to Citizens, Says President Tokayev
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will deliver the Pfizer vaccine to ensure Kazakh citizens have a wider choice of vaccines against COVID-19, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the July 10 expanded government meeting. There have been four vaccines against COVID-19 available for the country’s citizens – Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, the country’s own QazVac vaccine, China’s…
Astana Hub Presents New Digital Platform
NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Hub, Kazakhstan’s international technopark of IT startups, presented its new digital platform on July 8, focused on automating all processes from submitting applications and participating in Astana Hub programs to filling out online reporting for residents receiving tax and visa preferences, said Astana Hub Director Magzhan Madiyev during the live-streamed presentation. …
President Tokayev Chairs Expanded Government Meeting
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the outcomes of the first half of 2021 and set the tasks for the months ahead at the July 10 expanded government meeting, reports the Akorda press service. Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Head of the Presidential Administration Yerlan Koshanov, ministers as well as governors and mayors attended the meeting…
UNGA Chairman Visits Kazakhstan as Part of Central Asia Tour
NUR-SULTAN – United Nations General Assembly Chairman Volkan Bozkir visited the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan as part of his Central Asian tour. Bozkir, who was elected President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on June 17, 2020, met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi…
Only Two Regions Left in Green Zone as Epidemiological Situation Worsens in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – The epidemiological situation has been worsening in Kazakhstan and with the Delta variant detected in the country, concerns are growing. As of July 8, only two regions – the East Kazakhstan and Turkistan regions – remain in the green zone, according to the matrix of the epidemiological situation updated daily by the Kazakh…
German Investors Set to Begin Green Hydrogen Energy Operation in Mangistau Region
NUR-SULTAN – Svevind Energy, a German investor and project developer, plans to install wind and solar farms with a total capacity of 45 gigawatts (GW) in steppe areas in western and central Kazakhstan to feed electrolyzers to produce up to three million tons of green hydrogen every year, reports the company’s press service. The plans…
Monument to Alash Leaders Opens in Kazakh Capital
NUR-SULTAN – As the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan celebrates its 23 year anniversary, several monuments were opened in the city to commemorate the date, reports the Akorda press service. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the monument dedicated to Alash movement leaders on the eve of Capital’s Day. The monument is located on the Kalamgeler Alley at the…
Eurasian Development Bank to Focus on Major Cross-Border Investment Projects Over Next Five Years
NUR-SULTAN – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) will focus on major cross-border investment projects and plans to invest US$10.9 billion over the next five years, according to the bank’s new strategy approved July 2 at the EDB council meeting. Among such projects are the Europe–Western China transport and digital corridor, the EAEU+ single commodity distribution…
Kazakhstan Increases International Air Travel
NUR-SULTAN – More international air travel opportunities are now available for Kazakh citizens, as flights were launched to Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, among other developments in the civil aviation industry. Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines resumed its Aktau – Yerevan route starting June 25. The flights are operated on Fridays on the Bombardier CRJ-200. The tickets are…
COVID-19: Delta Variant Confirmed in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – As countries worldwide are witnessing another spike of coronavirus cases, Kazakh healthcare officials confirmed the prevalence of the Delta variant in all of the country’s regions. The Kazakh Ministry of Healthcare conducted PCR screening of positive laboratory samples collected from coronavirus patients. As of July 1, 414 samples were screened to detect the…
AIFC Management Council Approves 2020 Reports, Reviews Budget for 2021
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the AIFC (Astana International Financial Center) management council meeting that reviewed the center’s work in 2020 and its budget for 2021, reports the AIFC press service. The meeting also discussed the AIFC Development Strategy through 2025. Launched in 2018, in the Kazakh capital’s brand new futuristic district,…
Astana Motors to Expand Hyundai Sales Throughout Central Asia and Europe
NUR-SULTAN – Astana Motors, one of the country’s leading companies in car retail, service, and assembly, seeks to expand their export of Hyundai cars produced at their plant in Almaty, reports the company’s press service. In October 2020, Astana Motors launched the Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan plant that stretches across 25 hectares in the city’s special…
Kazakhstan, Switzerland to Strengthen Trade Relations, Investment Cooperation
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and Switzerland are committed to strengthening trade relations and investment cooperation, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his meeting with Swiss business people. “Relations between our countries are based on friendship and mutual trust. I see today’s meeting as a constructive continuation of recent talks with Swiss President Guy Bernard Parmelin,” said Tokayev,…
Kazakh Parliament Sums Up Session Results, Goes on Summer Break
NUR-SULTAN – The two chambers of the Kazakh Parliament held a joint session on June 30 summarising the results of their work before they took a summer break, reports the Parliament’s press service. Majilis (lower chamber) Chair Nurlan Nigmatullin emphasized the increasing role and responsibility of the Parliament that provides legislative support for the initiatives…
Nur-Sultan Bans Mass Capital Day Festivities Amid Rising Coronavirus Cases
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh capital officials issued a ban on mass festivities for the upcoming Capital Day on July 6 amid the worsening epidemiological situation, reports the city’s press service. Most years, Capital Day is one of the most festive events attracting citizens from different parts of the country to the city. But the pandemic is…
Nur-Sultan to Host Round of Talks on Syria Next Week
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan will host the 16th round of talks on Syria next week on July 7-8, known as the Astana Process, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service. Delegations of the guarantor states – Iran, Russia, and Turkey, the Syrian government, and the Syrian armed opposition groups are expected to attend. High…
Vaccine Rollout Has Accelerated, Says Kazakh Healthcare Minister
NUR-SULTAN – The vaccine rollout in Kazakhstan has increased 1.6 times over the past week, from 254,000 to 405,000 people, said Kazakh Healthcare Minister Alexey Tsoy at a government meeting on Tuesday. “Vaccination of population is ongoing, around 5.2 million doses of vaccine have been administered. 3,246,795 people or 32.8 percent of the entitled population…
Central Asian Countries to Receive Additional Resources For Climate Change Efforts From Green Climate Fund
NUR-SULTAN — Central Asia received additional financing of $19 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to enhance capacity building and knowledge sharing in addressing climate change as part of the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for the Aral Sea funded by the World Bank, reports the bank’s press service. The program, which was launched…
Kazakhstan Returns to High Risk Red Zone, New Regulations In Kazakh Capital
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan returned to a high-risk red zone, as the epidemiological situation worsened after a more contagious Delta variant reached the nation’s capital. During last week’s government meeting, Kazakh Healthcare Minister Alexey Tsoi said the number of infections grew 40 percent over the past seven days. “According to the results of the PCR screening…
500,000 People Involved in Volunteering Activities in 2020
NUR-SULTAN – Half a million of citizens were involved in various volunteering activities in 2020, said Kazakh Minister of Information and Social Development Aida Balayeva at the government meeting on Tuesday that focused on the implementation of the government roadmap for the development of volunteering in 2021-2023. Volunteering is becoming an important form of civic…
Hungary Becomes First Country in EU to Recognize Kazakhstan’s Vaccination Passports
NUR-SULTAN – Hungary became the first country in the European Union to recognize Kazakhstan’s vaccine passports, said Deputy State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade András Baranyi during his meeting with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Hungary Zhanibek Abdrashov in Budapest on June 22, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service.…
Kazakh PM Reports to Parliament on Economic Growth, Measures to Fight COVID-19
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin reported about the country’s economic development and the measures the government has taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in 2020 through today at the joint session of the Kazakh Parliament on June 21, reports the Kazakh Prime Minister’s press service. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, in…
