Kazakh PM Inspects Restoration of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum
ASTANA — Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov underscored the importance of preserving the historical appearance of the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum in Turkistan on March 14, according to the Prime Minister’s press service. He was visiting the region on a working trip. Bektenov visited the mausoleum to inspect the progress made in fulfilling the President’s…
Kazakhstan Enters Top 10 Iron Ore Producing Countries
ASTANA – In the latest United States Geological Survey (USGS), released in January of the previous year, Kazakhstan was named among the top 10 countries for the most significant iron ore production and reserves in 2022, reported Energyprom.kz agency on March 7. According to the USGS, Kazakhstan ranked ninth in output, producing 66 million tons…
Kazakhstan, China to Send More Container Trains Along Middle Corridor
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the nation’s railway and logistics company, and China’s Jiangsu International Rail Freight Express company agreed on the joint organization and dispatch of container trains through Kazakhstan, including along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), reported the KTZ press service on March 5. In Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Deputy Chairman of…
Azerbaijan’s SOCAR to Consider Geological Exploration Projects in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The KazMunayGas (KMG) national oil and gas company invited SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) to consider projects related to geological exploration in Kazakhstan, said KMG Chairman Magzum Mirzagaliyev in a March 11 interview with Trend during his visit to Baku. “KazMunayGas wants its relationship with SOCAR to go beyond transportation and include…
Astana Hosts CICA Special Working Group Meeting
ASTANA – Ambassador-at-Large of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Talgat Kaliyev chaired the March 12 online meeting of the Special Working Group (SWG) of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), reported the ministry’s press service. The meeting participants reviewed the draft Memorandum on the Creation of the Partnership Network of Leading…
Kazakhstan Donates Heating Oil to Tajikistan
ASTANA — Kazakhstan has delivered 15,000 tons of heating oil to Dushanbe for the Tajik people, the Foreign Ministry’s press service reported on March 12. According to Kazakh Ambassador to Tajikistan Valikhan Turekhanov, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to provide 2.542 billion tenge (US$5.65 million) in humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan to ensure the stable operation of…
Kazakhstan to Launch 40 Investment Projects This Year
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to introduce at least 40 major projects with foreign capital this year. This was announced at the March 12 government session with the Kazakh Invest national company’s board of directors chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Kazakh Invest now supports 200 projects worth $27.3 billion,…
YouTube Premium Launches in Kazakhstan
ASTANA — YouTube Premium became available to Kazakhstan residents on March 13, opening up new opportunities on the video hosting platform, reported the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry’s press service. “I am pleased to share great news with you. YouTube Premium is now in Kazakhstan, with new opportunities for users and content…
Kazakh Boxer Aibek Oralbay Wins License for 2024 Paris Olympics
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s boxer Aibek Oralbay clinched license for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the first World Qualification Tournament on March 11 in Italy’s Busto Arsizio, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service. In the quarterfinals, Oralbay defeated U.S. athlete Jamar Talley in the weight category up to 92 kilograms. In October last year, at…
Goods From Kazakhstan’s Terminal in Xian Reaches Baku in 11 Days
ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part online in the ceremony marking the arrival of a container train from Xian to Absheron along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) on March 11, reported Akorda press service. The event was preceded by the opening of Kazakhstan’s terminal in…
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan to Create $300 Million Investment Fund
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan plan to create an investment fund worth $300 million, said Chairman of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund Nurlan Zhakupov on the sidelines of the meeting between the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in Baku, reported the Silk Way TV channel on March 11. According to Zhakupov, the investment fund…
President Tokayev Pays State Visit to Azerbaijan, Takes Part in Supreme Interstate Council Meeting
ASTANA—President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev discussed prospects for future cooperation and participated in the Supreme Interstate Council meeting on March 11 in Baku, reported the Akorda press service. During the narrow-format talks, Tokayev congratulated Aliyev on his election victory and on hosting the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference,…
Five Kazakh Boxers Reach Quarterfinals at 2024 Olympics Qualification Tournament in Italy
ASTANA – Five Kazakhstan’s boxers reached the quarterfinals in the first World Qualification Tournament in Italy’s Busto Arsizio, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service on March 10. The tournament will last through March 12. On March 10, Kazakh boxers Nurbek Oralbay (up to 80 kilograms), Mahmud Sabyrkhan (up…
Kazakh Chess Player Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Aeroflot Open 2024 Festival
ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva, 20, took first place at the Aeroflot Open 2024 international chess festival, which took place on March 2-8 in Moscow, reported the Kazakhstan Chess Federation’s press service. The competition gathered at least 500 participants with over 2,300 points in the FIDE rating, as well as chess players aged…
Almaty to Host Inaugural B5+1 Business Forum This Week
ASTANA – Almaty is set to host the inaugural B5+1 Business Forum dubbed Strengthening Regional Economic Integration in Central Asia through Public-Private Dialogue on March 14-15, reported the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). Business 5+1 (B5+1) is the public-private business dialogue platform between the five Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and…
President Tokayev Congratulates Muslims on Holy Month of Ramadan
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extended congratulations on the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan on March 11, reported Akorda press service. The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, begins on March 11 and lasts until April 9. “During the sacred month of…
President Tokayev to Pay State Visit to Azerbaijan Today
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Azerbaijan on March 11-12, reported Akorda press service. As part of the visit, Tokayev plans to hold talks with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and participate in the first meeting of the Kazakh-Azerbaijani Supreme Interstate Council. In a recent interview with Azerbaijan’s APA…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Role as Middle Power, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles from global media outlets on news about Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s emergence as a middle power, the Middle Corridor, upcoming Nauryz Celebration, and more. Kazakhstan prepares the return of Przewalski’s horse to the steppe EFEcomunica published an article on March…
Kazakhstan Introduces New Program to Expand Support for Women Entrepreneurs
ASTANA – DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund has allocated 10 billion tenge (US$22.4 million) for a new program to finance women’s entrepreneurship, the fund’s press service reported on March 6. The Umit (Hope) program provides entrepreneurs with a wide range of opportunities for business development. Women entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to receive financing through second-tier…
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia Willing to Strengthen Energy, Investment Cooperation
ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud discussed prospects of developing energy and investment cooperation during a March 7 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev noted that Kazakh-Saudi relations have reached an unprecedented level. He recalled that his agreements with the Crown Prince and…
East Kazakhstan to Introduce SpaceX Starlink Internet in 171 Rural Schools
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to introduce broadband internet in 171 rural schools in the East Kazakhstan Region using SpaceX Starlink technology, reported the region’s akimat (administration) press service on March 6. According to Akim (Governor) of the East Kazakhstan Region Yermek Kosherbayev, the equipment has arrived in the region, its installation will begin in…
Air Astana Cancels Frankfurt Flights Amid German Airport Strike
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship airline Air Astana has canceled flights KC921/KC922 Astana-Frankfurt-Astana on March 7 following the announced strike of aviation security employees at Frankfurt Airport, reported the company’s press service. Passengers on the canceled flights will be sent SMS notifications and are eligible for a refund of the unused portion of the ticket, with…
Kazakh Business Activity Index Increases in February
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Business Activity Index (BAI), which measures the state of the economy in the real sector, showed an increase in February, as reported by the National Bank on March 4. The services and manufacturing sectors maintained positive indicators, while the mining and construction industries showed improvement. According to the National Bank, the monthly…
Astana Hub Recognized as Apple Authorized Training Center for Education
ASTANA – Astana Hub technology park has been recognized as an Apple Authorized Training Center for Education, reported its Telegram channel on March 4. The center provides all resources and conditions necessary for students to undergo iOS programming training, using Apple’s established Develop in Swift curriculum and official certification (App Development with Swift Certification exam).…
International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness: Kazakhstan’s Significant Role
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is one of the acknowledged world leaders in non-proliferation with a vast experience in nuclear disarmament. Kazakhstan is known as a peaceful country, prioritizing the idea of achieving and maintaining peace. In the past, Kazakhstan was home to one of the world’s largest nuclear test sites, the Semipalatinsk test site, where the…
