Square in Bishkek Raises New Kyrgyz Flag
ASTANA – A new flag of the Kyrgyz Republic was hoisted on Ala-Too square in Bishkek, accompanied by the renovation of the guard of honor cabin, 24.kg reported on Jan. 3. President Sadyr Japarov endorsed the law on the updated national flag, which was approved by the Parliament on Dec. 20. Initiated by Parliament Speaker…
Kazakhstan Reduces Quota for Attracting Foreign Workers in 2024
ASTANA – The Kazakh Minister of Labor has issued an order dated Dec. 28, 2023, setting the quota for attracting foreign workers for labor activities in Kazakhstan in 2024, reported Zakon.kz. The order, effective from Jan. 14, delineates the following quotas as a percentage of the workforce: 0.23% for permits issued by the local executive…
Inflation in Kazakhstan Falls Below 10% for First Time Since February 2022
ASTANA – The annual increase in prices for goods and services in December hit 9.8%, 0.5% less than in November, DataHub reported on Jan. 3. Throughout 2023, the indicator has consistently fallen since March, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The most noticeable price increase was recorded in paid services, which grew 12.4%. Inflation…
Kazakhstan Secures Sixth Position in FDI Standouts Watchlist 2024
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has claimed the sixth spot in the foreign direct investment (FDI) Standouts Watchlist 2024, according to a report by fDi Intelligence on Dec. 11, 2023. The study, based on data from the International Monetary Fund and foreign investment monitor fDi Markets, evaluates the macroeconomic and FDI trajectories of the world’s top 50…
Kazakhstan Plans to Auction Nearly 70 Precious Metal Deposits
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction has announced its intention to facilitate electronic trading for about 70 deposits of precious metals soon, Kazinform reported on Jan. 3. The upcoming electronic auctions will involve the transfer of over 20 vacant underground deposits to investors, where contracts for solid minerals were terminated ahead of…
Kazakh Prime Minister Highlights Robust Economic Growth in 2023
ASTANA – Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov shared positive developments in Kazakhstan’s economy over the year in an interview with the 24KZ TV channel, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Dec. 28. Economic outlook Despite global challenges, the country’s economy has shown a steady growth, reaching 4.9% over the first 11 months, with an expected…
Saudi Arabia Becomes Observer State in CICA
ASTANA – Saudi Arabia joined the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) as its tenth observer state on Dec. 26, reported the CICA’s press service. The decision to grant observer status to Saudi Arabia was made during the CICA Ministerial Council following the pre-approval of the country’s application at the CICA…
Number of Domestic Tourists in Kazakhstan Surpasses 5.5 Million This Year
ASTANA – The number of domestic tourists in Kazakhstan grew 12% to over 5.5 million in the first nine months of 2023, Silk Way TV Channel reported on Dec. 26. Meanwhile, the inflow of foreign travelers increased by one-third to 835,000 people. Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev reported on the ministry’s efforts…
Kazakhstan Enhances Peacekeeping Presence in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan extended the scope of its peacekeeping missions in 2023, as was instructed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said Deputy Minister of Defense Lieutenant-General Sultan Kamaletdinov at a Dec. 26 briefing in the Central Communications Service, reported the ministry’s press office. The ministry organized six international exercises within Kazakhstan, while Kazakh military personnel participated…
Kazakhstan’s State Commission Rehabilitates 311,000 Victims of Soviet Political Repression
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s State Commission for the Full Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repressions has rehabilitated over 311,000 victims, State Counselor Erlan Karin said at the commission’s final meeting on Dec. 26, reported the Akorda press service. The commission was formed after the presidential decree signed on Nov. 24, 2020. The commission has undertaken systematic…
Kazakhstan’s Energy Sector Surges This Year
ASTANA – Reviewing the accomplishments in Kazakhstan’s energy sector over this year, the Prime Minister’s press service issued an overview on Dec. 26, highlighting significant achievements. Oil and gas production In January-November, oil and gas condensate production reached 82.2 million tons, an 8% increase compared to the previous year. Gas production rose by 12% to…
Kazakhstan’s Exports to EAEU Countries Increase by 90%
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exports to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) increased by 90% from $5.1 billion in 2015 to $9.7 billion in 2022, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said on Dec. 25 in the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, the ministry’s press service reported. In seven years,…
AI Language Models in Process of Adaptation to Kazakh Language
ASTANA – Til-Qazyna National Scientific and Practical Center named after Shaisultan Shayakhmetov announced its readiness to adapt existing international large language models (LLM) to the Kazakh language at a Dec. 22 meeting with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Tamara Duisenova. This initiative aims to provide the results free of charge to government agencies and domestic companies…
Dimash Kudaibergen’s Solo Concert in Hong Kong Marks Seven Years of His Debut
ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen mesmerized fans with a solo concert on Dec. 23 in Hong Kong, commemorating seven years since his debut in the I am a Singer project in China, reported dimashnews.com. Dears from Africa, Asia, China, Europe, and the United States gathered at the Hong Kong Exhibition Center to enjoy the…
Model SCO Interactive Game Unfolds in Beijing During Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship
ASTANA – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat hosted a Model SCO interactive game on Dec. 22 in Beijing as part of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the organization, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The event brought together youth from member states to delve into the theme of a green economy and strategies for sustainable…
Kazakhstan to Strengthen E-Commerce Infrastructure in Partnership with International Investors
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to develop the e-commerce infrastructure by constructing and launching logistics and warehouse centers with foreign investors, particularly from China, said Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev on Dec. 25 in the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, the ministry’s press service reported. He highlighted the rapid growth of…
Leonardo DiCaprio Applauds Kazakhstan’s Saiga Conservation Success
ASTANA – Leonardo DiCaprio, renowned Hollywood actor and environmentalist, congratulated the Kazakh government on the conservation success of the saiga population on his Instagram page on Dec. 25. This comes as the antelope species is reclassified from critically endangered to near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.…
Kazakhstan Set to Increase Exports to Pakistan by $21.5 Million
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports to Pakistan on 40 processed goods worth $21.5 million, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said at a Dec. 21 meeting with Secretary for Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs Kazim Niaz, reported the Kazakh Trade and Integration Ministry. Shakkaliyev highlighted Kazakhstan’s opportunities for exporting processed products…
Kazakhstan Observes Positive Trends in Employment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan employed 908,500 people as part of the regional employment maps in 11 months of this year, the Prime Minister’s press service reported in a Dec. 21 review of the country’s development in the social sphere over 2023. According to Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Svetlana Zhakupova, 196,300 people were…
UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on Semipalatinsk Rehabilitation
ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on international cooperation and coordination for the human, ecological, and economic rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region for the eleventh time on Dec. 19 in New York, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. A total of 85 UN member states co-sponsored the resolution,…
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia Strengthen Strategic Partnership
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu highlighted the strategic importance of intensifying cooperation between the public and private sectors of Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia at the sixth meeting of the Kazakh-Saudi Intergovernmental Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation on Dec. 20 in Riyadh, reported the Kazakh…
Diplomatic Business Club Reviews Kazakhstan’s Investment Opportunities
ASTANA – The Diplomatic Business Club (DBC) members gathered on Dec. 14 in the Kazakh capital to explore investment opportunities in Kazakhstan and discuss the upcoming fifth World Nomad Games, reported the DBC’s press service. Maulen Ashimbayev, сhairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, noted the comprehensive reform initiated by President…
Over 19,400 Ethnic Kazakhs Return Home This Year
ASTANA – As of Dec. 1, 19,476 ethnic Kazakhs returned to their historical homeland and received Kandas status, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population’s press service reported on Dec. 19. Overall, 1,126,500 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to the country since 1991. This year, 51.9% of the Kandas people arrived in Kazakhstan from…
Private Investor to Allocate Funds in Modernization of Karagandy Metallurgical Plant
ASTANA – A private investor will allocate approximately $1.3 billion at the first stage to modernize and enhance safety at the Qarmet Karagandy metallurgical plant, previously known as the ArcelorMittal Temirtau mining company. During a working trip to the Karagandy Region, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar highlighted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s acknowledgment of the transfer…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Position in Eurasia’s Mutual Direct Investments
ASTANA – Kazakhstan reinforced its position as the regional leader in Eurasia for inward mutual direct investment stock, with a share of 27.2% in June compared to 26.6% in 2021, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) reported in a Dec. 19 Monitoring of Mutual Investments publication. According to the report, other key players in the region…
