Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will simplify cargo transportation with Uzbekistan from April, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service on March 5. The pilot project provides for issuing permits of the type “to/from third countries” electronically at the Atameken, Konysbayev, Kazygurt, Kaplanbek and Tazhen checkpoints. This mechanism will allow bona fide carriers to simplify cargo transportation with…

ASTANA – The International Arbitration Center (IAC) opened its Eurasia Arbitration Week (EAW) 2024 on March 5, reported the center’s press service. The event will run until March 7. The opening ceremony was attended by more than 200 arbitrators, legal counsel, judges and diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom, Eurasia, Europe, and Asia.…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan that have been published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Kazakh trade mission in Dubai, the nation’s foreign trade turnover, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and more. China becomes Kazakhstan’s main trading partner Last year, China replaced Russia as Kazakhstan’s main…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan plans to restore the Zhambyl Irrigation Institute, which will specialize only in water resources, said Advisor to the Kazakh President Kanat Bozumbayev at the Feb. 22 Global Water International Forum on Water Technologies and Resources, reported Kazinform. The institute existed until 1998. “Unfortunately, our scientific research in the water sector lags far…

ASTANA — The MOST Holding is launching Irbis GPT, a ground-breaking project to develop the Kazakh language using artificial intelligence, reported holding’s press service on Feb. 22. “We are on the threshold of a new era where artificial intelligence technologies will be the key to the development of languages and cultures. Irbis GPT is our…

ASTANA — Lumacheria Italiana, the world leader in snail production, plans to launch snail farming on an industrial scale in the Zhambyl Region this year, reported the region’s akimat (administration) on Feb. 21. According to the foreign company, the Zhambyl Region has favorable natural and climatic conditions, making growing snails in industrial quantities four times…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will open a trade house at the national pavilion at the Expo City Dubai next week, said Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, reported Kazinform on Feb. 21. “We are actively using the pavilion, showcasing Kazakh goods and promoting engineering, medical and IT services,” he said. On Feb. 27-29, the…

ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu will present the country’s priorities on nuclear disarmament at the high-level segment of the United Nations (UN) Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Feb. 26-28, announced ministry’s spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov on Feb. 21, reported the ministry’s press service. Also, Nurtleu is supposed to address Kazakhstan’s efforts…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan sent humanitarian aid worth $5 million in 2023, reported Finprom financial and business analytical service on Feb. 19. According to the State Revenue Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Finance, Kazakhstan sent humanitarian aid to six countries.  Over half of the volume, worth $2.6 million, went to Afghanistan, of which $2.5 million…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan projects annual inflation in the range of 7.5-9.5% this year in its macro and market overview released on Feb. 19.  “Gradual rate cuts will continue in the absence of unforeseen shocks. Pauses in rate cuts are not excluded. The easing cycle may extend over a long period,” the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attaches utmost importance to the development of cooperation with brotherly Uzbekistan, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a Feb. 19 meeting with the Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, reported Akorda press service. Welcoming Saidov, the President emphasized Kazakhstan’s readiness to continue supporting Uzbekistan’s initiatives for the welfare and prosperity of the…

ASTANA – The Kazakh investor is set to launch the construction of the Central Asia International Center for industrial cooperation on the Kazakh-Uzbek border in August this year, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration on Feb. 16. The center, covering an area of 100 hectares, will be erected on the border area in…

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.…