Articles by Saniya Sakenova

Kazakh Artists Shine in UNESCO Concert Celebrating 30th Anniversary of TURKSOY

ASTANA – Kazakh artists performed at a gala concert We Are Together hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters on Dec. 15 in Paris, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the International Turkic Culture Organization (TURKSOY), reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. The large-scale concert in the main hall of UNESCO…

Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth to Reach 5% at Year-End

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth may reach 5% at the end of the year, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov summing up the results of 2023, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Dec. 18. Kazakhstan’s economy showed sustainable growth of 4.9% in January-November from 2.7% in 2022. “Overall, GDP per capita increased from…

President Tokayev Champions Global Climate Solutions and Urges Collaborative Action at COP28 in Dubai

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev conveyed Kazakhstan’s strong commitment to addressing global climate challenges and outlined key initiatives during the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on Dec. 1 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Akorda press service reported. Tokayev drew attention to the…

Kazakhstan Participates in 30th Meeting of OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu took part in the 30th meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Council of Foreign Ministers on Nov. 30 in Skopje, North Macedonia, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press office. Nurtleu underscored the significance of preserving the OSCE as the…

Caspian Pipeline Consortium Resumes Oil Shipment After Temporary Weather-Related Suspension

ASTANA – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) resumed oil shipments to tankers at the marine terminal on Nov. 30, after a temporary suspension a few days before due to storm warnings and adverse weather conditions, reported the CPC’s press service. Inspection revealed damage to one floating hose of the outer sheath of the third single…

News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Growing Significance Worldwide, Experience in Nuclear Testing and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media worldwide. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on Kazakhstan’s experience in nuclear testing, its expanding relationship with the European Union (EU), increasing role worldwide, and the Middle Corridor’s potential. Kazakhstan’s lessons for the climate transition The National…

SCO Member States Promote Regional Cooperation Priorities Under Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship

ASTANA – Kazakhstan chaired a meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 in Beijing, focusing on advancing priorities for regional cooperation, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Participants reviewed Kazakhstan’s proposals to fortify and develop the SCO with practical measures.…

Kazakhstan Participates in Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia

ASTANA – Kazakhstan took part in the Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia, held on Nov. 28-30 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, reported the press service of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The event also brought together government representatives from the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, along with national and international organizations,…

Kazakhstan to Build and Repair Over 10,000 Kilometers of Roads by Year-End

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will build and repair 10,700 kilometers of roads by the end of this year, including 6,500 kilometers of highways of national importance and 4,200 kilometers of local roads, Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev said at a Nov. 28 government session chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press…

Western Kazakhstan Enhances Energy Reliability to Minimize Consumer Disconnection Risks

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) built five 220-kilovolt power transmission lines with a total length of approximately 780 kilometers along the West Kazakhstan Power Hub – Atyrau – Mangystau route to increase the network capacity and enhance the reliability of power supply to consumers in western Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister’s press…

Kazakhstan Set to Double Economic Output to $490 Billion by 2029

ASTANA – The Kazakh government is assigned to double the volume of the country’s economy to $490 billion by 2029, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said at a Nov. 25 interim session of the Foreign Investors’ Council, dedicated to measures and proposals to improve the investment climate in Kazakhstan, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. During…

Kazakhstan Subsidizes Women Entrepreneurs’s Projects Worth $1.3 Billion in Two Years

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has subsidized approximately 17,000 projects of women entrepreneurs worth 638 billion tenge ($1.3 billion) over the last year and ten months of 2023, Vice Minister of National Economy Bauyrzhan Omarbekov said at the 6th Forum of Kazakhstan’s Rural Women on Nov. 17, reported the ministry’s press service. Omarbekov stated that the government…

National Bank Governor Addresses Kazakhstan’s Economic Environment

ASTANA – Timur Suleimenov, the governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK), discussed base rate reduction and economic outlook amidst global and domestic factors in his official statement published on Nov. 24. According to him, the decision to reduce the base rate by 25 basis points to 15.75% was underpinned by updated forecasts and…

Kazakhstan Launches New Legislation, Nationwide Initiatives Against Domestic Violence During 16 Days of Activism

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is initiating measures to tighten accountability for domestic violence amidst the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence annual international campaign that begins on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and continues until Dec. 10, said Askhat Aimagambetov, member of the Mazhilis, a lower house of…

Kazakhstan Commences Construction of New Railway to Boost Connectivity

ASTANA – The Turkistan Region has commenced the construction of a new 152-kilometer railway line Darbaza-Maktaaral to augment capacity and enhance export and transit potential, Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov announced at a Nov. 27 teleconference, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. A new checkpoint will be established along the Kazakh-Uzbek state border as part…

News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Expanding Partnership with EU

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media worldwide. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on Kazakhstan’s collaboration with the European Union (EU), particularly the United Kingdom (U.K.), including in the human rights sphere, raw materials, investment, trade, and other fields. Economy Minister says Kazakhstan…

President Tokayev Presents Kazakhstan’s Perspective for UN Special Program for Central Asian Economies

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan’s vision for further development of the United Nations (UN) Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) at the first Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Participating Countries of the SPECA on Nov. 24 in Baku, reported the Akorda press service. As the…

Kazakhstan Reveals Preliminary Results of Digital Tenge Implementation Project

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) and the National Payment Corporation unveiled the preliminary outcomes of the initial phase of the digital tenge implementation project on Nov. 21, reported the NBK’s press service. The digital tenge platform was launched in a pilot mode, with the NBK issuing the digital tenge to the digital…

Kazakhstan Bolsters Collaboration with Vietnam’s SOVICO Group

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to create the necessary conditions for SOVICO Group’s investment activities in the country, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a Nov. 22 meeting with Nguyễn Thanh Hùng, the Chairman of Vietnamese company, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev welcomed the company’s activities in Kazakhstan, exploring the most promising areas of cooperation,…

Kazakhstan Joins UNESCO World Heritage Committee

ASTANA – Kazakhstan was elected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee for 2023-2027 at the 24th session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention Concerning Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on Nov. 22 in Paris, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. One…

Kazakhstan, IMF Affirm Commitment to Financial Sector Progress

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) affirmed their commitment to improving and developing the country’s financial sector at a Nov. 21 meeting in Astana, as the IMF concluded its 2023 Article IV consultation, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov expressed gratitude to the IMF for its consistent…

UK Outlines Promising Areas for Partnership with Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Nusrat Ghani, the Minister of Industry and Economic Security of the United Kingdom (U.K.), expressed optimism about future opportunities to strengthen economic ties and foster mutually beneficial partnerships during the press meeting in Almaty on Nov. 20, reported Forbes.kz. Ghani’s broad portfolio includes critical minerals, automotive, marine, and aerospace industries, which are key…

Kazakhstan, Germany Expand Cooperation in Green Energy 

ASTANA – German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck conveyed Germany’s increasing interest in Kazakhstan’s green transformation during negotiations with a Kazakh delegation led by First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar on Nov. 20 in Berlin, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The interest is driven by Kazakhstan’s…

Foreign Minister Attends Sixth Meeting of Kazakh-Hungarian Strategic Council

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu took part in the sixth meeting of the Kazakh-Hungarian Strategic Council on Nov. 20 in Budapest during his official visit to Hungary, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. Co-chaired by Hungarian Finance Minister Mihály Varga, the meeting’s agenda included issues related to energy, industry,…

Kazakhstan Showcases Tourism Potential at Exhibition in China 

ASTANA – The Kazakh delegation presented the country’s tourism opportunities at the China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM) exhibition, which is taking place on Nov. 15-17 in Beijing, reported the Kazakh Tourism company’s press service. The 96-square-meter Kazakhstan stand received wide recognition at the event, featuring visuals of Kazakh heroes, performances of national melodies…