Articles by Saniya Sakenova

US Consortium Plans to Embark on Film Projects Worth Over $200 Million in Georgia and Kazakhstan

ASTANA – A consortium led by the United States (U.S.)-based investment and advisory firm ESTech, in collaboration with film and television production studio WonderHill Studios (WHS), plans to bring a series of film projects valued at over $200 million to Georgia and Kazakhstan, announced the consortium. The projects are set to commence at the end…

Kazakhstan Exports 2.8 Million Tons of Oil from Aktau Port in Ten Months

ASTANA – KazTransOil national oil transporter exported 2.8 million tons of Kazakh oil from the Aktau port in January-October, 981,000 tons or 54% more than in the same period last year, the company reported on Nov. 16. The volume of oil shipped from the Aktau port to the port of Baku increased by 964,000 tons…

News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Visa-Free Regime with China and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media across the world. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the start of the Kazakhstan-China visa-free agreement, and ongoing reforms of Baiterek state-owned holding company. Kazakhstan’s transport minister:…

99 Kazakh Citizens Evacuated from Gaza Strip Arrive Safely in Almaty

ASTANA – A special evacuation flight safely transported 99 Kazakh citizens and their family members from the Gaza Strip to Almaty on Nov. 17, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Upon completing all mandatory procedures at the airport, the evacuated citizens are provided with temporary accommodation and essential legal, medical, and other assistance. The…

Kazakh President Signs Law on Children’s Payments from National Fund

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the law on introducing amendments and additions to some legislative acts on allocating funds to children from the National Fund of Kazakhstan, their payments and use on Nov. 16, reported the Akorda press service. Starting Jan. 1 next year, 50% of the National Fund’s annual investment income will be…

Subsoil Users, Kazakh Producers Sign Offtake Contracts Worth $124.9 Million

ASTANA – Large subsoil users, represented by companies including Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Kazakhmys, Kazzinc, and KAZ Minerals, signed offtake contracts, long-term agreements and memorandums totaling 58 billion tenge ($124.9 million) with Kazakh producers at the Kazakhstan-Produced Content 2.0 Forum on Nov. 16 in Astana, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Discussing new measures to…

Kazakhstan Launches Digital Tenge at Financial Congress in Almaty

ASTANA – Kazakhstan launched the initial phase of the digital tenge project at the 11th Financial Congress on Nov. 15 in Almaty, reported the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK). The pilot project to introduce digital currency was initiated in 2021, and its preliminary results were presented at the congress by National Payment Corporation CEO Binur…

Kazakhstan Outlines SCO Priorities and Initiatives for Foreign Media

…drew attention to the events hosted by Kazakhstan to deepen cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. Stability, sustainable development, trade, digitalization, high technology, innovation, smart agriculture, transport…

Kazakhstan Produces 74.8 Million Tons of Oil in Ten Months

ASTANA – Kazakhstan produced 74.8 million tons of oil in ten months of 2023, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said at a Nov. 15 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. Satkaliyev said the country produced 11.2 million tons of petroleum products, 48.7 billion cubic meters of gas, 93.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity,…

UNESCO General Conference Adopts Kazakh-Initiated Resolution on World Metrology Day

ASTANA – The Natural Sciences Commission unanimously adopted a resolution, initiated by Kazakhstan, proclaiming May 20 as World Metrology Day at the 42nd session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference on Nov. 13 in Paris, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The date commemorates the adoption of the…

Kazakhstan to Become One of Europe’s Green Energy Exporters

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to create a project to export green energy to Europe, the Kazakh Energy Ministry’s press service reported on Nov. 15. Energy and economy ministers of the three countries agreed to prepare technical specifications and establish a joint venture for the export of eco-friendly energy…

Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows Nearly 5% in Ten Months

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth reached 4.9% in January-October, with positive dynamics in the real sector totaling 3.8% and in the service sector – 5.4%, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov at a Nov. 15 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. An increase was observed in…

Kazakh-French Joint Venture to Commence Uranium Mining at South Tortkuduk at Year-End

ASTANA – KATCO, a joint venture of the French Orano Mining and Kazatomprom national atomic company, will start mining uranium at Kazakhstan’s South Tortkuduk site at the end of 2023, Trend.az reported on Nov. 12, citing a source at Orano multinational nuclear fuel cycle company. As the world’s largest uranium producer, Kazakhstan hosts Orano through…

President Urges Law Enforcement Agencies to Strengthen Justice and Order

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with heads of law enforcement agencies on Nov. 15, stressing their massive responsibility for establishing justice and order in society, Akorda press service reported.  On Nov. 9 in Astana, former Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev was detained on suspicion of having murdered his wife, Saltanat Nukenova. This high-profile…

Kazakhstan Evacuates 92 Citizens From Gaza Strip

ASTANA – Kazakhstan evacuated 92 citizens and members of their families from the Gaza Strip to Egypt through the Rafah checkpoint on Nov. 15, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Kazakh diplomats provided all the necessary consular, legal, and psychological assistance to their compatriots, who are expected to arrive in Cairo soon. After that,…

Exhibition of Polish Photographer Features Kazakhstan’s Beauties in Astana

ASTANA – A personal exhibition of Justyna Całczyńska, a Polish traveler and photographer, was unveiled in Astana, featuring 30 photographs depicting the landscapes and attractions of Kazakhstan, Kazinform reported on Nov. 12. Having visited around 50 countries, Całczyńska lives in Kazakhstan, teaching the Polish language. She traveled across more than half of the country in…

Kazakhstan’s Radmir Khaibullin Wins International Competition for Accordion

ASTANA – Radmir Khaibullin, an 11-year-old accordionist, took the Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon, securing first place in the Classique category of 12 and under, the competition’s press service announced on Nov. 12. Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon is a prestigious event for accordion players globally with a history of over 70 years. Since 2020, the competition…

Kazakh FM Attends League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Summit in Riyadh

ASTANA – Kazakhstan fully supports the legitimate rights of Palestinians to self-determination, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said at a Nov. 11 extraordinary joint summit of the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Nurtleu affirmed…

China to Host SCO Year of Tourism 2023 Forum Next Week

ASTANA – The Year of Tourism 2023 forum will take place from Nov. 23 to 26 in Ürümqi, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, announced Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Ming, the SCO’s press service reported on Nov. 11. SCO member states declared 2023 as the Year of Tourism in the…

KIA Starts Building New Full-Cycle Plant in Kazakhstan, Marks First Direct Investment Beyond South Korea

ASTANA – KIA initiated the construction of a new full-cycle plant in Kostanai, marking a historic move with its first direct investment in a joint venture outside South Korea, Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said at a Nov. 11 official launching ceremony, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The plant is expected to…

Security Council Focuses on Kazakhstan’s Transport and Logistics Capacity

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Security Council addressed the strategic risks of unlocking the transport and logistics potential at a Nov. 10 meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. Heads of government agencies and national companies provided reports on their work to solve systemic challenges in the transportation sector, including rail, road, sea,…

News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Policy, Visit of Russian President, 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 President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s policy, the outcome of the Russian president’s visit to Kazakhstan, and Tokayev’s interview to the Russian media. Kazakhstan’s leader makes neutrality an art President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev…

Kazakh PM Urges Enhanced Regional Integration and Transport Systems at ECO Summit in Tashkent 

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov called for removing administrative barriers and deepening the integration of transport and logistics systems at the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit on Nov. 9 in Tashkent, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The summit, chaired by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was also attended by President of…

Kazakh-Russian Partnership Prioritizes Development of New Logistics Directions Through Central Asia

ASTANA – Kazakh-Russian partnership prioritizes the development of new logistics directions through Central Asia and the capacity enhancement of existing routes to China, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a plenary session of the 19th Interregional Cooperation Forum, which took place on Nov. 9 in Kostanay, reported the Akorda press service. Via video address to forum…

Kazakh Officers Teach Foreign Students Civilian Protection Principles

ASTANA – Kazakh military instructors teach foreign students the principles of civilian protection through a training course certified by the United Nations (UN), Kazakhstan Peace Operations Center’s (KAZCENT) press service reported on Nov. 6. The course launched at the KAZCENT under the theme Comprehensive Protection of Civilians aims to familiarize students with safeguarding civilians in…