QazVac Clinical Trials Results Published in Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine Journal
NUR-SULTAN – The results of phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials of Kazakhstan’s QazVac vaccine have been published in Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine journal on Aug. 13. QazVac, which has been administered in the country since April, is an inactivated vaccine injected at a 21 day interval. The vaccine was developed by researchers from the Kazakh…
Kazakhstan Delivers 25,000 Doses of Its Own Vaccine to Kyrgyzstan
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan delivered its own QazVac vaccine to Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday as humanitarian aid and as part of a broader effort between the two countries in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service. The batch of vaccines was handed over in Bishkek with the participation of Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Health…
New Investment Projects in Akmola Region Take Off, Bright Prospects For Future
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev checked in on the implementation of investment projects in the Akmola Region and the development prospects of the city of Kokshetau during his working trip to the region, reports the Akorda press service. Akmola Region Governor Yermek Marzhikpaev delivered the report outlining main social and economic indicators of the region,…
President Tokayev Meets With Newly Elected Rural Governors in Akmola Region
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with newly elected rural akims (mayors) in the Akmola Region on Tuesday as part of his working visit to the region, reports the Akorda press service. On July 25, Kazakhstan had its first-ever election of rural akims in an effort to give rural residents a chance to elect…
Kazakhstan Replaces State Programs with National Projects: What Should We Expect?
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan seeks to enhance its public administration system and replaces state programs with national projects, deemed to become more effective and concise. The idea of national projects is envisioned in the country’s new National Development Plan until 2025. While at this point it seems difficult to see the difference between state programs and…
Eighty Percent Need to Be Immunized to Develop Herd Immunity, Says Kazakh Vice Healthcare Minister
NUR-SULTAN – 11 million people, or 80 percent of the eligible population, should pass a full course of vaccinations to develop herd immunity in Kazakhstan, said Kazakhstan’s Vice Healthcare Minister Azhar Giniyat at a July 23 press conference. “Because of the mutation of the virus, only by vaccinating 80 percent of the people can collective…
Voter Turnout Exceeds 65 Percent Across the Board at Rural Elections in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Lowest voter turnout surpassed 65 percent in the rural elections that ended on Sunday, according to the regional central election commissions. The elections were held in the country’s 14 regions at 1,847 polling stations. They had 2,297 candidates, including 1,419, or 61.8 percent, self-nominated individuals. Only 458 candidates were women. The highest voter…
Nearly 7,500 Schools in Kazakhstan to Reopen in September After a Year Online
NUR-SULTAN – Almost one month is left until a new academic year begins with nearly 7,500 schools welcoming close to 3.5 million pupils. After nearly a year of classes held online, Kazakhstan prepares to bring pupils back to classrooms with strict sanitary regulations in place. Last year has seen thousands of kids studying from home,…
Kazakhstan Resumes Air Travel With Sixteen Countries
NUR-SULTAN – A year and a half into the pandemic, Kazakhstan has so far resumed air travel with 16 countries, reports the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development. Regular international flights are operated between 16 countries on 44 routes with a frequency of 184 flights per week. The most frequent flights are to Turkey…
EU, UNDP Announce Call for Academic Grants for Afghan Women to Study in Central Asia
NUR-SULTAN – “A new and unfamiliar experience that turned into an exciting and wonderful time.” That’s how Muzhgan Sadat from Bamyan province in Afghanistan recalled her study experience in Kazakhstan. She was in the first group of 30 women to study in Kazakhstan as part of the European Union-funded scholarship program that launched its third…
Kazakhstan Marks Eid al-Adha Holiday With Tightened COVID-19 Restrictions
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan marked the Qurban Ait (Eid al-Adha) holiday on July 20 that comes as the countries around the world, including Kazakhstan, tighten COVID-19 restrictions and maintain the ban on gatherings. The holiday, which means the feast of sacrifice, is mostly associated with sacrificing an animal, as well as large family gatherings and communal…
Kazakhstan to Increase Oil Production, OPEC+ Agrees to Oil Supply Boost
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will increase oil production up to 1.491 million barrels per day from August, steadily adding 16,000 barrels each month, announced the Kazakh Ministry of Energy following the July 18 meeting of OPEC ministers. Kazakh Energy Minister Nurlan Nogaev participated in the meeting, which was initially supposed to take place at the beginning…
Central Asian Foreign Ministers, U.S. Senior Officials Attend C5+1 Meeting in Tashkent
NUR-SULTAN – The heads of the foreign ministries of Central Asia and the United States gathered in Tashkent on July 15 for the regular C5+1 meeting, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of…
Kazakhstan’s Trade with Central Asia Reaches $4.6 Billion in 2020, Says Kazakh Minister
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with the Central Asian countries amounted to US$4.6 billion in 2020, said Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Bakhyt Sultanov at a July 13 press briefing. Kazakhstan’s largest trade partner in the region is Uzbekistan. In 2020, Kazakhstan’s exports made nearly $2.1 billion, including wheat, oil, and metal products. Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan Fulfills Oil Production Quota Under OPEC+ Agreement
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has fulfilled its oil production quota under the OPEC+ (Organization for the Petroleum Exporting Countries) agreement producing 1.465 million barrels per day in June against the planned 1.469 million barrels, reports the Kazakh Energy Ministry. “According to preliminary data, the volume of oil and condensate production in Kazakhstan in June amounted to…
Kazakhstan to Supply Pfizer Vaccine to Citizens, Says President Tokayev
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will deliver the Pfizer vaccine to ensure Kazakh citizens have a wider choice of vaccines against COVID-19, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the July 10 expanded government meeting. There have been four vaccines against COVID-19 available for the country’s citizens – Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, the country’s own QazVac vaccine, China’s…
Astana Hub Presents New Digital Platform
NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Hub, Kazakhstan’s international technopark of IT startups, presented its new digital platform on July 8, focused on automating all processes from submitting applications and participating in Astana Hub programs to filling out online reporting for residents receiving tax and visa preferences, said Astana Hub Director Magzhan Madiyev during the live-streamed presentation. …
President Tokayev Chairs Expanded Government Meeting
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the outcomes of the first half of 2021 and set the tasks for the months ahead at the July 10 expanded government meeting, reports the Akorda press service. Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Head of the Presidential Administration Yerlan Koshanov, ministers as well as governors and mayors attended the meeting…
UNGA Chairman Visits Kazakhstan as Part of Central Asia Tour
NUR-SULTAN – United Nations General Assembly Chairman Volkan Bozkir visited the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan as part of his Central Asian tour. Bozkir, who was elected President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on June 17, 2020, met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi…
Only Two Regions Left in Green Zone as Epidemiological Situation Worsens in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – The epidemiological situation has been worsening in Kazakhstan and with the Delta variant detected in the country, concerns are growing. As of July 8, only two regions – the East Kazakhstan and Turkistan regions – remain in the green zone, according to the matrix of the epidemiological situation updated daily by the Kazakh…
German Investors Set to Begin Green Hydrogen Energy Operation in Mangistau Region
NUR-SULTAN – Svevind Energy, a German investor and project developer, plans to install wind and solar farms with a total capacity of 45 gigawatts (GW) in steppe areas in western and central Kazakhstan to feed electrolyzers to produce up to three million tons of green hydrogen every year, reports the company’s press service. The plans…
Monument to Alash Leaders Opens in Kazakh Capital
NUR-SULTAN – As the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan celebrates its 23 year anniversary, several monuments were opened in the city to commemorate the date, reports the Akorda press service. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the monument dedicated to Alash movement leaders on the eve of Capital’s Day. The monument is located on the Kalamgeler Alley at the…
Eurasian Development Bank to Focus on Major Cross-Border Investment Projects Over Next Five Years
NUR-SULTAN – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) will focus on major cross-border investment projects and plans to invest US$10.9 billion over the next five years, according to the bank’s new strategy approved July 2 at the EDB council meeting. Among such projects are the Europe–Western China transport and digital corridor, the EAEU+ single commodity distribution…
Kazakhstan Increases International Air Travel
NUR-SULTAN – More international air travel opportunities are now available for Kazakh citizens, as flights were launched to Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, among other developments in the civil aviation industry. Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines resumed its Aktau – Yerevan route starting June 25. The flights are operated on Fridays on the Bombardier CRJ-200. The tickets are…
COVID-19: Delta Variant Confirmed in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – As countries worldwide are witnessing another spike of coronavirus cases, Kazakh healthcare officials confirmed the prevalence of the Delta variant in all of the country’s regions. The Kazakh Ministry of Healthcare conducted PCR screening of positive laboratory samples collected from coronavirus patients. As of July 1, 414 samples were screened to detect the…
