Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Wanderlust travel magazine added Kazakhstan to its Editors’ Hot List 2024, inviting tourists to visit the singing dunes and painted rocks of the Altyn-Emel National Park. “If you have ever longed to see someone firing an arrow using their feet while doing a handstand, the World Nomad Games might just be your Woodstock.…

ASTANA – The decision to build the nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan will be made by people, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his comprehensive interview with the Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper, published on Jan. 3. According to Tokayev, clean nuclear energy is vital for Kazakhstan. This is a fundamental question for the future of the national…

ASTANA – Constitutional rule on a single presidential tenure remains unchanged, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his interview with the Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper released on Jan. 3, dismissing speculations on his presidential election bid in 2026. “This norm is as inviolable as the rules on independence, unitarity, territorial integrity and the form of rule…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev kicked off the new year with an extensive interview with the Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper on Jan. 3. During the interview, he discussed key achievements from the previous year, provided insights into both domestic and foreign policies, addressed social and economic development, and outlined plans for the year 2024. Tokayev reiterated…

ASTANA – State Counselor Erlan Karin wrapped up the results of the country’s reforms over the past two years and reflected on the coming tasks to raise public consciousness and form new social ethics in his Telegram post on Dec. 29. According to Karin, 2023 has become another year that changed Kazakhstan. “These were not…

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 the country’s efforts to increase foreign trade, bolster energy infrastructure and more. Kazakhstan launches construction of new rail link to China Kazakhstan launched the construction of a new railway…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s airlines set a new record in 2023, transporting 12 million passengers, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service on Dec. 28. The airlines increased their aircraft fleet from 89 to 99 units and the seat capacity from 12,000 to 15,000. “Three new passenger terminals are being built at the expense of private investors…

ASTANA – The Strategy Social and Political Research Center conducted a survey of 2,400 respondents across the country in December, assessing the population’s approval of the activities of state bodies, reported the center’s press service on Dec. 19.  “Based on the survey results, 76.4% of respondents approve the work of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 14.1%…

ASTANA – Astana’s International Airport served 7.5 million passengers, setting a record on Dec. 25, reported the Kazakh Transport Ministry’s press service. “We visited relatives in Almaty and today returned home. We did not expect to be special passengers, welcomed personally by the airport management. (…) Thank you very much for such a warm welcome!”…

ASTANA – Samarkand hosts the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Dec. 26-30, reported the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) press service on Dec. 25.  FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for hosting the event and emphasized FIDE’s objective to organize more global chess events, providing enthusiasts worldwide the chance to witness their…

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov summed up the results of the ministry’s work in 2023, packed with major international events, high-level meetings, and new investment initiatives at a Dec. 25 press briefing. Smadiyarov reiterated the ministry’s key tasks, which are ensuring security and stability along the borders of the country, increasing the…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed technological cooperation, integrated information systems, and food security of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) at a Dec. 25 meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) in St. Petersburg, reported the Akorda press service. The talks began with a narrow-format meeting that included Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan occupies a leading position in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) among the countries of Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reported Finprom financial and business analytical service on Dec. 25, referring to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook released in October. According to IMF estimates, this…

ASTANA – The large Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field, operated by Ural Oil and Gas LLP, launched commercial production on Dec. 21 in Western Kazakhstan, according to the Prime Minister’s press service. The field is owned by KazMunayGas national oil and gas company (50%), Hungarian multinational oil and gas company MOL Group (27.5%), and Chinese Sinopec…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan started exporting its IT solutions in the e-government development to Tajikistan, owing to the partnership of the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, the National Information Technology (NIT), and the KazAID Kazakhstan Agency for International Development, reported the ministry’s press service on Dec. 22. Smart Bridge, a unified e-government…

ASTANA – The migration.enbek.kz migration data website has been launched in Kazakhstan, reported the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Dec. 21. The website, which contains information about arriving foreign citizens, aims to improve the quality of government services for migrants. A unified platform will allow for synchronizing various stages of migration processes, managing…

ASTANA – Saudi Arabia’s Flynas low-cost airline will start operating Almaty – Riyadh flights seven times per week from the spring-summer season next year, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service on Dec. 21. A decision was reached during the visit of the Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to Saudi Arabia to…

ASTANA – The George Washington University and the Kazakh Embassy in the United States discussed the shallowing of waters, including the Aral Sea, on Dec. 11, reported Kazinform news agency. Director of the Central Asia Program Sebastien Peyrouse, who moderated the event, noted that the climate crisis is a crucial topic not only for Central…

ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) experts conducted a comprehensive inspection of the material and technical base and the level of training of Kazakh military personnel planning to participate in peacekeeping operations, reported the Defense Ministry on Dec. 19. During one week, inspectors led by Cédric Pascal, planning officer for the troop formation service of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency recovered $120 million in December as a result of investigations on the fund embezzlement from Kazakhtelecom and the Transport Service Center against Kairat Satybaldyuly, who held stocks in these companies and other persons, reported the agency’s press service on Dec. 20. According to the agency, assets and funds worth more…

ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) hosted a presentation of the first Kazakh-English and English-Kazakh Oxford Qazaq Dictionary on Dec. 19, developed by the Qazaq Tili international association, reported the university’s press service. NU Acting President Ilesanmi Adesida, Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, Mazhilis Deputy Kazybek Isa, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy…

ASTANA – Investments in Kazakh airports infrastructure reached $2.4 billion, said Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev at a Dec. 19 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov,  reported the Prime Minister’s press service. At the Almaty airport, work is underway to overhaul the apron and improve the cargo handling procedures. The construction of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to launch flights to Mumbai, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo in 2024-2025, said Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev at a Dec. 19 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Air Asia, the Malaysian multinational low-cost airline, will start operating flights on the Almaty-Kuala Lumpur route from March…

ASTANA – In January-November, Kazakh airlines transported 12.3 million passengers, which is 23% more than last year, said Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev at a Dec. 19 government meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The volume of services at airports increased by 25%. There is significant growth…

ASTANA – Harvard University graduates discussed aspects of human capital development in the economic modernization in Kazakhstan during a recent meeting at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), reported the institute’s press service. During the expert meeting, KazISS Director Yerkin Tukumov noted that the quality of human capital affects economic development, which is a…