Articles by Saniya Sakenova

ASTANA – The Berlin Eurasian Club (BEC) held its 41st meeting on Oct. 17 in Brussels, focusing on the adherence to ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles in economic cooperation between Kazakhstan, the European Union and Germany, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko highlighted the key outcomes of…

ASTANA – A Tazy dog named Kokkaska from the Karagandy Region was named the most beautiful dog at the recent national greyhound competitions in the Arshaly district of the Akmola Region, the Karagandy Region’s administration reported on Oct. 17. A dog from Astana won the 700-meter race among Tazy dogs whose speed can reach up…

ASTANA – Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko noted the importance of expanding cooperation in the energy, logistics, and transport sectors at an Oct. 17 meeting with Giusi Princi, the new chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Central Asia and Mongolia (DCAS) in Brussels. As stated by the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic signed a memorandum of understanding on Oct. 17, aimed at conserving snow leopards and their habitats in the northern Tien Shan Mountains within four specially protected nature areas of both countries. According to a press release from the UN Development Program (UNDP) Kazakhstan, the country has seen a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China reviewed their expanding partnership in industrialization and investment during the 21st meeting of the Kazakh-Chinese Coordinating Committee, held on Oct. 16 in Astana and co-chaired by Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov and Zhao Chenxin, Vice Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In a press statement released…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by 4% during the first three quarters of 2024, driven by the development of the non-resource sector, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during the meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Oct. 17. According to a press statement from Akorda, the strongest growth was seen in agriculture, which surged by 11.4%.…

ASTANA – Economic growth in developing economies of Europe and Central Asia is stabilizing after a series of crises but at much slower rates than the early 2000s, according to the World Bank’s Economic Update released on Oct. 17. Regional growth is projected to moderate to 3.3% this year from 3.5% in 2023, and slow…

ASTANA – The Astana Think Tank Forum 2024 opened on Oct. 16 in the capital, centered on the theme Middle Powers in a Changing Global Order: Strengthening Security, Stability, and Sustainable Development, and organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, reported the forum’s press service. Held under the auspices of the Astana International Forum,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will refrain from submitting an application to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), at present and likely in the foreseeable future, considering the multi-stage membership process and other factors related to the association’s development, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s spokesperson, Berik Uali, said in an interview with Tengrinews on Oct. 16. “The President…

ASTANA – The European delegation confirmed its interest in developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) by attracting expertise and investments within the Global Gateway strategy during the 21st meeting of the Kazakhstan-European Union Cooperation Council on Oct. 14 in Luxembourg. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Hungary’s Minister of Foreign…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government has adopted a National Infrastructure Plan until 2029, which includes 204 projects in energy, transport, digital, and water infrastructure sectors worth nearly 40 trillion tenge (US$81.8 billion), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov said during an Oct. 15 press conference. In a statement released by the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan opened its Honorary Consulate in Greater Manchester on Oct. 11, the Kazakh Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Magzhan Ilyassov announced on his X account. He described the opening as a major step in developing Kazakh-British regional ties with a focus on trade, investments, cultural and educational relations. According to Kazinform, the…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) is expected to sell between $1.3 to $1.4 billion in currency from the National Fund this October, based on preliminary government requests for national budget transfers, reported The Tenge. Nearly three-quarters of this amount will be directed to the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) to mitigate its…

ASTANA – The open skies regime is now active at 15 airports of Kazakhstan in the cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Aktobe, Karagandy, Oskemen, Pavlodar, Kokshetau, Taraz, Petropavl, Semei, Turkistan, Kostanai, and Oral. According to the press statement released by the Civil Aviation Committee on Oct. 12, Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev has recently…

ASTANA – International tourists attending the World Nomad Games in September were captivated not only by the sports events but also by Kazakh cuisine. A survey conducted by local tour operators revealed the top five dishes that left the strongest impression on visitors, the Tourism Industry Committee’s press service reported on Oct. 7. “Kazakh cuisine…

ASTANA – Since the beginning of 2024, camera traps in the Kyzylsay State Regional Natural Park in the Mangystau Region have captured nearly 20,000 animals, including those listed in the Red Book, Kazinform reported on Oct. 7. Among them are caracals, white wolves, and goitered gazelles. Recently, a camera trap recorded a leopard. In 2024,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to boost exports to Turkmenistan by nearly $120 million across 80 commodity items, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during expanded-format talks with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Oct. 10, reported Akorda. Tokayev highlighted the importance of supporting business contacts and emphasized the high investment potential of small and medium-sized enterprises. He encouraged…

ASTANA – Corporals Balzhan Mussatayeva and Marzhan Sairanova of Kazakhstan’s Airborne Assault Troops performed complex parachute jumps from 3,200 meters above sea level in the foothills of Himalayas during the KazInd 2024 exercises on Oct. 9, reported the Defense Ministry’s press service. Both servicewomen showed the best results in performing parachute jumps for precision landing…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been and remains a reliable ally of Turkmenistan across key sectors, including energy, transport, logistics, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a tet-a-tet meeting with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Oct. 10, reported Akorda. “We have great respect for Turkmenistan’s neutral status in the international arena. We…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan prioritizes friendly relations with Turkmenistan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at an Oct. 10 meeting with Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during his official visit to Ashgabat, reported Akorda. Tokayev emphasized that Kazakh-Turkmen relations are developing dynamically in the spirit of friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual support.…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov discussed expanding strategic cooperation with the United States, particularly in trade, economic, and investment sectors at an Oct. 9 meeting with the U.S. Trade Mission delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia David De Falco and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Daniel Rosenblum.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s manufacturing industry recorded a production volume of 14.9 trillion tenge (US$30.3 billion) in the first eight months, which is 4.9% more compared to the same period last year, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said at an Oct. 8 press conference. According to the Prime Minister’s press service, the industry’s share in…

ASTANA – The Recovered Asset Management Company in Kazakhstan has announced auctions on Oct. 9 and 11, allowing each participant to contribute to supporting social projects, reported the company’s press service. The raised funds will go to the Special State Fund, which finances key initiatives aimed at benefiting society and improving the quality of life…

ASTANA – The first trade and economic mission of Kazakh companies to Italy was launched during the Kazakh-Italian business and investment forum, which takes place on Oct. 7-9 in Milan, reported the Kazakh Trade and Integration Ministry’s press service. More than 50 Kazakh enterprises, representing sectors such as agriculture, oilfield services, textiles, tourism, and IT,…

ASTANA—Kazakh firefighters have localized a wildfire in the Pavlodar Region that spread to the Bayanaul National Park from the Karkaraly district in the Karagandy Region on Oct. 6, Minister of Emergency Situations Chingis Arinov said at an Oct. 8 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. As of 6 p.m. on Oct. 7, a…