US Think Tanks Review Scientific Cooperation with Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) and the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) examined Kazakhstan’s role in the changing threat landscape of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as part of the Jan. 30 panel session. Panelists delved into historical insights and discussed the key aspects of scientific cooperation between Kazakhstan and…
Kazakhstan Hosts First SCO Digital Forum, Announces New Initiatives
ASTANA – The first day of the Digital Almaty 2024 forum featured the inaugural meeting of the heads of ministries and agencies of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) responsible for the development of information and communication technologies (ICT), reported the press service of the forum. Participants from the SCO countries exchanged…
Oxford Researcher Suggests Measures to Address Central Asia’s Water Crisis
ASTANA – Water scarcity in Central Asia poses a persistent threat to the socio-economic progress of the region, with climate change exacerbating its vulnerability. In an interview with The Astana Times, Genevieve Donnellon-May, a geopolitical and global strategy advisor specializing in regional resource governance and environmental conflict in Asia, proposed a set of measures both…
EU-CA Investors Forum Announces €10 Bln Commitment for Development of Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor
ASTANA – The Global Gateway Investors Forum for the European Union – Central Asia Transport Connectivity kicked off with a plenary session on Jan. 29 in Brussels. The European and international financial institutions announced the 10 billion euros (US$10.2 billion) commitment to invest in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) connecting Europe and…
Kazakhstan, Holy See Stand for Open Dialogue in Favor of Global Peace, Says Apostolic Nuncio
ASTANA – The course of events on Kazakhstan’s diplomatic front in 2024 unfolded with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visits to Italy and the Vatican. Kazakhstan-Vatican relations are poised to advance with a shared commitment to interreligious dialogue – a theme dear to both sides, said Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan Archbishop George Panamthundil in an…
Kazakh Entrepreneur Shares Story of Opening First-Ever Qazaq Coffee House in Amsterdam
ASTANA – Global fascination with coffee culture has transformed the industry into a trend. For over half a year, an entrepreneur from Kazakhstan Talgat Aubakirov has been learning the business features of this fast-paced sector in the Netherlands. In an interview with The Astana Times, he shared a story of opening the first-ever Kazakh enterprise…
US Experts Research Central Asia’s Potential in Rare Earths, Call for Global Supply Chain Diversification
ASTANA – The Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC) published a report on leveraging rare earth elements (REEs) in Central Asia to diversify global supply chains and regulate China’s rare earth dominance. As part of the Jan. 23 expert discussion, the Washington-based think tank reviewed the region’s potential and…
SCO RATS Committee Director Highlights Achievements in Security Collaboration, Cooperation Program
ASTANA – Over the last year, the authorities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) states suppressed the activities of 73 clandestine cells of international terrorist organizations and prevented 69 terrorist attacks, said Ruslan Mirzayev, the director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) executive committee, in an interview with The Astana Times. The SCO RATS…
Ilya Mizernykh Wins Kazakhstan’s First Gold at Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics
ASTANA – Kazakh ski jumper Ilya Mizernykh, 16, wins Kazakhstan’s first gold in the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, reported the press service of the country’s National Olympic Committee on Jan. 20. The athlete beat 38 competitors from 21 countries and scored 214 points. Austria’s Niki Hamml came second, and Poland’s Lukas Lukaschuk ranked third. …
All Roads Lead to Rome: Legendary Almaty Aport Apple Hits Global Spotlight
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented Almaty Aport apples to Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) Qu Dongyu in the Italian capital on Jan. 19, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture. Almaty Aport, an apple variety, participates in the Global Action on One Country One Priority Product…
EU Report Signifies New Chapter in Regional Cooperation
ASTANA – The European Parliament (EP) approved a resolution on the assessment of the European Union’s (EU’s) strategy for Central Asia on Jan. 17. It marks a significant milestone in the EU’s strategy towards the region. Released the following day, this comprehensive strategy outlines a vision of strengthened ties between the EU and Central Asia,…
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University’s 90th Anniversary: International Cooperation and New Goals
ASTANA – On the 90th anniversary of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), research professors and government officials reviewed the university’s achievements and addressed new opportunities in education as part of the celebration ceremony on Jan. 15, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The Almaty based university launched its work on…
Kazakhstan Joins Open Banking Countries, Produces Initial Results
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) and the National Payment Corporation compiled the first results on the newly designed Open API and Open Banking pilot project in a report published on the bank’s website in early January. The initiative aims to modernize the country’s financial sector and transform digital financial services. The Open…
Kazakh Food Tech Entrepreneur Unveils Insights on Doing Business in Astana
ASTANA – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of economic development in Kazakhstan. They spearhead innovation and create a dynamic market environment. In an interview with The Astana Times, an entrepreneur Amir Davletov shared a personal story of launching a food tech business from scratch in the Kazakh capital. Food tech is a…
Almaty Showcases Kazakh Female Filmmaking Projects on Social Topics
ASTANA – Almaty will host a special screening of five short films shot by Kazakh female directors in the bULt art space on Jan. 14. The movies narrate stories on implications of long-established moral foundations of society. The cultural event will be organized by the Qyzqaras community. Aimed at promoting women’s talents in the domestic…
Global Players Seek Closer Ties with Central Asia, Says Expert
ASTANA – Global transformations are opening new horizons for Central Asia. Countries are interested in establishing relations with the region to access its vast resources. Meanwhile, Central Asian states heavily rely on Russia and China, said analytical journalist Mark Temnycky in an interview with The Astana Times. “The five Central Asian states are now slowly…
Oxford’s First Kazakh Medical Science Doctoral Researcher Eyes Revolutionary Changes in Obstetrics and Gynecology
ASTANA – Innovations in reproductive health may prove to be groundbreaking. In an interview with The Astana Times, Asselzhan Sarbalina, the first Kazakh doctoral researcher in medical science at Oxford University, shared ambitions to introduce cutting-edge practices in obstetrics and gynecology in Kazakhstan upon graduation. Sarbalina’s ongoing research envisages the search for avenues in achieving…
Kazakhstan Steps Up Creative Economy Development
ASTANA – Kazakhstan continues to improve the legal environment for the development of the creative economy. For Central Asia, developing favorable conditions for creative talents is an opportunity to strengthen the collective regional identity based on shared cultural values and common aspirations. In recent years, the meaning of creative industries has expanded from a traditional…
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Policy Navigates Eurasia’s Changing Geopolitics in 2023
ASTANA – Geopolitical shifts in 2023 urged Kazakhstan to align its multivector foreign policy with Eurasia’s evolving landscape while preserving its commitment to bilateral and multilateral obligations and ambitions towards new achievements on the world stage. Apart from enhancing cooperation within the Central Asian region, Kazakhstan’s efforts to develop collaboration with Eurasian partners are yielding…
Key Outcomes of Kazakh Ministry’s Activities: Legislative Innovations, Youth Empowerment, Upsurge in Creative Industries
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva highlighted the key results of the ministry’s activities for this year at a Dec. 26 press briefing in the Central Communications Service (CCS), reported CCS. Balayeva underlined the three major aspects of the ministry’s information work – creating conditions for the media development, informing the…
Swiss Economic Anthropologist Shares Research on Central Asian Transformation
ASTANA – Scientific studies of Swiss economic anthropologist Peter Finke have encompassed the transformation of the socialist systems in Central Asia and the regional adaptation to a globalizing world. The professor of the University of Zurich shared his perspective on Central Asia’s development and spoke about ongoing projects in an interview with The Astana Times. …
First-Ever Local Mayor Elections Align with Kazakhstan’s Political Modernization
ASTANA – Last month, Kazakhstan held first-ever pilot elections of akims (mayors) in districts and cities of regional significance. Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) defined the historic event as an important step in the country’s political modernization, reported its press service on Dec. 13. As a result of the Nov. 5 elections, regional maslikhats…
UN Declares 2026 International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development
ASTANA – Initiated by Kazakhstan, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution proclaiming 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service on Dec. 19. Kazakhstan introduced this resolution on behalf of the core group members – Armenia, Bolivia, Germany, Kenya, and Kiribati. 54 UN…
Kazakh Minister Discusses EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation in Critical Minerals, Sanctions Policy
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev spoke about the promising potential of the European Union (EU)-Kazakhstan cooperation in critical minerals, Kazakhstan’s standpoint on the EU sanctions, and the recent sale of ArcelorMittal Temirtau in an interview with CNBC (formerly Consumer News and Business Channel) on Dec. 12. The EU remains Kazakhstan’s…
Astana Club 2023 Debates Central Asia’s Future, Explores Integration Prospects
ASTANA – The seventh meeting of the Astana Club international platform kicked off in Astana on Dec. 11. The two-day program covers eight thematic panel sessions, including discussions on Central Asia’s greater integration and emerging prospects for regional development. The meeting on Central Asia’s future was moderated by Damjan Krnjevic Miskovic, the director for policy…
