Articles by Assem Assaniyaz

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…

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…

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. …

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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. …

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…

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…

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 – 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…

ASTANA – The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Masdar renewable energy company has ensured its presence throughout Central Asia after announcing the construction of its first one-gigawatt (GW) wind power station in Kazakhstan last week. Masdar has long recognized Central Asia’s incredible potential for renewable energy, said Maryam Al Mazrouei, the company’s senior manager, in an…

ASTANA – The Regional Symposium of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) kicked off in Almaty on Dec. 6, reported the ICAO press service. For the first time, Central Asia hosts a large-scale event in the global aviation industry.  More than 280 participants from 30 countries gathered in Kazakhstan to address…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Defense Ministry emphasized the country’s interest in obtaining additional quotas for peacekeepers and expanding its participation in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations at the UN peacekeeping ministerial meeting on Dec. 5, reported the ministry’s press service.   The biennial event allowed foreign defense ministers to review the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping…

ASTANA – The club of young experts under the Senate, an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, analyzed the legal environment and prospects for developing creative industries in Kazakhstan on Dec. 6, reported the Senate’s press office. In his September state-of-the-nation address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocated for the creative economy’s expansive growth, setting a task…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan needs to continue the liberalization of economy to preserve and increase the inflow of foreign investment, said Afzal Amin, CEO of London Expertise, in an interview with The Astana Times on the sidelines of the Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR) 2023 two weeks ago.   “So far, we have invested more than $1…

ASTANA – The Days of Kazakhstan’s Culture in Azerbaijan were hosted in Baku and ended on Dec. 5. This initiative, aimed at enhancing Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations, was endorsed by the heads of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ilham Aliyev during their meeting in November, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. Key figures from Kazakhstan, including Kazakh…