China, Russia, Italy Remain Kazakhstan’s Top Foreign Trade Partners in 2024
ASTANA – China, Russia, and Italy led Kazakhstan’s foreign trade in 2024, accounting for the largest shares of both exports and imports, the Trade and Integration Ministry’s press service reported on May 6. Kazakhstan’s total export revenue exceeded $81 billion last year, and crude oil made up more than half of this amount – $42.9…
Kazakhstan to Present National Review on Sustainability at UN Forum
ASTANA – In July, Kazakhstan will present its third Voluntary National Review at the high-level political forum on sustainable development at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Ministry of National Economy reported on May 6. The country will join 38 others in sharing progress on implementing the UN 2030 Agenda. Kazakhstan previously presented its…
Kazakhstan, Hungary Strengthen Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Within PACE
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met on May 6 with a delegation from the National Assembly of Hungary, discussing enhancing inter-parliamentary dialogue, expanding humanitarian ties, and deepening cooperation within international organizations such as the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). According to…
Kazakhstan, Vietnam Set to Strengthen Trade and Economic Ties
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Tô Lâm reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations during a meeting on May 6, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. On the same day, a Kazakh-Vietnamese business roundtable was held in Astana, bringing…
Vietnamese, Kazakh Leaders Highlight Ties Through Shared Traditions
ASTANA – General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm participated in the Kazakh tradition of tusaukeser, a symbolic cutting of a baby’s leg fetters, which means wishes for an easy and successful life path, during a visit with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Ethnoauyl (ethno-village) exhibition dedicated to…
Kazakhstan, Vietnam Adopt Joint Statement on Establishment of Strategic Partnership
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Tô Lâm adopted a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership during Lâm’s state visit to Kazakhstan on May 6, reported Akorda. The two sides exchanged several important documents. These included a memorandum of cooperation in technology,…
Kazakhstan Rises to 44th Place in Global Open Data Inventory Ranking
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has climbed to 44th place out of 198 countries in the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) ranking by Open Data Watch, the Bureau of National Statistics reported on May 5. In 2020, Kazakhstan ranked 54th out of 187 countries, in 2022 – 51st out of 195, and in 2023 – 48th out of…
Kazakhstan, UK Deepen Strategic Partnership in Key Sectors
ASTANA – The partnership and cooperation agreement between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom has opened new prospects for deepening cooperation in critical minerals, green energy and climate, transport and logistics, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, education, and financial partnerships. This was announced at the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation on April…
Kazakhstan to Build Ferroalloy-Gas Utilization Facility
ASTANA – Global metals and mining company Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with China Tianchen Engineering Corporation to build a ferroalloy-gas utilization facility in Kazakhstan, ERG reported on April 30. The 80-megawatt plant will be integrated into the smelting shop four of the Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant, converting…
QazaqAir Launches Astana-Turkistan-Samarkand Flights on Unity Day
ASTANA – QazaqAir hosted a ceremony of launching a new international flight on the Astana-Turkistan-Samarkand route at the Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport on May 1, the Day of Unity of the People. Acting Chairman of QazaqAir Adilbek Umraliev highlighted the historical, trade, and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as a key reason for launching…
Renowned Romanian Choir to Perform in Kazakhstan for First Time
ASTANA – The renowned Romanian national chamber choir, Madrigal – Marin Constantin, a hallmark of Romanian culture, will perform for the first time in Kazakhstan with a concert at Astana Opera on May 4, reported the theatre’s press service. The concert “Madrigal: The Silk Road” promises a unique musical journey inspired by the ancient trade…
Kazakhstan Introduces Investor Visa in Bid for Foreign Investment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan approved new regulations for obtaining an investor visa to enhance its investment appeal and support long-term business partnerships on April 30, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. Under the new regulations, foreign nationals who invest at least $300,000 in the charter capital of Kazakh companies or in publicly traded local securities can…
Women Lead Among Young Entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Women comprise the majority of young entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, accounting for 55.4% of all entrepreneurs under the age of 35, the Institute of Public Policy reported on April 29, citing the Bureau of National Statistics. In urban areas, women represent 55.5% of young entrepreneurs, compared to 44.5% for men. In rural areas, women…
Zhambyl Region to Build 2 GW Wind Power Plants
ASTANA – Two large wind power plants with a combined capacity of two gigawatts (GW) will be built in the Zhambyl Region, as was announced at a staff meeting chaired by governor Yerbol Karashukeyev, reported the regional administration’s press service. The region, which is currently working in six areas to enhance energy efficiency and conservation,…
Kazakhstan Considers Opening Crypto Banks
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is considering the establishment of crypto banks, which can play a key role in the formation of a sustainable ecosystem, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stated in response to a formal inquiry from members of the Mazhilis, a lower house of Parliament, on April 25. According to the Mazhilis, Bektenov said the basic…
Kazakhstan, UNRCCA Discuss Regional Security, Sustainable Development
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with Kaha Imnadze, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), who arrived in Astana to participate in the Interregional Dialogue on the Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from…
Astana Prioritizes Trade Barrier Removal During ECO Chairmanship
ASTANA – During its current chairmanship of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Astana is focusing on the elimination of trade barriers and the development of logistics connectivity, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the Kazakh Government Galymzhan Koishybayev stated at the first ECO Ministerial Forum on Sustainable Development on April 27-29 in Arkadag,…
Kazakh Students Publish First AI-Generated Newspaper
ASTANA – Master’s students from the Faculty of Journalism at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University have published AI-Tamyz, the first-ever scientific, educational, convergent, and inclusive newspaper in the Kazakh language using artificial intelligence (AI), the university’s press service reported on April 28. Alongside the printed edition, AI-Tamyz offers digital, audio-text, and video content. Articles, images, videos,…
WB Forecasts 2.5% Economic Growth for Europe, Central Asia
ASTANA – Economic growth in the developing economies of Europe and Central Asia is projected at 2.5% for 2025-26, reflecting weaker external demand and a slowdown in Russia, according to the World Bank’s Economic Update released on April 23. In 2024, growth across the region stabilized at 3.6%, driven by private consumption and supported by…
Travel Show About Kazakhstan Premieres on Amazon Prime
ASTANA – The popular American travel show, Travel by Dart, which dedicated three episodes to Kazakhstan, has premiered on Amazon Prime, the Kazakh Tourism national company reported on April 28. The show’s format involves selecting a destination by randomly throwing a dart at a world map. Last year, the producers contacted Kazakh Tourism to organize…
UAE Sugar Giant Enters Kazakhstan’s Market
ASTANA – One of the world’s leading sugar industry companies, Al Khaleej Sugar from the United Arab Emirates, plans to build a sugar plant in Kazakhstan’s Almaty Region, as was announced at an April 27 meeting between the region’s governor, Marat Sultangaziyev, and the company’s managing director, Sheikh Jamal Al Ghurair, reported the regional administration’s…
EBRD to Allocate $25 Million to Support Women-Led Enterprises in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide up to $25 million to support women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Kazakhstan through a new term loan to leading microlender KMF, the EBRD’s press service reported on April 24. The financing aims to promote women’s entrepreneurship and business activity by…
European Immunization Week 2025 Begins in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched European Immunization Week (EIW), taking place from April 27 to May 3 under the theme: Immunization for All is Humanly Possible, the Kazakh Health Ministry reported. The campaign aims to remind people that vaccination saves lives. Thanks to widespread immunization, polio has not been registered in Kazakhstan since 1996, and…
Kazakhstan Uses Recovered Assets to Improve Water Supply Systems
ASTANA – The Special State Fund has directed recovered illegal assets to improve water supply systems in Kosshy and Makinsk, two cities in the Akmola Region, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on April 28. In Kosshy, 476.7 million tenge (US$926,501) was allocated to complete the city’s water supply system, aiming to provide 100% centralized…
New Book by Kazakh Journalist Reveals Untold Stories of World War II
ASTANA – On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Kazakh journalist and author of documentary projects Maya Bekbayeva presented her new book “Kazakhstan. Contribution to Victory” on April 23, revealing previously unknown stories and lesser-known facts about Kazakhstan’s role in the war, reported Kazinform. The book is the result of years…
