President Tokayev Outlines Priority Tasks for Human Rights Protection in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined several priority tasks for the human rights protection system at an Aug. 29 meeting with commissioners for human and children’s rights, reported the Akorda press service. Constitution Day The meeting took place on the eve of Constitution Day on Aug. 30, a significant occasion for Kazakhstan. “The Constitution is…
Security Agencies Neutralize Radical Group Planning Terrorist Attacks in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Security agencies neutralized a radical group whose members planned terrorist attacks in Kazakhstan, said National Security Committee (NSC) Chairman Yermek Sagimbayev at an Aug. 28 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. Sagimbayev informed Tokayev about initiating seven pre-trial investigations related to terrorist crimes and the conviction of three extremists.…
Kazakhstan Projects Economy’s Average Annual Growth at 5.8%
ASTANA – The average annual growth of Kazakhstan’s economy in the next five years is projected at 5.8%, Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said at an Aug. 29 government meeting dedicated to the forecast for the country’s socio-economic development, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The forecast considered the expectations of international financial organizations…
Kazakhstan Introduces New Rules for Foreign Tourist Taxes
ASTANA – Kazakhstan introduced tourist fees at fixed rates ranging from 0.2 ($1.49) to 0.5 ($3.72) monthly calculation index (MCI), determined by local maslikhats (local representative bodies), following the order of the Kazakh Minister of Culture and Sports Askhat Oralov dated July 14, the ministry’s press service reported on Aug. 28. As of Aug. 1,…
Kazakhstan, Chile Hold Third Round of Political Consultations
ASTANA – The third round of Kazakh-Chilean political consultations took place in Santiago on Aug. 23. The meeting was chaired by Kairat Umarov, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Gloria de la Fuente, Chile’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. The consultation coincided with the 30th anniversary of…
Kazakh People Change Their Eating Habits
ASTANA – JD Expert marketing agency conducted a survey about the eating habits and preferences of Kazakhs across the country, offering information on factors that changed their food choices. Traditional nutrition or snacks According to the results published in June, 41% of respondents have shifted from three meals per day, preferring to snack in small…
Kazakh Capital Hosts NEXT Astana 2023 Summit
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the NEXT Astana 2023 summit, a platform for discussing paths towards innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development, Kazakh Invest national company reported on Aug. 23. Organized by the NEXT Federation, the Chinese Economic Information Service of Xinhua News Agency, and the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration, the event brought…
Kazakhstan, UN Prioritize Preventive Diplomacy Tools for Central Asian Security
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu emphasized the significance of preventive diplomacy tools in maintaining peace and security in Central Asia during an Aug. 24 meeting with Kaha Imnadze, the newly appointed Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General and Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive…
Kazakhstan’s National Bank Lowers Base Rate to 16.5%
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of Kazakhstan’s National Bank decided to reduce the base rate to 16.5% per annum from 16.75% (July), the bank’s press service reported on Aug. 25. The decision came amid gradually weakening pro-inflationary pressure from the external environment, where most countries observe a slowdown in inflation due to central banks…
CICA Members Discuss Draft Documents Ahead of Informal Ministerial Meeting
ASTANA – The Special Working Group (SWG) and the Senior Officials Committee (SOC) of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) convened on Aug. 21-22 to discuss draft documents, which are expected to be officially approved at the CICA Informal Ministerial meeting on Sept. 21, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press…
Foreign Minister Reiterates Kazakhstan’s Commitment to Balanced Multi-Vector Foreign Policy
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is committed to continuing a balanced multi-vector pragmatic foreign policy aimed at preventing current signs of geopolitical fragmentation of the international community, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said at an Aug. 18 meeting with heads of the United Nations representative offices accredited in the country, reported the Foreign…
Kazakhstan, Vietnam Reach Crucial Deals to Bolster Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Vietnam reached significant agreements to strengthen relations and cooperation across multiple sectors, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at an Aug. 21 meeting with Prime Minister of Vietnam Phạm Minh Chính, reported the Akorda press service. The meeting focused on the productive discussions Tokayev held earlier with Vietnam’s President Võ Văn Thưởng during…
Kazakh Prime Minister Commits to Ensuring Accountability for Coal Mine Tragedy
ASTANA – A special commission will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances behind the deadly accident at the ArcelorMittal-operated Kazakhstanskaya mine in the Karagandy Region, as instructed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Aug. 19. There were 227 workers underground when a conveyor belt caught fire on Aug. 17.…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Reinforce Strategic Partnership and Alliance
ASTANA – President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of further enhancing multifaceted collaboration with Kazakhstan to strengthen the strategic partnership and alliance, as he received Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in Tashkent on Aug. 17, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. President Mirziyoyev commended the significant progress the two countries…
President Tokayev Pays First Official Visit to Vietnam
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived on his first official visit to Vietnam on Aug. 20, reported the Akorda press service. He was welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi by Le Khanh Hai, Chairman of the Vietnamese Presidential Office. Tokayev’s official visit began with a flower-laying ceremony at the monument to national heroes…
Kazakh Interior Minister Briefs President Tokayev on National Crime Situation
ASTANA – Kazakh Interior Minister Marat Akhmetzhanov briefed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the crime situation in the country at an Aug. 17 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Akhmetzhanov informed Tokayev about the progress in implementing the instructions the President gave at an expanded Ministry of Internal Affairs meeting on June 30. The minister reported…
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Develop Potential of Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Marat Karabayev highlighted the achievements reached by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in developing the Middle Corridor, as he met with Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev during his working trip to Baku on Aug. 14, reported the ministry’s press service. Prioritizing the expansion of…
Over 20.5 Million People Cross Kazakhstan’s Border in Seven Months
ASTANA – Over 20.5 million people and 4.4 million vehicles have crossed Kazakhstan’s state border over seven months of this year, Colonel Gani Agadilov, first deputy head of the Border Control Department of the National Security Committee’s Border Service, said at an Aug. 16 briefing in the Central Communications Service (CCS), reported CCS. The twofold…
Mangystau Region Limits Electricity to Curtail Power Outage During Emergency Shutdown
ASTANA – A power outage in western Kazakhstan caused by another emergency shutdown at the Mangystau Atomic Energy Complex (MAEC) forced the Mangystau Region Akimat (governor’s office) to roll out controlled blackouts of three to five hours a week, the governor’s office informed on Aug. 14. The cities of Aktau and Zhanaozen and several villages…
Kazakhstan Hosts Joint Military Exercises with Uzbekistan
ASTANA – The second stage of the Kanzhar (Dagger) 2023 joint military exercises of the Kazakh and Uzbek armed forces took place in Aktau, Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry reported on Aug. 12. Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov and Uzbek Defense Minister Bakhodir Kurbanov watched the escalation of the exercise aimed at developing interoperability and a response…
Kazakhstan’s Exports of Wheat and Meslin Increase Almost 17%
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has exported 3.3 million tons of wheat and meslin worth $876.7 million over the first five months of this year, a 16.5% increase by volume and 3.5% by value, EnergyProm.kz reported on Aug. 15. Delivery prices decreased by 3.5% over the month of May and 6.3% over the year. The global price…
Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 4.8% in January-July
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth reached 4.8% in seven months of this year, recording a 4.6% increase in the real sector and 4.7% in the service sector, Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said at an Aug. 15 government meeting dedicated to the results of the socio-economic development and chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov,…
Constitutional Court Chair Outlines Kazakhstan’s Reforms at International Chief Justice Forum
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court Chairperson Elvira Azimova outlined reforms the country has implemented since the start of the year at the International Chief Justice Forum on Aug. 9-11 in Jakarta, Indonesia, reported the court’s press service. “Protection of human rights is a fundamental principle of a just and democratic society. Constitutional oversight bodies play…
Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 5% in First Half of 2023
ASTANA – The growth of Kazakhstan’s economy reached 5 % in the first half of this year, with a 4. 8% increase in the real sector and 4.9 % – in the service sector, Ranking.kz reported on Aug. 9. All major industries witnessed positive dynamics, with the highest indicators recorded by the construction sector with…
Kazakh Animated Noir Film Wins Award at France’s Expo
ASTANA – Seriktes (translated from Kazakh as Partner), an animated noir film made by Kazakh Tasqyn Studio, was recognized as the Best Short Film at the Animated Expressions Expo on Aug. 5 in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, the film studio announced on Aug. 8. Seriktes is a vibrant animation with a fascinating plot. It tells a story…
