Nazarbayev University IT Engineer Pioneers Microchip Development in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Nursultan Kabylkas, a Bolashak program graduate and an assistant professor at Nazarbayev University’s (NU) School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, is creating a team of advanced IT engineers, aiming to move from designing microcircuits to producing Kazakhstan’s first locally manufactured microchips for computers, laptops, and other gadgets, Jibek Joly TV Channel reported on…
Astana Opera Triumphs with Six Sold-Out Performances in Dubai
ASTANA – Astana Opera Ballet captivated audiences at Dubai Opera with six sold-out performances of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet “The Nutcracker” from Dec. 19 to 22, reported the opera’s press service. Choreographed by the legendary Yuri Grigorovich, headed by artistic director Altynai Asylmuratova, and conducted by Italian maestro Giuseppe Acquaviva, the enchanting performance brought the magic…
China Shows Strategic Interest in Kazakhstan’s Resource and Industrial Sectors
ASTANA – Nearly 5,000 companies with Chinese participation are registered in Kazakhstan. The number of such enterprises has recently surged, reflecting China’s strategic interest in the country’s resource and industrial sectors. Chinese companies mainly focus on the mining, energy, and manufacturing industries, according to a Dec. 20 report by Halyk Finance Research. Chinese joint ventures…
Floodwaters Replenish Kazakhstan’s Reservoirs, Rivers, and Lakes
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has collected a record volume of over 75 billion cubic meters of water in its reservoirs this year, including a record 12 billion cubic meters of floodwater, the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation reported on Dec. 23. Correct management of floodwater distribution has helped to replenish not only reservoirs but…
AIX Issues Debut Green Bonds from Kyrgyz Republic
ASTANA – Astana International Exchange (AIX) announced on Dec. 20 the successful issuance of debut green bonds by PlanDem LLC, marking a significant milestone as the first issuer from the Kyrgyz Republic to embrace sustainable finance and renewable energy investments in the region, reported the AIX’s press service. Under the registered Green Wholesale Bond Programme,…
Kazakhstan to Establish Single Operator for Aviation Fuel and Upgrade Transport Infrastructure
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to designate KazMunayGas-Aero as the single operator for aviation fuel to address shortages and reduce dependency on imports, Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev said at a Dec. 23 meeting in the Mazhilis, a lower house of Parliament, reported Mazhilis’s press service. Aviation According to Karabayev, enabling large purchases will eliminate intermediaries,…
Kazakhstan’s Trade Surplus Hits $20.1 Billion in Ten Months of 2024
ASTANA — Kazakhstan recorded a foreign trade surplus of $20.1 billion from January to October 2024, a 33.4% year-on-year (y/y) increase from $15.0 billion in the same period of 2023, Halyk Finance investment bank reported on Dec. 20, citing the Bureau of National Statistics. This is the highest trade balance in the past four years,…
Serik Zhumangarin Appointed as Kazakhstan’s New Minister of National Economy
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Serik Zhumangarin as the new Minister of National Economy on Dec. 21, relieving him of his previous position, reported Akorda. Zhumangarin retains the post of Deputy Prime Minister, which he has held since 2022. This follows the dismissal of Nurlan Baibazarov, who held the post for less than a…
Kazakh Content Growth Spotlighted, Mufasa Dubbed in Kazakh
ASTANA – Maulen Ashimbayev, the chairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, highlighted the importance of preserving national identity through content creation in the creative industry development during the QazaqSham forum on Dec. 18 in Astana, reported Khabar TV. “According to research, Kazakh youth now prefer to view and distribute domestic…
Kazakhstan to Transfer Two Airports to Trust Management
ASTANA – Airports in Turkistan and Kyzylorda will be placed under the trust management of Vietnam’s Sovico Group, Vice Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov announced during the Global Avia Day international forum on Dec. 18 in Astana, reported Kazinform. “Sovico Group plans to enter the Kazakh market, acquire Qazaq Air, and expand its fleet with…
Kazakhstan Expands Air Routes Network to 22 International Destinations in 2024
ASTANA – This year, Kazakhstan has expanded its international air route network to 22 new destinations, Vice Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov said at a government meeting on Dec. 17, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. International network Now, international flights are operated to 31 countries, including Russia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Armenia,…
Turkistan City to Receive Special Status as Spiritual and Historical Capital
ASTANA – The Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, approved in its first reading a draft law granting Turkistan the special status of the spiritual and historical capital at a plenary session on Dec. 18, reported the Mazhilis’s press service. The legislation aims to preserve Turkistan’s historical appearance by establishing a reserve of…
Kazakhstan to Establish $1 Billion Venture Capital Fund Backed by Private Investment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to establish a Fund of Venture Capital Funds, targeting $1 billion in private investment in the medium term. This was revealed during a Dec. 19 meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and leading venture capital experts, Kazakh business community representatives, and international partners. According to the Prime Minister’s press service,…
Kazakh Eco-Startups Set to Compete at UNIDO Global Event in Istanbul and COP30 in Brazil
ASTANA – Five Kazakh eco-startups have received the opportunity to represent their country at the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) competition in Istanbul in 2025, following their success at the 2024 Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) finals in Astana on Dec. 12. These projects have earned cash prizes and the chance to present their projects…
Cargo Transport via Middle Corridor Surges to 4.1 Million Tons in 11 Months
ASTANA – The volume of cargo transported through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, rose by 63% in the first 11 months of 2024, reaching 4.1 million tons, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Dec. 17, summarizing this year’s results. Middle Corridor During the same period, container traffic…
Kazakhstan Targets 26 GW Energy Expansion by 2035
ASTANA – The Kazakh Energy Ministry has developed and approved a development plan for the energy sector until 2035, targeting the introduction of at least 26 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity, the ministry’s press service reported on Dec. 16, summarizing this year’s results. Renewable energy sources To date, 148 renewable energy sources (over 100 kilowatts)…
Kazakh Opera Legend Bibigul Tulegenova Celebrates 95th Birthday
ASTANA – Kazakh opera singer Bibigul Tulegenova turned 95 on Dec. 16. Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev congratulated her on behalf of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the city administration’s press service. “A long and fruitful creative path has brought you to the heights of recognition. You left a rich legacy in the gold fund of our…
Kazakhstan’s Exports of Processed Goods Grow 10.2% to $23.3 Billion in 11 Months
ASTANA – Thanks to measures taken to support domestic producers and stimulate deep processing, Kazakhstan’s export of processed goods increased by 10.2%, reaching $23.3 billion from January to November 2024, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during a Dec. 17 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported Akorda. Meanwhile, imports of goods declined by 3.3%, and investments…
World Bank Highlights Measures to Boost Inclusive Growth in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Making fiscal policy more pro-poor, improving the quality of education, and strengthening climate resilience are critical priorities for policymakers to reduce poverty and inequality in Kazakhstan, according to the Kazakhstan Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024 report, published by the World Bank on Dec. 12. Kazakhstan’s economy has shown robust growth since 2006, with…
Kazakhstan Reiterates Commitment to Multilateral Cooperation at World Policy Conference
ASTANA—Since gaining independence, Kazakhstan has pursued a multivector, pragmatic, and balanced foreign policy, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko said at the 17th annual World Policy Conference (WPC), organized by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), on Dec. 13-15 in Abu Dhabi, according to the ministry’s press service. The distinguished French scholar Thierry de…
Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship of CICA Concludes After Four Years
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) concludes on Dec. 17 at the seventh meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, marking the end of a transformative four-year tenure. Azerbaijan will assume the chairmanship for the 2024-2026 term, reported CICA’s press service. A key milestone…
Updated Red Book of Kazakhstan to Feature New Species by Year-End
ASTANA – The fifth edition of Kazakhstan’s Red Book of endangered species will be finalized and presented by the end of this year, General Director of the Institute of Zoology Roman Yashchenko told Kazinform on Nov. 28. The updated version will include new species in various categories. History of Red Book editions As Yashchenko noted,…
Foreign and Defense Ministers of CSTO Countries Meet in Astana
ASTANA – The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers, and Committee of Security Council Secretaries gathered for a joint meeting on Nov. 28 in Astana. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, they approved the Declaration of the Collective Security Council, which was signed during the session…
Astana Attracts Nearly $2.5 Billion in Investments Over 10 Months of 2024
ASTANA – Over ten months of this year, Astana has attracted nearly 1.3 trillion tenge ($2.5 billion) in investments, while industrial production volumes increased approximately 7% compared to 2023, Deputy Mayor Yevgeniy Glotov reported to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, who toured the city’s enterprises on Nov. 29. According to the Prime Minister’s press service, the…
National Bank of Kazakhstan Raises Base Rate to 15.25%
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) decided on Nov. 29 to increase the base rate to 15.25% per annum with a corridor of +/- 1 percentage point. The NBK’s press service reported that the decision was made taking into account updated forecasts and an assessment of the balance…
