Kazakh Carriers Increase Share in Global Transportation Market
ASTANA – Kazakh carriers increased their share in the international transportation market by 7 percent, reported the Transport Committee’s press service on Jan. 3. “In 11 months of 2022, cargo turnover through seaports grew by 19 percent compared to the same period in 2021. This figure includes a 24-percent rise in the container traffic and…
Kazakhstan to Approve List of Professions For Foreign Labor Employment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to approve the list of professions in healthcare, education, science, engineering, and IT sectors that will be allowed to attract foreign labor, as the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection published the draft order for public discussion on Jan. 5. The document will be available for discussion until Jan. 19. Foreign…
Turkistan Region of Kazakhstan Ready to Open Giant Manufacturing Plant, Expand Production of Domestic Products
ASTANA – The Turkistan Region’s production sector is set to expand its range of manufactured domestic products, as the construction of another manufacturing giant Sastobe Innovation Complex worth 122.8 billion tenge (US$262 million) is now well underway. Akim (Governor) of the Turkistan Region Darkhan Satybaldy visited the plant’s construction site, the completion of which is…
Kazakhstan’s National Fund Assets Reach $61 Billion
ASTANA – As of January 2023, the assets of the National Fund reached 28.6 trillion tenge (US$61 billion), 613 billion tenge (US$1.3 billion) more than last year’s figures, reported the Finance Ministry’s press service on Jan. 5. In 2022, the fund collected a record revenue of 6.4 trillion tenge from the oil and gas sector.…
Kazakhstan Launches Digital Family Map for Social Support
ASTANA – The Digital Family Map (DFM) to facilitate social support for citizens started its operation on Jan. 1, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Jan. 5. Integrated with the Smart Data Ukimet analytical system, which provides economic, social, housing, health, and education data, the DFM contains information on 19.5 million…
Astana Hub Welcomes Its 1,000th Participant, Continues to Promote Export of IT Products
ASTANA – The Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups registered 200 foreign IT companies in 2022, bringing the total number of Astana Hub residents to 1,000 with an overall annual revenue of over 200 billion tenge (US$426.5 million), said Astana Hub CEO Magzhan Madiyev, as reported by the Jibek Joly TV channel on Jan.…
President Tokayev Meets with Newly Appointed Judges of Constitutional Court
ASTANA – The Constitutional Court will play a major role in the national human rights protection system, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his meeting with the judges, reported the Akorda press service on Jan. 4. The Constitutional Court started its work on Jan. 1. Tokayev noted that the country is undergoing comprehensive renewal. The world…
S&P Global Ratings Assigns Kazatomprom ESG Assessment
ASTANA – The S&P Global Ratings international rating agency assigned the Kazatomprom national atomic company, the world’s largest uranium producer, an above average environmental, social, and governance (ESG) evaluation score of 51/100, reported the company’s press service on Dec. 30. The current global maximum ESG evaluation score among metal and mining sector companies is 68…
Kazakhstan to Increase International Flights in 2023
ASTANA – In 2023, Kazakhstan is set to launch more direct international flights and continue implementing the open skies policy to attract new foreign air carriers, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Jan. 1. Notably, it is expected to perform flights from Astana to Doha, from Aktau and Shymkent to Ankara, from Almaty and…
Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins 2022 FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship
ASTANA – Bibisara Assaubayeva, 18, won the 2022 FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship on Dec. 30 in Almaty. The Kazakh chess player defended her title. On Aug. 5, International Chess Federation (FIDE) recognized Assaubayeva as the Best Female Chess Player of Asia 2021. Last year, Assaubayeva won the World Adult Blitz Championship in Warsaw for…
2022 Becomes One of Most Challenging, Significant Years for Kazakhstan, Says Kazakh State Counselor
ASTANA – 2022 has become one of the most challenging but also significant years in the entire modern history of Kazakhstan, State Counselor Erlan Karin wrote on his Telegram channel on Dec. 30, highlighting the country’s leading political trends. “After the January events and amid the escalating international tension, society experienced a certain demand for…
Kazakhstan’s FDI Inflow Reaches $22.1 Billion in Nine Months This Year
ASTANA – The gross inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Kazakhstan increased by 17.8 percent and reached $22.1 billion in nine months of 2022, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service on Dec. 30. Manufacturing became the dominant industry for investment, with a 36.9-percent growth ($4.9 billion). The wholesale and retail trade investment saw a…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Set to Boost Cooperation Following Presidents’ Agreements
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov met with Deputy Prime Ministers of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev and Jurabek Mirzamahmudov on Dec. 29, who arrived in Astana on a working trip, to address the strategic partnership between the states, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The sides discussed cooperation in the water resources management and implementation…
Ankara Opens Park, Erects Monument to Honor Great Kazakh Poet, Scholar Akhmet Baitursynov
ASTANA – Ankara opened a park and erected a monument in it to honor prominent Kazakh scholar, statesman, linguist, and poet Akhmet Baitursynov, known in Kazakhstan as the Ult Ustazy (Teacher of the Nation), Erzhan Tolek, head of the Atyrau Region Akim (the governor’s office) press service announced on his Facebook page on Dec. 29.…
Kazakh Armed Forces Prepare Troops For New Potential Threats Arising From Unstable Geopolitical Situation
ASTANA – The Kazakh Armed Forces trained its troops this year amid possible risks of the geopolitical situation, considering the experience of combat operations in modern armed conflicts, said Deputy Defense Minister, General Sultan Kamaletdinov at a press briefing on Dec. 29, reported the Central Communication Service. According to him, 200 exercises and 33,000 live-fire…
Kazakhstan Transitions to System of Presidential State with Strong Parliament, Says President Tokayev
ASTANA – Kazakhstan transitioned to the system of the presidential state with a strong parliament, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a Dec. 29 session of the Senate summing up the results of this year’s reforms, reported Akorda press service. “Political processes will become transparent, and the political system will be more stable. Several powers…
Mazhilis Move to Repeal Law on First President of Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Mazhilis of the Kazakh Parliament started working on the draft law on declaring the Law on the First President of Kazakhstan invalid, reported Mazhilis’ press service following a Dec. 29 plenary session. “This draft law is designed to implement the changes made to the Constitution following the national referendum. In particular, paragraph…
United Nations Square Set to Open in Kazakh Capital
ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) Square will open in the Kazakh capital, reported the official Instagram account of the UN in Kazakhstan on Dec. 28. Deputies of the Maslikhat (local representative body) of Astana supported the proposal to name the alley at the beginning of Alikhan Bokeikhanov Avenue the United Nations Square. This year…
Eight-Year-Old Chess Player From Kazakhstan Beats FIDE Managing Director
ASTANA – Karim Aitzhan, an 8-year-old chess player from Astana, overpowered Dana Reizniece-Ozola, managing director of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), as she held a simultaneous game session with 24 students as part of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, reported the Kazakh Chess Federation’s press service on Dec. 27. “I…
FlyDubai to Launch Additional Astana-Dubai Flights
ASTANA – The FlyDubai Airlines plans to operate an additional ten flights on the Astana-Dubai and Almaty-Dubai routes from Dec. 29 to Jan. 14 next year, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure on Dec. 28. The flights will be operated on B-737 type aircraft. “The Civil Aviation Committee and…
Kazakh Government Recaps Country’s Economic Performance in 2022
ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan released a report on economic activity in 2022, focusing on key results in business relocation, agriculture, transport and logistics sector, oil and gas industry, and energy. Here are some highlights. Business relocation Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has tasked the government with creating an accommodating climate for foreign enterprises to…
Kazakh Government Holds Final Meeting in 2022, Recaps Year’s Work
ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan summed up the results of its work in 2022 and laid out the course for 2023 at the government’s final session of the year on Dec. 27, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The government pledged to take all measures to implement the President’s political and social reforms, with…
Astana Hosts Charity Festival Headlined By Dimash to Celebrate Year of Children
ASTANA – Do not allow babies to cry. Serenity and tranquillity are important for them, said Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen, the headliner of the Dec. 26 Biz Birgemiz (we are together) festival, the Astana akimat’s press service reported. The festival, which celebrated the Year of the Children, featured Kazakh pop stars and musicians with disabilities.…
President Tokayev Sums Up Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship in CIS
ASTANA – Kazakhstan worked hard on the capacity building of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) during its year of chairmanship in the organization, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at an informal meeting of CIS heads of states in St. Petersburg on Dec. 26, reported Akorda press service. “More than 80 major events were held…
Pakistan, Kazakhstan Agree to Enhance Cooperation at Intergovernmental Commission in Islamabad
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Pakistan signed nine documents, including six memoranda on the supply of goods to Kazakhstan in March-June 2023, during a Dec. 22 meeting of Pakistan-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin in Islamabad. During the meeting, the sides addressed trade, economic, scientific, technical,…
