Kazakhstan Climbs 12 Spots in SDG Index in Three Years
ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 66th in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Index, according to the Sustainable Development Report 2023 published on June 21. Addressing the first meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Monitoring Implementation of the National SDGs and Targets, Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said the country climbed 12 positions in three years.…
Kazakhstan, Georgia Reach Agreements on Mutual Trade Growth, Investment Cooperation and Transport Infrastructure Development
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili emphasized increasing mutual growth, boosting investment cooperation, and developing transport infrastructure at a meeting on June 23 in Tbilisi, where Smailov arrived on an official visit, reported the Kazakh Prime Minister’s press service. Smailov noted that the countries have already achieved excellent…
Kazakh President Sums Up Priority Tasks at Supreme Council for Reforms
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key challenges and priority tasks the government should focus on as he chaired the Supreme Council for Reforms meeting on June 22, reported the Akorda press service. After the first report delivered by the Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms Aset Irgaliyev, the President instructed the…
Presidents of Kazakhstan, Germany Agree to Enhance Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to deepen people-to-people cooperation with Germany, considering the substantial German diaspora of 226,000 people living in Kazakhstan and over one million former Kazakh citizens residing in Germany, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a joint media briefing with Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on June 20, the Akorda press service reported. “This is…
President Tokayev Commends Inter-Parliamentary Diplomacy Between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev commended the development of inter-parliamentary diplomacy between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at a June 19 meeting with Chairperson of the Uzbek Senate, Tanzila Narbayeva, reported the Akorda press service. He noted his appreciation for the well-coordinated work at the governmental level between the two sides. Tokayev said Narbayeva’s visit fully corresponds…
Kazakhstan Dominates Germany’s Foreign Trade with Central Asia
ASTANA – Kazakhstan accounts for more than 80% of Germany’s foreign trade with Central Asian countries, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Astana on June 20, the Akorda press service reported. Tokayev underscored the importance of Steinmeier’s state visit to Kazakhstan, which is expected to boost the…
Kazakh Tourism Industry Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Levels
ASTANA – With the Kazakh tourism industry surpassing pre-pandemic levels last year, the Kazakh government is devising new strategies to enhance the country’s substantial tourism potential, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Last year, the number of domestic tourists grew 25% to 8.6 million, which is almost two million above the pre-pandemic level, said Kazakh…
Aktau and Kuryk Ports Included in Seaport Aktau Special Economic Zone
ASTANA – The ports of Aktau and Kuryk have been incorporated into the Seaport Aktau special economic zone (SEZ) following a presidential decree to increase Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics potential, the Central Communications Service reported on June 13. The Bautino cargo area is also now part of the SEZ. The inclusion will boost investment in…
Indispensable Work of Forest Officers as Wildfire in Abai Region Localized
ASTANA – Wildfires that were raging in the Abai Region since June 8 have been localized, leaving smoldering fires to be extinguished. Evacuated residents of adjacent villages have returned to their homes, as the situation stabilized, the Akimat (administration) of the city of Semei reported on June 15. The fire initially spread rapidly to a…
Wildfire in Abai Region Decreases Significantly, Local Administration Says
ASTANA – The area of the fire in the Abai Region has significantly reduced in recent days, akim (governor) of the region Nurlan Urankhayev informed, stressing that the operation to extinguish the fire is under constant control, the governor’s office reported on June 13. “We achieved a tangible result thanks to the heroic efforts of…
Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 4.5% in First Five Months of 2023
ASTANA – The economy of Kazakhstan has grown 4.5% over the first five months of this year, Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said at the government’s meeting on June 13, reviewing the results of the country’s development and budget outturn, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The real sector grew by 3.6%, while the…
Asian Development Bank and Almaty Electric Stations Ink Loan Agreement to Facilitate Green Energy
ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Almaty Electric Stations, an energy-producing organization owned by the Samruk Energy power holding, signed a loan agreement worth 98 billion tenge ($219.2 million) to finance the modernization of the Almaty Combined Heat and Power Plant-2 (CHP-2), the holding’s press service announced on June 9. According to…
President Declares June 12 as Day of Mourning for Forest Fires Victims in Abai Region
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared June 12 as the day of national mourning to honor forest workers who lost their lives while trying to extinguish wildfires in the Abai Region in eastern Kazakhstan, reported the Akorda press service. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 14 people died in the fire that broke out…
WTO Director-General Outlines Challenges Facing Global Trading System and Identifies Solutions at Astana International Forum
ASTANA – Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, spoke about the challenges facing the global trading system and proposed solutions during a high-level special session on the second day of the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 9. The session was moderated by Timur Suleimenov, First Deputy Chief of Staff of…
Elena Rybakina Climbs to Third Place in WTA’s Singles Ranking
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s top seed Elena Rybakina rose from fourth to third place in an updated Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking following the 2023 French Open championship (Roland Garros) in Paris, Sports.kz reported on June 12. Although Rybakina withdrew from Roland Garros ahead of her third-round match, the champion vaulted into the top three,…
Kazakh Dog Breeds Seek Recognition from International Canine Federation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has applied to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), or the International Canine Federation, for the recognition of Kazakh dog breeds, president of the Kazakhstan Union of Cynologists Bauyrzhan Serikkali said at a June 8 briefing at the Central Communications Service. “The key requirement is the full membership of the country’s cynological public…
Kazakh Pop Star Dimash Kudaibergen’s Songs Get Recognition in Chile
ASTANA – Cuban opera singer Zoylin Ybarra performed a song by Kazakh popstar Dimash Kudaibergen “SOS d’un Terrien en Détresse” at The Voice Chile signing contest on June 6, reported Dimashnews.com. Ybarra made it to the quarterfinals with the song she performed in Spanish. “Dimash is one of the world’s outstanding singers with an impressive…
Kazakhstan Aims to Become One of Eurasia’s Largest Digital Hubs, Says President Tokayev
ASTANA – Kazakhstan aims to become one of the largest digital hubs in Eurasia, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as he chaired the 35th plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC), which coincided with the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 8. Foreign investors gathered at a round table to discuss global challenges related to…
Kazakhstan Ready to Increase Exports to Qatar in 60 Commodity Items Worth $250 Million
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports to Qatar in about 60 types of products worth $250 million, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on June 7, reported the Akorda press service. The parties discussed the prospects for implementing joint…
Highlight of Second Day of Astana International Forum: Conversation with WTO Director-General
ASTANA – One of the special sessions at the Astana International Forum (AIF) will include a dialogue with Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The session will provide a unique platform for an in-depth conversation on cooperation between the WTO and Kazakhstan. According to Okonjo-Iweala, the constructive dialogue will emphasize trade…
Nobel Laureate to Propose Strategy for Kazakhstan’s Transition to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions at Astana International Forum
ASTANA – Rae Kwon Chung, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2007 and member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is expected to propose a new strategy for Kazakhstan’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions at the Astana International Forum (AIF), the Khabar 24 TV channel reported on June 6. Chung, who previously served as…
President Tokayev Outlines Priorities for Central Asia and EU Cooperation
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined strategically important priority areas of cooperation between the European Union and Central Asia during the second EU-Central Asia Summit held on June 2 in Cholpon-Ata, the Kyrgyz Republic, reported the Akorda press service. Considering dynamic intra-regional economic relations, Tokayev set the goal to bring the trade turnover between Kazakhstan…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Measures to Return Illegally Withdrawn Assets, Cooperation with Switzerland, Diversification of Oil Export Routes, and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media across the world this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s steps to return illegally withdrawn assets, the country’s approval of cryptocurrency exchange, cooperation with Switzerland, efforts to diversify oil export routes, the growth of the Astana International…
Kazakhstan to Strengthen Cooperation with EU in Critical Raw Materials
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cooperation in critical raw materials on the sidelines of the 13th international congress Astana Mining & Metallurgy held on June 1-2, reported the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development. Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Marat Karabayev and Vice President of the European Commission…
President Tokayev Emphasizes Importance of Children’s Rights Protection
ASTANA – It is crucial to strengthen the protection of children’s rights and health, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a meeting with Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Aruzhan Sain, on June 1, which marked International Children’s Day. The meeting took place as part of Tokayev’s visit to Almaty, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev stressed the…
