Articles by Saniya Sakenova

First Kazakhstan Aviation Talks in Astana Explore Challenges in Aviation Industry  

ASTANA – Astana hosted the first Kazakhstan Aviation Talks on energy transition for sustainability and transit development in Central Asia, exploring challenges facing the aviation fuel industry in the region, reported the press service of the Aviation Administration. The talks, first of its kind, are a foundation for cooperation between the countries, said Director General of…

Cargo Transportation Along Middle Corridor Increases to 1.5 Million Tons in 2022

ASTANA – The volume of cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, increased by 2.5 times to 1.5 million tons in 2022, Vice Minister of Тrade and Integration Kairat Balykbayev said at the second European Union-Central Asia Economic Forum on May 19 in Almaty, reported Kazinform. According…

Kazakhstan and Singapore Sign $275 Million in Commercial Documents

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Singapore signed commercial documents worth $275 million at the bilateral business forum on May 22, as part of President of Singapore Halimah Yacob’s first visit to Central Asia, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The forum also resulted in bilateral agreements and memoranda to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, logistics, and…

Kazakhstan Expands Exports Range and Destinations

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has increased the range of goods for exports by 767 commodity items in the first quarter of this year, Kazakh Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev said at a May 22 Central Communications Service briefing. “Destinations for exports are expanding. Kazakhstan is exporting non-primary goods to 106 countries this year,…

Trade Between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan Reaches $438 Million in 2022 Amid Dynamic Growth

ASTANA – Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan is showing dynamic growth, with a 72% increase to $438 million recorded in 2022, Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said at the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Kazakh-Turkmen Commission on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation on May 15, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Trade…

Kazakhstan’s Export Deals Surpass $300 Million

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s trade and economic missions signed export contracts worth more than $ 300 million this year, Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev said at a briefing in the Central Communications Service on May 22, reported Kazinform. According to Torebayev, five trade and economic missions took place in Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Uzbekistan,…

Kazakhstan and EU to Implement Projects Worth $9.7 Million

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the European Union signed the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Facility Financing Agreement on implementing economic projects worth 9 million euros ($9.7 million) at the second EU-Central Asia Economic Forum held in Almaty on May 19, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. According to Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, the EU is one of…

President Tokayev Outlines Priorities for Cooperation at China-Central Asia Summit, Signs Xian Declaration

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the main areas for cooperation at the China-Central Asia Summit that resulted in the signing of the Xian declaration on May 19, reported the Akorda press service. “The initiatives I propose confirm Kazakhstan’s readiness to strengthen our “all-weather” relations and multifaceted cooperation,” Tokayev said. The next China-Central Asia Summit…

President Tokayev’s Visit to China Expands Economic and Trade Ties Ahead of China-Central Asia Summit

ASTANA – The state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to China ahead of the China-Central Asia Summit this week is the catalyst for expanding the economic impact and bolstering trade ties in the region. The visit has so far resulted in the signing of 47 documents totaling $22 billion with Chinese counterparts, reported Akorda press…

Kazakhstan and Germany Discuss Cooperation at Business Council Meeting

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Germany are key partners with tremendous potential for economic development, Kazakh Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Ilyas Ospanov said at the 14th meeting of the Kazakh-German Business Council on May 16 in Astana, the Kazakh Invest national company reported. The meeting, titled New Kazakhstan – New Opportunities for Cooperation,…

Kazakh, Chinese Companies Sign Nearly $100 Million in Export Contracts

ASTANA – Kazakh companies signed export agreements worth nearly $100 million with China following Kazakhstan’s trade and economic mission on May 15-17 in Xi’an, the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration reported on May 16.  The contracts envisage the supply of powdered camel milk, drinks, egg noodles, beef and lamb meat. According to the Kazakh…

Kazakhstan and Germany Focus on Technical and Vocational Education

ASTANA – Kazakh-German cooperation in education can reach a new level considering the development of human capital with German know-how and advanced technologies, Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko said at the 37th meeting of the Berlin Eurasian Club on May 16 in Astana, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. Vassilenko highlighted the steadfast development of…

President Tokayev Praises Kazakh Boxers’ Triumph at World Championships

ASTANA – Last weekend was undoubtedly a triumph for Kazakh boxers who sealed five medals at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a meeting with the champions, coaches, and members of the national team on May 16, reported the Akorda press service. According to Tokayev,…

Water Level at Aral Sea Rises For First Time in Years

ASTANA – Since the start of this year, the water level in the Aral Sea has increased by nearly 1.5 billion cubic meters, rising to 95 centimeters for the first time in many years, Khabar TV reported on May 14. According to the Aral-Syrdarya Basin Inspectorate, the water level has been decreasing for the last…

Kazakhstan Returns $1.7 Billion of Illegally Withdrawn Assets

ASTANA – Kazakhstan returned over 760 billion tenge ($1.7 billion) in illegally withdrawn assets, including $575 million from foreign jurisdictions, according to the May 12 statement of the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office. The Supreme Court upheld 24 appeals of the Prosecutor General against decisions previously unreasonably made in favor of oligopolies. The courts also satisfied…

Challenges Facing Central Asian Region in Spotlight of Major Investors’ Forum in Almaty

ASTANA – Lack of access to the sea is a major disadvantage for Central Asian countries, as they miss out on 20% of their development potential, Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Management Board Nikolai Podguzov said at the 46th annual meeting of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific…

Kazakh Team Receives Hero’s Welcome After Outstanding Result at IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships

ASTANA – Kazakhstan national team, which finished second at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan, received an overwhelming reception from their home country. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the Kazakh boxers on Twitter on May 14. “I watched with interest the final fights of the World Boxing Championships. I wholeheartedly congratulate Sanzhar…

Number of Employed in Kazakhstan Approaches Nine Million in 2022

ASTANA – The number of employed people in Kazakhstan approached nine million in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 1.7% increase from the previous year, finprom.kz reported on May 11. The city of Almaty, as well as the Turkistan and Almaty regions registered the highest number of employed people. Lowest employment is in the Ulytau,…

Kazakhstan Plans to Increase Grain Export to China to One Million Tons

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to bring grain exports to China to one million tons per year and increase the number of companies supplying meat, Kazakh Agriculture Minister Yerbol Karashukeyev said at the meetings with China’s leading agricultural companies in Beijing, the ministry’s press service reported on May 11. Karashukeyev outlined broad prospects for growth…

Kazakh IT Specialists Make First Animated Blockbuster

ASTANA – IT professionals from Shymkent are making an animated film on the centuries-old struggle of Kazakh people for freedom and independence, a local Otyrar TV channel reported on May 4. The plot is based on the Kazakh people’s fight for freedom and independence against the Dzungar people and their numerous invasions.  According to the…

Kazakh President Outlines Defense Sector Priorities

ASTANA – The Armed Forces of Kazakhstan must protect the fundamental values of peace and tranquility amid conflicts, President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a May 5 expanded meeting on the development of the army, the Akorda press service reported. The role of the army has increased, the President stressed, noting that providing…

Cash Withdrawals Continue to Decrease, Reaching Around 15%

ASTANA – The number of cash withdrawals in Kazakhstan made up 14.8% of the country’s total transactions in January-February, continuing to decrease yearly since 2020, when Kazakhstan witnessed the most significant drop in cash withdrawals due to the pandemic, Ranking.kz monitoring agency reported on May 4, citing data from the National Bank. The value of…

Kazakhstan Begins Preparations for Fifth World Nomad Games

ASTANA – It is time to start preparing for the Fifth World Nomad Games scheduled for Sept. 8-15 next year in Astana, Deputy Prime Minister Altai Kulginov said at a May 4 meeting, echoing the President’s instruction to host the games at the highest level, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set…

Kazakhstan and France Expand Bilateral Cooperation

ASTANA – France is one of the key trade, economic and strategic partners of Kazakhstan in the European region, and one of the top five major investors, Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Marat Karabayev said at the 15th session of the Kazakh-French Intergovernmental Commission. Karabayev co-chaired the event with Olivier Becht, Minister-Delegate for…

Kazakh Foreign Ministry: Visa-Free Regime Between Kazakhstan and China Applies Only to Tourist and Business Purposes

ASTANA – The visa-free regime between Kazakhstan and China will only apply to tourist and business trips and will not cover work purposes, spokesperson of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Aibek Smadiyarov announced at a May 2 press briefing. Smadiyarov noted that the mutual visa-free regime between the two countries would let Kazakh citizens stay in…