Articles by Aida Haidar

ASTANA — The Kazakh economy is projected to expand by 3.9% in 2023 and 4.2% in 2024, with persisting inflationary pressures and uncertainties surrounding oil and commodity prices posing downside risks to the country’s economic growth, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) latest Regional Economic Prospects report published on May 16. …

ASTANA — Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov signed the Roadmap to Accelerate the Establishment of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation (ICIC) Central Asia and the Joint Plan of Practical Actions in Labor Activity and Migrant Workers’ Rights at the 20th bilateral Intergovernmental Commission in Tashkent on May 5, the…

ASTANA – The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK) is conducting systematic work to ensure aviation security and safety. Darkhan Katyshev, senior director of the Aviation Security Department of AAK, spoke to The Astana Times about plans to launch flights between the United States and Kazakhstan and international collaboration in aviation security. Work to launch flights…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is on the path of modernizing its political system and economic structure to adjust to the ever-changing circumstances amid geopolitical shifts, wrote Nikita Shatalov, a member of the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, in his Telegram channel on April 27. He was reacting to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s speech at…

ASTANA – The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) is one of the most important organizations in ensuring the country’s stability, said Deputy Chief of Staff of the President Aida Balayeva during the opening of the APK’s 32nd session at Nazarbayev University on April 26.  APK, an advisory body under the President of Kazakhstan,…

ASTANA — Air Astana’s management addressed concerns about domestic flight prices and flight delays, which have become more frequent in the past few years, at the Public Council meeting of Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund on the airline’s activities on April 21. The meeting was chaired by the Head of the Samruk Kazyna Public Council…

ASTANA – Kazakh national dairy drinks saumal (freshly milked horse milk), kymyz (horse milk), and shubat (camel’s milk) support immunity and have healing properties, said Bakytzhan Bimbetov, gastroenterologist and professor at the Medical Center Hospital of President’s Affairs Administration.  In an April 13 interview with Kazinform, Bimbetov said Kazakhstan has a severe problem with hepatitis…

ASTANA – Kazakh representative, as part of the delegation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), visited Rome to evaluate the city’s candidacy for hosting the World Expo 2030 ahead of the final decision scheduled for November, the press service of Italian Government Presidency of the Council of Ministers reported on April 20.  The delegation…

ASTANA — A combination of a favorable business environment, robust banking infrastructure, supportive government policies, and fintech regulations, along with a tech-savvy population, makes Kazakhstan an attractive destination for foreign fintech investors and companies seeking growth opportunities, according to the report issued on April 13 by RISE Research, Kazakhstan’s MOST holding, and Fintech Consult international…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan delivered humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan on April 15 during the visit of Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin to Kabul, reported the Prime Minister’s press service.  The main humanitarian aid, with a total volume of 5,403 tons, arrived by rail, consisting of food products, including canned milk, vegetable…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan exports roughly 4.5-6 million tons of oil every month, with the European Union (EU) remaining the key buyer. Yet, the demand for Kazakhstan’s oil is also growing in Asian markets, said Economic Research Institute (ERI) expert Yernar Serik.  The country’s oil exports have increased to Asian countries, especially China, India, South Korea,…

ASTANA — The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), the country’s leading think tank, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023. In the run-up to this milestone, The Astana Times spoke with KazISS Director Yerkin Tukumov about the institute’s role in the country’s development and future plans.  What role has the think tank played in the…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s course towards renewing its political system focuses more on changing the institutions and their work, political expert Daniyar Ashimbayev wrote in his Telegram post on April 4, addressing recent reappointments in the Parliament and the government that saw minor changes.  Maulen Ashimbayev was re-elected as Kazakhstan’s Senate Chairperson on Jan. 26, while…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s trade turnover broke a historical record in 2022, reaching $134.4 billion, exceeding the pre-pandemic level of $97.8 billion in 2019, according to the Ministry of National Economy.   In 2020, the country’s foreign trade reduced by 11.5 percent to $85 billion due to output cuts, lockdowns, and border closures. Exports in 2022 totaled…

ASTANA – Following the March 19 parliamentary election, a multiparty parliament has emerged in Kazakhstan, said Tatiana Lipina, a leading expert from the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS). Six political parties gained seats in the Mazhilis, the lower chamber, compared to three in the previous convocation.  The new multiparty system, she said, embodies strengthened…

ASTANA – Kazakh economy has demonstrated high adaptability despite unprecedentedly high inflation rates worldwide, increase in interest rates, and disruptions in global demand and supply chains, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov during a press briefing with foreign media at the Central Communication Services on March 17 in Astana. “We managed to maintain positive…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is committed to developing nature-based solutions to deal with the challenges of the receding Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea, said Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Zulfiya Suleimenova, during a press briefing with foreign media at the Central Communication Services on March 17. Addressing a question about the Aral Sea, she…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the significant potential of the West Kazakhstan Region and its important role in the nation’s development during his working visit to the region on March 9, Akorda press service reported.  The region showcases its industrial development The West Kazakhstan Region has an abundance of natural resources, including oil and…

ASTANA – A five-year nurturing of an environmentally friendly lifestyle led Saniya Arinova, 31, to start her own company providing eco-friendly hygiene products to women, caring not only for the environment and minimizing waste but also for female reproductive health. Arinova spoke about her product, challenges, and rewards of creating an eco-business in Kazakhstan in…

ASTANA – Representatives of seven political parties debated live on Qazaqstan TV on March 1, offering their vision for the country’s future as election day for the Mazhilis, the lower house of Parliament, approaches.  Participants included Berik Dyusembinov, deputy chair of the Aq Jol Democratic party, Yelnur Beisenbayev, executive secretary of the Amanat party, Zhiguli…

ASTANA – The United States reaffirms its unwavering support for Kazakhstan to determine its future freely, and strongly endorses the reform agenda announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev last March, U.S. Secretary Antony J. Blinken said during a Feb. 28 press briefing following his first official visit to Kazakhstan. Blinken asserted the U.S. looks forward to…

ASTANA – The visit of United States Secretary Antony J. Blinken to Kazakhstan is extremely important in terms of giving additional impetus to the strategic cooperation, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the meeting with the U.S. Secretary Blinken on Feb. 28, reported Akorda press service.   Kazakhstan and the US have “a very good and…

ASTANA – United States (US) Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived on his first official visit to Kazakhstan on Feb. 28, reported the U.S. Department of State.  During his two-day visit, Blinken will meet with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi to deepen bilateral cooperation.  The agenda of the…

ASTANA – Kazakh families maintain traditional gender roles in the family, there is prevalence of civil partnerships over official marriages, and parents have less time to spend with their children, according to the Kazakhstan’s Families 2022 national report, issued on Feb. 1.  The Kazakhstan Institute of Social Development conducted a sociological study and a mass…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is a key business partner for the Czech Republic in Central Asia, Rudolf Hykl, the Czech Ambassador in Astana, said in an exclusive interview for this story as he shared details of more business missions and official engagements planned for 2023 to expand bilateral ties.  In turn, the Czech Republic is Kazakhstan’s…