Articles by Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – A draft Tax Code was presented to the Mazhilis, a lower house of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, on April 9. While the bill awaits a second reading in the Parliament, The Astana Times turned to the World Bank office in Kazakhstan to discuss what it takes for a tax policy to be stable and fair.…

ASTANA – Mazhilis, a lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, approved the draft Tax Code in the first reading on April 9. The government frames the tax reform as a move to make the system clearer, more predictable and fairer, but so far it has left many with a question: fairer for whom? The bill,…

ASTANA – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin, who arrived in Astana on a working visit on April 18. This marks the first official visit by a Beninese foreign minister to Kazakhstan, reports the ministry’s press service.  During the talks, the ministers…

ASTANA – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met on April 19 with PGI Management President Joan Viladomat to explore avenues of cooperation to develop ski tourism in Kazakhstan, with a focus on the Almaty cluster.  The meeting discussed global tourism trends and the industry’s increasing role in driving national economic growth. Ski tourism was highlighted as…

ASTANA – As volumes of electronic commerce are growing at a rapid pace in Central Asia, postal operators, marketplaces, and logistics companies are racing to adapt. The Central Asian Postal Summit brought together executives and representatives of key postal and logistics companies on April 10 in Astana to discuss the future of e-commerce and logistics…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is pushing forward a major rollout of digital payment reforms, including an open banking initiative. In an interview with The Astana Times YouTube channel, Binur Zhalenov, a chief digital officer at the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK), unpacks what stands behind open banking and the role of artificial intelligence in the country’s…

ASTANA – Leaders from Central Asia and the European Union will gather in Samarkand on April 4 for a landmark summit. With a packed agenda, both sides are expected to launch a strategic partnership.  “We are in Samarkand for the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit. Tomorrow, we will launch a new Strategic Partnership with Central Asia.…

ASTANA – Samarkand will host the European Union – Central Asia summit on April 3-4, signaling a robust political commitment from both regions to a deeper and stronger partnership. For the first time, the summit will convene Central Asian leaders, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.  “We are…

ASTANA – As Kazakhstan pushes ahead with a central bank digital currency and open banking infrastructure, Binur Zhalenov, a chief digital officer at the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK), said the digital tenge has the potential to transform how money moves.  In an interview with The Astana Times YouTube channel, he reveals why Kazakhstan needs…

ASTANA – Industrial policies are making a global comeback, but not without controversy. The latest Transition Report from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) warns that while their use may be justified to address clear market failures, their track record remains uneven. In an interview with The Astana Times, Beata Javorcik, EBRD’s chief…

ASTANA – At 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, a local coffee shop in Astana is brimming beautifully with sunlight. Baristas work at breakneck speed, pulling espresso shots, while the DJ drops a pulsing beat. Dozens of people start filling the space. Not for a brunch, but a morning coffee party, the latest movement reshaping how people…

ASTANA – Economic growth in Central Asia is projected to reach 5.7% in 2025 before easing to 5.2% in 2026. The outlook comes despite a global subdued growth, driven by persistent inflation, weak reforms momentum, and weakening external demand, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’s latest Regional Economic Prospects report. Beata…

ASTANA – It is March 22 and preparations are wrapped up for the Nauryz holiday at homes and public squares across Kazakhstan. Grand concerts, traditional feasts, music and games are all important aspects of celebrating Nauryz. But beyond the festivities also lies a holiday rooted in humanity’s pursuit of unity, renewal and peace.  “Unity and…

ASTANA – The Kazakh economy kicked off 2025 strong, said the World Bank in their March update for the country.  Key details from the update “Early economic indicators suggest a solid start to 2025, with the latest PMI data pointing to robust growth in both manufacturing and services. The composite PMI climbed to 51.3 in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union concluded key agreements on March 13 in Astana under the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy as part of the visit of EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela to Kazakhstan.  Addressing the press following his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, Sikela emphasized his visit…

ASTANA – Economists have studied for decades why some countries struggle to transition from middle-income status to high-income, while some thrive. In a conversation with The Astana Times, World Bank Chief Economist for Central Asia and Europe Ivailo Izvorski explains why it has been hard for countries to escape the middle-income trap and how to…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the first-ever expert dialogue in Central Asia+Japan format on March 6 to explore the evolving dynamics of cooperation between the region and Japan, regional integration, and foreign policy. The event, organized by Kazakhstan’s Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), the Embassy of Japan in Kazakhstan and Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU),…

ASTANA – In an interview with The Astana Times, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aghalar Atamoglanov reflects on how the two nations are forging closer ties across various areas and the profound way the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau in December further cemented the deep bond between the two countries. Tragedy that brought nations…

ASTANA – In the plains of the Ulytau Region in central Kazakhstan, a solitary mausoleum stands guard over the legacy of Jochi Khan, the eldest son of Genghis Khan. Now, that legacy is being brought to life as Kazakhstan embarked on a documentary drama titled “Golden Empire” to bring Jochi Khan’s story to the screen.…

ASTANA – Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept from futuristic films. It is here – reshaping economies, industries and the way societies function. While some countries are racing ahead, others are figuring out how to navigate this uncharted territory. The Astana Times spoke to Richard Stirling, head of Oxford Insights, a global research…

ASTANA – The United Kingdom sees Kazakhstan as a partner in driving sustainable infrastructure growth, with British companies ready to bring their expertise to support the country’s ambitious development goals, said Stuart Senior, co-chair of the U.K. Government’s Department for Business and Trade Infrastructure Exports Initiative (IE:UK), in an interview with The Astana Times.  The…

ASTANA – S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Kazakhstan’s long-term sovereign credit rating at ‘BBB-’ and short-term rating at ‘A-3,’ maintaining a stable outlook despite rising fiscal pressures.  In its Feb. 21 release, S&P analysts explain the rating underscores Kazakhstan’s robust fiscal and external balance sheets, which continue to provide a solid cushion against external shocks. …

ASTANA – Towering limestone cliffs, endless horizons, and surreal landscapes – Bozzhyra is a sight to behold. Located in the Mangystau Region, this natural wonder is the one place that will take your breath away, said Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerzhan Yerkinbayev in a recent interview with The Astana Times, and he explains…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom seek closer cooperation in infrastructure development. Astana hosted the Build Together infrastructure roundtable on Feb. 18, gathering government representatives, investors, and businesses to explore the nation’s rapidly evolving infrastructure landscape.  The roundtable saw the mutual interest in fostering a stronger partnership, with both governments and businesses keen to…

ASTANA – Celebrating 15 years since its establishment, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has evolved into a fully-fledged intergovernmental entity with growing international recognition. As the OTS charts its course for 2025, OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev outlines the organization’s strategic priorities, potential expansion, and the next phase of cooperation among Turkic nations. The…