Articles by Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – In a world where patriarchy is still prevalent and an invisible ceiling keeps many women grounded, women – from the remote villages in the Kyrgyz Republic to cities in Kazakhstan – are pushing back to redefine what it means to be successful. Professor Shumaila Yousafzai has witnessed this firsthand. In an interview with…

ASTANA – The world has witnessed more than 2,000 nuclear explosions since 1945. Millions of people continue to suffer the consequences. Addressing this problem is a matter of intergenerational injustice, said Melissa Parke, an executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), in an interview with The Astana Times.  ICAN is a…

ASTANA—With growing tensions and rising risks of nuclear proliferation, the United Nations (UN) continues to champion nuclear disarmament. Kazakhstan, a nation with unparalleled moral authority in this arena, is a vital supporter of this cause, said UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu in an interview with The Astana Times. “I think…

ASTANA – FutureMed Ventures KZ, a Kazakh-American venture fund, seeks to foster Kazakhstan’s emerging role as a destination for clinical trials and bring innovative technologies to the country, said Almas Kenessary, the fund’s managing partner, in an interview with The Astana Times. He discussed the fund’s goals, a brain tissue regeneration technology it invests in,…

ASTANA—With its strategic diplomacy, economic growth, and regional leadership, Kazakhstan is redefining its role on the global stage as a middle power, trying to rewrite the region’s geopolitical narrative, writes Svante E. Cornell, a Swedish scholar, co-founder, and director of the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy, in his recent feature article, “Kazakhstan and…

ASTANA – Protecting the biodiversity of a country as huge as Kazakhstan is not an easy task. For Vera Voronova, an executive director of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), this task became a life mission. Voronova spoke to The Astana Times, sharing what inspired her to take on such a…

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is venturing into Central Asia’s critical raw materials sector with its inaugural direct equity investment, taking a 17.36% stake in Sarytogan Graphite Limited. This Australian Securities Exchange-listed company is engaged in exploring the significant Sarytogan graphite deposit located in Kazakhstan’s Karagandy Region. Major deal EBRD…

ASTANA—Regional cooperation is not just an objective reality for Central Asian countries but a vital necessity to address shared challenges and unlock the region’s vast potential, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wrote in an article published in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on Aug. 8.  In the article titled Renaissance of Central Asia: Towards Sustainable Development and Prosperity,…

ASTANA – Relations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the largest economies of Central Asia, are expected to receive another boost. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will travel to Kazakhstan on Aug. 7 for an official visit.  According to Mirziyoyev’s press office, the visit will include negotiations with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the first meeting of the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is expected to adopt the Water Code by the end of 2024. The document is now being considered by Mazhilis, a lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, said Serikzhan Beketaev, director of the Water Policy Department at the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in a recent interview with The Astana…

ASTANA – The European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell concluded an official visit to Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic on Aug. 1-3.  Borrell had high-level talks in Kazakhstan, including with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and senior officials in the Kyrgyz Republic, in…

ASTANA—The European Union (EU) is committed to maintaining the positive momentum in its relationship with Kazakhstan, said Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, at an Aug. 1 media briefing in Astana. Borrell is on an official visit to Kazakhstan on Aug. 1. This…

ASTANA—Washington, D.C., hosted a roundtable discussion on July 24 to explore American trade and investments in Central Asia.  The International Tax and Investment Center and the Center for International Private Enterprise organized the event, which gathered representatives of American businesses, the United States Congress, the expert community, and diplomats.  Congressman Jimmy Panetta, who is also…

ASTANA—A group of 20 young changemakers from Kazakhstan and Germany recently embarked on a week-long educational journey through Kazakhstan to explore the country’s nuclear past, meet policymakers, and talk to affected communities.  The tour took the group to the ministerial halls in Astana, activists in Almaty, researchers, and the nuclear-affected communities in Semei, which was…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan’s Air Astana plans to launch direct flights between Shymkent and Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah on Sept. 10.  The flights will be operated twice a week on Airbus A320 aircraft. The starting fare for a return ticket is nearly 384,600 tenge (US$813).  The flight duration is five hours and 35 minutes. Flights to Jeddah are also…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan’s fintech sector is thriving, with the number of fintech startups growing from around 50 in 2018 to 200 in 2024, according to the July report on the fintech market. The report, prepared by RISE Research, the National Payment Corporation of Kazakhstan, Mastercard, and Tarlan Payments, highlights the rapid growth and development of the fintech…

ASTANA—The latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate nearly 281 million international migrants worldwide or 3.6% of the global population. In an interview with The Astana Times, Caress Schenk, an associate professor of political science at Astana-based Nazarbayev University, discusses why migration matters, what is an ideal migration policy, and what are…

ASTANA—Representatives of the United Nations (UN) agencies and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gathered on July 22-24 in Astana for the 16th Biennial General Cooperation Meeting. The meeting, hosted by the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), aims to enhance cooperation between two international organizations in the face of rising global challenges.  The coordination…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Akmola Region hosts a large-scale international exhibition called Jana Dala/Green Day 2024 on July 18-19. Over 200 companies from Kazakhstan and 20 countries from near and far abroad participated in the exhibition, showcasing their work in the agricultural sector. Since its inception in 2013, this annual field day agroforum has become the…

ASTANA—A high level of market concentration remains in Kazakhstan, and the substantial role of the state in the economy is a key barrier to the development of competition, according to the findings of the annual report from the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition. Private business development as a key driver of growth…

ASTANA—Nikolaz Foucaud, managing director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Coursera, commended the partnership with Kazakhstan in an interview with The Astana Times. Foucaud discussed how generative artificial intelligence (AI) transforms learning experiences and jobs, revealed trends in Central Asia and discussed what Coursera courses are most in demand among Kazakhstan’s learners.  Promising partnership …

ASTANA – Hungarian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Otto Ivan Rona touted the strong bilateral ties and the 10th anniversary of a strategic partnership agreement with Kazakhstan in an interview with The Astana Times. In June, Kazakhstan and Hungary marked ten years since they signed an agreement on strategic partnership. The past few years saw a series…

ASTANA – As the 24th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) continues in Astana, experts reflect on the significance of the event in current geopolitical dynamics and Kazakhstan’s role as it concludes its chairmanship of the organization. Kazakhstan took over the chairmanship from India in July 2023. Since then, the nation has organized over…

ASTANA—Astana is preparing to host the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on July 3-4. The summit promises to be a pivotal event, addressing key regional issues and providing a platform for Astana to advocate for dialogue and diplomacy once again.  What is SCO? The Shanghai…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan marks the Day of Diplomatic Service on July 2, giving credit to thousands of unsung heroes who stand behind the scenes working towards the nation’s active presence and influential role on the global stage. One such hero is Madina Jarbussynova, a prominent Kazakh diplomat. In an interview with The Astana Times, she spoke about…