Articles by Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – In just three years, Kazakhstan anticipates the introduction of the digital tenge to an economy already experiencing a surge in cashless payments. National Payment Corporation CEO Binur Zhalenov said the digital tenge is not merely a trend or hype but a necessity of the current time.  The digital tenge will be launched in…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the ninth meeting of foreign policy research centers from member and observer countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Sept. 28 to explore cooperation of Turkic states and dialogue in a turbulent world ahead of the 10th OTS summit in November in Astana.  The meeting was organized…

ASTANA – Central Asia has its own distinct development challenges and opportunities, and holds substantial development potential, said Hela Cheikhrouhou, International Financial Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, in an interview with The Astana Times. “The region’s growing population provides a capacious sales market and generates…

ASTANA – This week, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev concluded his visit to the United States, marking a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two nations. During his visit, President Tokayev engaged in a series of high-profile meetings and events. These included discussions with American businesses, an address to the United Nations General Assembly, and…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a powerful address on Sept. 19 at the General Debate of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting the urgent importance of strengthening international law and undertaking comprehensive reforms within the UN Security Council, as stated by the presidential press service. In his address, President Tokayev…

ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has commenced a high-profile visit to New York City starting on Sept. 17, aiming to bolster economic ties with American businesses. Experts view this visit as a significant opportunity for Kazakhstan to attract foreign investments and strengthen its international standing. During his visit, Tokayev is expected to speak…

ASTANA – The leaders of five Central Asian states, including Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, are slated to meet with United States President Joe Biden on Sept. 19 in the first-ever C5+1 presidential summit. The upcoming meeting has been long overdue, Kamran Bokhari, a senior director of the Eurasian Security and Prosperity portfolio at the New…

ASTANA – Industrial cooperation is becoming a new trend in regional collaboration in Central Asia, Kairat Nurtazin, a senior expert of the Institute of Foreign Policy Studies, told The Astana Times, as the five leaders of Central Asian nations gathered in Dushanbe on Sept. 15 for a consultative meeting to explore regional cooperation and additional…

ASTANA – A delegation of the members of the European Parliament led by David McAllister, chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), visited Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic on Aug. 21-25 in a broader effort to intensify the European Union’s (EU) engagement with Central Asia. In an interview with The Astana Times, McAllister discussed…

ASTANA – A briefing took place on Sept. 12 in Astana to evaluate Kazakhstan’s progress in fulfilling its commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda led by the United Nations (UN). This event served as preparation for the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit in New York next week. Organized by the UN Office in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s banking sector has displayed increased resilience in recent years despite the criticism from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev regarding the business models of banks in his recent address to the nation, according to the latest Fitch Ratings report on Sept. 8. Fitch notes that the credit profiles of most Kazakh banks have substantially improved…

ASTANA – Astana hosted an international conference on Sept. 7, marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), one of the world’s largest development and infrastructure projects. The event also celebrated 30 years of partnership between Central Asia and China.  The conference was organized by Kazakhstan’s Center for Chinese Studies and took…

ASTANA – Following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1, Kazakhstan has undergone a significant government reshuffle, including the establishment of new ministries. These changes aim to address urgent challenges and propel the nation’s developmental trajectory. The state-of-the-nation address is an important event that sets the political agenda for Kazakhstan, including the country’s development.…

ASTANA – Last week’s state-of-the-nation address delivered by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has raised many issues critical for Kazakhstan and its future. The nuclear topic was one of them, reflecting Kazakhstan’s significant history related to nuclear issues. In the past, Kazakhstan was home to one of the world’s largest nuclear test sites, the Semipalatinsk test site,…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1, mainly focusing on the country’s economic development and ways to navigate the complexities of the geopolitical environment while addressing pressing national concerns. More than 100 ideas and proposals have been voiced in the address, covering a wide range of issues, wrote State…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will hold a national referendum to determine whether to construct a nuclear power plant, a subject that has sparked intense public debate. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made the announcement during his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1. Tokayev emphasized that any decision regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant is an “extremely significant…

ASTANA – Economic cooperation is at the core of the growing partnership between Kazakhstan and Vietnam, said Sergey Savelyev, senior expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, commenting on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent visit to Vietnam.  “The main focus of the visit was the economy. As of today, the bilateral trade turnover is demonstrating steady…

ASTANA – The official three-day visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Vietnam, featuring intensive discussions and business meetings, has marked a historic moment in the diplomatic relations between the two nations. Among the highlights were twelve agreements, an ambitious goal to boost bilateral trade to $1 billion, and initial steps toward a visa-free regime. The…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who is expected to address the BRICS+ Dialogue via video conference on Aug. 24 as part of the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, is likely to focus on unlocking the potential of transport routes in a broader effort to enhance economic interaction, according to Bauyrzhan Auken, the senior…

ASTANA – Over the past 30 years of its independence, Kazakhstan has been at the forefront of regional diplomacy, fostering a constructive multivector foreign policy. This year, Kazakhstan has the opportunity to elevate the power of cooperative diplomacy within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to new heights following its assumption of the presidency during the…

ASTANA – Ulken village in the Almaty Region is expected to host public hearings on Aug. 22 to decide on the construction of a nuclear power plant, a topic of heated public debate in Kazakhstan.  Ulken is located in the Almaty Region on the western shore of Lake Balkhash, some 370 kilometers from Almaty. Kazakhstan…

SAMARKAND – ASTANA – Samarkand is rightfully Uzbekistan’s most bejeweled and famous city, as its iconic medieval mausoleums, blue mosaics and incredibly delicious cuisine are unlike anything seen before.  Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s second-largest city and home to 552,000 people, has been at the crossroads of many cultures for over two millennia. Traders, scholars and explorers converged…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy is projected to grow by 3.9% in 2023, according to the latest Asian Development Outlook report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), an upward revision since its April forecast and up from 3.3% in 2022. The growth is driven by recovering industry, services, and domestic demand. Kazakhstan is the largest economy…

ASTANA – Driven by a shared vision of preserving the rich tapestry of family stories woven across Kazakhstan, Terek Story, run by Yingkar Bahetnur and Gulnaz Tulenova, embarked on an ambitious endeavor to create a digital library of family histories. The project, nicknamed terekstory on Instagram, invites everyone to send their family stories and share them…

ASTANA – Rapid economic growth might sound like a success story, but more often than not, it comes with rising inequalities and regional disparities. It is a challenge for both developed and developing countries to distribute this growth equally, said Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, the professor of economic geography at the London School of Economics (LSE), in…