Articles by Assem Assaniyaz

ASTANA – The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Masdar renewable energy company has ensured its presence throughout Central Asia after announcing the construction of its first one-gigawatt (GW) wind power station in Kazakhstan last week. Masdar has long recognized Central Asia’s incredible potential for renewable energy, said Maryam Al Mazrouei, the company’s senior manager, in an…

ASTANA – The Regional Symposium of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) kicked off in Almaty on Dec. 6, reported the ICAO press service. For the first time, Central Asia hosts a large-scale event in the global aviation industry.  More than 280 participants from 30 countries gathered in Kazakhstan to address…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Defense Ministry emphasized the country’s interest in obtaining additional quotas for peacekeepers and expanding its participation in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations at the UN peacekeeping ministerial meeting on Dec. 5, reported the ministry’s press service.   The biennial event allowed foreign defense ministers to review the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping…

ASTANA – The club of young experts under the Senate, an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, analyzed the legal environment and prospects for developing creative industries in Kazakhstan on Dec. 6, reported the Senate’s press office. In his September state-of-the-nation address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocated for the creative economy’s expansive growth, setting a task…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan needs to continue the liberalization of economy to preserve and increase the inflow of foreign investment, said Afzal Amin, CEO of London Expertise, in an interview with The Astana Times on the sidelines of the Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR) 2023 two weeks ago.   “So far, we have invested more than $1…

ASTANA – The Days of Kazakhstan’s Culture in Azerbaijan were hosted in Baku and ended on Dec. 5. This initiative, aimed at enhancing Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations, was endorsed by the heads of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ilham Aliyev during their meeting in November, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. Key figures from Kazakhstan, including Kazakh…

ASTANA – As part of a working trip to the Aktobe Region, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the branch of the Heriot-Watt University in the Kazakh city of Aktobe on Dec. 6, reported the Akorda press service.  Over 300 young men and women from nine regions in Kazakhstan are now students of the U.K.-based university’s branch…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov signed a government decree approving a comprehensive plan for developing major oil and gas and petrochemical projects for 2023-2027, the Prime Minister’s press service reported. The plan is aimed at meeting the needs of the domestic market. The document encompasses 20 projects in the oil and gas industry,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, 24, has entered the ranking of the world’s ten highest-paid female athletes this year, according to the Sportico sports business journal.  Rybakina took seventh place with total earnings of $9.5 million ($6 million in prize money).  It is worth noting that the list includes seven female tennis players,…

ASTANA – Central Asia-Caucasus (CACI) Institute held discussions on the viability of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) on Dec. 5. The performance of a transportation corridor linking Europe to Asia through the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) depends on critical investments in trade route diversification, the road and port transshipment improvement, and resolving operational…

ASTANA – Foreign airlines are now entitled to operate flights to several airports in Kazakhstan without restrictions on frequencies and aircraft types, reported the Kazakh Transport Ministry’s press service.  The measure also includes the fifth freedom of the air, the right to carry passengers and cargo between two countries where neither is the home base…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed 20 agreements with foreign companies in green energy, infrastructure, and digitization on Dec. 2 during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s participation in the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, where he conveyed the country’s strong commitment to addressing global climate challenges,…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Kazakh citizens on the International Volunteer Day on Dec. 5, reported the Akorda press service.   “Today, on the International Volunteer Day, we honor those who devotedly serve others. Our volunteers embody the high ideals of kindness, humanity, solidarity, and civic responsibility. These fundamental values lie at the heart of…

ASTANA – The transformative power of youth-led initiatives continues to reshape state governance in Kazakhstan, breaking policy-related barriers and driving changes. In an interview with The Astana Times, political expert Valikhan Bakhretdinov elaborated on the youth policy in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, and the outcomes of interregional cooperation so far.  Bakhretdinov is the head of…

ASTANA – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution A/78/L.10 calling on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights in Syria. According to the organization’s broadcasting, 91 countries, including Kazakhstan, supported the document.   The voting was held during the 78th UNGA session. All Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will provide additional humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. This was announced at a Nov. 29 government commission meeting, reported the Kazakh Prime Minister’s press service.   The upcoming shipment of humanitarian aid includes food, bedding, medicines, and medical devices weighing more than 38 tons. It is planned to deliver the cargo by…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan reached an agreement in developing the China–Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran corridor during the Kazakh-Turkmen working group’s first meeting on developing transport, transit, and logistics on Nov. 26-27 in Ashgabat, reported the Kazakh Transport Ministry press service.   The meeting was co-chaired by Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev and Deputy Director-General of the…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu paid an official visit to Belgrade, where he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and held intergovernmental negotiations on economic cooperation and security on Nov. 29, reported the ministry’s press service. As a result of his visit, Kazakhstan and Serbia signed intergovernmental agreements on…

ASTANA – KazTransOil national oil transporter is increasing oil transportation volume to Germany up to 154,000 tons. The head of its transportation department Abai Beisembayev announced the company’s plans at the Issuer Day, organized by the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) on Nov. 29, reported the KazTransOil press service.   “In November, it was planned to deliver…

ASTANA – The European Union (EU) commends Kazakhstan’s efforts in decreasing the re-export of dual-use sanctioned items to Russia. This was announced by International Special Envoy for the Implementation of EU Sanctions David O’Sullivan, who delivered statements on positive dynamics in the EU-Kazakhstan cooperation at a Nov. 28 press conference during his second visit to…

ASTANA – The Astana Ballet theater team sets off for a grand tour to Switzerland. On Dec. 15-17, ballet artists from Kazakhstan will present the “Carmen Suite” and “The Arcana of Fate” one-act performances, as well as “The Heritage of the Great Steppe” gala concert in the Batiment des Forces Motrices theater in Geneva, according…

ASTANA – The Year of Tourism 2023 forum kicked off on Nov. 23 in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, reported the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) press service.   The program, which will last until Nov. 26, will address the potential of tourism in the SCO space, the travel industry’s sustainable…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Transport announced plans to introduce special economic zones (SEZs) on the airport premises in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Aktobe, and Karagandy, reported the ministry’s press service on Nov. 23. Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev met with representatives from akimats (local administrations) and aviation enterprises to address the SEZs establishment…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has provided asylum for 325 refugees from five countries, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Nov. 24.   Refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Syria, and China are protected by the principle of non-expulsion from the country. Foreigners who received asylum in Kazakhstan are supported by the state structures following…

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov presented the results of the government’s work in promoting the country’s economic growth and ensuring social justice during the Nov. 23 press briefing, reported the Prime Minister’s press service.  The head of the Kazakh government spoke about measures aimed to step up asset recovery activities, enhance the…