EU Ambassador Says Bloc’s Member States Support Kazakhstan’s Political and Economic Reforms
NUR-SULTAN – The European Union welcomes the political reforms initiated by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his state-to-the-nation address in mid-March, and confirmed by the referendum in June, in addition to the socio-economic reforms started after the tragic January events. The EU stands ready to support further modernization and democratization of the country, EU Ambassador…
Kazakh Prime Minister Discusses AIFC Court’s Unique Contribution to Favorable Investment Climate with Court’s Chief Justice
NUR-SULTAN – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Court and the International Arbitration Centre (IAC) play an important role in strengthening investor confidence and ensuring impartiality in resolving disputes. This was announced by Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov during the meeting with Chief Justice of the AIFC Court, The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mance on…
AIFC Academy of Law Promotes Academic Experience and Practical Education Among Legal Professionals
NUR-SULTAN – Progressive institutional changes require highly qualified professionals who can deliver positive outcomes based on their well-informed and enlightened perspectives, and on their knowledge of international best practices, said David Russell Gallo, the Director of the AIFC Academy of Law, who spoke about the academy’s role in making international law environment more effective, in…
QS World University Rankings 2023 Feature 16 Kazakh Universities, Al-Farabi University Enters Top 150
NUR-SULTAN – Sixteen Kazakh universities have entered the QS World University Rankings 2023 featuring more than 1,400 universities from around the world, reported the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science. The number of Kazakh universities has doubled in the rankings in three years as eight were listed in the ranking in 2018…
Citi Sees Opportunities For Growth and Investment in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Times spoke with David Livingstone, Citi’s Chief Executive Officer in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), about the company’s activities and priority areas for investing on the eve of the 34th Foreign Investors’ Council, which is held today in Nur-Sultan. As one of Kazakhstan’s largest multinational investors, Citi is committed to…
Central Referendum Commission’s Final Count: 77.18% of People Voted in Support of Amendments to Constitution
NUR-SULTAN – Some 77.18 percent of people (6.1 million of people) voted in favor of the constitutional Amendments during the referendum on June 5, reported Central Referendum Commission (CRC) Chairman Nurlan Abdirov at the June 7 meeting on the final electoral tally. This makes up an absolute majority of votes in each of the 17…
Exit Poll Results Show Overwhelming Support for Constitutional Amendments in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Some 76.7 percent of people voted in favor of the amendments to Kazakhstan’s Constitution, according to the exit poll results announced at midnight on June 6 by Head of the Sotsis-A Institute for Social Research Alibek Tazhibayev. Some 23.3 percent of people voted against the amendments. The voter turnout was declared at 67.5…
New Group of EU Scholarship Recipients from Afghanistan Start Their Education in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Fifty recipients of scholarships funded by the European Union (EU) from Afghanistan have started their English courses at the Almaty Management University (AlmaU) in April, reported the press service of the UNDP. The course started online in December of 2021. By the beginning of the academic year, all students will graduate from the…
Top Officials from Kazakhstan and EU Hold Talks on Cooperation, Support For New Kazakhstan Political Reforms
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko held a number of meetings with European Union officials in Budapest, Vilnius, Warsaw and Vienna to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the countries and outline the major directions of the political reforms in Kazakhstan, reported the ministry’s press service. Kazakh-Austrian dialogue in Vienna Kazakhstan and…
Fund’s Reforms to Focus on Transparency and Investments in Real Sectors of Economy, Samruk Kazyna CEO Says
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s largest sovereign wealth fund Samruk Kazyna has been undergoing a major transformation this year amid the recently announced reforms on building a new state policy. The Samruk Kazyna is one of the biggest stakeholders of oil and gas, energy, national railroad, and postal office companies. Implementation of reforms President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced…
Rule of Law is Vital in Investigation of January Unrest, Kazakh Human Rights Officials Say
NUR-SULTAN – It is necessary to protect individuals under investigation and establish legitimacy and justice in the proceedings related to the January events, reported Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights Elvira Azimova at the press briefing on April 28. Azimova noted that Kazakhstan has been introducing innovative changes in the field of human rights agenda and…
“Atomic Steppe” Book Shows Thought-Provoking, Undiscovered Stories Behind Kazakhstan’s Decision to Give Up Nuclear Inheritance
NUR-SULTAN – This year saw the publication of Kazakh author Togzhan Kassenova’s “Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb,” the story of how Kazakhstan voluntarily gave up its nuclear arsenal after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Recently, a presentation of the book was also held at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under…
President Tokayev Steps Down as Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Ruling Party Amanat Following Promise to Limit President’s Powers
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has resigned as the chairman of Kazakhstan’s ruling party Amanat. This was announced during the party’s extraordinary meeting on Tuesday. Mazhilis Speaker Yerlan Koshanov will now serve as the chairman of the party. His nomination was supported by the other party members. “I have said before that I would resign…
Kazakh Minister of Justice Lays Out Key Points of New Political Reforms
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Minister of Justice Kanat Mussin spoke about the amendments to be introduced to the Constitution as part of the New Kazakhstan: The Path of Renewal and Modernization program following the President’s address during an April 18 press conference at the Central Communications Center. In his state of the nation address, President Kassym-Jomart…
EBRD Supports Kazakhstan’s Green Agenda Initiatives, New Reforms
NUR-SULTAN – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Odile Renaud-Basso spoke about priority investment projects in Kazakhstan and how reforms influence the bank’s activities in an exclusive interview with the Astana Times. The EBRD has been actively engaged in promoting green investments in Kazakhstan that align with Kazakhstan’s plans for carbon neutrality by…
Kazakh President Discusses Asian Security, CICA’s Priorities and Plans with Secretariat Executive Director
NUR-SULTAN – The transformation of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA) into a full-fledged international organization is a priority goal of Kazakhstan’s presidency in the organization. This was announced during the meeting of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with Executive Director of the CICA Secretariat Kairat Sarybay on April 14, reported the Akorda…
Italian Embassy Presents Together Towards 2050 Program to Strengthen Partnership with Kazakhstan for Future Generation
NUR-SULTAN – The Embassy of Italy in Kazakhstan presented a special program titled Together Towards 2050 to mark the 30th anniversary of relations between Italy and Kazakhstan. “The 30th anniversary of relations between Italy and Kazakhstan coincides with the historical period when it is important to strengthen the friendship between the two countries and resume…
Kazakh Government Discusses Demonopolization Measures For Various Sectors of the Economy
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government has been considering proposals for the demonopolization of some sectors of the economy, the Prime Minister’s Office reported on April 6. Demonopolization is expected to take place in the construction, housing and communal services, transport, the functioning of roads and the manufacturing industry. According to the Minister of Industry and…
U.S. Committed to Partnering with Kazakhstan on Wide Range of Issues, Says U.S. Chargé
NUR-SULTAN – Judy Kuo, Chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy Nur-Sultan, spoke about the U.S.-Kazakhstan strategic partnership, trade relations and environmental cooperation in a recent interview with The Astana Times. On behalf of the U.S. Mission, Kuo congratulated all Muslims in Kazakhstan and wished them a safe and healthy Ramadan. “During this holy month of…
President Tokayev Congratulates People on Nauryz During His Visit to Almaty
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in a festive event dedicated to the spring equinox holiday of Nauryz at the Astana Square in Almaty on March 21, reported Akorda’s Press. “The sacred Nauryz is a holiday of prosperity, unity, charity and mutual respect. I came here to celebrate this great holiday together with you.…
President Tokayev Announces Major Political Reforms in Address to the Nation
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s address to the nation, which was delivered on March 15, outlines a program for the large-scale transformation of the country and shows the way forward towards building a New Kazakhstan. “The significance of today’s address is special. Its scope of work is not limited to one year. It is broad…
Kazakh Government Adopts Plan to Reform Quasi-Public Sector, Increase Economic Growth
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government plans to revise the concept of a subject of the quasi-public sector and to reform the quasi-public sector, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said in his response to a deputy’s request. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev decided to reform the quasi-public sector during his address to the nation in 2020. The companies…
KazISS Presents Results of Survey on Social Situation and Trust in Political Institutions
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) under the President of Kazakhstan released the results of a sociological survey viewing the social well-being of the population and trust in political institutions. The survey was conducted in February in all regions. Overall, 6,800 respondents over 18 years-of-age living in 14 regions and 3 cities…
OIC Council of Foreign Ministers to Strengthen Solidarity and Cooperation Between Pakistan and Member States, Says Pakistan’s Envoy in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to support efforts aimed at promoting unity, brotherhood and prosperity in Muslim countries in connection to the upcoming 48th meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, said Ambassador of Pakistan to Kazakhstan Sajjad Ahmed Seehar at the recent press meeting in the Kazakh capital. This…
General Prosecutor’s Office Releases Updates on Ongoing Investigation of January Unrest
NUR-SULTAN – The operational group has been investigating 3,502 criminal cases linked to the acts of terrorism, murders, theft of firearms and mass riots committed during the January events in Kazakhstan. This was announced by Head of the Criminal Prosecution Service of the General Prosecutor’s Office Serik Shalabayev at a February 28 expanded meeting. Acting…
