Articles by Staff report

Kazakhstan is Ready to Enhance Transit Potential of International North-South Transport Corridor, Says Kazakh Minister in Tehran

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to enhance the transit potential of the countries along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), said Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Kairat Uskenbayev during an Oct. 10 meeting with counterparts from Iran and Central Asian countries in Tehran, reported the ministry’s press service.  “We are interested in increasing the…

Sixth CICA Summit to Recap Kazakhstan’s Two-Year Chairmanship

ASTANA – The sixth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which will take place in Astana on Oct. 12-13, seeks to sum up the results of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of two years, reported the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Affairs Ministry. The summit will also honor the 30th anniversary…

EU, Council of Europe Commend Kazakhstan’s Progress in Abolition of Death Penalty

ASTANA – As part of the European and World Day against the Death Penalty held on Oct. 10, the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe commended Kazakhstan’s efforts to achieve complete abolition of the death penalty, reported the press service of the Council of Europe on Oct. 9. “The EU and the Council…

Kazakhstan to Launch International Digital Signature Project

ASTANA – The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry and Foreign Investors’ Council Association will launch a pilot project that will utilize international digital signatures to increase the efficiency of commercial transactions involving Kazakh and global companies, reported the association’s press service on Oct. 6. The memorandum of understanding on implementing a pilot…

COCA-COLA Plans to Launch Soft Drinks Plant in Shymkent

ASTANA – Director of the Kazakhstan branch of the Coca-Cola İçecek Türkiye’s company Mustafa Beltekin, Shymkent Akim (Mayor) Murat Aytenov and the Kazakh Invest national company’s officials discussed the construction of a soft drinks plant in Shymkent at an Oct. 7 meeting, reported the company’s press service. With an annual production capacity of 262 million…

EBRD Regional Report: Kazakh Economy Shows Growth of 3.4 Percent Year-On-Year in First Half of 2022, Risks Remain Due to Oil Transit

ASTANA – The Kazakh economy demonstrated a broad-based growth of 3.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2022, reported the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Regional Economic Prospects on Sept. 28.  Kazakhstan showed record high oil and gas revenues as a result of elevated prices and increased export volumes. The oil exports…

European Council President Charles Michel to Visit Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan in October

ASTANA – President of the European Council Charles Michel will visit Astana on Oct. 26-27 to attend the Central Asian leaders meeting following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s invitation, Michel confirmed on Twitter on Oct. 8.   “European Union (EU) is ready to deepen ties with Central Asia and support intra-regional cooperation,” he wrote. Also, Michel plans…

All Five Presidential Candidates Submit Documents to Central Election Commission

ASTANA – All five candidates running for the upcoming presidential elections on Nov. 20 in Kazakhstan оfficially submitted their documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC), reported the CEC press service. The CEC confirmed that presidential candidates President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Meiram Kazhyken, and Zhiguli Dairabayev meet all requirements for candidates to run in the elections.…

CIS Heads Discuss Future Cooperation at Informal Meeting in Saint Petersburg

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived on Oct. 7 in Saint Petersburg, Russia to take part in an informal meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reported Akorda press service. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Belarus Alexandr Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President…

Kazakh Film Akyn Captivates Audience in Mexico at Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival

ASTANA – A film “Akyn”(Poet) by Kazakh director Darezhan Omirbayev captured the audience’s attention at the Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival in Mexico City, which is taking place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 9, reported the press service of the Kazakh Embassy to Mexico on Oct. 7. Before the screening, Charge d’Affaires of Kazakhstan in…

USAID’s 12th Central Asia Trade Forum Seeks to Advance Connectivity and Trade in Region

ASTANA – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will host the 12th Central Asia Trade Forum dedicated to the digitalization of customs services on  Oct. 12-13 in Astana. The topics related to the innovations and the role of digital enforcement, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, regional cooperation within the National Trade Facilitation Committees are on…

Caspian Sea Has Great Trade and Transit Potential, Kazakh Prime Minister Says

ASTANA – With its unique transit potential, the Caspian Sea region plays an integral part in the development of international trade, said Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov at the second Capsian Economic Forum (CEF) held in Moscow on Oct. 6, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. “Kazakhstan plans to establish cross-border hubs to increase the…

Kazakh Capital to Host Several High-Profile Forums and State Visits Next Week

ASTANA – Astana will play host to several international forums and visits of foreign leaders from Oct. 11 to Oct. 15, reported the Akorda press service on Oct. 7. The week will start with the state visit of the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Oct. 11-12.  Following him, Turkish President Recep…

Political Parties, Public Associations to Form People’s Coalition to Support Tokayev in Presidential Elections

ASTANA – Chairman of the Amanat party Yerlan Koshanov announced the decision to create the people’s coalition to support President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the upcoming presidential elections at the extraordinary congress of the party on Oct. 6 in Astana, reported Kazinform. “Today, we have made a strategic choice and should join our efforts to support…

Pope Francis Recalls His Visit to Kazakhstan, Expresses Hope For Tolerant, Democratic Future (Video)

ASTANA – Pope Francis spoke about his apostolic journey to Kazakhstan as a ‘pilgrim of peace’ for the participation in the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions at a Sept. 21 General Audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.  The Pope praised the initiative of the Congress of Leaders of World and…

OPEC+ to Cut Oil Production by 2 Million Barrels Per Day in November

ASTANA – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC partners, a group of oil exporters called OPEC+, agreed to reduce their oil production quotas by 2 million barrels per day in November this year at the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM) on Oct. 5 in Vienna, reported the organization’s press service. …

Amanat Party Nominates Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as Presidential Candidate

ASTANA – Chairman of the Amanat party Yerlan Koshanov proposed to nominate President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to run in the upcoming presidential elections on Nov. 20 during an Oct. 6 extraordinary congress of the party in Astana, reported Kazinform. “We should not return to the past. The country requires a capable leader to attain ambitious goals…

Kazakh, European Officials Hold Expert Talks on Kazakhstan’s Social Reforms in Prague

ASTANA – The international conference titled Social Reforms of Modern Kazakhstan and the Experience of Eastern European countries was held on Oct. 4 in Prague, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conference inaugurated an array of events that are scheduled to take place in nearly 27 EU member states with the participation of…

Tokayev to Represent Broad Coalition of Social and Political Organizations, Instead of Any One Association in Upcoming Presidential Elections

ASTANA – It would be appropriate to run not as leader of any specific group but from a broad coalition of social and political forces that form a solid social foundation for the country’s reforms, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, explaining his candidacy in the upcoming elections during a meeting with the Pavlodar Region’s public on…

President Tokayev Highlights Five Priorities For Pavlodar Region’s Continued Development

ASTANA – The Pavlodar Region should focus on strengthening its industrial and innovative potential, solving environmental and water supply issues, and developing the region’s infrastructure, creative industry, and tourism, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during an Oct. 5 meeting with the region’s population, reported the Akorda press service. “The Pavlodar Region is one of our country’s…

Turquoise Passport of Kazakhstan is Symbol of Justice and Tolerance, Says Tokayev

ASTANA – The turquoise passport of Kazakhstan is a symbol of justice and the nation’s charted course towards the future, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during an Oct. 5 meeting with the public in the Karagandy Region, reported the Akorda press service. “The passport of a Kazakh citizen embodies the fundamental values due to which…

Oligarchic Capitalism Era in Kazakhstan is Ending, Says President Tokayev During His Visit to Karagandy Region

ASTANA –  The era of oligarchic capitalism in Kazakhstan is ending as the country is entering an era of greater social responsibility to its citizens, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during an Oct. 5 meeting with the public in Karagandy, reported the Akorda press service. According to the President, the Karagandy Region, with its lucrative mining…

Listening to Kazakhstan Survey Indicates Challenging Period for Society, But Also Significant Support for Ongoing Reforms

ASTANA – Concerns about economic conditions remained high in Kazakhstan in the second quarter of the year, according to the recent Listening to Kazakhstan (L2Kaz) Survey on social and economic wellbeing for August 2022. The report has been prepared by the Poverty and Equity Global Practice of the World Bank in collaboration with UNICEF, and…

League of Arab States Confirms Participation in Upcoming CICA Summit in Astana

ASTANA – The League of Arab States (LAS) confirmed its participation in the sixth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit on Oct. 12-13 in Astana, during a meeting of Kazakh Ambassador to Egypt Kairat Lama Sharif and the LAS Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Khalil Al Thawadi, reported…

First Candidate Submits Official Documents to Kazakh Central Election Commission in a Bid for Presidency

ASTANA – Meiram Kazhyken, a candidate from the Amanat Trade Unions Commonwealth is set to run for president in the upcoming elections on Nov. 20. He submitted documents on Oct. 4 to Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC), reported the CEC press service. Kazhyken is the head of the Astana School of Economics at the Astana…