Elena Rybakina Advances to Qatar TotalEnergies Open Semifinals
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina came back from 4-1 down in the first set and beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open quarterfinals on Feb. 15 in Doha, reported the WTA press service. “She [Fernandez] is a very good player, lefty, tricky one. I did not start the match that well,…
Kazakhstan, Qatar Sign Commercial Documents Worth $18 Billion
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Qatar inked commercial documents worth $18 billion at a Feb. 14 investment roundtable in Doha as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Qatar, reported the Akorda press service. Opening the meeting, attended by senior officials and business leaders from both countries, Tokayev expressed hope that many of those present…
Kazakhstan Intends to Strengthen Human Rights, Democratic Reforms
ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to prioritize initiatives on gender equality and domestic violence prevention at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) sessions this year, said First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov, reported the Foreign Ministry on Feb. 13. At the meeting attended by the diplomatic corps accredited in Kazakhstan, Umarov delivered a report on…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Join Efforts to Preserve Wildlife of Ustyurt Plateau
ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to join efforts in fauna conservation, specifically in the Ustyurt Plateau region lying between the Aral Sea and the Amu Darya River, reported Kazinform on Feb. 13. A corresponding memorandum was signed by the Uzbek Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov and the Kazakh Deputy…
Kazakhstan to Send Trade Mission to Chengdu in March
ASTANA – Kazakhstan to embark on a trade and economic mission to Chengdu (China) to establish cooperation with business partners from China, negotiate with importers, traders and distributors, and promote the export of processed products on March 19-21, reported the QazTrade for Trade Policy Development press service on Feb. 12. China is one of the…
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina Wins Abu Dhabi Open, Back to Fourth in WTA Tour’s Singles Ranking
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina rose in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking to fourth place after defeating Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, 6:1, 6:4 in the final of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Feb. 11, reported the Hologic WTA Tour’s press service. “I’m thrilled with this week and how I played throughout the week.…
Kazakh Singer Dimash Kudaibergen Performs at 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concerts in China
ASTANA – Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen took part in the 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concerts, broadcast by China’s CCTV-3 and Liaoning TV channels on Feb. 8, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, reported dimashnews.com. At the 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concert, broadcast by CCTV-3, Kudaibergen performed his songs “Umytylmas kun” (An Unforgettable Day) in…
President Tokayev to Pay State Visit to Qatar This Week
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Qatar on Feb. 13-14, reported Akorda press service on Feb. 12. During the visit, Tokayev plans to hold talks with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.…
Kazakhstan Launches Tech Girls Program to Boost Female Participation in STEM
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched the two-month Tech Girls program, a new initiative to increase the digital literacy of young women, teach the basics of programming and encourage participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), reported the Central Communications Service press office on Feb. 9. According to Aziza Shuzheyeva, a National Commission for Women’s…
Transport Infrastructure Requires $40 Billion for Development, Says Senior Official
ASTANA – The forward-looking development of Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure requires nearly $40 billion, said Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev at the Astana International Financial Centre meeting, reported the ministry’s press service on Feb. 12. The ministry has formed a pool of investment projects totaling more than $31 billion in railway and maritime transport, aviation…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s New Government, Almaty Apples, Tazy Dogs at Élysée and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s new government, birthplace of the apple – Almaty, two national Tazy dog breed puppies presented to Emmanuel Macron, and more. Kazakhstan’s President names chief of staff as new premier Kazakhstan’s President appointed his chief…
Kazakh Experts Weigh in on President’s 10-Point Plan for Kazakhstan’s Growth
ASTANA – Kazakh experts have shared their views on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directives following the extended government session on Feb. 7, where Tokayev outlined ten priorities for the country’s social and economic development. Political expert Daniyar Ashimbayev suggested that the President’s address essentially represents a swift response to the initiatives of the prior government, which…
Social Wellbeing and Economic Development: President Tokayev Outlines 10 Key Priorities for New Government
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the extended session of government in new composition on Feb. 7 to review the country’s social and economic development for 2023 and set main tasks for the coming period, reported Akorda press service. Opening the session, Tokayev said the country managed to maintain the positive dynamics of…
Kazakh President Reshuffles Key Government Posts
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed numerous decrees Feb. 6 relieving some key ministers from their posts and appointing others after the government’s dismissal the day before, reported the Akorda presidential office. Earlier in the day, Olzhas Bektenov was appointed the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. The new composition of the government was announced the…
Kazakhstan, Australia to Co-Chair IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security in May
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Australia will host the International Conference on Nuclear Safety (ICONS-2024) under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on May 20-24 in Vienna, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service on Feb. 5. Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations (UN) Mukhtar Tileuberdi and Permanent Representative of Australia to…
Olzhas Bektenov Becomes New Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on Feb. 6 to appoint Olzhas Bektenov as the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, reported Akorda press service. He was relieved of his duties as the head of the President’s Executive Office, a position he had held since April last year. During the plenary meeting of…
Kazakhstan Set to Launch 180 Industrial Projects This Year
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to launch 180 industrial projects worth 1.2 trillion tenge (US$2.6 billion) this year, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Feb. 5. Last year, 170 projects worth 928 billion tenge ($2 billion) were implemented in the manufacturing industry, and 179 long-term agreements and off-take contracts were concluded with domestic producers. Owing…
Amanat Party Proposes Olzhas Bektenov as Kazakh PM Candidate
ASTANA – Amanat party, which won the parliamentary election in March 2023, proposed the candidacy of Olzhas Bektenov, who has been serving as the head of the Executive Office (chief of staff) of the President since April last year, as the next Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, reported Akorda press service on Feb. 6. Born in…
Kazakhstan to Increase Oil Supplies Along Middle Corridor to 3 Million Tons
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is committed to increasing the volume of oil supplies along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or the Middle Corridor, to three million tons within two years, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Feb. 5. Nearly one million tons of oil were transported along the Middle Corridor in 2023. The country…
Kazakhstan’s CodiPlay Startup Participates at Bett 2024 London, Partners With UK Schools
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s EdTech startup CodiPlay presented its innovative solutions at the world’s largest education technology event Bett 2024, which took place on Jan. 24-26 at the ExCeL London international exhibition and convention center, the startup’s press service reported on Jan. 31. In the United Kingdom, CodiPlay acquired important partners in a number of local…
Kazakh PM Outlines Key Areas for EAEU Cooperation at Eurasian Intergovernmental Council
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov took part in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Almaty on Feb. 2, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The event was also attended by Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Chairman of the Russian government Mikhail Mishustin, First Deputy…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Central Asia’s Rare Earth Deposits and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers the European Union’s investments in the Middle Corridor, Central Asia’s rare earth elements, Kazakh movies, and more. EU identifies TITR-framed investments The European Union (EU) has identified 33 areas for investing in the physical infrastructure…
Beijing Hosts Meeting of SCO Council of National Coordinators
ASTANA – The Council of National Coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held the meeting on Feb. 1 under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan in Beijing, reported Foreign Ministry’s press service. The meeting participants focused on developing joint decisions to strengthen interaction in politics and security, trade and economics, and the cultural and…
AIFC Presents Cooperation Opportunities for UK Investors
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) hosted the event dubbed AIFC Connect: London 2024 on Feb. 2 to exchange views on investment opportunities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, reported the AIFC press service. The meeting brought together around 120 representatives from more than 70 organizations, including investment banks, international financial companies, law firms,…
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Registers Record Net Profit of $344 Million in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company’s net profit hit a record 154 billion tenge (US$344.2 million) in 2023, four times more compared to the last year, said KTZ Chair Nurlan Sauranbayev during a Feb. 1 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported Akorda. According to Sauranbayev, the company’s production figures have shown growth…
