Articles by ASSEL SATUBALDINA

ASTANA — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Director for Kazakhstan Huseyin Ozhan shared an insightful perspective on the country’s journey of reform and growth in a recent interview with The Astana Times.  Reflecting on his observations, Ozhan, who has been in Kazakhstan since September 2021, highlights the significant strides Kazakhstan has made,…

ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Kazakhstan are set to celebrate a momentous milestone in 2024, marking 30 years since Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, joined ADB in January 1994. ADB Regional Director for Central Asia and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov spoke to The Astana Times about the key projects over…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan, a country where astronauts return to Earth and ancient traditions thrive in modern cities, is on the brink of a tourism renaissance as the tourism industry has momentum, said Kairat Sadvakassov, the chairman of Kazakh Tourism national company, in an interview with The Astana Times. In an insightful conversation, he shared how…

ASTANA – Standard & Poor’s international rating agency has reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s sovereign credit rating at BBB-/A-3, maintaining a stable outlook, on March 1, reported the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy.  “The stable outlook on the ‘BBB-‘ long-term rating on Kazakhstan reflects our view that risks from weaker growth and relatively high external financing needs are…

ASTANA – The World Bank presented the key findings of its latest study on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, at a regional event in Tbilisi on Feb. 27.  The event gathered representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, state-owned enterprises, the private sector, and other stakeholders to discuss how…

ASTANA – The Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Kazakhstan Dinara Zakiyeva has been at the forefront of recent reforms aimed at safeguarding the well-being and rights of children in the country. In an interview with The Astana Times, she sheds light on these advancements and Kazakhstan’s commitment to protecting its youngest citizens. The conversation began…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover reached $139.8 billion in 2023, an increase of 3.2% compared to the previous year. China has become the country’s largest trade partner with bilateral trade hitting $31.5 billion, replacing Russia, according to the latest data from the Bureau of National Statistics.  The nation has expanded its commercial horizons by…

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has signed 21 projects worth more than $450 million in Kazakhstan in 2023, said EBRD Director for Kazakhstan Hüseyin Özhan in an interview with The Astana Times. He shared his vision of the bank’s priorities and ongoing projects in Kazakhstan.  The bank’s active portfolio includes…

ASTANA – In a landmark move, Kazakhstan is preparing to deploy its first independent peacekeeping contingent to the Golan Heights under the United Nations (UN). The departure of the contingent will take place in three stages, with the final slated for March 14, said Colonel Bauyrzhan Nigmetullin, the head of Kazakhstan Peace Operations Center (KAZCENT)…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Qatar on Feb. 13-14, signaling a growing interest in bolstering ties between the two nations and resulting in the signing of commercial agreements worth nearly $18 billion. This visit, which comes at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly within the Gulf region,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Central Asia are witnessing a decade of opportunities, but opportunities come with an array of challenges. Yet, the region is doing a good job in balancing complexities with opportunities, said Mark Beer OBE, British lawyer and businessman, a co-founder of the Seven Pillars Law firm in Kazakhstan, in an interview with…

ASTANA – The primary factor driving GDP growth in 2024 in Kazakhstan is expected to be domestic demand, supported by government spending on the construction of educational facilities, infrastructure projects, and the modernization of housing and communal services, said the National Bank of Kazakhstan in a written response to The Astana Times.  “Investment projects in…

ASTANA – The Dara Foundation of the Presidential Initiatives seeks to develop mobile filmmaking in Kazakhstan after a group of young professionals underwent a week-long training at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) campus in Los Angeles in January, said the head of the foundation Assel Shildebayeva. NYFA, known for its cutting-edge curriculum and immersive…

ASTANA – In today’s world, stories of people making bold career transitions are becoming increasingly popular. One such inspiring story of the courage to rewrite his own narrative is that of Bakytzhan Zhakazhanov, a once number-crunching finance professional who is now rising up in the IT sector in Kazakhstan and beyond. Personal journey Zhakazhanov, a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) commemorate on Feb. 2 the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past three decades, the sides have built a robust partnership based on trust, mutual respect, and shared priorities. Cooperation with the EU is one of the key priorities in Kazakhstan’s balanced and…

ASTANA – The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs and the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC), Washington-based non-profit organizations, hosted a panel discussion on Jan. 31 delving deep into Kazakhstan’s multi-vector diplomacy, the increasing agency of Central Asia as a region, energy diversification and the development of transport corridors. The panel featured several prominent…

ASTANA  –  Air Astana, a flag carrier from Kazakhstan, announced the price range for its initial public offering (IPO) that will commence in February, saying it plans to raise $120 million. Kazakhstan’s largest airline, which is 51% owned by Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, and 49% by British BAE, confirmed its plan to float in…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek arrived on Jan. 25 in London to take part in the BETT UK 2024 international conference and meet with British colleagues to expand enduring cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom, reported the ministry’s press service.  BETT is the world’s largest exhibition of educational…

ASTANA – This year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s diplomatic schedule began with the first official visit to Italy, Kazakhstan’s strategic partner and third largest trading partner. This visit should be seen through the lens of Kazakhstan’s growing cooperation with the European Union, said Yersultan Zhanseitov, a senior expert at the Astana-based Institute of World Economics and…

ASTANA – Air travel, oil and gas sector, petrochemicals and agriculture were on top of the agenda during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s meetings with Italian senior executives in Rome on Jan. 18, reported the Akorda press service.  Discussing air travel with Neos President  Lupo Rattazzi, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that direct air travel between the countries facilitates…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed Italian business people at the Kazakh-Italian roundtable in Rome on Jan. 18, witnessing the signing of four strategic documents, reported the Akorda press service. The roundtable gathered top management from nearly 30 Italian companies.  Kazakhstan’s Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and Balestra signed an agreement defining the terms of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has 15 rare earth deposits, strategically important components of electronics and clean energy technology, and eyes for closer cooperation with international partners in uncovering the ample opportunities these deposits present, Chairman of the National Geological Service Yerlan Galiyev told The Astana Times.  The National Geological Service was created in 2022 with a…

ASTANA – The Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan organized a roundtable on Jan. 11 that gathered Kazakh experts to discuss President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent interview with the Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper. The discussion delved into key aspects of the interview, shedding light on the President’s viewpoints and policies. The Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan unites over 3,000 non-profit…

ASTANA – Washington-based Caspian Policy Center hosted Jan. 4 a roundtable discussing the bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and the United States and the regional dynamics. U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Daniel N. Rosenblum participated in the discussion. Rosenblum underlined that the United States has prioritized two things in its relationship with Kazakhstan – stability and sovereignty.…

ASTANA — A documentary titled “Qantar. A Coup Attempt. How It Was” has been released on Jan. 4, offering a fresh perspective on the harrowing events that transpired in January 2022 in Kazakhstan. The film shows the timeline of the unrest, the worst the nation had seen over the years of its independence. It aims…