Articles by Aida Haidar

ASTANA — As the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women observed on Nov. 25 is approaching, the United Nations (UN) announced a 16-day global campaign aiming to combat and eradicate violence against women and girls.  This year’s initiative, led by UN Women and the Secretary-General, extends the activism until Dec. 10, International…

ASTANA — In a groundbreaking move, Kazakhstan is set to hold its first-ever elections for akims (mayors) in various districts and cities of regional significance on Nov. 5, the Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy Chair Konstantin Petrov announced during an Oct. 6 online meeting, according to the CEC press service. A total of 249 candidates…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared an allocation of $1 million in humanitarian aid to Palestine, underscoring the pressing need for peace and diplomacy in conflict-ridden regions during the 10th summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Nov. 3, Akorda press service reported.  The announcement made by President Tokayev comes amidst ongoing global…

ASTANA — Central Asia, a region with a rich history and immense potential, was the focus of an online panel organized by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Middle East and Central Asia Department on Nov. 1, where experts discussed the growth prospects and challenges facing the region.  Jihad Azour, director of the Middle East and…

ASTANA — Some 4,000 participants from 100 countries will participate in the fifth World Nomad Games to be held in the Kazakh capital from Sept. 8 – 14 next year, said Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Ermek Marzhikpayev at an Oct. 26 briefing at the Central Communications Service. According to Marzhikpayev, 73 countries have…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is set to host two significant international visits in early November. French President Emmanuel Macron will embark on an official visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Nov. 1, 2023. Following that, on Nov. 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will also make an official visit to Kazakhstan,…

ASTANA — The Central Asian region is swiftly emerging as a pivotal link in the global transportation network, establishing itself as a crucial continental bridge connecting North-South and East-West, said the Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliev during the C5+1 ministerial conference held in Samarkand on Oct. 24, the ministry’s press service reported. …

ASTANA — State Counselor Erlan Karin shared insights into the most significant ideological highlights from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s speech on the eve of Republic Day, shedding light on the core values and principles guiding the country on his Telegram channel on Oct. 24. According to Karin, Tokayev’s speech underlined critical national ideals and the government’s…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan celebrates Republic Day on Oct. 25, commemorating its sovereignty and resilience. In over three decades, the country made remarkable strides in its economic development and political reforms. Importantly, the nation has also championed an anti-nuclear movement for the benefit of future generations. In a world where the pursuit of peace often seems…

ASTANA —Under the powerful slogan – No to vandalism! – the youth wing Zhastar Rukhy (Youth spirit) of the Amanat party has embarked on a significant nationwide initiative to safeguard Kazakhstan’s historical, cultural, and natural treasures from acts of vandalism, according to their Instagram post on Oct. 20.  President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored the importance of…

ASTANA — The online trade information hub, Central Asia Gateway, has been named the Best Trade Information Portal at the World Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 20, reported International Trade Centre’s press service. Since its launch in May 2023, the Central Asia Gateway has emerged as a vital resource, with…

MARRAKECH — During the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Marrakech last week, Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, discussed the economic outlook and policy recommendations for Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region an interview with The Astana Times.…

MARRAKECH — Kazakhstan’s growth is poised to make a strong comeback this year, thanks to robust domestic demand and increased oil production, driven by the alleviation of operational constraints affecting the Caspian Pipeline Consortium and the Tengiz oil field expansion. This optimistic outlook comes from the recently unveiled International Monetary Fund (IMF) Regional Economic Outlook…

MARRAKECH — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), a multilateral institution in Central Asia, has unveiled its plan to issue $500 million worth of sukuk in international markets. This was announced in a statement by the EDB on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings in Morocco on Oct. 11. Sukuk…

MARRAKECH — The latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO), unveiled on Oct. 10, provided a 0.3 percentage points upward revision for Kazakhstan’s 2023 real GDP growth, forecasting it at 4.6%.  This is more than IMF projected in its Regional Economic Outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia in May.  The growth for…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Mastercard Executive Vice President Nicola Villa on Sept. 19 in New York, endorsing the company’s decision to choose Almaty as a regional hub in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Central and Eastern Europe, Akorda press service reported.  In this pivotal role, Almaty will become the epicenter of…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm on Sept. 18 to discuss joint investment ventures and the expansion of Rio Tinto’s operations in Kazakhstan during his visit to New York, Akorda press service reported.  Stausholm revealed the company’s intentions to broaden its operations in the country. Specifically, he provided insights…

ASTANA — The Kazakh government and GE Healthcare, an American multinational medical technology company, signed a framework agreement that envisions investments of more than $60 billion across four areas, including localizing medical equipment production, the Akorda press service reported. The agreement was signed during the meeting on Sept. 19 between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who is…

ASTANA — The Jerusalem Post published an opinion piece by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sept. 14, where he reiterated the indispensable role of religious leaders and the need for a new global movement for peace to build a new international security system. Tokayev wrote that faith plays a significant factor in people’s lives, with 85%…

ASTANA — Most of the outstanding initiatives launched in Kazakhstan by the United Nations (UN) were undertaken in collaboration with the Kazakh government and organizations, a partnership that has been key to their success, UN Resident Coordinator for Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey told The Astana Times. “When you ask what the UN does, I am tempted…

ASTANA – The beginning of the second decade of the 2000s marked the turning point for Kazakh auteur cinema. The country launched a reboot of Kazakh art cinema through Kazakhfilm studios, which became the catalyst for realizing Kazakh directors’ unique points of view. With a lineup of films at the Cannes, Berlin, and Venice Film…

ASTANA —  In his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored the necessity of boosting Kazakhstan’s IT services exports to $1 billion by 2026, according to the Akorda press service. Tokayev emphasized the country’s remarkable strides in digitalization. He pointed out that the domestic IT industry had increased its export volume fivefold just…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that companies of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund will undertake initial public offerings (IPOs) starting in 2024. The move is part of a broader strategy to reduce the government’s role in the economy, as stated in his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1. “The aim is to speed up…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocated in his Sept. 1 state-of-the-nation address for expansive growth in the creative economy, encompassing fields such as media, cinema, music, design, education, and information technology. He also emphasized the need for establishing a legal framework to protect intellectual property, according to the Akorda press service. Tokayev stressed that in…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged Kazakhstan to revamp its macroeconomic policy to stimulate investment in his Sept. 1 state-of-the-nation address. Delivered at a joint session of both chambers of the Kazakh Parliament, the speech highlighted economic reform priorities, according to the Akorda press service. Tokayev attributed the country’s slow economic growth to insufficient investment,…