Articles by Assel Satubaldina

NEW DELHI – The youth delegation from Kazakhstan visited India on March 5-13 to attend the Central Asia – India Youth Forum as part of a broader 100-member youth delegation from all Central Asian countries at the invitation of the government of India. In a world often divided by borders and beliefs, the visit of…

ASTANA – Increasing non-raw material exports has been a priority for Kazakhstan. In 2023, non-raw material exports reached $35.1 billion out of $78.7 billion in total exports, said Nurlan Kulbatyrov, deputy director of QazTrade Trade Policy Development Center, in an interview with The Astana Times. This demonstrates an increase from $26.5 billion in non-raw exports…

ASTANA—A spirit of cooperation in Central Asia is at an unprecedented high, said a prominent American scholar, Dr. Frederick Starr, in an interview with The Astana Times. Starr, the founding chairman of the Central Asia – Caucasus Institute and the Silk Road Studies Program, shared his insights into the region’s dynamics, the importance of regional…

ASTANA –  Ambassador of Austria to Kazakhstan Willy Kempel shared insightful perspectives on the evolving dynamics of bilateral relations and new avenues of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Austria in an interview with The Astana Times.  Emphasizing the depth of political alignment and mutual respect between the two nations, the ambassador highlighted the significance of upcoming…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from March 11 to 12, further deepening the strategic and brotherly ties between the two nations and signifying a new chapter in Eurasian diplomacy.  Among the key highlights, he met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, participated in the first meeting…

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…