Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA—President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev discussed prospects for future cooperation and participated in the Supreme Interstate Council meeting on March 11 in Baku, reported the Akorda press service. During the narrow-format talks, Tokayev congratulated Aliyev on his election victory and on hosting the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference,…

ASTANA – Five Kazakhstan’s boxers reached the quarterfinals in the first World Qualification Tournament in Italy’s Busto Arsizio, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service on March 10. The tournament will last through March 12. On March 10, Kazakh boxers Nurbek Oralbay (up to 80 kilograms), Mahmud Sabyrkhan (up…

ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva, 20, took first place at the Aeroflot Open 2024 international chess festival, which took place on March 2-8 in Moscow, reported the Kazakhstan Chess Federation’s press service. The competition gathered at least 500 participants with over 2,300 points in the FIDE rating, as well as chess players aged…

ASTANA – Almaty is set to host the inaugural B5+1 Business Forum dubbed Strengthening Regional Economic Integration in Central Asia through Public-Private Dialogue on March 14-15, reported the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). Business 5+1 (B5+1) is the public-private business dialogue platform between the five Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extended congratulations on the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan on March 11, reported Akorda press service. The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, begins on March 11 and lasts until April 9.    “During the sacred month of…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Azerbaijan on March 11-12, reported Akorda press service. As part of the visit, Tokayev plans to hold talks with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and participate in the first meeting of the Kazakh-Azerbaijani Supreme Interstate Council. In a recent interview with Azerbaijan’s APA…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles from global media outlets on news about Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s emergence as a middle power, the Middle Corridor, upcoming Nauryz Celebration, and more. Kazakhstan prepares the return of Przewalski’s horse to the steppe EFEcomunica published an article on March…

ASTANA – DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund has allocated 10 billion tenge (US$22.4 million) for a new program to finance women’s entrepreneurship,  the fund’s press service reported on March 6. The Umit (Hope) program provides entrepreneurs with a wide range of opportunities for business development. Women entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to receive financing through second-tier…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud discussed prospects of developing energy and investment cooperation during a March 7 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev noted that Kazakh-Saudi relations have reached an unprecedented level. He recalled that his agreements with the Crown Prince and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to introduce broadband internet in 171 rural schools in the East Kazakhstan Region using SpaceX Starlink technology, reported the region’s akimat (administration) press service on March 6. According to Akim (Governor) of the East Kazakhstan Region Yermek Kosherbayev, the equipment has arrived in the region, its installation will begin in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship airline Air Astana has canceled flights KC921/KC922 Astana-Frankfurt-Astana on March 7 following the announced strike of aviation security employees at Frankfurt Airport, reported the company’s press service. Passengers on the canceled flights will be sent SMS notifications and are eligible for a refund of the unused portion of the ticket, with…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Business Activity Index (BAI), which measures the state of the economy in the real sector, showed an increase in February, as reported by the National Bank on March 4. The services and manufacturing sectors maintained positive indicators, while the mining and construction industries showed improvement. According to the National Bank, the monthly…

ASTANA – Astana Hub technology park has been recognized as an Apple Authorized Training Center for Education, reported its Telegram channel on March 4. The center provides all resources and conditions necessary for students to undergo iOS programming training, using Apple’s established Develop in Swift curriculum and official certification (App Development with Swift Certification exam).…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is one of the acknowledged world leaders in non-proliferation with a vast experience in nuclear disarmament. Kazakhstan is known as a peaceful country, prioritizing the idea of achieving and maintaining peace. In the past, Kazakhstan was home to one of the world’s largest nuclear test sites, the Semipalatinsk test site, where the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will simplify cargo transportation with Uzbekistan from April, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service on March 5. The pilot project provides for issuing permits of the type “to/from third countries” electronically at the Atameken, Konysbayev, Kazygurt, Kaplanbek and Tazhen checkpoints. This mechanism will allow bona fide carriers to simplify cargo transportation with…

ASTANA – The International Arbitration Center (IAC) opened its Eurasia Arbitration Week (EAW) 2024 on March 5, reported the center’s press service. The event will run until March 7. The opening ceremony was attended by more than 200 arbitrators, legal counsel, judges and diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom, Eurasia, Europe, and Asia.…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan that have been published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Kazakh trade mission in Dubai, the nation’s foreign trade turnover, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and more. China becomes Kazakhstan’s main trading partner Last year, China replaced Russia as Kazakhstan’s main…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan plans to restore the Zhambyl Irrigation Institute, which will specialize only in water resources, said Advisor to the Kazakh President Kanat Bozumbayev at the Feb. 22 Global Water International Forum on Water Technologies and Resources, reported Kazinform. The institute existed until 1998. “Unfortunately, our scientific research in the water sector lags far…

ASTANA — The MOST Holding is launching Irbis GPT, a ground-breaking project to develop the Kazakh language using artificial intelligence, reported holding’s press service on Feb. 22. “We are on the threshold of a new era where artificial intelligence technologies will be the key to the development of languages and cultures. Irbis GPT is our…

ASTANA — Lumacheria Italiana, the world leader in snail production, plans to launch snail farming on an industrial scale in the Zhambyl Region this year, reported the region’s akimat (administration) on Feb. 21. According to the foreign company, the Zhambyl Region has favorable natural and climatic conditions, making growing snails in industrial quantities four times…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will open a trade house at the national pavilion at the Expo City Dubai next week, said Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, reported Kazinform on Feb. 21. “We are actively using the pavilion, showcasing Kazakh goods and promoting engineering, medical and IT services,” he said. On Feb. 27-29, the…

ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu will present the country’s priorities on nuclear disarmament at the high-level segment of the United Nations (UN) Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Feb. 26-28, announced ministry’s spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov on Feb. 21, reported the ministry’s press service. Also, Nurtleu is supposed to address Kazakhstan’s efforts…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan sent humanitarian aid worth $5 million in 2023, reported Finprom financial and business analytical service on Feb. 19. According to the State Revenue Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Finance, Kazakhstan sent humanitarian aid to six countries.  Over half of the volume, worth $2.6 million, went to Afghanistan, of which $2.5 million…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan projects annual inflation in the range of 7.5-9.5% this year in its macro and market overview released on Feb. 19.  “Gradual rate cuts will continue in the absence of unforeseen shocks. Pauses in rate cuts are not excluded. The easing cycle may extend over a long period,” the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attaches utmost importance to the development of cooperation with brotherly Uzbekistan, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a Feb. 19 meeting with the Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, reported Akorda press service. Welcoming Saidov, the President emphasized Kazakhstan’s readiness to continue supporting Uzbekistan’s initiatives for the welfare and prosperity of the…