Articles by Saniya Sakenova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 4.8% despite a decline in oil production and prices in 2024, Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) Timur Suleimenov said during a Jan. 28 expanded government meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. According to Suleimenov, the country’s overall inflation fell to…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for accelerating the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP) and creating a broader nuclear cluster to address growing energy shortages and support the country’s progress. He made these remarks during an expanded government meeting on Jan. 28, reported Akorda. He instructed the government and Samruk Kazyna Sovereign…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined economic diversification and advancing infrastructure development as key priorities for the government during an expanded government meeting on Jan. 28, reported Akorda. Economic diversification Tokayev noted that in 2024, 180 investment projects worth 1.3 trillion tenge (US$2.4 billion) were implemented in the manufacturing industry. As a result, the sector…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to rebalance its tax system with a new Tax Code currently under discussion in Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin announced during an expanded government meeting on Jan. 28 chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Value-added tax (VAT), one of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to conclude agreements for the construction of its first nuclear power plant (NPP) in the Almaty Region, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at a Jan. 28 expanded government meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “Regional analysis to determine locations for a second nuclear power plant is also nearing completion,” Bektenov…

ASTANA – Despite cold temperatures and snow, Przewalski’s horses, also known by the ancient Kazakh names Kerkulan and Kertagy, feel great in their native lands during winter in the Torgai Steppes of the Kostanai Region, Kazinform reported on Jan. 21. The horses gained weight, and fur became much thicker than in autumn. Rustam Bidibayev, the…

ASTANA – Kazakh artist Akzhan Ali and Austrian artist Gerald Florian Messner opened the 2025 exhibition season with their joint exhibition at Kazakhstan’s Presidential Center on Jan. 23, reported the center’s press service. The vernissage, “We are not alone,” was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. Akzhan Ali,…

ASTANA – Preliminary results from the investigation into the AZAL plane crash near Aktau are expected to be announced next week, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said during a Jan. 24 government briefing, reported Kazinform. The investigation, conducted according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, involves approximately 17-18 experts from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan recovered 428.7 billion tenge (US$824.4 million) in assets illegally withdrawn in 2024, Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said at an expanded meeting on Jan. 24, according to the Prosecutor General’s office. Under agreements with the law’s subjects, 15 social and investment projects worth more than 48 billion tenge ($92.3 million) were launched. In…

ASTANA – UN member states expressed their support for Kazakhstan’s ambitious reforms and welcomed its concrete actions to strengthen fundamental human rights and freedoms during a dialogue at the 48th session of the Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Jan. 23 in Geneva. According to the Foreign Ministry’s press…

ASTANA — Almaty will host one of the most striking and unique events in the world of culture — the debut performance of the Birlik ensemble — only once on Jan. 30, the ensemble’s art director, Anel Marabayeva, announced on her Instagram page. The Birlik celebrates Kazakhstan’s cultural diversity and the unity of peoples through…

ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) has risen in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 by subject, with Education Studies now placed in the top 200, NU’s press service reported on Jan. 22. NU is ranked in nine of THE’s 11 subject clusters, with four clusters now among the top 500 globally. These…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan began construction of three new airports in the resort areas of Zaisan, Katon-Karagay, and Kendirli, following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directive to develop domestic tourism and passenger air transportation in 2025, the Transport Ministry’s press service reported on Jan. 22. Last year, the country launched three new passenger terminals in Almaty, Shymkent, and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Association of Film Critics, headed by its President Gulnara Abikeyeva, has become a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), the association’s press service reported on Jan. 21. FIPRESCI, founded in 1930, unites film critics and scholars globally to develop world cinema and protect the rights and interests of film…

ASTANA – The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the European Union reached $44.2 billion in January-November 2024, 17.7% more than the same period in 2023, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service reported on Jan. 21. Exports totaled $34.6 billion, while imports – $9.6 billion. At an overview briefing for the heads of EU diplomatic missions…

ASTANA – A new terminal at Shymkent airport plans to open 14 domestic and 16 international routes, including to European countries, China, South Korea, Southeast Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, and many other popular destinations, said Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines Spokesperson Victoria Starozhilova, Kazinform reported on Jan. 22. This terminal was opened last December with…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Energy Ministry stressed the need to build a new oil refinery by 2030 to process at least 10 million tons of oil annually, Kazinform reported on Jan. 21. Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev spoke about this last November, stating that design work should begin by 2030 and construction should follow by 2032…

ASTANA – Kazakh Tourism national company released a list of the top 10 hotels most frequently chosen by foreign visitors in 2024, based on data from the eQonaq system, the company’s press service reported on Jan. 20. Hotel Kazakhstan in Almaty topped the list, attracting 30,412 foreign guests. The Holiday Inn, also in Almaty, came…

ASTANA – Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) Berik Aryn and Kazakh Ambassador to Jordan Talgat Shaldanbay attended the dispatching of the first Flour for Humanity Program – Gaza Emergency Appeal convoy from Jordan to Gaza on Jan. 17, reported the IOFS’ press service. The convoy consists of 12 trucks carrying…

ASTANA – AD Ports Group, a leading global trade, logistics, and industry facilitator from the United Arab Emirates, will invest $30 million in the Sarzha multifunctional marine terminal at the Kuryk port, according to a foundation agreement signed with Semurg Invest, the terminal’s owner and developer, on Jan. 14. AD Ports Group’s press service states…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Jan. 19, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov, reported Kazinform. “We highly appreciate the mediation efforts undertaken by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. This is an important step that will help stop the violence, free hostages, and…

ASTANA – Marco Rubio, a nominee for the United States Secretary of State post, spoke about repealing Cold War-era restrictions on Kazakhstan related to the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which restricted trade with certain countries in 1974, during the hearings in the U.S. Congress on Jan. 15, reported Khabar TV. The amendment initially targeted the Soviet Union…

ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided to keep the base rate at 15.25%, NBK Governor Timur Suleimenov announced at a Jan. 17 press briefing. As of December, inflation in Kazakhstan rose to 8.6%, aligning with the forecasted range of 8-9% for 2024. The increase was driven…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosted visits from 33 heads of state and government, four leaders and senior representatives of major international organizations, and seven parliamentary speakers in 2024, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry on Jan. 16.  President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev undertook 24 international trips, including state and official visits, as well as participation in international forums. Kazakhstan…

ASTANA – The East Kazakhstan Region plans to construct five new hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) with a combined capacity of 74.3 megawatts (MW) in the coming years, Kazinform reported on Jan. 16. Plans include the construction of five new small HPPs. A 1.4 MW plant will be built in the Katon-Karagay by 2027, followed by…