Articles by Staff report

ASTANA – The Otandastar (compatriots) Foundation will host a summer camp for ethnic Kazakh children living abroad in Kazakhstan on July 1-14, the foundation announced on its Facebook page. Around 200 children aged 12 to 17 will be invited to attend the camp. The Summer Camp 2023 project provides classes in archery, horse riding, playing…

ASTANA – The League of Arab States (LAS) expressed its interest in participation in the upcoming Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 8-9, said LAS Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit during his meeting with Kazakh Ambassador to Egypt Kairat Lama Sharif on March 29 in Cairo, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service.  The diplomats agreed…

ASTANA – Dozens of camera traps have recorded rare footage of snow leopards, Kazakh argali (mountain sheep), and bears in the Zhongar-Alatau mountains, reported Tabigat National Union of Hunters on March 27. As part of the project to develop sustainable tourism, the union’s experts, zoologists and rangers monitored snow leopards and other animals on the…

ASTANA – President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extending gratitude for the support and emergency assistance provided by Kazakhstan to the Turkish people after the Feb. 6 devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, reported the Akorda press service on March 30. “During a natural disaster, the solidarity…

ASTANA – The online festival organized by the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports and TikTok to mark Nauryz garnered more than 120 million views, reported the ministry’s press service on March 29. As part of the festival with the Nauryz2023 hashtag, Kazakh citizens created and posted videos on the platform showing how they celebrate…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will provide 550 scholarships to foreign nationals, including 490 for bachelor’s degrees, 50 for master’s degrees, and ten for PhD, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science on March 31.  Applications are open from March 30 through June 30. The ministry’s National Center for the Development of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s imports of goods from the European Union (EU) grew by 89 percent to $1.5 billion in two months this year compared to the same period in 2022, reaching the highest figure in recent years, reported Kazakhstan’s Economic Research Institute on March 30. The growth was driven by a surge in imports of…

ASTANA – The senior officials of the governments of the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan affirmed their common objectives and commitments to improving cooperation and enhancing opportunities for trade and investment as part of the council meeting of the U.S. – Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) held in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Wimbledon Champion and World No. 7 Elena Rybakina, 23, made it to the finals at the Miami Open by beating World No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States 7:6 (3), 6:4 at Hard Rock Stadium on March 31. Rybakina became the first female player to achieve Serena Williams’ record serving more…

ASTANA – The Caspian seal population in Kazakhstan’s part of the Caspian Sea is now approximately 311,000, the press service of the country’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported on March 29.  The declining population of the Caspian seal has long been a major concern for Kazakh ecologists. Last autumn, the seal population in…

ASTANA – A regional personnel reserve will be established in Kazakhstan this year by a presidential decree, said Ainur Sergaziyeva, deputy chairwoman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs, at a March 30 meeting with the Senate, the upper chamber of the Parliament, the agency’s press service reported. “This will serve as a social lift…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan needs to gain a foothold as a key regional investment hub, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a plenary session of the Mazhilis, lower chamber of the Parliament on March 30, the Akorda press service reported. Tokayev stressed the importance of consistently diversifying and strengthening market-based principles to change the economic development model…

ASTANA – The Turkic Investment Fund under the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will have an authorized capital of $500 million, according to a draft bill published on Kazakhstan’s Open Normative Legal Acts website.  OTS heads of state signed an agreement to create the fund during the OTS Extraordinary Summit in Ankara on March 16.…

ASTANA – The Embassy of Italy in Kazakhstan presented the Together Towards 2050 website that includes an action plan built on three axes: cooperation, innovation, and education, reported the еmbassy’s press service on March 29. The plan’s thirty objectives aim to strengthen cooperation and elevate relations between the two countries to a new level. “Last…

ASTANA – Foreign ministries of Kazakhstan and Germany held political consultations on March 28 in Berlin to strengthen bilateral ties and coordinate positions on priority issues on the bilateral, regional, and international agendas, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko and German Federal Foreign Ministry’s Director for Eastern Europe,…

ASTANA – The government announced plans to initiate the research program on identifying factors that impact the historical monument of the tomb of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, located in Turkistan during a March 28 meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service.  The Ministry of Culture and Sport will coordinate and carry out the program until the…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set important priorities for the new Parliament, focusing on social justice and outlining state support measures for nearly all major social strata, State Counselor Erlan Karin said on his Telegram channel following the first session of the Kazakh Parliament of the eighth convocation on March 29.  According to Karin, the…

ASTANA – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have started an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission on March 28 to help prepare a comprehensive report on the country’s nuclear power infrastructure, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry’s press service.  The mission, which goes through March 31, will assess the state of Kazakhstan’s nuclear energy infrastructure as…

ASTANA – Kazakh and Chinese business leaders agreed to bolster bilateral economic relations, signing 16 documents, including five commercial agreements worth $565.4 million in construction, energy, mining, agriculture, food industry, engineering, tourism, investment, and other sectors at a March 28 cross-border cooperation dialogue in Almaty, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The forum was held…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan increased its export supplies to nearly $84.4 billion in 2022, turning the global geopolitical crisis into an advantage, according to a March 27 review published on ranking.kz analytical website. Last year, Kazakhstan had a record-high foreign trade turnover of $134.4 billion. Exports, in monetary terms, increased by 40 percent for the first…

ASTANA – The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan reaffirmed its intention to pursue an open and constructive dialogue with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), said CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov at a meeting with Eoghan Murphy, the head of the ODIHR election observation mission on…

ASTANA – A сommuniqué outlining further bilateral government measures to support the ethnic German diaspora in Kazakhstan was signed in Berlin during the 19th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on ethnic Germans living in Kazakhstan, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service on March 28.   The meeting of the commission, which aims to support 226,000…

ASTANA – Central Election Commission (CEC) registered newly elected deputies of the Mazhilis, a lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, at a March 28 session, a day after it announced the final results of the March 19 election to the Mazhilis and maslikhats, local representative bodies. The CEC congratulated newly elected deputies, issuing identity cards…

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a $150 million Kazakhstan Green Economy Financing Facility II (GEFF Kazakhstan II) on March 27 to help businesses and households adopt environmentally friendly practices, reported the EBRD’s press service. Financial institutions under the GEFF Kazakhstan II program will receive funds for on-lending to…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will deliver an address at the opening of the first session of the Kazakh Parliament of the eighth convocation on March 29, the Akorda press service reported. The President’s address will be broadcasted live at 10 a.m. Astana time on national TV channels and social media. Heads of state bodies,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has created the G4 City special economic zone (SEZ) in the Almaty Region, seeking to attract nearly 3.7 trillion tenge ($8.1 billion) of investments through 2048, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on March 17. The new economic zone with an area of 30,000 hectares is expected to provide favorable conditions for…

ASTANA – Kazakh low-cost carrier Fly Arystan is set to launch Astana-Baku passenger flights from June 2, the Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee reported on March 16. Flights will be operated twice a week on Mondays and Fridays on Airbus-A320 aircraft. The air carrier also operates flights on the Aktau-Baku route. Kazakh national air carrier Air…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on March 27 to convene the first session of the Kazakh Parliament of the eighth convocation at 10 a.m. Astana time on March 29, reported the Akorda press service. The decree shall enter into force from the date of signing. The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced the…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on March 27 to convene the 32nd session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) on April 26-27 at the capital’s Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, reported the Akorda press service. The theme of the upcoming session is Just and Fair Kazakhstan: Unity, Stability,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national football team sensationally beat Denmark 3-2 in the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match at home on March 26. The Danes led 2:0 at half time. But goals in the final 17 minutes from Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov, Askhat Tagybergen, and Abat Aimbetov completed a stunning comeback victory.   The Kazakh national team will next…

ASTANA – Six parties were elected to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, on March 19, out of seven parties that participated in the election, according to the final results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) at a March 27 meeting. These six parties received enough votes to pass the required…

ASTANA – Eight Kazakh universities in 40 disciplines entered the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject, published on March 22 by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the world’s largest international higher education network based in the United Kingdom, announced the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education.  The QS World University Rankings by Subject cover 54…

ASTANA – A restored 7.5-meter-high Scythian-Saka era Baikara mound is set to become a new tourist attraction in the Shal akyn district in northern Kazakhstan, Director of the Center for the Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage Rakhat Mambetalinov said, as reported by Kazinform on March 22. “We want everyone to have a…

ASTANA – Kazakh famous singer Dimash Kudaibergen released a new song, “Together,” on March 22, calling it a message of love and hope for the current challenging times on his Instagram page. Kudaibergen first performed the song written by his brother Mansur Kudaibergen at a concert in Almaty. He also shared that the soon-to-be-released music…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to diversify its oil supplies and work out alternative routes for delivery of goods in line with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions outlined at a meeting with the government, relevant ministries, departments, and national companies involved in developing the country’s transport and transit potential. In a recent interview with Zakon.kz, Lidiya Parkhomchik,…

ASTANA – The Nauryz holiday has marked a new political milestone in the development of Kazakhstan, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev while attending events celebrating the occasion, the Akorda press service reported on March 21. Speaking at a public event, the President noted the large-scale political modernization that has been ongoing since last year. The idea…

ASTANA – The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan received the Air Transport News (ATN) Corporate Award, recognizing the transition to new civil aviation management, at the Global Connectivity Challenges Air Transport Symposium in Montreal, Canada, the country’s Civil Aviation Committee announced on March 20. “The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and the Civil Aviation Committee will continue…

Kazakhstan became a member of the United Nations on March 2, 1992. In 31 years, Kazakhstan has gone from joining the organization to chairing a session of the General Assembly. Over these decades, Kazakhstan has contributed to many aspects of the UN’s work across the globe. In this article, we look back at some of…

ASTANA – Last month, Italian capital Rome hosted the seventh EU–Central Asia High-Level Conference, which Kazakhstan chaired. One of the areas of cooperation between the EU and Central Asia is addressing the Aral Sea crisis.  Bolat Bekniyaz, director of the Executive Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, discussed the lake’s ecosystem…

ASTANA – Six parties have been elected to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on March 20. Six out of the seven parties that participated in the election received enough votes to pass the required five percent threshold to gain seats…

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens abroad had the opportunity to vote in Kazkahstan’s parliamentary election at 77 polling stations opened by diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan in 62 countries. Members of election commissions noted active participation in the election. The Astana Times interviewed voters in various capitals of the world to get their thoughts on the election…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Information and Social Development Darkhan Kydyrali participated in the 10th edition of the Global Baku Forum, which took place on March 9-11 in Azerbaijan, reported the ministry’s press service. Among several issues he singled out were ecological challenges of the Caspian Sea. “The Caspian Sea is a unique body of…

ASTANA – Foreign observers praised the well-organized process of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election on March 19, high voter turnout, and people’s freedom of expression at a press conference in Astana on March 20. According to Sadi Jafarov, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, the organization’s mission witnessed thorough preparations to safeguard people’s will.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan set an example for other countries in the region facing similar challenges by being one of the first to repatriate its women and children from Syria and Iraq and effectively reintegrate them into society, said United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative Arthur van Diesen at a March 16 conference dedicated to the…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s tennis player Elena Rybakina clinched her first triumph at a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 tournament and climbed from tenth to seventh in the singles ranking, Kazakhstan Tennis Federation’s press service announced on March 20. Rybakina beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in five tries with a 7-6 (13-11) 6-4 victory at the Indian…

ASTANA – Amanat party is leading in the parliamentary election, according to exit polls conducted by three public institutions. The results were announced live after midnight on March 20 during the Sailau 2023 TV marathon.  The exit poll conducted by the Institute of Eurasian Integration shows the Amanat party receiving 53.46 percent of the vote,…

ASTANA – Voter turnout abroad has reached 41.8 percent as of 7 p.m. Astana time, representing more than 5,071 people out of 12,016 registered voters, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko said during an evening briefing at the Central Election Commission.  Kazakh citizens can cast their ballot at 77 polling stations opened in the…

ASTANA — Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election reached 53.11 percent as of 6 p.m. local Astana time, Central Election Commission (CEC) member Shavkat Otemisov announced at a press briefing today. 6,390,046 out of 12,032,550 eligible voters have cast their ballot in 10,223 polling stations across Kazakhstan. The Kyzylorda Region has the highest voter turnout,…

ASTANA – As the parliamentary election continues nationwide, voters in the country’s regions are exercising their constitutional rights at an increasingly higher rate than those in big cities.  According to the latest data from the Central Election Commission (at 4:30 p.m.), the highest voter turnouts are in the Kyzylorda Region at 64.95 percent, Kostanai Region…

ASTANA — Kazakh citizens across the country who went to the polls in today’s parliamentary election to exercise their constitutional duty and civic right underlined broader public interest and increased participation, expressing hope about the election. Assel Akhmetzhanova, 28, from the capital Astana, cast her vote early in the morning. She said she was surprised…

ASTANA – Top government officials have cast their vote early in the morning in the March 19 parliamentary election to the Mazhilis and the maslikhats, including Senate Chairman Maulen Ashimbayev, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, and State Counselor Erlan Karin.   Maulen Ashimbayev, chairman of the Senate, the upper house of the Parliament, also commented on the…

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens can cast their ballot at 77 polling stations opened in Kazakhstan’s diplomatic missions in 62 countries on election day today, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko said during an early morning briefing at the Central Communications Center on March 19.  Kazakhstan is holding parliamentary elections for the Mazhilis, the lower…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his vote in the parliamentary election to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament, and the maslikhats, local representative bodies, which began on March 19 in the country, the Akorda press service reported. The President was among the first who voted at the polling station in…

ASTANA – Parliamentary election for the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, and maslikhats, local representative bodies, kicked off across Kazakhstan on March 19.  More than 12 million people are eligible to vote today. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), 10,233 polling stations are operating in 17 regions and three cities of national significance…

ASTANA – The protection of human rights should be an integral part of the country’s reforms, said the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, during his March 17 meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service.  Türk’s visit to Kazakhstan on March 16-17 follows his trip to Uzbekistan…

ASTANA – For the second year in a row, the capital’s airport has been selected as the top regional airport in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) by the World Airport Awards, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development’s press service on March 16.   The World Airport Awards were presented at…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key areas of cooperation, including in emergency management, during the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Extraordinary Summit in Ankara on March 16, the Akorda press service reported. According to President Tokayev, the first step is to join efforts to avert natural disasters, citing the earthquake in Türkiye as evidence…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara as part of his working visit to Türkiye on March 16, the Akorda press service reported. Tokayev also took part in an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).  Tokayev extended his condolences to the families and friends of…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s reforms heralded the beginning of the renewal of the system of social values, revived civic engagement, and fostered citizens’ participation in the country’s fundamental transformation process, wrote State Counselor Erlan Karin on his Telegram channel on March 16. President Tokayev presented a comprehensive reform program a year ago, resulting in…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov stressed the importance of regional initiatives amid growing global and regional instability at the opening of the 66th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on March 13 in Austria’s capital Vienna, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. One such initiative is the…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan team made it to the top five with 3,944 points scored in the para biathlon, and cross-country skiing competitions at 2023 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships, the Kazakh Culture and Sports Ministry’s press service reported on March 15. The team won 13 medals, including two gold, five silver, and six bronze. Yerbol…

ASTANA – The KazTransOil oil transportation company plans a test shipment of 7,000 tons of oil from the Kashagan oil field through Aktau seaport to Baku port this month, reported the company’s press service on March 10. The oil shipper is INPEX North Caspian Sea, which has been participating in developing the Kashagan oil field…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov urged the government to remove transportation barriers within three days and ease the passage of trucks through checkpoints on the Kazakh-Chinese border at a March 14 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Following the lifting of the restrictions from the Chinese side, the volume of cargo…

ASTANA – The KazTransOil oil transportation company plans to send another 20,000 tons of oil to Germany via the Druzhba oil pipeline in April, said Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov on the sidelines of the March 14 government meeting, reported Kazinform.   According to Akchulakov, Kazakhstan transported two batches of oil totaling 40,000 tons in February…

ASTANA – Director of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) Yerkin Tukumov argued the new efforts outlined by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a March 13 meeting with the heads of government bodies would encompass the economic sphere.  “Now, it is important that people see the results of the ongoing reforms firsthand. On the other hand,…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has welcomed the agreements achieved on March 10 in the Chinese capital, Beijing, to reestablish diplomatic ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran seven years after the two states severed relations, the March 14 statement from the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.  “We highly appreciate…

ASTANA — Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom James Cleverly will visit Kazakhstan on March 17-18 and attend the opening of a new square named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov announced at a March 13 press briefing. Cleverly is expected to meet with the country’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to pay a state visit to China this year, the Akorda press service reported, following Tokayev’s meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Zhang Xiao, on March 14. Both sides highlighted the significance of tightening bilateral relations and expanding economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian ties. They stressed the relevance…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a working visit to Ankara, Türkiye, on March 16, at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to attend an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), reported Akorda press service. During the visit, President Tokayev is expected to meet with President Erdoğan. The OTS…

ASTANA — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will lend 4.1 billion tenge ($8.9 million) to the East Kazakhstan Region for 10 years to improve street lighting in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, the EBRD’s press service reported on March 10. The project under the Green City Action Plan (GCAP) envisages the installation of…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown by 4.3 percent in the first two months of 2023, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov at a March 14 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Kazakhstan is seeing positive dynamics in major sectors of the economy, including the real sector (2.7 percent)…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor Aizhan Yesmagambetova outlined several recommendations for the upcoming parliamentary and local elections amid the current epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan at a March 13 Central Election Commission (CEC) meeting. Eight or more CEC members, observers, and election officials will be present at each polling…

ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated citizens on the Amal holiday (‘Korisu’ in Kazakh, meaning to meet each other) or the Day of Greeting, on his Twitter account on March 14. “Since ancient times, people have been looking forward to this day of spring awakening. The holiday, calling for unity and harmony, is…

ASTANA – China is set to resume outbound travel to 40 countries starting from March 15, including to Kazakhstan, reported Kazinform. According to China’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, travel agencies and online tour operators across the country will resume providing outbound group tours for their citizens in pilot mode. Alongside Kazakhstan, China will restart outbound…

ASTANA – The Astana Opera House will stage a concert to mark the 200th anniversary of famous Kazakh folk composer and virtuoso dombra player Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly at its Chamber Hall on March 19, according to the theater’s release.   Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly was a great composer, the founder of the dombra school, who had a tremendous influence…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the main pillars in ensuring social and economic development of the country during a March 13 meeting, reported the Akorda press service. Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, heads of state agencies, and akims (governors and mayors) of regions and cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent attended the meeting. The President…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Senate, an upper chamber of the Parliament, adopted on March 9 amendments to the law on human rights, outlining harsher punishments for torture and ill-treatment and securing stronger protection for human rights and freedom, reported the Senate press service. Among the 45 introduced amendments, the law features norms concerning strengthening liability…

ASTANA – Astana Hub international technopark of IT startups and California-based Draper University signed an agreement on March 10 to allow 20 promising startups from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to participate in the Hero Training acceleration program in Silicon Valley, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Embassy in France, together with the Kazakh  Businesswomen community, showcased national culture in Paris as part of an event dedicated to the International Women’s Day on March 9, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. The event brought together representatives of the French establishment, business, and cultural community, the United Nations Educational,…

ASTANA – Egypt’s Air Cairo airline is launching two direct flights a week (on Monday and Friday) between Astana and Sharm El Sheikh, and twice a week between Almaty and Sharm El Sheikh (Tuesday and Saturday) from March 13 and 14, respectively, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service. The flights will be conducted by…

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens can vote using digital identification documents (IDs), announced the country’s eGov portal on its Instagram page on March 10. “Digital documents are equivalent to paper documents. Citizens can use the eGov mobile application to present an electronic version of the original voter identification document. The digital document is also available in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan took part in the ITB Berlin international tourism exhibition on March 7-9 in Germany, where visitors were captivated by a Kazakh yurt, the Ministry of Culture and Sports reported.  The Kazakh yurt, decorated with natural materials and displayed at the Kazakh Tourism national company’s stand, was of significant interest to the visitors,…

ASTANA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japanese government have donated computer equipment to the Kazhydromet national hydrometeorological service, which will be integrated into the country’s current forecasting and preventive system, the UNDP press service reported on March 9. The computer technology will enable rapid generation and prediction of drought forecasts to…

ASTANA – Central Asian countries and India adopted a joint statement on the importance of coordinating international efforts to foster peace and stability in Afghanistan at a March 7 meeting in New Delhi, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The first meeting of a joint working group on Afghanistan is part of Central Asia…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s citizens will be able to vote in the upcoming parliamentary and local elections on March 19 at 77 polling stations set up at the country’s diplomatic missions in 62 countries, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s statement released on March 10. “To vote, citizens of Kazakhstan with active voting rights residing or…

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Gennadiy Golovkin has formally resigned his world champion position, World Boxing Association (WBA) announced on Twitter on March 10. Former WBA Middleweight Super Champion Golovkin took this decision in the face of a scheduled purse bid on March 13 with WBA regular champion Erislandy Lara, now the sole recognized WBA middleweight…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to join the GovStack initiative, which entails promoting Kazakh-made products in open-source format to other countries, said Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin during a meeting with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, United Nations Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, as part of his working visit to the…

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan-Canada Business Forum was held in Toronto on March 6, which focused on exploring promising investment opportunities in mining and metallurgy, reported the Kazakh Invest national company’s press service. Nearly 150 delegates participated in the forum, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Almas Aidarov, representatives of government and business associations, as well…

ASTANA – More than 100 top Kazakh students will be the first in the world to work on the OpenSearch Service project, an open-source search and analytics suite, as part of the College Contributor initiative launched in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced on its Facebook page on March 9. The…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to export 9.4 million tons of grain and flour this year, said Azat Sultanov, director of the agricultural department at the Agriculture Ministry, at a March 9 Central Communications Service press briefing. According to Sultanov, Kazakhstan usually exports six to seven million tons of grain and 1.5-2 million tons of flour,…

ASTANA – An exhibition, named Tekti Onerdin Shenberi (Circle of the Noble Art), opened at the National Museum of Kazakhstan on March 3 in Astana, displaying works of a well-known Kazakh jeweler, teacher, and restorer Serzhan Bashirov, reported Jibek Joly TV channel. Serzhan Bashirov, a member of the Kazakh Union of Artists and collector, initiated…

ASTANA – Chevron plans to increase oil production to one million barrels per day in Kazakhstan, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth announced at the CERAWeek conference in Houston, United States, on March 6, reported Kazinform. According to Wirth, Chevron has been focusing on expanding its activities in Kazakhstan for nearly a decade.  “Chevron was the first…

ASTANA – Kazakh officials addressed gender equality, employment, and women’s health at a government meeting on March 7, chaired by Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the government’s press service. According to the Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov, Kazakhstan has made significant progress in building a society with equal rights and opportunities, creating a…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the valuable role of women in the nation’s development at a festive event to mark the International Women’s Day on March 8, reported the Akorda press service. “Kazakhstan’s women are studying in the world’s best universities and working in large global companies. They work in various fields having…

ASTANA – Silkway Transit, a private freight railway carrier in Kazakhstan, invested more than $100 million in new locomotives, reported Kazinform on March 6. By the end of the first half of 2023, the freight railway carrier will replenish its fleet with 16 new shunting and export diesel locomotives of the TEM9 series.  The four-axle…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ranked 63rd out of 145 countries in the 2023 Military Strength Ranking by Global Firepower review. Global Firepower ranking considers over 60 factors ranging from the number of military units and financial standing to logistical capabilities and geography. According to Global Firepower, Kazakh military forces have 237 aircraft units, 300 tanks,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov presented the country’s economic development model at the fifth United Nations (UN) conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Doha on March 5-7, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service.  According to Umarov, this model allowed the country to reach the level of an upper-middle-income country…

ASTANA – A student of Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU), Ainur Polatova, who promotes national board games, announced plans to present her startup to the French companies, the university’s press service reported.  Polatova is a first-year student in the Kazakh Philology master’s program who has implemented a unique startup project called Talapai. She decided to…

ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) has implemented more than 400 projects in Kazakhstan in the last 30 years, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov during a March 6 press briefing. “In the past 30 years, the UN has implemented over 400 projects in Kazakhstan at the national, regional, and local levels in a…

ASTANA – Establishing interconnectivity in Asia requires countries to cooperate closely and form interwoven market linkages at the subregional level, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Kairat Sarybay told Azerbaijan’s Trend news agency. Sarybay added that in a positive sense, Central Asia’s regional cooperation tendencies are at odds…