Tenge Strengthens Despite Sharp Drop in Oil Prices
NUR-SULTAN – The tenge has been strengthened despite a sharp drop in oil prices, reported the press service of the Kazakh Association of Financiers on Aug. 2. At today’s morning session, the USD/KZT pair is trading at 474.35 tenge per U.S. dollar. Meanwhile, Brent oil prices slumped 9.1 percent to $100 per barrel earlier this…
Rural Elections to Be Held This Week in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – The elections of rural akims (governors) will take place on July 31 in 27 rural areas, said Kazakhstan’s State Counselor Erlan Karin on July 29. Another 214 rural akims will be elected by year-end. Elections in 1,037 rural areas are scheduled for 2023 and 2024. Kazakhstan had its first-ever election of rural akims…
717 People Convicted for Crimes During January Attacks, Says Prosecutor General
NUR-SULTAN – 717 people have been convicted for attacks, mass riots, possession of weapons, and theft during the January events, Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said at a Prosecutor General’s Office board meeting on July 28. Since the beginning of the year, prosecutors have focused on establishing the causes and details of the “January tragedy” and…
CPC’s Oil Shipment Secure After Power Supply Failure at Atyrau Oil Pump Stations
NUR-SULTAN – The power supply shutdown at oil pump stations (PS) in the Atyrau Region did not affect oil shipment, reported the press service of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) on July 27. According to the press release, adverse weather conditions in the Atyrau Region (rain, thunderstorm and hurricane wind) and the collapse of several…
US Tribunal Terminates Arbitration Against BTA Bank, Almaty City and Kazakhstan Filed by Two-Time Convict
NUR-SULTAN – The New York City Tribunal of the American Arbitration Association dismissed July 9 all claims filed by Litco against Kazakhstan, the Almaty akimat (city administration), BTA Bank and their consultant after the claimant failed to pay the processing fee, reported the bank’s press service on July 25. Last February, the court warned the…
Sanctions against Russia Directly Affect Kazakh Households, According to Latest Survey
NUR-SULTAN – More than half of the respondents said the Western sanctions against Russia had a significant impact on the lives of Kazakh people, according to the recent survey released by the BISAM Central Asia Center for Sociological and Marketing Research. The survey was conducted in Almaty, Nur-Sultan, Shymkent, Aktobe, Karaganda, Kostanay, Taraz, and Ust-Kamenogorsk…
Kazakh President Visits Saudi Arabian Crown Prince to Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Ties
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has flown to Saudi Arabia in his first official visit as the head of the state to discuss prospects of cooperation in trade and investment with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, reports president’s press office. The visit was planned for July 23-24. At the airport President…
Local Entrepreneurs Launch Wind Power Plant in Almaty Region
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Zheruyyk-Energo company launched a 50-megawatt wind power plant in the Shelek corridor of the Almaty Region, reported the Kazakh Invest company. Some 25 towers were installed using advanced technology and equipment manufactured by the Danish company Vestas Wind Systems. The wind power plant will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 206,000…
It is Time for Central Asia to Unleash Its Full Potential, Says Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister
NUR-SULTAN – The fourth consultative meeting of heads of Central Asian states concluded July 21 in Cholpon-Ata. It is time for the region to unleash its full potential, said Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yermukhambet Konuspayev, commenting on the outcomes of the Cholpon-Ata meeting to The Astana Times. “Our nations are sharing culture, history, geography and…
KazISS Director Sees Growing Importance of Kazakhstan for US
If Kazakhstan was once interested in working closer with the United States, the same can be said of the US now, said Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies Yerkin Tukumov, among other things, in an interview with Zakon.kz. – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan recently said that Kazakhstan is writing a…
ADB Launches New Platform to Facilitate Partnerships for Startups in Central Asia
NUR-SULTAN – The Asian Development Bank has launched a new platform to improve the ecosystem for startup businesses and discuss potential avenues for collaboration as part of its Central Asia Economic Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program during a virtual event that gathered government officials, business incubators, start-up accelerators, IT parks, students, and investor communities from…
Neo-Nomad 2022 Campaign to Be Launched in September to Promote Domestic Tourism
NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry of Culture and Sports announced plans to launch the Neo-Nomad 2022 project on the eve of Capital Day, reported the press service of Kazakh Tourism. Tourists can now receive a special status of NeoNomad after visiting 20 popular tourist attractions in the country, said Vice Minister of Culture and Sports Yerzhan…
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey Seek Ways to Boost Cooperation in Logistics and Transport
NUR-SULTAN – The foreign and transport ministers of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey convened in Baku to explore ways to boost cooperation in logistics and energy as well as to discuss the regional and international agenda in light of the ongoing geo-political changes occuring in the region, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister…
AIFC Should Strengthen Its Status as Leading Regional Financial Center, Says President Tokayev
NUR-SULTAN – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) should strengthen its status as a leading regional financial center, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the June 27 meeting of the AIFC Management Council, reported the Akorda. The meeting was held as part of the Astana Financial Days conference, which kicked off on June 27 in…
Iranian Businesses to Invest More than $200 Million in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh and Iranian business communities signed 12 agreements worth more than $200 million during the Kazakh-Iranian Business Forum in Tehran in mid-June, reported the Kazakh Invest national company. The forum was held during the recent visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Iran when Tokayev and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi agreed to increase…
Kazakhstan’s Chief of General Staff Speaks About Measures to Strengthen Armed Forces
NUR-SULTAN – When Kazakhstan gained independence, the Kazakh military was created practically from scratch, and the army can rightfully be considered a basic element of the foundation of a new statehood, said Lieutenant General Marat Khusainov, First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, reports Zakon.kz news…
Kazakh President Meets with Amir of Qatar, Takes Part in Qatar Economic Forum
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani reaffirmed their mutual desire to strengthen trade and economic ties and implement joint investment projects during their June 21 meeting in Doha, reported Akorda. Tokayev paid a visit to Qatar at the personal invitation of…
Kazakhstan’s Burabay and Markakol Parks Join UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves
NUR-SULTAN – The Burabay National Park and the Markakol State Nature Reserve have been included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The decision was announced at the 34th session of the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program…
Prime Minister Visits State-of-the-Art IT, Medical, Educational Facilities in Almaty
NUR-SULTAN – Developments in information technologies open up new economic opportunities for Kazakh people, said Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov during the visit to the MOST IT Hub Almaty as part of his working trip to Almaty, reported the Prime Minister’s Office. The MOST IT Hub Almaty was launched in May. It includes offices, coworking spaces,…
President Tokayev Focuses on Reform Agenda in Kazakhstan, Investigation into January Events and Effects of Sanctions in TV Interview
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is in the midst of a major political transformation, having held a referendum on reform of the Constitution, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the June 15 interview to Russia 24 TV channel given ahead of his visit to Russia’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Tokayev noted the country has begun a…
Pope Francis Hopes to Meet with Patriarch Kirill at Interreligious Congress in Kazakhstan in September
NUR-SULTAN – Pope Francis expressed hope to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions scheduled for Sept. 14-15 in Nur-Sultan. This was announced in Pope Francis’s interview with the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica published on June 14. “We were supposed to meet on June…
President Tokayev Takes Part in Credentials Ceremony, Notes Role of Diplomatic Relations Between Countries
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed full support and assistance of his administration and the Kazakh government to the newly appointed foreign ambassadors during the June 15 ceremony of receiving credentials in Akorda. It is reported the credentials were presented by Ambassador of Vietnam Pham Thai Nhu Mai, Ambassador of Portugal Maria de Fátima Velez…
Astana Ballet Theater to Present “The Silk Road” Ballet This Weekend
NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Ballet Theater will stage “The Silk Road” ballet choreographed by Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Mukaram Avakhri on June 18-19, reported the theater’s press service. According to Kazakh poet and screenwriter Bakhyt Kairbekov, who wrote the ballet’s libretto, he was attracted to the topic of the new project and closely worked with…
France’s Alstom to Invest More Than 50 Million Euros in New Projects in Regions of Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – The French company Alstom announced plans to invest more than 50 million euros (US$53 million) in locomotive repair centers in Rudny, Ekibastuz and Arys towns, reported June 10 the Kazakh Invest National Company. The company has already invested 127 million euros (US$134.6 million) in two projects including the production of electric locomotives and…
All COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Removed in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Proof of vaccination status and COVID-19 PCR tests for the Kazakh and foreign citizens for entering Kazakhstan are not required since June 8, reported the Prime Minister’s Office. The Interdepartmental Commission made the decision to cancel requirements due to the stabilization of the epidemiological situation in the country and worldwide. The work of…
