CEC Accredits 43 International Presidential Election Observers
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) confirmed the accreditation of 43 representatives from international organizations and foreign countries who expressed an interest in observing the presidential elections on Nov. 20, reported the CEC press service. As of Oct. 17, the CEC approved requests from observer missions of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the…
Tokayev Discusses Prevention of Torture with Human Rights Commission’s Chairperson
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed the prevention of torture by law enforcement officers with Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Human Rights Igor Rogov during their meeting on Oct. 17, reported Akorda’s press service. The President stressed the importance of human rights’ protections, citing it as the critical component of state policy. According…
Kazakhstan is Ready to Increase Trade Turnover with Vietnam
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov indicated the country’s readiness to strengthen cooperation in trade, tourism, agriculture, and transport and logistics during an Oct. 14 meeting with Vice President of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Smailov said that the trade turnover between the two countries over the last…
CIS Member States to Maintain Close Trade, Economic Ties Amid Turbulent Global and Regional Economy, Tokayev Says
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stresses the need to maintain close trade and economic ties amid a turbulent global and regional economy during the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State Council meeting on Oct. 14, reported the Akorda’s press service. “I sincerely thank you for supporting the initiatives of Kazakhstan within the CIS…
Kazakhstan and Qatar Sign Investment Agreements Worth $625 Million
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Qatar have signed 13 bilateral documents worth more than $625 million at an Oct. 12 Kazakhstan-Qatar Investment Forum in Astana, reported the Kazakh Invest national company’s press service. The agreements were concluded for investments in dairy and poultry production, metallurgy and mining, tourism, agricultural, education, healthcare, IT and the communication sectors.…
CIS Heads of State Council Meeting Kicks Off in Astana
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital Astana hosts the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State Council meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Oct. 14. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Turkmenistan…
Kazakhstan Ratifies Agreement on Free Trade Zone between EAEU and Iran
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law on Oct. 12 ratifying the agreement that leads to the formation of a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran, reported the Akorda press service. The interim agreement was signed on May 17, 2018, in the capital of Kazakhstan. It entered into…
CICA Adopts Astana Statement
ASTANA – The participants of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) sixth summit adopted the Astana Statement during their plenary session on Oct. 13. This milestone decision has been a key priority of Kazakhstan’s chairpersonship in CICA in 2020-2022. The transformation into an organization will affect development priorities as Kazakhstan renews…
Mazhilis Considers Draft Law on Amnesty for January Riots Participants
ASTANA – The Mazhilis, a lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, took into consideration a bill on amnesty for some participants in the January riots, reported the Mazhilis press service on Oct. 12. The bill will exempt criminal liability or reduce the penalties for citizens who participated in the January riots but did not commit…
Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth Accelerates in January-September This Year
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 2.8 percent in the January-September period of this year, said Kazakh Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov at an Oct. 11 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Oct. 12. The growth was driven by a surge in the agricultural, information and communication, construction, transportation and warehousing,…
Kazakhstan is Ready to Enhance Transit Potential of International North-South Transport Corridor, Says Kazakh Minister in Tehran
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to enhance the transit potential of the countries along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), said Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Kairat Uskenbayev during an Oct. 10 meeting with counterparts from Iran and Central Asian countries in Tehran, reported the ministry’s press service. “We are interested in increasing the…
Sixth CICA Summit to Recap Kazakhstan’s Two-Year Chairmanship
ASTANA – The sixth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which will take place in Astana on Oct. 12-13, seeks to sum up the results of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of two years, reported the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Affairs Ministry. The summit will also honor the 30th anniversary…
EU, Council of Europe Commend Kazakhstan’s Progress in Abolition of Death Penalty
ASTANA – As part of the European and World Day against the Death Penalty held on Oct. 10, the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe commended Kazakhstan’s efforts to achieve complete abolition of the death penalty, reported the press service of the Council of Europe on Oct. 9. “The EU and the Council…
Kazakhstan to Launch International Digital Signature Project
ASTANA – The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry and Foreign Investors’ Council Association will launch a pilot project that will utilize international digital signatures to increase the efficiency of commercial transactions involving Kazakh and global companies, reported the association’s press service on Oct. 6. The memorandum of understanding on implementing a pilot…
COCA-COLA Plans to Launch Soft Drinks Plant in Shymkent
ASTANA – Director of the Kazakhstan branch of the Coca-Cola İçecek Türkiye’s company Mustafa Beltekin, Shymkent Akim (Mayor) Murat Aytenov and the Kazakh Invest national company’s officials discussed the construction of a soft drinks plant in Shymkent at an Oct. 7 meeting, reported the company’s press service. With an annual production capacity of 262 million…
EBRD Regional Report: Kazakh Economy Shows Growth of 3.4 Percent Year-On-Year in First Half of 2022, Risks Remain Due to Oil Transit
ASTANA – The Kazakh economy demonstrated a broad-based growth of 3.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2022, reported the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Regional Economic Prospects on Sept. 28. Kazakhstan showed record high oil and gas revenues as a result of elevated prices and increased export volumes. The oil exports…
European Council President Charles Michel to Visit Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan in October
ASTANA – President of the European Council Charles Michel will visit Astana on Oct. 26-27 to attend the Central Asian leaders meeting following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s invitation, Michel confirmed on Twitter on Oct. 8. “European Union (EU) is ready to deepen ties with Central Asia and support intra-regional cooperation,” he wrote. Also, Michel plans…
All Five Presidential Candidates Submit Documents to Central Election Commission
ASTANA – All five candidates running for the upcoming presidential elections on Nov. 20 in Kazakhstan оfficially submitted their documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC), reported the CEC press service. The CEC confirmed that presidential candidates President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Meiram Kazhyken, and Zhiguli Dairabayev meet all requirements for candidates to run in the elections.…
CIS Heads Discuss Future Cooperation at Informal Meeting in Saint Petersburg
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived on Oct. 7 in Saint Petersburg, Russia to take part in an informal meeting of the heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reported Akorda press service. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Belarus Alexandr Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President…
Kazakh Film Akyn Captivates Audience in Mexico at Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival
ASTANA – A film “Akyn”(Poet) by Kazakh director Darezhan Omirbayev captured the audience’s attention at the Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival in Mexico City, which is taking place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 9, reported the press service of the Kazakh Embassy to Mexico on Oct. 7. Before the screening, Charge d’Affaires of Kazakhstan in…
USAID’s 12th Central Asia Trade Forum Seeks to Advance Connectivity and Trade in Region
ASTANA – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will host the 12th Central Asia Trade Forum dedicated to the digitalization of customs services on Oct. 12-13 in Astana. The topics related to the innovations and the role of digital enforcement, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, regional cooperation within the National Trade Facilitation Committees are on…
Caspian Sea Has Great Trade and Transit Potential, Kazakh Prime Minister Says
ASTANA – With its unique transit potential, the Caspian Sea region plays an integral part in the development of international trade, said Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov at the second Capsian Economic Forum (CEF) held in Moscow on Oct. 6, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. “Kazakhstan plans to establish cross-border hubs to increase the…
Kazakh Capital to Host Several High-Profile Forums and State Visits Next Week
ASTANA – Astana will play host to several international forums and visits of foreign leaders from Oct. 11 to Oct. 15, reported the Akorda press service on Oct. 7. The week will start with the state visit of the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Oct. 11-12. Following him, Turkish President Recep…
Political Parties, Public Associations to Form People’s Coalition to Support Tokayev in Presidential Elections
ASTANA – Chairman of the Amanat party Yerlan Koshanov announced the decision to create the people’s coalition to support President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the upcoming presidential elections at the extraordinary congress of the party on Oct. 6 in Astana, reported Kazinform. “Today, we have made a strategic choice and should join our efforts to support…
Pope Francis Recalls His Visit to Kazakhstan, Expresses Hope For Tolerant, Democratic Future (Video)
ASTANA – Pope Francis spoke about his apostolic journey to Kazakhstan as a ‘pilgrim of peace’ for the participation in the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions at a Sept. 21 General Audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. The Pope praised the initiative of the Congress of Leaders of World and…
