Articles by Staff report

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…

EU Statement on Kazakhstan’s Referendum “Welcomes Political Reforms Initiated by President Tokayev”

NUR-SULTAN – The European Union (EU) takes note of the final result of the referendum in Kazakhstan where people voted in favor of constitutional amendments, reported on June 7 the Brussels European External Action Service (EEAS) Press Team. “The EU welcomes the political reforms initiated by President Tokayev on March 16 in addition to the…

President Tokayev Meets With Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia as Part of His Visit to Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia seek to strengthen economic and investment cooperation. This was announced during the meeting between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on June 6, reported Akorda.  Saudi Arabia is one of Kazakhstan’s…

Kazakh President Says ‘There Will Be No Recurrence of Tragic January’

NUR-SULTAN – There will be no recurrence of the tragedy, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told reporters about the investigation into the January events after he cast his vote in the capital’s Schoolchildren Palace on June 5.  “The authorized bodies are investigating the cases thoroughly. The Prosecutor General’s Office publishes all materials related to the investigation. The…

Kazakh President Meets with Prosecutor General to Discuss Investigation of January Events

NUR-SULTAN – It is vital to objectively investigate the circumstances and those responsible for the attacks and mass riots in January, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the meeting with Prosecutor General Berik Asylov on June 2, reported Akorda.  The results of the investigation should be presented to the public on a regular basis.  Asylov said…

Kazakh President Visits Construction Site of New Terminal, Academic Universities During Working Visit to Almaty

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev led the groundbreaking ceremony at the construction of a new international terminal at the airport as part of his working visit to Almaty on June 1, reported Akorda Press.  The investment project worth more than $200 million has been implemented by Turkish company TAV Airports Holding.  Tokayev noted that…

Kazakhstan Pays Tribute to Victims of Political Repressions and Famine

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomat Tokayev took part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the monumental complex on the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions and Famine on May 31, reported Akorda Press.  In the Soviet period, some 100,000 people were unjustly convicted from 1921 to 1954 in Kazakhstan and a quarter of them…

Kazakhstan Battalion Expands Involvement in UN Peacekeeping Operations, Now Consists of More Than 500 Officers

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s peacekeeping activities seek to assist the international community in preventing armed conflicts. To honor the contribution of the men and women serving under its flag, the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers has been celebrated on May 29 since 2002 worldwide.  In Kazakhstan, this date was first celebrated in 2019. The Kazakh…

UN Experts Assess Readiness of Kazakhstan’s Contingent For Peacekeeping Activities

NUR-SULTAN – The experts of the UN Department of Peace Operations paid a visit to Kazakhstan to assess the readiness of the Kazakh contingent that participates in the UN peacekeeping operations, the press service of the Ministry of Defense reported on May 25.  The experts studied the educational process of peacekeepers, including the teaching of…

Tokayev, Japarov Open Monument to Kazakh Poet Abai, Visit Branch of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Bishkek

NUR-SULTAN – The opening of the monument to the great Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayev and a branch of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Bishkek have also been scheduled as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Kyrgyzstan on May 26. The events are marked to celebrate the 30 years of diplomatic relations between…

Kazakhstan’s Reforms to Create Ample Opportunities for Foreign Investors, Says PM Alikhan Smailov

NUR-SULTAN – The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov held an interim meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council that included the discussion of the activities of permanent working groups, the preparation for the 34th plenary session of the council, as well as acute issues of investors on doing business in Kazakhstan, reports the Prime Minister’s…

State Secretary Karin Explains Constitutional Amendments

NUR-SULTAN – State Secretary of Kazakhstan Erlan Karin published a video on May 17 explaining the constitutional amendments and categorizing them in five key blocks. The video went online on his YouTube channel. The national referendum is scheduled for June 5. According to the preliminary data, nearly 11.8 million people are eligible to vote in…

Learning Losses from COVID-19 School Closures to Affect Future Generations, Warns the World Bank

ALMATY – Learning losses from COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures will be felt for decades to come. This is the forecast of the experts who took part in the discussion of COVID-19 implications for education at the Education Transformation in Central Asia roundtable in Almaty on May 6. Harry Patrinos, the Practice Manager for Europe and…

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to Cooperate in Space Exploration

NUR-SULTAN – The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the intergovernmental decree between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on space exploration, reports the Uzbek Ministry of Justice. The document was signed in December of 2021 in Nur-Sultan during Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Kazakhstan. It is designed to boost cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the exploration and…

Kazakh President Presents Awards to Military Personnel, Honors War Heroes on Eve of Fatherland Defenders’ Day

NUR-SULTAN – The strengthening of the Armed Forces and the defense potential of the country is a priority for the state in the context of geopolitical instability, new challenges and threats, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the state award ceremony for high ranking military and special officers on May 6, reported Akorda. The President congratulated…

U.S. Company Champion Foods Intends to Invest in Agricultural Product Processing in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The Champion Foods, one of the leading U.S. manufacturers of food products, expressed its readiness to invest $100 million in Kazakh production facilities for the processing of fruits and vegetables for subsequent export. This was announced during the recent visit of the company’s management to Kazakhstan.  Champion Foods has been a major supplier…

CICA Hosts Tree Planting Ceremony to Celebrate 30th Anniversary in Kazakh Capital

NUR-SULTAN – Some 30 sakura (cherry blossom) seedlings have been planted to mark the 30th anniversary of the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in the Presidential Park in Nur-Sultan on April 30, reported the organization’s press service.  During the ceremony, Vice Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural…

Kazakh President Discusses Expansion of Economic Cooperation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan

NUR-SULTAN – The economic dimension plays an important role in Kazakh-Japanese cooperation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi, who paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on April 29, reported Akorda.  The President said that the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan…

Kazakhstan, China Commend Bilateral Cooperation, Mark 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev commended bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and China during his April 25 meeting with the Chinese Minister of Defense and Member of the State Council Wei Fenghe, who was in Kazakhstan on an official visit, reports the Akords press service.  During their meeting, Tokayev and Wei Fenghe discussed bilateral and…

Kazakhstan Joins Global Resolution Song Project to Mark Earth Day (Video)

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Embassy in the U.K. presented a powerful Kazakh-language version of “The Resolution Song” (“Zher Ana” in Kazakh or “Mother Earth”) performed by acclaimed Kazakh soloist Tamara Assar.  The song is dedicated to the global Earth Day traditionally celebrated on April 22. An annual event is designed to raise awareness about environmental…

National Action Plan on New Reforms Provides Implementation Dates and Responsibilities

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approved the national action plan to implement the March 16 state of the nation address, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on April 18.  Titled as New Kazakhstan: The Path of Renewal and Modernization, the President’s address to the nation outlines major political reforms and…

30 Years of Kazakhstan’s Membership in UN: Cooperation for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development

NUR-SULTAN – This year marks the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s membership in the United Nations (UN). Its acceptance as a full member took place on March 2, 1992 less than three months after Kazakhstan declared its independence. Now 27 UN agencies together with the Kazakh government and people work on a broad range of issues,…

European Parliament Delegation Visits Kazakhstan to Advance Dialogue on All Issues Including Human Rights

NUR-SULTAN – The European Union seeks to strengthen cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU as part of the EU Strategy for Central Asia and the new Global Gate Strategy. This was announced during the 19th meeting of the Kazakhstan – EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in the Kazakh capital on April 12, reported the press service…

Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth Accelerates in First Quarter

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s economic growth accelerated to 4.4 percent in January-March, reported the Ministry of National Economy on April 12. The growth is observed in the real sector, exports and in the service sector. This was announced during the government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.  “Growth in the real sector amounted to 5.9…

Details Surrounding Tragic Events of January Were Released

NUR-SULTAN – The General Prosecutor ’s Office has released updates in connection to the January unrest from their investigation at the April 11 Central Communications Center briefing in the Kazakh capital. As a result, 547 people were found guilty and more than half of these people are in custody facing criminal charges, reported Deputy Head…