Mongolia Officially Confirms Participation in Astana EXPO 2017
ASTANA – Mongolia officially confirmed its participation in EXPO 2017 in Astana with the signing of the formal agreement by Mongolian Minister of Energy and Commissioner of the Mongolian section of EXPO 2017 Dashzeveg Zorig during a meeting with Kazakh Ambassador to Mongolia Kalybek Koblandin, reported the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…
Population of Kazakhstan on the Rise, Says New Report
ASTANA – The population of Kazakhstan is on the rise, according to figures released by the Ministry of National Economy statistics committee. Since the beginning of 2015, the number of residents has officially increased by 257,000 compared to the same period in 2014, reaching approximately 17,417,673. The numbers are divided by urban – 9,868,600 (56.7…
Legalisation Campaign Seeks to Add Revenue to National Budget, Reduce Shadow Economy
ASTANA – Kazakhstan launched property and capital legalisation campaigns in September 2014 that are scheduled to run until Dec. 31, 2015. The campaigns include the approval of a law “On amnesty of Kazakhstan citizens, oralmans (repatriated ethnic Kazakhs) and permanent residence holders in relation to legalisation of their property.” Objects of legalisation include money, securities, participation…
EXPO 2017 Expands Country Participation List
A Kazakh delegation led by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and EXPO 2017 Commissioner Rapil Zhoshybayev paid a working visit to Jordan Nov. 2, Saudi Arabia Nov. 4-5 and Iran Nov. 9-10, reported the ministry’s press office. Zhoshybayev met with Jordanian Investment Commission Chairman Montasser Oklah, who is responsible for his country’s participation in…
Kazakhstan, Japan Urge CTBT Entry into Force in Strongly-Worded Statement
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Japan have come out with a powerful joint statement calling on the world to make everything needed to ensure the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to move towards a world without nuclear weapons. The statement, signed and issued by President Nursultan Nazarbayev and visiting Japanese Prime…
Kazakhstan, Japan Focus on Economic Ties During Abe’s Visit to Astana
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the latter’s official visit to the Central Asian nation on Oct. 27. Nazarbayev congratulated Abe on his recent reelection and wished him continued success, especially in light of the current complicated economic situation in the world. He also expressed confidence…
Kazakhstan, Qatar Have Common Challenges, Common Goals, Kazakh President Says
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Qatar Oct. 25 – 26 to work on strengthening economic ties between the two countries, the Akorda press service reported. During the visit, an agreement easing visa restrictions for diplomatic passport holders and agreements on cultural, financial and energy cooperation were signed, as well as a number…
Annual Human Rights Report Presented, Improves Each Year, Says Rights Official
ASTANA – The presentation of the annual report of the Human Rights Commission under Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was held Oct. 20 at the Foreign Ministry. The document on the situation with human rights in Kazakhstan was developed with the involvement of civil society activists and legal experts and endorsed by the head of state. The report assesses…
Kazakh Military Observers Complete Mission in Western Sahara, Receive Medals
ASTANA – Two Kazakh Armed Forces officers have returned to Kazakhstan after serving one year as military observers for the United Nations Mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), reported the Kazakh Ministry of Defence press service. Captain Temirkan Musapirov and Major Bakhtiar Akbalayev served as observers in the African nation with representatives from more than 30…
ATOM Project, Other Nonproliferation Initiatives Highlighted at PNND Forum in Prague
Parliamentarians and nonproliferation activists from Kazakhstan addressed the fifth Prague Agenda Conference and the 2015 Assembly of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND) held in Prague Oct. 14–17, discussing Kazakhstan’s latest nonproliferation initiatives. PNND connects a network of more than 800 parliamentarians from more than 80 countries working to prevent nuclear proliferation and achieve…
CIS Leaders’ Meeting in Burabai Addresses Security Challenges
BURABAI – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev chaired a meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Burabai, Kazakhstan, on Oct. 16, which focused intensively on security challenges such as terrorism. Seven foreign heads of state flew to Kazakhstan to attend the meeting: President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan,…
EAEU Leaders Discuss Economic Policy in Face of Global Turbulence, Agree to Open Free Trade Talks with Israel
BURABAI – The leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) met Oct. 16 at a hotel in the Kazakh resort area to discuss pressing issues facing the fledgling organisation. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev hosted his colleagues Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Almazbek Atambayev of Kyrgyzstan and Vladimir Putin of Russia for discussions on…
Kazakhstan, China Strengthen Defence Cooperation
ASTANA – Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan visited Astana on Monday and met with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Kazakh defence officials. Nazarbayev congratulated the minister of defence of China on the success of the Beijing military parade dedicated to the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II. The President of Kazakhstan emphasised that in…
BIE Secretary-General Inspects EXPO 2017 Preparations, Expresses Confidence in Project
ASTANA – International Expositions Bureau (BIE) Secretary-General Vicente Loscertales expressed satisfaction with preparations for EXPO 2017 in Astana and confidence in the ongoing work on the event during an inspection visit by the BIE to the Kazakh capital. “Until now, the preparation has been conducted on two parallel directions: construction and promotion. Now, it is…
Air Astana Expands Fleet, Launches MyUpgrade Tool
ASTANA – Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan, signed an agreement with AerCap Holdings N.V. to lease three Airbus A321NEOs and one A320NEO aircraft, which will be used on the airline’s domestic and international route networks, reported the company’s press office. “Air Astana is delighted to have concluded an agreement for these four additional NEOs,”…
Almaty Hosts Bicycle Race, Kazakh Cyclist Gets His First Monument Win
October 4 was a big day in Almaty. Not only did the city host Tour of Almaty 2015, a one-day professional road bicycle race, it saw a Kazakh team cyclist win his first monument, reported the Mayor’s press service. The event officially began with the presentation of the riders. Nineteen teams from 16 countries took…
Kazakhstan, UNDP to Assist African Countries with Sustainable Development Goals
ASTANA – During the recent 70th session of the UN General Assembly, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the government of Kazakhstan launched a new programme to help 45 African countries implement the newly-inaugurated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reported the press office of the UNDP. UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and Kazakh Minister of Foreign…
Kazakhstan Achieves its Highest Ranking on Global Competitive Index
ASTANA – According to the results of the Global Competitiveness Report for 2015-2016, Kazakhstan holds 42nd place among 140 countries in competitiveness, the best result in the history of Kazakhstan’s participation in the ranking, reported the National Analytical Centre under the government and the National Bank of Kazakhstan. The overall average score of Kazakhstan is 4.49, placing the…
Kazakh Military Demonstrates Remote Firing System at Russian Arms Expo
Representatives of the Kazakh military-industrial complex took part in the Sept. 9-12 10th Russia Arms Expo 2015, an international arms, military equipment and ammunition exhibition in Nizhny Tagil, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Defence press service. More than 400 exhibitors and representatives of military authorities, defence ministers and chiefs of general staffs from more than 50…
President Welcomes Crew from International Space Station
ASTANA – On Sept. 12, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan personally met Soyuz TMA-16M crew Gennady Padalka of Russia, Aidyn Aimbetov of Kazakhstan, and Andreas Mogensen of Denmark, who were returning from the International Space Station (ISS), at Astana International airport. The President congratulated the spaceship crew on their safe return, adding that the flight…
Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Discusses Financial Stability in Belarus Meeting
ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev took part in the recent meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Grodno in Belarus, reported primeminister.kz. The meeting agenda included coordinated industrial policy within the Euasian Economic Union (EAEU) framework, macroeconomic and financial stability, formation of a single market for services, development of relations…
Military Forces Readiness Testing Begins in Five Regions of the Country
ASTANA – At the instruction of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, on Sept. 8, sudden military readiness testing started in five regions of the country. Military forces in East Kazakhstan, Almaty, Zhambyl, South Kazakhstan and West Kazakhstan regions are being put in full combat readiness, reported the press service…
Children from Orphanages Participate in Almaty Ping Pong Competition
Children from orphanages No. 1 and No. 2 demonstrated their ping pong skills Sept. 5 during a competition coordinated by the Almaty international sports organizing committee, reported the committee’s press office. While diverse sporting events are arranged for the youngsters on a regular basis, this was the first time table tennis was included in the…
Caspian Basin Ready for Further Development, Energy Official Says
ASTANA – “The most powerful sedimentary cover (platform) is in the Caspian Basin and presumably reaches a depth of 20–25 kilometres. The Eurasia project has an ambitious goal – supporting-parametric drilling wells from which to begin a new future for this sedimentary basin,” Uzakbai Karabalin, first deputy minister of energy of Kazakhstan, told the Kazpravda…
First Kazakh Armed Forces Military Observer Returns from Western Sahara
ASTANA – Captain Temirlan Musapirov, the first Kazakh Armed Forces officer to travel to Western Sahara as part of the United Nations (UN) mission in Western Sahara, has returned to Kazakhstan, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Defence press service. “In Western Sahara, there are completely different people assembled as military observers. There you realise that…
