Articles by Assem Assaniyaz

ASTANA – The Digital Bridge forum in Astana on Oct. 12-13 brought innovations of the fast-growing business ventures into the spotlight, including artificial intelligence (AI) features of more than 300 startups. In an interview with The Astana Times, the Kazakh entrepreneurs shared their ambitions for the global expansion of their projects in the food delivery…

ASTANA – On the second day of the Digital Bridge Forum in Astana, foreign investors outlined the growing potential and emerging challenges in attracting capital for Kazakh entrepreneurs in a global venture market. The Oct.13 panel session gathered well-established venture companies to address Kazakhstan’s prospects.    The discussion was moderated by Adil Nurgozhin, the founding partner…

ASTANA – One of the Digital Bridge Forum’s panel sessions in Astana gathered experts to address the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the creative industries’ landscape.        Timur Bekmambetov,  famous film director and producer, emphasized that this is the right moment to “educate AI systems with respect for its creators.”  “An artificial avatar can look,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s banking performance metrics will gradually moderate in the medium term due to slower inflation and potential additional regulatory charges, according to the latest Fitch Ratings report on Oct. 4.  The report covers 20 banks representing 99.6% of Kazakhstan’s banking sector assets and says the sector’s intrinsic profitability will remain strong, commending Kazakh…

ASTANA – The New Silk Road business forum in Astana gathered experts to discuss the integration of transport systems and the development of the Middle Corridor route, reported Khabar 24 news agency on Oct. 4.  By 2027, there are plans to transition Kazakhstan’s rail transport to green technologies. To reduce environmental pollution, the country is…

ASTANA – Kazakh karate champion Nurkanat Azhikanov (75 kg) won the gold medal for Kazakhstan in the final of the kumite discipline at the 19th edition of the Asian Games in the Chinese city of Hangzhou. He upheld the country’s high standard after defeating Hassan Masarweh from Jordan ahead of schedule (8:0), announced the Kazakh…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated teachers on their professional holiday, and addressed pressing issues in the country’s education system during the National Congress of Teachers in Astana on Oct. 5, reported the Akorda press service.  “It is indeed a significant occasion today. A teacher is an authoritative professional. Being a teacher entails significant…

ASTANA – The World Bank commended Kazakhstan’s progress in improving budget transparency and ensuring social protection, as well as covered complications in quasi-fiscal activities and revenue collection during the presentation of the Kazakhstan Public Finance Review 2023 at the Economic Research Institute in Astana on Sept. 28.  The event featured a panel discussion on the…

LONDON – Kazakh female artists Aigana Gali and Gulnur Mukazhanova presented their artworks on the ancestral connection at the La Makan, Cosmic Corporeality exhibition in the Three Highgate Gallery in London on Sept. 19.   The exhibition, which will last through Oct. 15, immerses the audience in the intertwined notions of life and death combined with…

LONDON – Oxford University scholars use Kazakh and Malay proverbs in pedagogical approach for storytelling about sustainability. Olga Mun, a doctoral researcher at Oxford University from Kazakhstan, and Aizuddin Mohamed Anuar, a writer and lecturer at Keele University from Malaysia, developed an arts-based project based on the analysis of traditional proverbs on environmental responsibility, economic…

LONDON – Weather statistics show that September is the sunniest month in Almaty. It is the right time to make up the leeway for those who skipped opportunities to explore the city’s hidden gems during this summer.   “Kazakhstan’s landscapes are diverse. The uniqueness lies in the opportunity to see forests, deserts, mountains, canyons, and steppes…

LONDON – Fourteen years ago, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared Aug. 29 the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Initiated by Kazakhstan, its increasing relevance for the entire world community is fueled by sprawling geopolitical instability. In an interview with The Astana Times, Margarita Kalinina-Pohl, a U.S.-based expert in nuclear and radiological security, addressed…

ZURICH – Few would consider space rocket debris to be of any value. Yet for a Swiss watchmaker, this debris found in the Kazakh steppes turned out to be of use. In an interview with The Astana Times, Patrick Hohmann, founder and Managing Director of Werenbach, shared his story of creating spaceborne timepieces.   Hohmann was…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to hold public hearings and government consultations with experts on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP), said Minister of Energy Almasadam Satkaliyev at the July 25 press briefing.    According to the minister, the project is under review of the government. “We plan to hold public hearings and determine the…

BASEL – Kazakhstan’s football team Tobol defeated FC Basel (3:1) in the first leg of the second qualifying round as part of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa Conference League at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in the Swiss city of Basel on July 27.      Despite Switzerland’s confidence in the beginning of the game,…

BERN – The awareness of the need for regional cross-border water cooperation in Central Asia has substantially increased in recent years. Its complexity requires smart solutions and policies both at national and regional levels, said Head of Global Program Water at Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Simon Zbinden in an interview with The…

GENEVA – Bridging East and West, Kazakhstan is now strengthening its position in political, economic and trade partnership with Switzerland. The willingness to expand bilateral cooperation and develop economic ties comes from both sides, said Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Switzerland, Jean-Paul Periat, in an interview with The Astana Times. Periat is chairman of the…

LONDON – The Kazakh Embassy in the United Kingdom held the Kazakhstan-U.K. Mining Business Forum in London on July 6. It featured two panel discussions on critical mineral development opportunities and investment options for the British mining community.      British Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, Nusrat Ghani, noted the unprecedented attractiveness…

LONDON – Agricultural cooperation, water management, and female empowerment are the main objectives of the XCSS Climate Can’t Wait project, scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan next year, said Estelle Peyen, President of the XCSS – Cross Country Skiing Sand Association and the project’s director, in an interview with The Astana Times.  “Incredible development prospects…

LONDON – Brussels Energy Club (BREC) held a first-ever conference on energy security and sustainability in Central Asia on July 4 in the Belgian capital. Four panel sessions explored regional and interregional collaboration in delivering the energy transition in Central Asia, a fast-growing region. The event was organized in partnership with the diplomatic missions of…

LONDON – The shifting geopolitical landscape is increasing the significance of Central Asia. Kazakhstan, with its abundant resources and advanced infrastructure, is emerging as a frontrunner in reshaping public perception and knowledge about the region, said Michael Rossi, a professor at Rutgers University in the United States, in an interview with The Astana Times. “As…

BRUSSELS – The European Union (EU)-Kazakhstan cooperation goes beyond political arrangements, forging solutions in easing visa restrictions, removing trade barriers, promoting sustainability, and transferring new technologies. Brussels-based EURACTIV media outlet organized a debate on how the EU is advancing its agenda in Central Asia, addressing Kazakhstan’s role in interregional cooperation on June 14. “Geopolitically, Central…

ASTANA – Astana International Forum (AIF)’s panel session Mapping Central Asian Connectivity, on June 8 addressed key achievements and obstacles in regional cooperation in energy, security, economic integration, and private sector development. Experts held insightful discussions exploring new ways to improve regional engagement in resolving common challenges.  The participants noted that demographic shifts motivate countries…

ASTANA – Astana International Forum (AIF) panel session gathered international experts to delve into the impact of global supply chain disruption on food security. The June 8 discussion meeting outlined Kazakhstan’s huge potential in overcoming breakdowns in supply chains and ensuring food security in the region.  “There is no other country like Kazakhstan in the…

SINGAPORE – The state visit by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Chinese city of Xian and his participation in the China-Central Asia Summit last week emphasized the importance of bilateral relations and multilateral interaction. It highlighted Kazakhstan’s eagerness to engage with China, said Raffaello Pantucci, a senior fellow at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies…