Kazakhstan to Launch Irbis GPT Kazakh Language Model Based on AI
ASTANA — The MOST Holding is launching Irbis GPT, a ground-breaking project to develop the Kazakh language using artificial intelligence, reported holding’s press service on Feb. 22. “We are on the threshold of a new era where artificial intelligence technologies will be the key to the development of languages and cultures. Irbis GPT is our…
Italian Company to Launch Snail Production in Zhambyl Region
ASTANA — Lumacheria Italiana, the world leader in snail production, plans to launch snail farming on an industrial scale in the Zhambyl Region this year, reported the region’s akimat (administration) on Feb. 21. According to the foreign company, the Zhambyl Region has favorable natural and climatic conditions, making growing snails in industrial quantities four times…
Kazakhstan to Open Trade House in Dubai Next Week
ASTANA — Kazakhstan will open a trade house at the national pavilion at the Expo City Dubai next week, said Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, reported Kazinform on Feb. 21. “We are actively using the pavilion, showcasing Kazakh goods and promoting engineering, medical and IT services,” he said. On Feb. 27-29, the…
Kazakh Foreign Minister Sets to Present Nuclear Disarmament Priorities at UN
ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu will present the country’s priorities on nuclear disarmament at the high-level segment of the United Nations (UN) Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Feb. 26-28, announced ministry’s spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov on Feb. 21, reported the ministry’s press service. Also, Nurtleu is supposed to address Kazakhstan’s efforts…
Kazakhstan Delivers $5 Million in Humanitarian Aid in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan sent humanitarian aid worth $5 million in 2023, reported Finprom financial and business analytical service on Feb. 19. According to the State Revenue Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Finance, Kazakhstan sent humanitarian aid to six countries. Over half of the volume, worth $2.6 million, went to Afghanistan, of which $2.5 million…
Kazakhstan’s National Bank Forecasts 9.5% Inflation, Highest Projected Rate for 2024
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan projects annual inflation in the range of 7.5-9.5% this year in its macro and market overview released on Feb. 19. “Gradual rate cuts will continue in the absence of unforeseen shocks. Pauses in rate cuts are not excluded. The easing cycle may extend over a long period,” the…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Committed to Strengthen Relations, Boost Trade Turnover
ASTANA – Kazakhstan attaches utmost importance to the development of cooperation with brotherly Uzbekistan, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a Feb. 19 meeting with the Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, reported Akorda press service. Welcoming Saidov, the President emphasized Kazakhstan’s readiness to continue supporting Uzbekistan’s initiatives for the welfare and prosperity of the…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Agree to Start Construction of Industrial Cooperation Center in Summer
ASTANA – The Kazakh investor is set to launch the construction of the Central Asia International Center for industrial cooperation on the Kazakh-Uzbek border in August this year, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration on Feb. 16. The center, covering an area of 100 hectares, will be erected on the border area in…
Kazakhstan, South Korea Set to Increase Number of Flights
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and South Korea intend to increase the number of flights between the countries, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service on Feb. 20. During the meeting between Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev and Korean Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Wonjae Lee in Seoul, the sides agreed to resume…
Kazakhstan’s Industrial Production Exceeds $8 Million in January
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s January industrial production reached 3.7 billion tenge (US$ 8.3 million), including 1.8 billion tenge ($ 4 million) in the mining industry and 1.5 billion tenge ($ 3.4 million) in the manufacturing industry, reported the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics on Feb. 15. In the mining and quarrying industry, the industrial production index…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan as World Middle Power, Government’s New Tasks, Middle Corridor and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan as a world middle power, new government, the Middle Corridor, and more. German think tank ranks Kazakhstan as ‘world middle power’ Kazakhstan has been ranked for the first time as a “middle power” by …
Key German Companies Create Consortium for Lithium Mining in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Leading German companies – Knauf Group, GP Günter Papenburg AG, Roxtec, as well as the German Institute of Lithium (ITEL) – have joined forces to form a consortium for lithium mining using Kazakhstan’s deposits, reported the Ministry of Industry and Construction on Feb. 16. During the working visit to Germany, Minister of Industry…
Detection Dogs Help to Solve Almost 600 Crimes Since Start of Year
ASTANA – Sniffing dogs have helped Kazakh police detect 575 crimes since the beginning of the year, reported the Ministry of Internal Affairs press service on Feb. 16. According to the ministry, Kazakh-trained dogs solved 190 thefts, 16 robberies, two assaults, seven murders and 129 drug offenses. Nearly 130 kilograms of narcotic drugs were seized…
Almaty Airport Gears Up to Handle 14 Million Passengers Per Year
ASTANA – Almaty International Airport is set to increase passenger traffic to 14 million people per year after launching a new terminal in June, reported the Almaty akimat (city administration) press service on Feb. 15. Akim (Mayor) of Almaty Yerbolat Dossayev visited the passenger terminal under construction at Almaty International Airport. The investment project worth…
Kazakh PM Urges Chevron to Prioritize Local Suppliers for Projects Development
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov called on Chevron to increase the share of procurement from local manufacturers at a Feb. 15 meeting with Managing Director for Chevron’s Eurasia Business Unit Derek Magness, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov emphasized that the country’s economic policy prioritizes local content development. “Kazakhstan requires closer interaction…
Elena Rybakina Advances to Qatar TotalEnergies Open Semifinals
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina came back from 4-1 down in the first set and beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open quarterfinals on Feb. 15 in Doha, reported the WTA press service. “She [Fernandez] is a very good player, lefty, tricky one. I did not start the match that well,…
Kazakhstan, Qatar Sign Commercial Documents Worth $18 Billion
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Qatar inked commercial documents worth $18 billion at a Feb. 14 investment roundtable in Doha as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Qatar, reported the Akorda press service. Opening the meeting, attended by senior officials and business leaders from both countries, Tokayev expressed hope that many of those present…
Kazakhstan Intends to Strengthen Human Rights, Democratic Reforms
ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to prioritize initiatives on gender equality and domestic violence prevention at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) sessions this year, said First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov, reported the Foreign Ministry on Feb. 13. At the meeting attended by the diplomatic corps accredited in Kazakhstan, Umarov delivered a report on…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Join Efforts to Preserve Wildlife of Ustyurt Plateau
ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to join efforts in fauna conservation, specifically in the Ustyurt Plateau region lying between the Aral Sea and the Amu Darya River, reported Kazinform on Feb. 13. A corresponding memorandum was signed by the Uzbek Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov and the Kazakh Deputy…
Kazakhstan to Send Trade Mission to Chengdu in March
ASTANA – Kazakhstan to embark on a trade and economic mission to Chengdu (China) to establish cooperation with business partners from China, negotiate with importers, traders and distributors, and promote the export of processed products on March 19-21, reported the QazTrade for Trade Policy Development press service on Feb. 12. China is one of the…
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina Wins Abu Dhabi Open, Back to Fourth in WTA Tour’s Singles Ranking
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina rose in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking to fourth place after defeating Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, 6:1, 6:4 in the final of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Feb. 11, reported the Hologic WTA Tour’s press service. “I’m thrilled with this week and how I played throughout the week.…
Kazakh Singer Dimash Kudaibergen Performs at 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concerts in China
ASTANA – Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen took part in the 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concerts, broadcast by China’s CCTV-3 and Liaoning TV channels on Feb. 8, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, reported dimashnews.com. At the 2024 Spring Festival Gala Concert, broadcast by CCTV-3, Kudaibergen performed his songs “Umytylmas kun” (An Unforgettable Day) in…
President Tokayev to Pay State Visit to Qatar This Week
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Qatar on Feb. 13-14, reported Akorda press service on Feb. 12. During the visit, Tokayev plans to hold talks with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.…
Kazakhstan Launches Tech Girls Program to Boost Female Participation in STEM
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched the two-month Tech Girls program, a new initiative to increase the digital literacy of young women, teach the basics of programming and encourage participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), reported the Central Communications Service press office on Feb. 9. According to Aziza Shuzheyeva, a National Commission for Women’s…
Transport Infrastructure Requires $40 Billion for Development, Says Senior Official
ASTANA – The forward-looking development of Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure requires nearly $40 billion, said Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev at the Astana International Financial Centre meeting, reported the ministry’s press service on Feb. 12. The ministry has formed a pool of investment projects totaling more than $31 billion in railway and maritime transport, aviation…
