East Kazakhstan Draws Record Tourism Surge, Skiing and Scenic Lakes Propel Growth
ASTANA – The unique natural and climatic conditions of the East Kazakhstan Region make it an increasingly popular destination among tourists. Last year, the domestic tourist flow to the region grew by 2.7% to over 350,000 vacationers, as was reported during a July 19 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. According to the…
Kazakhstan to Launch First Kazakh Large Language Model in December
ASTANA — The Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) is set to launch the first Kazakh large language model (LLM) on Dec. 16, the thirty-third anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence, as reported during a July 18 briefing at Nazarbayev University (NU). According to the university’s press service, ISSAI began collecting data in March and…
Kazakhstan Advances in Developing Its Higher Education and Science System
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek presented several initiatives and projects aimed at developing the higher education and science system to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a meeting on July 19. In a press statement released by Akorda, the minister noted that opening of 25 branches of foreign universities in Kazakhstan…
Kazakhstan’s Military Personnel Progress in English Language Training
ASTANA – Seventy-seven military personnel of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces have completed a six-month intensive English language training course at the Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defense (KAZCENT), KAZCENT’s press service reported on July 19. Colonel Bauyrzhan Nigmetullin, head of the center, congratulated the graduates on their achievement. “Serving as part of a…
US Department of State Lauds Kazakhstan’s Progress Towards Creating Market Economy
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has made significant progress towards creating a market economy and has attracted substantial foreign investment to develop its abundant mineral, petroleum, and natural gas resources, according to the recent publication by the United States (U.S.) Department of State. Investment attractiveness Since gaining independence, Kazakhstan has attracted considerable foreign direct investment (FDI). As…
Kazakhstan Signs Agreements Worth $75 Million on Meat Export to China
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Meat Processing and Service company, Agro Silk Way, and Agro Product Astana signed three contracts worth $75 million for meat export and the supply of live cattle to China at a meeting between Kazakh Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and the management of Chinese companies CITIC Construction and Beijing Capital Agro on July…
National Museum of Kazakhstan Presents Fine Art Catalog for 10th Anniversary
ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan has presented a catalog of its best masterpieces of fine art released as part of the exhibition Painting of the Steppe: Symbols, Colors, Images, dedicated to the museum’s 10th anniversary, Kazinform reported on July 15. The exhibition features works by renowned Kazakh artists, including Abylkhan Kasteyev, Aubakir Ismailov,…
Kazakhstan Exports 2.6 Million Tons of Grain in Five Months of 2024
ASTANA – Kazakhstan exported 2.6 million tons of grain in January-May this year, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov said at a meeting on July 15. According to the ministry’s press statement, the primary buyers of Kazakh grain were Uzbekistan, China, Tajikistan, Italy, and Afghanistan. Notably, exports to China surged by 66%, from 152,800 tons in…
Kazakhstan Enhances Investment Cooperation with Türkiye
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is keen on strengthening investment cooperation and jointly developing new markets with Turkish partners, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Nazira Nurbayeva said during negotiations with 35 large Turkish holdings from July 9 to 12 in Istanbul. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, with the assistance of Kazakhstan’s Consulate General in Istanbul…
Kazakhstan Focuses on Precision AI Development with New Law and Committee
ASTANA — Based on best world practices, the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry and the Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, developed a draft law on artificial intelligence (AI) at a July 16 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. This draft…
Durov on Kazakhstan: Beauty Only Rivaled by Its Ambitions, Says Telegram Founder
ASTANA – Pavel Durov, founder of the largest social networking site VK and the Telegram messenger app, recently returned from Kazakhstan, “the economic powerhouse of Central Asia,” stating that the country’s beauty “can only be rivaled by its ambitions,” according to his Telegram post on July 15. “The country attracts international companies and tech startups…
Kazakhstan Discusses Green Locomotives Production with Wabtec
ASTANA – Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and CEO of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) Rafael Santana discussed the company’s plans to produce new generation green locomotives in Kazakhstan at a meeting on July 11, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Sklyar highlighted the government’s efforts to develop the railway industry, including…
Kazakhstan to Introduce Four Gas Processing Plants by 2030
ASTANA—Kazakhstan plans to commission four gas processing plants gradually from 2026 to 2030. These plants will process raw materials from the Kashagan field, which has capacities of one billion and 2.5 billion cubic meters per year, the Karachaganak field, which has capacities of four billion cubic meters per year, and the Kazakh gas processing plant…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to Double Mutual Trade to $10 Billion
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan aim to double their mutual trade to $10 billion, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during the 21st meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, co-chaired with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, on July 12 in Almaty. Doubling the trade to $10 billion is the target the two…
Kazakhstan’s Dining Scene Booms with 4.5% Surge in Eateries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan registered 15,826 public catering venues in 2023, a 4.5% increase from 15,146 recorded in 2022, the Bureau of National Statistics reported on July 11. The surge is especially evident in the restaurant sector, which saw a jump from 2,106 in 2022 to 2,303 in 2023. Canteens also saw an increase, expanding from…
Kazakhstan’s National Bank Reduces Base Rate to 14.25%
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan has reduced the base rate by 25 basis points, setting it at 14.25% with a corridor of +/- 1 percentage point, the bank’s press service reported on July 12. Annual inflation slowed to 8.4% in June, which aligns with the forecast trajectory. Lower…
Alageum Electric Becomes General Sponsor of Fifth World Nomad Games
ASTANA – Alageum Electric became the general sponsor of the fifth World Nomad Games, according to a bilateral memorandum signed on July 11 with the Directorate for the Preparation and Holding of the fifth World Nomad Games. According to the directorate’s press service, Alageum Electric Chairman Yerkebulan Ilyassov expressed pride in supporting Kazakhstan’s cultural and…
Kazakhstan, EU Discuss Plans to Develop Middle Corridor
ASTANA – Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Kazakhstan Kęstutis Jankauskas and heads of EU diplomatic missions expressed interest in unlocking the potential of the Middle Corridor at the 15th meeting of the Kazakhstan-EU dialogue platform chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on July 10. As stated by the Prime Minister’s press service, the…
UN Secretary-General’s Visit Highlights Strong UN-Kazakhstan Partnership
ASTANA – UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ recent visit to Kazakhstan highlighted the strong partnership between the country and the UN, focusing on sustainable development, climate action, and regional cooperation, the UN’s press office reported on July 10. Guterres started his official visit in Almaty, warmly welcomed by Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin, Permanent…
Vietnamese Investor to Acquire Qazaq Air This Autumn
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev announced at a press conference following a July 9 government meeting that Qazaq Air’s sale to Vietnamese SOVICO Group is progressing, with one stage of the contract already signed and completion expected by the end of September, reported Kazinform. Karabayev detailed that under the terms of the…
Which Sports Will Kazakh Athletes Compete in at 2024 Paris Olympics
ASTANA – Eighty athletes will represent Kazakhstan at the 2024 Summer Olympics in 25 sports, including boxing, judo, artistic gymnastics, athletics, kayaking and canoeing, shooting, fencing, Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling, archery, skeet shooting, tennis, road cycling, swimming, modern pentathlon, taekwondo, track cycling, trampoline gymnastics, badminton, rowing, rhythmic gymnastics, triathlon, table tennis, rock climbing, and breaking,…
President Tokayev Presents State Flag to Kazakhstan National Team for 2024 Summer Olympics
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented Kazakhstan’s national flag to Aslanbek Shymbergenov, the captain of the national team, in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 11. According to the Akorda press service, the main part of the team attended the meeting via video link from the Akbulak Olympic Center…
Life Expectancy in Kazakhstan Exceeds 75 Years
ASTANA – Life expectancy in Kazakhstan has surpassed 75 years, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said at a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on July 9. In a press statement released by Akorda, it was reported that since the beginning of 2024, incidence rates for 21 infections, including coronavirus, have been reduced. Efforts in vaccination and…
Kazakhstan Puts 1,600 Kilometers of Main Roads into Operation with World Bank’s Support
ASTANA – As part of the ongoing South-West and East-West projects financed by the World Bank, over 1,600 kilometers of main roads have been put into operation in Kazakhstan, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan Andrei Mikhnev said at a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on July 9. World Bank…
Kazakh Comics Writers to Make Splash at Comic Con Astana 2024
ASTANA – Over 100 Kazakh authors of graphic novels will showcase their works at the Authors’ Alley during Comic Con Astana 2024 from July 25 to 28, according to the festival’s press office. Graphic novel author and storyboard artist Alibek Kozhageldiyev will present his famous work “We Are Not Superheroes,” a story about two fifth-graders…
