Kazakhstan Exports One Million Tons of Cargo to China in January
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s cargo exports to China exceeded last year’s figure by 43% and reached one million tons in January, Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund’s press service reported on Feb. 26. Iron ore supplies increased by 19%, grain – by 37%, ferrous metals – by two times, and non-ferrous metals – by 2.2 times. Meanwhile,…
Cargo Transportation Through Middle Corridor Soars 147% in January
ASTANA – Cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) reached 274,200 tons in January, a 147% increase compared to last year, as was reported during a Feb. 26 meeting chaired by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin in the Mangystau Region, according to the Prime Minister’s press office. As a serious alternative to…
Kazakh FM Stresses Country’s Human Rights Progress at UN Council in Geneva
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu highlighted Kazakhstan’s achievements in improving its national human rights system and outlined further priorities at the High-level Segment of the 55th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva on Feb. 26, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. He focused…
Kazakhstan to Produce Modern Solar Panels
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to launch a solar panel production line following the delivery of equipment within 1-1.5 months, Kazinform reported on Feb. 13, citing the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The initiative involves the establishment of a 50-megawatt plant for the production of solar panels using heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer…
President Tokayev Meets with Constitutional Court Chairwoman
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev commended the Constitutional Court’s effectiveness in ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution and protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms at a Feb. 23 meeting with Constitutional Court Chairwoman Elvira Azimova, reported the Akorda press service. The Constitutional Court began its work on Jan. 1, 2023, as part of the broader political…
Kazakh Tourism Opens First International Office in India
ASTANA – Kazakh Tourism national company opened its first international office in India during South Asia’s largest international tourism exhibition, SATTE, on Feb. 22 in New Delhi, reported the company’s press service. Kazakh Tourism Chairman Kairat Sadvakassov appointed Prashant Chaudhary, the head of Salvia Promoters, as the office’s representative in the Indian market, awarding the…
Kazakhstan Presents Ongoing Reforms to Protect Children’s Rights at Int’l Conference
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Dinara Zakiyeva addressed the ongoing reforms in the country to protect children’s rights at the international conference on children’s rights in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on Feb. 22, reported the conference’s press service. Addressing her colleagues at an online conference, Zakiyeva outlined several measures, including the…
Kazakhstan’s National Bank Lowers Base Rate to 14.75%
ASTANA – The National Bank announced plans to reduce the base rate by 50 basis points to 14.75% per annum, with a corridor of +/- 1 percentage point, the bank’s press service reported on Feb. 23. The annual inflation slowed to 9.5% in January, and the bank forecasted inflation to maintain in the range of…
Business Forum: Women’s Leadership Drives Kazakhstan’s Economy
ASTANA – The creative principle of women’s leadership has been transforming various aspects of the economic and everyday life of Kazakhstan for many years, Ayala Charitable Foundation President Aidan Suleimenova said at the annual Women in Business forum on Feb. 20 in Almaty, reported the forum’s press service. Over 300 women entrepreneurs, public figures, heads…
Kazakh Folk Dancer Claims Gold at International Dance Festival in Berlin
ASTANA – Akkanat Smagulova, an artist from the Kazakhconcert state musical organization named after Roza Baglanova, clinched the first prize in the Folk Dance Solo category at the Tanzolymp International Dance Festival, held on Feb. 15-19 in Berlin, Germany, reported the Kazakh Culture and Information Ministry’s press service. Smagulova performed “Akku,” choreographed by Anvara Sadykova…
Nearly 13,000 Foreign Workers Contribute to Kazakh Economy Under New Labor Permits
ASTANA – As of Feb. 1, 12,882 foreign nationals are employed in Kazakhstan under permits issued by local executive bodies, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population reported on Feb. 20. Specialists comprise the largest group of attracted foreign labor, totaling 5,871 people. Next come heads of structural divisions, corporate transfer employees, skilled…
Kazakhstan Bolsters Legal Action Against Violence Towards Women and Children
ASTANA – The Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, approved legislative amendments to promote the safety of women and children and prevent crimes against them in the first reading at a Feb. 21 plenary session, reported the Mazhilis’ press office. The amendments impose stricter penalties for crimes committed against minors and enhance measures…
Kazakhstan’s Senate Chair Calls for Population Growth to Propel National Development
ASTANA – Maulen Ashimbayev, the chairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, emphasized the need to boost the country’s population to 30-40 million people in the next decade to propel the nation’s development during a Feb. 20 government session, reported Kazinform. According to Ashimbayev, developing the world’s ninth-largest territory in the…
American Top Travel Magazine Publishes Extensive Guide on Kazakhstan
ASTANA – American top travel magazine Travel+Leisure published the ultimate Kazakhstan itinerary on Feb. 18, offering readers a What To Do, Where To Stay, What To Eat guide, reported the Kazakh Tourism and Sports Ministry’s press service. Journalist Yashita Vashishth put together a tour of unique places in Kazakhstan, which has become a tourist trending…
Kazakhstan Prioritizes Peace and Development in Central Asia, as UN Partnership Thrives
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is interested in building a prosperous and peaceful region and in the sustainable development of Central Asian countries, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said at a Feb. 20 meeting with Kaha Imnadze, the newly appointed Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General and Head of the UN…
Wabtec Acquires Full Ownership of Locomotive Assembly Plant in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The American company Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) has acquired full ownership of the locomotive assembly plant in Kazakhstan, the Railway Supply reported on Feb. 18. From October to December last year, Wabtec acquired another 50% stake in the locomotive assembly plant for $81 million. Previously, the company held a 50% stake…
UK Inaugurates International Climate Change Fund for Central Asia
ASTANA – The United Kingdom’s (UK) government has established an international fund dedicated to climate change in Central Asia for the first time, UK Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach said at a Feb. 16 meeting with Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, reported the ministry’s press service. The fund will provide support…
Over 1,300 Ethnic Kazakhs Return to Ancestral Land in 2024
ASTANA – Since the beginning of 2024, 1,306 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to their historic homeland, reported the press service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. More than half of them, or 48.9%, came back from China, 29.6% – from Uzbekistan, 8.3% – from Mongolia, 7.3% – from Turkmenistan, 4.4%…
Kazakh Film Triumphs at International Festival in France
ASTANA – The Kazakh film “Aikai” (Scream) by Kenzhebek Shaikakov secured four awards at the 30th edition of the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas (VIFFAC) in France, held from Feb. 6 to 13, reported 24.kz channel. The movie clinched the Grand Jury Award for its magical realism style that is “truly commendable, and…
Kazakhstan’s National Sports Association Attains Membership in the World Ethnosport Confederation
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan’s National Sports Association Islambek Salzhanov received a certificate of official membership from World Ethnosport Confederation President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan at the sixth International Ethnosport Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, held from Feb. 16 to 18, reported the association’s press office. Erdoğan extended his best wishes for holding the upcoming World Nomad…
Kazakhstan, Romania Aim to Boost Energy Investments
ASTANA – At the 17th meeting of the Kazakh-Romanian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation on Feb. 15-16 in Bucharest, Kazakhstan and Romania agreed to establish a joint working group to develop mechanisms to enhance bilateral cooperation further and support mutual investments in the energy sector, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry’s press…
Chinese Adventurer Sets Out on Solo Motorhome Journey Through Kazakhstan
ASTANA – While Kazakhstan and China offer visa-free travel, citizens are taking this opportunity to explore boundlessly. Jason Feng, a 35-year-old Chinese adventurer, has embarked on an ambitious solo journey aboard a motorhome with a dream to travel all over the world. In an interview with The Astana Times, he shared insights into his brave…
EBRD Invests Nearly $42 Million into Air Astana’s Shares
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested $41.99 million into shares of Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, acquiring a minority stake of 5% through the country’s first partial privatization via an initial public offering (IPO), the EBRD’s press service reported on Feb. 14. The shares will be listed on both…
Air Astana Begins Trading on LSE, AIX and KASE
ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s largest airline, kicked off its initial public offering (IPO) on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) on Feb. 15, the AIX’s press service reported. Following three and a half days of conditional trading, Air Astana’s ordinary shares and global depositary receipts (GDRs) are now unconditionally traded on AIX, representing a milestone…
Fifth EU-Central Asia Meeting Addresses Afghanistan’s Situation
ASTANA – The fifth European Union (EU)-Central Asia meeting focusing on Afghanistan took place in Bishkek on Feb. 14, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Discussions centered around the situation in Afghanistan, with particular emphasis placed on finding effective ways to interact with the country’s de facto government. The head of the Kazakh delegation,…
