Kazakhstan Considers New Oil Refinery by 2030 to Process 10 Million Tons
ASTANA – The Kazakh Energy Ministry stressed the need to build a new oil refinery by 2030 to process at least 10 million tons of oil annually, Kazinform reported on Jan. 21. Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev spoke about this last November, stating that design work should begin by 2030 and construction should follow by 2032…
Kazakhstan Reveals Top 10 Most Popular Hotels Among Foreign Visitors in 2024
ASTANA – Kazakh Tourism national company released a list of the top 10 hotels most frequently chosen by foreign visitors in 2024, based on data from the eQonaq system, the company’s press service reported on Jan. 20. Hotel Kazakhstan in Almaty topped the list, attracting 30,412 foreign guests. The Holiday Inn, also in Almaty, came…
Kazakhstan Participates in Dispatchment of Humanitarian Aid Convoy to Gaza
ASTANA – Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) Berik Aryn and Kazakh Ambassador to Jordan Talgat Shaldanbay attended the dispatching of the first Flour for Humanity Program – Gaza Emergency Appeal convoy from Jordan to Gaza on Jan. 17, reported the IOFS’ press service. The convoy consists of 12 trucks carrying…
UAE Company to Invest $30 Million in Grain Terminal at Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port
ASTANA – AD Ports Group, a leading global trade, logistics, and industry facilitator from the United Arab Emirates, will invest $30 million in the Sarzha multifunctional marine terminal at the Kuryk port, according to a foundation agreement signed with Semurg Invest, the terminal’s owner and developer, on Jan. 14. AD Ports Group’s press service states…
Kazakhstan Welcomes Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas
ASTANA – Kazakhstan welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Jan. 19, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov, reported Kazinform. “We highly appreciate the mediation efforts undertaken by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. This is an important step that will help stop the violence, free hostages, and…
US Senator Advocates Lifting Cold War Trade Restrictions on Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Marco Rubio, a nominee for the United States Secretary of State post, spoke about repealing Cold War-era restrictions on Kazakhstan related to the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which restricted trade with certain countries in 1974, during the hearings in the U.S. Congress on Jan. 15, reported Khabar TV. The amendment initially targeted the Soviet Union…
National Bank of Kazakhstan Maintains Base Rate at 15.25%
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided to keep the base rate at 15.25%, NBK Governor Timur Suleimenov announced at a Jan. 17 press briefing. As of December, inflation in Kazakhstan rose to 8.6%, aligning with the forecasted range of 8-9% for 2024. The increase was driven…
33 World Leaders Visit Kazakhstan in 2024
ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosted visits from 33 heads of state and government, four leaders and senior representatives of major international organizations, and seven parliamentary speakers in 2024, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry on Jan. 16. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev undertook 24 international trips, including state and official visits, as well as participation in international forums. Kazakhstan…
East Kazakhstan to Build Five New Hydroelectric Power Plants
ASTANA – The East Kazakhstan Region plans to construct five new hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) with a combined capacity of 74.3 megawatts (MW) in the coming years, Kazinform reported on Jan. 16. Plans include the construction of five new small HPPs. A 1.4 MW plant will be built in the Katon-Karagay by 2027, followed by…
Kazakhstan Plants Forests on Dried-Up Bed of Aral Sea
ASTANA – Kazakhstan attracted national and private companies to plant forests on the dried bed of the Aral Sea, the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported on Jan. 9. The ministry signed an agreement with KATCO, a joint venture between France’s Orano Mining SA and Kazatomprom national…
President Tokayev Focuses on New Development Paradigm at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the pressing realities of global climate change, desertification, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and food insecurity in his address, named Toward a New Development Paradigm: Resilience, Growth and Sustainability, at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit on Jan. 14. These challenges are further exacerbated by…
Kazakh National Bank Survey Shows Rising Use of Deposit Accounts
ASTANA – A survey conducted by the National Bank of Kazakhstan found that nearly 50% of citizens hold their money in bank deposits, Kazinform reported on Jan. 13. Meanwhile, 25% prefer to keep cash, while only 8% invest in real estate. When asked about the best methods for saving and growing money, 30% of respondents…
President Tokayev Attends Opening of ADSW Summit & Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the grand opening of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit and the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on Jan. 14, reported Akorda. The event was attended by President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President…
Volume of E-Commerce in Kazakhstan Increases Fivefold Since 2020
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens spent nearly 3.2 trillion tenge (US$6 billion) on online purchases over the first 11 months of 2024, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said at a Jan. 14 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. According to the Prime Minister’s press service, the industry now accounts for 14.5% of…
Kazakhstan, China Deepen Cooperation on Middle Corridor Development
ASTANA – The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route effectively ensures the security of supply chains between Asia and Europe. Kazakhstan and China continue to deepen cooperation on this route and began construction of the third railway Ayagoz-Tacheng, planning to open a third border railway checkpoint, said Maulen Ashimbayev, the chairman of the Senate, an upper house…
Kazakhstan Adopts Plan to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Aviation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian country to support the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) initiative by adopting the National Action Plan to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Aviation, the Kazakh Transport Ministry reported on Jan. 10. This should significantly reduce aviation’s environmental impact amid growing climate change and sustainable development challenges.…
First Meeting of Astana’s Project Office Focuses on Regional Development
ASTANA – The first meeting of Astana’s Project Office members, held on Jan. 9, focused on measures to implement new approaches to regional development and to unlock regional potential, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The office, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, aims to improve regional policy and ensure balanced social and economic…
Anti-Fraud Center Prevents Nearly $2 Million in Fraudulent Activities
ASTANA – The anti-fraud center, established by the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) in 2024, has prevented 12,000 cases of fraud and blocked 967 million tenge (US$1.8 million) in the past six months, Kazinform reported on Jan. 8, citing the NBK. “Of this amount, 760.9 million tenge (US$1.4 million) were blocked by the sending banks,…
Kazakh Tennis Player Enters Top Five in World Juniors Rankings
ASTANA – Amir Omarkhanov, a 17-year-old tennis player from Kazakhstan, has surged into the top five of the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) World Tennis Tour Juniors Rankings, climbing ten spots to secure the No. 4 position, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation reported on Jan. 6. Last season, Omarkhanov claimed victory at the J300 Beijing 2024 Tennis…
Eastern Kazakhstan to Build New Hydroelectric Power Plant
ASTANA – A 16-megawatt hydroelectric power plant is set to be constructed in the Markakol district of Eastern Kazakhstan, said Nurlan Ramazanov, the head of the energy and housing and public utilities department of the East Kazakhstan Region, Kazinform reported on Jan. 8. The facility, located on the Kalzhyr River, will be the fifth hydroelectric…
Kazakhstan to Introduce 25 New Professions in Transport and Logistics Sector
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will introduce 25 new professions in the transport and logistics sector given its rapid development, Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev said at a Jan. 8 government meeting that focused on the Action Plan for the Year of Working Professions, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Karabayev particularly noted using Building Information Modeling…
Almaty Attracts $19.2 Million for IT Ecosystem Development Over Two Years
ASTANA – Over the past two years, Almaty has secured $19.2 million in investments for its IT ecosystem development, the city administration’s press service reported on Jan. 5. Almaty IT Ecosystem Development is a three-year project that began in 2022. It focuses on supporting startups in smart cities, artificial intelligence, big data, and sustainable development.…
Tokayev Stresses Boosting Local Production During Visits to Astana’s Key Industrial Facilities
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the construction industry an important area of the economy and pointed out the need to increase local production during his visit to industry facilities in Astana on Jan. 6. Tokayev toured the Asyl Qala paving slab plant, which employs over 100 people and has attracted investments totaling eight billion…
What Awaits Kazakh Citizens in 2025: Key Changes Ahead
ASTANA – The minimum calculation index, pensions, and all types of state benefits in Kazakhstan have increased from January 2025, Tengrinews reported on Jan. 1. Economic changes The minimum pension now stands at 62,771 tenge (US$119). Pension payments based on age and service length rose by 8.5%, and disability benefits increased by 6.5%. However, the…
Kazakhstan Expects $2.2 Billion Investment in Manufacturing Industry for 2025
ASTANA – Kazakhstan anticipates an investment inflow of 1.2 trillion tenge (US$2.2 billion) into its manufacturing sector in 2025, creating 19,640 new jobs, the Ministry of Industry and Construction reported on Jan. 5. Overall, Kazakhstan plans to implement 190 investment projects. Key sectors include mechanical engineering, which will create over 7,800 jobs, and ferrous metallurgy,…
