Articles by Staff report

ADB Launches New Platform to Facilitate Partnerships for Startups in Central Asia

NUR-SULTAN – The Asian Development Bank has launched a new platform to improve the ecosystem for startup businesses and discuss potential avenues for collaboration as part of its Central Asia Economic Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program during a virtual event that gathered government officials, business incubators, start-up accelerators, IT parks, students, and investor communities from…

Neo-Nomad 2022 Campaign to Be Launched in September to Promote Domestic Tourism

NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry of Culture and Sports announced plans to launch the Neo-Nomad 2022 project on the eve of Capital Day, reported the press service of Kazakh Tourism.  Tourists can now receive a special status of NeoNomad after visiting 20 popular tourist attractions in the country, said Vice Minister of Culture and Sports Yerzhan…

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey Seek Ways to Boost Cooperation in Logistics and Transport

NUR-SULTAN – The foreign and transport ministers of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey convened in Baku to explore ways to boost cooperation in logistics and energy as well as to discuss the regional and international agenda in light of the ongoing geo-political changes occuring in the region, reports the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.  Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister…

AIFC Should Strengthen Its Status as Leading Regional Financial Center, Says President Tokayev

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) should strengthen its status as a leading regional financial center, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the June 27 meeting of the AIFC Management Council, reported the Akorda.   The meeting was held as part of the Astana Financial Days conference, which kicked off on June 27 in…

Iranian Businesses to Invest More than $200 Million in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh and Iranian business communities signed 12 agreements worth more than $200 million during the Kazakh-Iranian Business Forum in Tehran in mid-June, reported the Kazakh Invest national company.  The forum was held during the recent visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Iran when Tokayev and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi agreed to increase…

Kazakhstan’s Chief of General Staff Speaks About Measures to Strengthen Armed Forces

NUR-SULTAN – When Kazakhstan gained independence, the Kazakh military was created practically from scratch, and the army can rightfully be considered a basic element of the foundation of a new statehood, said Lieutenant General Marat Khusainov, First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, reports Zakon.kz news…

Kazakh President Meets with Amir of Qatar, Takes Part in Qatar Economic Forum

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani reaffirmed their mutual desire to strengthen trade and economic ties and implement joint investment projects during their June 21 meeting in Doha, reported Akorda.   Tokayev paid a visit to Qatar at the personal invitation of…

Kazakhstan’s Burabay and Markakol Parks Join UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves

NUR-SULTAN – The Burabay National Park and the Markakol State Nature Reserve have been included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The decision was announced at the 34th session of the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program…

Prime Minister Visits State-of-the-Art IT, Medical, Educational Facilities in Almaty

NUR-SULTAN – Developments in information technologies open up new economic opportunities for Kazakh people, said Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov during the visit to the MOST IT Hub Almaty as part of his working trip to Almaty, reported the Prime Minister’s Office.  The MOST IT Hub Almaty was launched in May. It includes offices, coworking spaces,…

President Tokayev Focuses on Reform Agenda in Kazakhstan, Investigation into January Events and Effects of Sanctions in TV Interview

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is in the midst of a major political transformation, having held a referendum on reform of the Constitution, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the June 15 interview to Russia 24 TV channel given ahead of his visit to Russia’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Tokayev noted the country has begun a…

Pope Francis Hopes to Meet with Patriarch Kirill at Interreligious Congress in Kazakhstan in September

NUR-SULTAN – Pope Francis expressed hope to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions scheduled for Sept. 14-15 in Nur-Sultan. This was announced in Pope Francis’s interview with the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica published on June 14. “We were supposed to meet on June…

President Tokayev Takes Part in Credentials Ceremony, Notes Role of Diplomatic Relations Between Countries

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed full support and assistance of his administration and the Kazakh government to the newly appointed foreign ambassadors during the June 15 ceremony of receiving credentials in Akorda.  It is reported the credentials were presented by Ambassador of Vietnam Pham Thai Nhu Mai, Ambassador of Portugal Maria de Fátima Velez…

Astana Ballet Theater to Present “The Silk Road” Ballet This Weekend

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Ballet Theater will stage “The Silk Road” ballet choreographed by Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Mukaram Avakhri on June 18-19, reported the theater’s press service.  According to Kazakh poet and screenwriter Bakhyt Kairbekov, who wrote the ballet’s libretto, he was attracted to the topic of the new project and closely worked with…

France’s Alstom to Invest More Than 50 Million Euros in New Projects in Regions of Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The French company Alstom announced plans to invest more than 50 million euros (US$53 million) in locomotive repair centers in Rudny, Ekibastuz and Arys towns, reported June 10 the Kazakh Invest National Company.  The company has already invested 127 million euros (US$134.6 million) in two projects including the production of electric locomotives and…

All COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Removed in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – Proof of vaccination status and COVID-19 PCR tests for the Kazakh and foreign citizens for entering Kazakhstan are not required since June 8, reported the Prime Minister’s Office.  The Interdepartmental Commission made the decision to cancel requirements due to the stabilization of the epidemiological situation in the country and worldwide.  The work of…

EU Statement on Kazakhstan’s Referendum “Welcomes Political Reforms Initiated by President Tokayev”

NUR-SULTAN – The European Union (EU) takes note of the final result of the referendum in Kazakhstan where people voted in favor of constitutional amendments, reported on June 7 the Brussels European External Action Service (EEAS) Press Team. “The EU welcomes the political reforms initiated by President Tokayev on March 16 in addition to the…

President Tokayev Meets With Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia as Part of His Visit to Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia seek to strengthen economic and investment cooperation. This was announced during the meeting between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on June 6, reported Akorda.  Saudi Arabia is one of Kazakhstan’s…

Kazakh President Says ‘There Will Be No Recurrence of Tragic January’

NUR-SULTAN – There will be no recurrence of the tragedy, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told reporters about the investigation into the January events after he cast his vote in the capital’s Schoolchildren Palace on June 5.  “The authorized bodies are investigating the cases thoroughly. The Prosecutor General’s Office publishes all materials related to the investigation. The…

Kazakh President Meets with Prosecutor General to Discuss Investigation of January Events

NUR-SULTAN – It is vital to objectively investigate the circumstances and those responsible for the attacks and mass riots in January, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the meeting with Prosecutor General Berik Asylov on June 2, reported Akorda.  The results of the investigation should be presented to the public on a regular basis.  Asylov said…

Kazakh President Visits Construction Site of New Terminal, Academic Universities During Working Visit to Almaty

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev led the groundbreaking ceremony at the construction of a new international terminal at the airport as part of his working visit to Almaty on June 1, reported Akorda Press.  The investment project worth more than $200 million has been implemented by Turkish company TAV Airports Holding.  Tokayev noted that…

Kazakhstan Pays Tribute to Victims of Political Repressions and Famine

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomat Tokayev took part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the monumental complex on the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions and Famine on May 31, reported Akorda Press.  In the Soviet period, some 100,000 people were unjustly convicted from 1921 to 1954 in Kazakhstan and a quarter of them…

Kazakhstan Battalion Expands Involvement in UN Peacekeeping Operations, Now Consists of More Than 500 Officers

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s peacekeeping activities seek to assist the international community in preventing armed conflicts. To honor the contribution of the men and women serving under its flag, the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers has been celebrated on May 29 since 2002 worldwide.  In Kazakhstan, this date was first celebrated in 2019. The Kazakh…

UN Experts Assess Readiness of Kazakhstan’s Contingent For Peacekeeping Activities

NUR-SULTAN – The experts of the UN Department of Peace Operations paid a visit to Kazakhstan to assess the readiness of the Kazakh contingent that participates in the UN peacekeeping operations, the press service of the Ministry of Defense reported on May 25.  The experts studied the educational process of peacekeepers, including the teaching of…

Tokayev, Japarov Open Monument to Kazakh Poet Abai, Visit Branch of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Bishkek

NUR-SULTAN – The opening of the monument to the great Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayev and a branch of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Bishkek have also been scheduled as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Kyrgyzstan on May 26. The events are marked to celebrate the 30 years of diplomatic relations between…

Kazakhstan’s Reforms to Create Ample Opportunities for Foreign Investors, Says PM Alikhan Smailov

NUR-SULTAN – The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov held an interim meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council that included the discussion of the activities of permanent working groups, the preparation for the 34th plenary session of the council, as well as acute issues of investors on doing business in Kazakhstan, reports the Prime Minister’s…