Almaty to Host Seventh Digital Forum
ASTANA – Almaty will host the seventh Digital Almaty forum, themed Industrial AI: Technologies for a New Era, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 2025, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry. The event will explore breakthrough changes in an industry driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the…
President Tokayev Sets Key Domestic Policy Agenda for 2025, Experts Say
ASTANA – Maulen Ashimbayev, the chairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, spoke about President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s commitment to the principles of openness, constructive dialogue, and a listening state, outlined in his interview with Ana Tili newspaper on Jan. 3. “Current issues are not hushed up, but on the contrary, are…
Startups from Central Eurasia Attract $1.4 Million in Investments
ASTANA — Startups from Central Eurasia, including Most Finance, JobEscape, and Speechsense.ai, secured $1.4 million in investments through the AlchemistX and Silicon Valley Residency Programs, the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry reported on Dec. 27. Out of 22 startups from the region, eight – JobEscape, LoadConnect, Parqour, PointAI, Flowsell.me, Call2action, Oli,…
Kazakhstan’s Historic Sports Achievements in 2024
ASTANA — This year has been full of historic achievements for Kazakh athletes on the world stage. It has undoubtedly elevated Kazakhstan’s status in the global sports arena, breaking new records and barriers. World Nomad Games Kazakhstan hosted the fifth World Nomad Games in September, showcasing not only national sports but also traditions and cuisine.…
Tokayev’s Spokesperson Outlines President’s Activities in 2024
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s spokesperson, Berik Uali, outlined the President’s major achievements in 2024 in an article published in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on Dec. 27. Kazakhstan began the year 2024 with positive changes. One key development was the launch of Alatau City. In January, Tokayev signed a decree transforming the village of Zhetygen…
Details of Aktau Plane Crash Announced
ASTANA – A briefing in Aktau on Dec. 26 led by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev revealed new details about the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer-190 plane crash, Kazinform reported, highlighting the key statements. Chronology of the crash As Transport Minister Marat Karabayev reported, Kazakhstan’s Aktobe regional control center received the first signal about the…
Baku-Grozny Flight Crash Near Aktau Leaves 29 Hospitalized
ASTANA – A plane crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight traveling from Baku to Grozny near Aktau on Dec. 25 left 29 people hospitalized, including two children. The Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that lists of the deceased and injured are being clarified. According to preliminary information, 27 out of those have been delivered…
Kazakhstan Introduces Robot Dog to Enhance Mine Safety
ASTANA — The Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups has presented a unique robotic complex — a robot dog — designed to improve safety in Kazakhstan’s mines. The dog specializes in inspecting mines and detecting potential gas leaks, Kazinform reported on Dec. 24. The robot was created by the development and innovation department of…
Kazakh Sculptor Crafts Monument of Pshon, Hero Dog of Kazakhstan Floods
ASTANA – Kazakh sculptor Azamat Kenzhegaliyev is crafting a monument to Pshon. This dog heroically helped during spring floods but was tragically shot in November by local veterinary station staff tasked with eliminating stray animals, Kazinform reported on Dec. 24. Pshon received widespread attention for carrying transport sandbags during efforts to protect the banks of…
Romanian Mentor Praises Kazakh Students’ Enthusiasm and Skills During Petrochemical Traineeship
ASTANA – Traian Stănică, a Romanian mentor and production manager at Rompetrol Rafinare, has commended Kazakh students for their exceptional preparation and eagerness to learn during the International Traineeship Program organized by the KazMunayGas (KMG) International group of companies, TengriNews reported on Dec. 25. “They participated in debates, sought to better understand phenomena, approaches, and…
Nazarbayev University IT Engineer Pioneers Microchip Development in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Nursultan Kabylkas, a Bolashak program graduate and an assistant professor at Nazarbayev University’s (NU) School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, is creating a team of advanced IT engineers, aiming to move from designing microcircuits to producing Kazakhstan’s first locally manufactured microchips for computers, laptops, and other gadgets, Jibek Joly TV Channel reported on…
Astana Opera Triumphs with Six Sold-Out Performances in Dubai
ASTANA – Astana Opera Ballet captivated audiences at Dubai Opera with six sold-out performances of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet “The Nutcracker” from Dec. 19 to 22, reported the opera’s press service. Choreographed by the legendary Yuri Grigorovich, headed by artistic director Altynai Asylmuratova, and conducted by Italian maestro Giuseppe Acquaviva, the enchanting performance brought the magic…
China Shows Strategic Interest in Kazakhstan’s Resource and Industrial Sectors
ASTANA – Nearly 5,000 companies with Chinese participation are registered in Kazakhstan. The number of such enterprises has recently surged, reflecting China’s strategic interest in the country’s resource and industrial sectors. Chinese companies mainly focus on the mining, energy, and manufacturing industries, according to a Dec. 20 report by Halyk Finance Research. Chinese joint ventures…
Floodwaters Replenish Kazakhstan’s Reservoirs, Rivers, and Lakes
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has collected a record volume of over 75 billion cubic meters of water in its reservoirs this year, including a record 12 billion cubic meters of floodwater, the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation reported on Dec. 23. Correct management of floodwater distribution has helped to replenish not only reservoirs but…
AIX Issues Debut Green Bonds from Kyrgyz Republic
ASTANA – Astana International Exchange (AIX) announced on Dec. 20 the successful issuance of debut green bonds by PlanDem LLC, marking a significant milestone as the first issuer from the Kyrgyz Republic to embrace sustainable finance and renewable energy investments in the region, reported the AIX’s press service. Under the registered Green Wholesale Bond Programme,…
Kazakhstan to Establish Single Operator for Aviation Fuel and Upgrade Transport Infrastructure
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to designate KazMunayGas-Aero as the single operator for aviation fuel to address shortages and reduce dependency on imports, Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev said at a Dec. 23 meeting in the Mazhilis, a lower house of Parliament, reported Mazhilis’s press service. Aviation According to Karabayev, enabling large purchases will eliminate intermediaries,…
Kazakhstan’s Trade Surplus Hits $20.1 Billion in Ten Months of 2024
ASTANA — Kazakhstan recorded a foreign trade surplus of $20.1 billion from January to October 2024, a 33.4% year-on-year (y/y) increase from $15.0 billion in the same period of 2023, Halyk Finance investment bank reported on Dec. 20, citing the Bureau of National Statistics. This is the highest trade balance in the past four years,…
Serik Zhumangarin Appointed as Kazakhstan’s New Minister of National Economy
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Serik Zhumangarin as the new Minister of National Economy on Dec. 21, relieving him of his previous position, reported Akorda. Zhumangarin retains the post of Deputy Prime Minister, which he has held since 2022. This follows the dismissal of Nurlan Baibazarov, who held the post for less than a…
Kazakh Content Growth Spotlighted, Mufasa Dubbed in Kazakh
ASTANA – Maulen Ashimbayev, the chairman of the Senate, an upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, highlighted the importance of preserving national identity through content creation in the creative industry development during the QazaqSham forum on Dec. 18 in Astana, reported Khabar TV. “According to research, Kazakh youth now prefer to view and distribute domestic…
Kazakhstan to Transfer Two Airports to Trust Management
ASTANA – Airports in Turkistan and Kyzylorda will be placed under the trust management of Vietnam’s Sovico Group, Vice Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov announced during the Global Avia Day international forum on Dec. 18 in Astana, reported Kazinform. “Sovico Group plans to enter the Kazakh market, acquire Qazaq Air, and expand its fleet with…
Kazakhstan Expands Air Routes Network to 22 International Destinations in 2024
ASTANA – This year, Kazakhstan has expanded its international air route network to 22 new destinations, Vice Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov said at a government meeting on Dec. 17, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. International network Now, international flights are operated to 31 countries, including Russia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Armenia,…
Turkistan City to Receive Special Status as Spiritual and Historical Capital
ASTANA – The Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, approved in its first reading a draft law granting Turkistan the special status of the spiritual and historical capital at a plenary session on Dec. 18, reported the Mazhilis’s press service. The legislation aims to preserve Turkistan’s historical appearance by establishing a reserve of…
Kazakhstan to Establish $1 Billion Venture Capital Fund Backed by Private Investment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to establish a Fund of Venture Capital Funds, targeting $1 billion in private investment in the medium term. This was revealed during a Dec. 19 meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and leading venture capital experts, Kazakh business community representatives, and international partners. According to the Prime Minister’s press service,…
Kazakh Eco-Startups Set to Compete at UNIDO Global Event in Istanbul and COP30 in Brazil
ASTANA – Five Kazakh eco-startups have received the opportunity to represent their country at the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) competition in Istanbul in 2025, following their success at the 2024 Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) finals in Astana on Dec. 12. These projects have earned cash prizes and the chance to present their projects…
Cargo Transport via Middle Corridor Surges to 4.1 Million Tons in 11 Months
ASTANA – The volume of cargo transported through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, rose by 63% in the first 11 months of 2024, reaching 4.1 million tons, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Dec. 17, summarizing this year’s results. Middle Corridor During the same period, container traffic…
