Articles by Aida Haidar

ASTANA — The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), the country’s leading think tank, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023. In the run-up to this milestone, The Astana Times spoke with KazISS Director Yerkin Tukumov about the institute’s role in the country’s development and future plans.  What role has the think tank played in the…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s course towards renewing its political system focuses more on changing the institutions and their work, political expert Daniyar Ashimbayev wrote in his Telegram post on April 4, addressing recent reappointments in the Parliament and the government that saw minor changes.  Maulen Ashimbayev was re-elected as Kazakhstan’s Senate Chairperson on Jan. 26, while…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s trade turnover broke a historical record in 2022, reaching $134.4 billion, exceeding the pre-pandemic level of $97.8 billion in 2019, according to the Ministry of National Economy.   In 2020, the country’s foreign trade reduced by 11.5 percent to $85 billion due to output cuts, lockdowns, and border closures. Exports in 2022 totaled…

ASTANA – Following the March 19 parliamentary election, a multiparty parliament has emerged in Kazakhstan, said Tatiana Lipina, a leading expert from the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS). Six political parties gained seats in the Mazhilis, the lower chamber, compared to three in the previous convocation.  The new multiparty system, she said, embodies strengthened…

ASTANA – Kazakh economy has demonstrated high adaptability despite unprecedentedly high inflation rates worldwide, increase in interest rates, and disruptions in global demand and supply chains, said Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov during a press briefing with foreign media at the Central Communication Services on March 17 in Astana. “We managed to maintain positive…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is committed to developing nature-based solutions to deal with the challenges of the receding Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea, said Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Zulfiya Suleimenova, during a press briefing with foreign media at the Central Communication Services on March 17. Addressing a question about the Aral Sea, she…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the significant potential of the West Kazakhstan Region and its important role in the nation’s development during his working visit to the region on March 9, Akorda press service reported.  The region showcases its industrial development The West Kazakhstan Region has an abundance of natural resources, including oil and…

ASTANA – A five-year nurturing of an environmentally friendly lifestyle led Saniya Arinova, 31, to start her own company providing eco-friendly hygiene products to women, caring not only for the environment and minimizing waste but also for female reproductive health. Arinova spoke about her product, challenges, and rewards of creating an eco-business in Kazakhstan in…

ASTANA – Representatives of seven political parties debated live on Qazaqstan TV on March 1, offering their vision for the country’s future as election day for the Mazhilis, the lower house of Parliament, approaches.  Participants included Berik Dyusembinov, deputy chair of the Aq Jol Democratic party, Yelnur Beisenbayev, executive secretary of the Amanat party, Zhiguli…

ASTANA – The United States reaffirms its unwavering support for Kazakhstan to determine its future freely, and strongly endorses the reform agenda announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev last March, U.S. Secretary Antony J. Blinken said during a Feb. 28 press briefing following his first official visit to Kazakhstan. Blinken asserted the U.S. looks forward to…

ASTANA – The visit of United States Secretary Antony J. Blinken to Kazakhstan is extremely important in terms of giving additional impetus to the strategic cooperation, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the meeting with the U.S. Secretary Blinken on Feb. 28, reported Akorda press service.   Kazakhstan and the US have “a very good and…

ASTANA – United States (US) Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived on his first official visit to Kazakhstan on Feb. 28, reported the U.S. Department of State.  During his two-day visit, Blinken will meet with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi to deepen bilateral cooperation.  The agenda of the…

ASTANA – Kazakh families maintain traditional gender roles in the family, there is prevalence of civil partnerships over official marriages, and parents have less time to spend with their children, according to the Kazakhstan’s Families 2022 national report, issued on Feb. 1.  The Kazakhstan Institute of Social Development conducted a sociological study and a mass…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is a key business partner for the Czech Republic in Central Asia, Rudolf Hykl, the Czech Ambassador in Astana, said in an exclusive interview for this story as he shared details of more business missions and official engagements planned for 2023 to expand bilateral ties.  In turn, the Czech Republic is Kazakhstan’s…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s position on the necessity of a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict based on the United Nations Charter and universally accepted international law principles during a Feb. 16 telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Akorda press service reported.  During a phone discussion initiated by the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Akmola Region on Feb. 14 to review its agricultural, medical, and educational facilities, the Akorda press service reported.  Agriculture and machine industry in Kokshetau Tokayev visited the Kazakhstan Agro-Innovative Corporation in Kokshetau, which produces up to 3,000 units of agricultural machinery per year and employs 300 people. Over…

ASTANA – The role of parliamentary diplomacy has grown amidst a tense geopolitical situation and global economic instability, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his address to the participants of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of Central Asian States, delivered by Kazakhstan’s Senate Chairman Maulen Ashimbayev on Feb. 10, as reported by the Kazakh Senate’s press service.…

The world was shocked by the catastrophic earthquake in southern Türkiye and Syria. The earthquake, with a magnitude surpassing 7.5 points, claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people. According to the latest United Nation estimates, the depth of the tragedy is still unclear. The rescue operation continues, but there is less and less hope…

ASTANA – The United States recognizes the importance of Central Asia in its foreign strategy when dealing with issues spanning from terrorism, energy security to climate change, said Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the US National Security Council John Kirby during a Feb. 8 press briefing in Washington, reported Kazinform.  Answering the question about changes…

ASTANA – The tragedy could have been considerably worse if law enforcement had not followed the set of actions mandated by the law, said Minister of Internal Affairs Marat Akhmetzhanov at a Jan. 5 Mazhilis meeting on the results of an ongoing investigation into the January events. “The weapons were used in strict compliance with…

ASTANA – The book “The Eagle Huntress: The True Story of the Girl Who Soared Beyond Expectations” was presented at the first Central Asian Media Forum on Dec. 21.  Millions of people worldwide were taken aback when they first saw a striking photograph of a 13-year-old girl with a strong and majestic eagle on her…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has taken a number of progressive measures to combat gender inequality over the years of independence, thanks to the joint efforts of the state and civil society, an essential part of which has been the media, said Aida Balayeva, Deputy Head of the Kazakh President’s Administration, at the session dedicated to the…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and French President Emmanuel Macron underlined their mutual willingness to contribute to the strengthening of peace, security and stability at the global and regional levels in a joint statement published on Nov. 30, the Akorda press service reported.  They emphasized their steadfast adherence to international law and the core…

ASTANA – De-globalization and regionalization go hand in hand with the deepening of global relations, said Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics Yerzhan Saltybayev during the seventh meeting of the Astana Club in Paris dedicated to the theme of Greater Eurasia: Building Dialogue in the Age of Uncertainty.  “The trend towards globalization…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi had a phone conversation on Nov. 26 with the United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken upon the initiative of the U.S. side, reported the ministry’s press service on Nov. 29.  The sides discussed bilateral and multilateral collaboration between Kazakhstan and the US…