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,…
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,…
