Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has the necessary technological capabilities and enough resources to build a nuclear power plant, said Gulmira Mursalova, deputy director of the atomic industry department at the Kazakh Energy Ministry. Notably, the country has sufficient uranium reserves and produces finished fuel in the form of fuel pellets. Today, Kazakhstan’s explored uranium reserves total…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu held talks with his foreign counterparts to deepen bilateral cooperation as part of the High-Level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Kazakh Foreign Minister’s press service reported that Nurtleu met with the foreign ministers of Spain…

ASTANA — The Azret Sultan State Historical and Cultural Reserve Museum in Turkistan, which includes the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum, a unique architectural monument that was inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List in 2003, has been taken under state protection. The corresponding resolution was signed by Kazakh…

ASTANA—Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov discussed the country’s social and economic development, the harvesting campaign and preparations for the heating season during a Sept. 24 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to Bektenov, economic growth in January-August was 3.7%. Construction (8.8%), transport and warehousing (7.9%), communications (7.4%), trade (5.5%), and manufacturing (4.9%) had the biggest…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency has ensured the return of property assets and funds worth 1.9 trillion tenge (US$3.9 billion) to the state and quasi-public sector entities since 2022, said Chair Askhat Zhumagali during a Sept. 24 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Nearly 153.3 billion tenge (US$321.5 million) have been transferred to the education infrastructure…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Academy of Sciences held the Garden Day dedicated to Almaty Aport (a type of apple) and discussed implemented measures to preserve the variety. The event was attended by Kazakh Deputy Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov, Deputy Akim (Mayor) of the Almaty Region Nurzhan Kudaibergenov, heads of research institutes, representatives of agribusiness,…

ASTANA – Two Amur tigers were transported to the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve in the Almaty Region from the Netherlands on Sept. 22 to revive wild tiger species. The animals are now undergoing the acclimatization process in a small enclosure near the protected area of ​​the reserve. After several weeks of adaptation, they are planned…

ASTANA — The Kazakhstan women’s chess team won a silver medal at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, from Sept. 10 to 23. The team included Bibisara Assaubayeva, Meruyert Kamalidenova, Xeniya Balabayeva, Alua Nurman and Amina Kairbekova. According to the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the women’s team beat the strongest rivals of the United…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media across the world. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on the German-Central Asian cooperation, the Jackson-Vanik amendment, Dimash Qudaibergen’s interview and more. America’s self-inflicted wound in Central Asia Forbes published an article on Sept. 16 about the…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Tourism National Company organized a trip to the Bayanaul National Park in the Pavlodar Region for European ambassadors.  The envoys were acquainted with the region’s tourism potential, including its unique natural and cultural attractions, reported Kazakh Tourism on Sept. 18. A walking tour of the national park included a visit to…

ASTANA – The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) approved the work plan for the period of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in 2024-2026 during the Sept. 18 meeting of the IFAS board, reported the Prime Minister’s press service.   “IFAS has become a powerful collective tool of regional cooperation capable of influencing the socio-economic well-being in…

ASTANA— A foreign investor plans to build a logistics center in the North Kazakhstan Region to supply Kazakh products to China. As part of a two-day working visit to the North Kazakhstan Region, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin met with Chinese investor Jia Heyi, president of the Xian Aiju Corporation. The company built a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway operator transported more than 5.2 million tons of grain in eight months of 2024, including four million tons for export, reported the company’s press service.  “There has been a 17.4% increase in the volume of milled products transported by rail, reaching 2.3 million tons. Of this, 1.8…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to protect migratory animals, as deputies of Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, ratified an agreement on cooperation in ecology and environmental protection. This marks a significant step toward regional environmental conservation efforts. “The document enables timely interaction on topics related to animal movement in the Kazakh-Uzbek border region,…

ASTANA – The fifth World Nomad Games (WNG) in Astana showcased the cultural richness of nomadic peoples. This year, the event featured sports such as mas-wrestling – a national sport of Yakutia, oware – an intellectual game from African cultures, and mangala – an intellectual game from Turkiye. Kaleb Mengesha and Hanna Teshome represented Ethiopia…

ASTANA — Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Bo Li confirmed their intention to strengthen partnership in all areas of interaction during their meeting on Sept. 16. During the talks, the sides discussed cooperation in the financial and economic spheres. The meeting participants underlined the strategic…

ASTANA – International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi outlined Kazakhstan’s key role in global nuclear security at the opening ceremony of the national pavilion as part of the 68th regular session of the IAEA General Conference, which is taking place on Sept. 16-20 in Vienna. Visiting Kazakhstan’s stand focused on the development…

ASTANA –‌ The possibility of achieving peace still exists, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, commenting on the resolution of the situation around Ukraine during his Sept. 16 meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “It is a fact that, from a military standpoint, Russia is invincible. Unfortunately, a good opportunity to reach at least a ceasefire…

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital will host the 48th ICPC International Collegiate Programming Contest Finals for the first time on Sept. 15-20. Kazakhstan’s Presidential Center will host the opening ceremony of the 2024 ICPC World Finals on Sept. 16. This year, out of 59,000 participants representing 111 countries and 3,000 universities, 142 teams from universities…

ASTANA — Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting of the Council of Domestic Entrepreneurs, with the participation of the Atameken Chamber of Entrepreneurs and representatives of large businesses, to discuss urgent topics of entrepreneurship development. The Prime Minister’s press service reported on Sept. 12 that Bektenov underlined the state’s measures to improve the investment…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed the implementation of the Alatau City project in the Almaty Region during a Sept. 13 meeting with Chairman of Asia Infrastructure Solutions Singapore Wong Heang Fine. According to Akorda, the sides addressed the development of Alatau City by attracting foreign investment, technology and competencies. In May, the master…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes the fifth World Nomad Games, the development of the Middle Corridor, Kazakhstan’s partnership with Central Asian states and more. World Nomad Games: The spectacular ‘Olympics’ of Central Asia BBC Travel released an article on Sept.…

ASTANA — After the fifth day of the World Nomad Games, Kazakhstan’s national team secured 86 medals, including 33 gold medals, 25 silver medals, and 28 bronze medals. According to the National and Equestrian Sports Center’s press service, on Sept. 12, the Kazakh national team triumphed in kokpar, a traditional Central Asian game known as…

ASTANA — Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) presented the Islamic Finance Country Report, prepared under the technical assistance of the Islamic Development Bank by CSQ law, during Astana Finance Days 2024. Kazakhstan’s strengths include a favorable legal environment supported by AIFC initiatives, a growing economy, infrastructure development plans, and a significant Muslim population, reported AIFC…

ASTANA — FICAC, a global network of Consular Associations, and Nazarbayev University (NU) signed a memorandum on Sept. 12. The memorandum symbolizes new beginnings and shared visions, aiming to connect cultures and aspirations. The ceremony was attended by President of the World Federation of Consuls FICAC Nikolaos Margaropoulos, NU Acting President and Provost Ilesanmi Adesida,…