Articles by Saniya Sakenova

Kazakhstan to Launch $160 Million PepsiCo Snack Production Plant in 2026

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to launch a full-scale snack production plant, based on American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation PepsiCo and valued at $160 million of private foreign investment, in 2026. Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov discussed this project at a meeting with David Manzini, President of PepsiCo for Central Asia, Russia, Belarus, and…

President Tokayev Aims to Boost Trade and Business Ties with South Korea

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the Kazakh-Korean business forum alongside South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on June 12, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s ambition to solidify its status as South Korea’s primary trade and economic partner in Central Asia, which is especially relevant in the era of…

Kazakhstan Stresses Regional Cooperation for Aral Sea Revitalization

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev emphasized the need for concrete steps to address water issues at the third high-level international conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028, held on June 10-13 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The Dushanbe Water Process serves as a…

Kazakhstan and South Korea Agree on New Areas of Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and South Korea have agreed to further develop their expanded strategic partnership by identifying new areas of collaboration, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated at a joint press briefing with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on June 12, following bilateral negotiations, as reported by the Akorda. South Korea is one of Kazakhstan’s five…

Kazakhstan Signs Agreement on Construction of Kambar-Ata Hydroelectric Power Plant

ASTANA — The energy ministers of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to prepare for the construction and operation of the Kambar-Ata-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) during a special session on the sidelines of the International Energy Investment Forum held in Vienna on June 10-11, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry’s press service.…

US Embassy in Kazakhstan Updates Visa Services to Enhance Efficiency

ASTANA – The United States (U.S.) Embassy in Astana and the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty announced that they moved to a new visa services provider on June 10. All visa applicants should use the website from June 10 to obtain visa information, pay any required nonimmigrant visa fees, schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, and…

Kazakhstan, South Korea Reaffirm Commitment to Expand Strategic Partnership

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol reaffirmed their intention to elevate bilateral relations to a new level within an expanded strategic partnership during negotiations on June 12, reported Akorda. Tokayev highlighted the progress achieved through joint efforts, noting that bilateral trade turnover has reached $6 billion.…

Kazakhstan’s Confectionery Sensation Opens Its First Branch in US

ASTANA – Initially a single home-based bakery, Kazakhstan’s confectionery sensation Happy Cake has expanded to a network of over a hundred stores and has now opened its first branch in Texas, near the Hampton Inn Sugarland, the United States, according to the publication of Happy Cake’s founder Askhat Soltanov on June 10. The Soltanov family…

Kazakhstan-China Cargo Transport Reaches Record 28 Million Tons

ASTANA – Cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and China increased by 22% compared to 2022, reaching a record level of over 28 million tons, as was reported during the first Kazakh-Chinese grain forum in China, the Transport Ministry’s press service reported on June 7. Additionally, Kazakhstan’s shippers exported 12.6 million tons, marking a 35% growth from…

Dimash Kudaibergen Participates in Chinese TV Project

ASTANA – Kazakh popstar Dimash Kudaibergen participated in a new episode of the “Beauty and Harmony” project, which aired on China Central Television-1 (CCTV-1) on June 8, reported DimashNews.com. The project aims to promote large-scale international cultural exchange between China and other countries. “Music crosses borders and culture builds bridges. When the music starts, I…

Almaty to Host 26th Asian Youth Chess Championships

ASTANA – Almaty is hosting the 26th Asian Youth Chess Championships from June 9 to 21, announced the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. In an interview with Kazinform, grandmaster Darmen Sadvakassov, the federation’s first Vice President, shared that the competition features over 640 players from 33 countries, competing in three time controls: classic, rapid, and blitz. “We…

Iconic Beijing-Paris Rally Passes Through Kazakhstan

ASTANA – This year’s Beijing-Paris rally, which runs from May 18 to June 23, traversed the territory of Kazakhstan, reported the Kazakh Tourism national company’s press service. Around 100 cars and 16 support vehicles departed from the Great Wall of China near Beijing. Covering a distance of 14,500 kilometers, the route passes through China, Kazakhstan,…

Alatau Smart City to Implement Comprehensive Digitization and Automation

ASTANA – Alatau will be a smart city, where digitization and automation will cover all necessary processes, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev said during his working visit to the city on June 8, reported the ministry’s press service. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has designated Alatau as a flagship project, aiming to…

Kazakh Cyclist Wins Gold at Asian Road Cycling Championships in Almaty

ASTANA – Yevgeniy Fedorov, a road racing cyclist from Kazakhstan, clinched the gold medal at the 43d Asian Road Cycling Championships in Almaty, the National Olympic Committee’s press service reported on June 9. Fedorov triumphed in the individual time trial, while fellow Kazakh cyclist Dmitriy Gruzdev secured second place. Rinata Sultanova finished third in the…

Kazakhstan Flood Recovery: Thousands Compensated, Tokayev Urges Swift Action

ASTANA – To date, 4,521 families in Kazakhstan have received compensation worth 57.4 billion tenge (US$126.6 million) for repairs and restoration of their homes, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said at a June 7 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported Akorda. In total, nearly 237 billion tenge (US$522.9 million) is required for the complete restoration…

Central Asia, EU Review Prospects for Political and Security Cooperation

ASTANA—The European Union (EU) headquarters hosted the 11th Meeting of the High-Level Political and Security Dialogue between Central Asia and the EU on June 5 in Brussels to discuss regional security, interregional cooperation, and the international agenda, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Deputy foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and Deputy Secretary-General and…

Kazakhstan Advances Gender Equality, Combats Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking

ASTANA – The Human Dimension Dialogue Platform consultative and advisory body convened on June 3 for a regular meeting to discuss the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, countering domestic violence, and measures to combat human trafficking in Kazakhstan, reported the Foreign Ministry’s…

President Tokayev Visits Exhibition at Kazakhstan’s National Museum

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the National Museum of Kazakhstan to view an exhibition of domestic and world fine art works on June 6, reported the Akorda press service.  Fine art expert Olga Baturina introduced the President to the “Painting of the Steppe: Symbols, Colors, Images” exhibition, featuring works by talented Kazakh painters. Tokayev…

UK’s Magazine Wanderlust Includes Kazakhstan in Travel Green List

ASTANA – British magazine Wanderlust has included Kazakhstan in its Travel Green List 2024, the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ press service reported on June 5. In particular, the list involved the Katon-Karagai district in eastern Kazakhstan at the suggestion of the Kazakh Tourism national company. “Five years ago, residents of the Katon-Karagai district…

Kazakhstan’s Constitution Published in Braille for First Time

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court presented the Constitution in Braille for the first time on June 6, reported the court’s press service.  This project, supported by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Program Office in Astana and the Ministry of Culture and Information, aims to make the text of the Basic Law…

Kazakh President Tours Capital’s Facilities

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev toured a sports center and two medical facilities to familiarize himself with the capital’s social infrastructure on June 5, reported the Akorda press service. SANA Sport The SANA Sport family center has 29 sports, creative, and educational clubs staffed by 29 coaches and 25 highly qualified teachers. Over 4,000 children…

Movie About Zhambyl Zhabayev Set to Release in June

ASTANA – The historical film “Zhambyl. A New Era,” which began filming in 2021 to mark the 175th anniversary of Kazakh poet Zhambyl Zhabayev, will be released on June 6, reported the Culture and Information Ministry’s press service. The movie has recently been presented in Astana. The film chronicles the last nine years of the…

IMF: Kazakhstan’s Economy Resilient, Albeit Facing Downside Risks

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy and financial sector have remained resilient, but downside risks to the outlook are substantial, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief for Kazakhstan, Nicolas Blancher, concluded in a statement following a visit to the country on May 23-31. Economy and financial sector Blancher wrote that Kazakhstan’s economy has remained resilient, with…

Astana to Host Four-Day Comic Con 2024 in July

ASTANA – The third Comic Con Astana international festival will take place in the Kazakh capital on July 25-28, reported the festival’s press service. Comic Con Astana will last four days this year at the EXPO International Exhibition Center. A highlight of the festival will be the international-scale cosplay contest with a total prize pool…

Tokayev Attends Flag Raising Ceremony on State Symbols Day

ASTANA—President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the national flag-raising ceremony on June 4, the Day of State Symbols, reported the Akorda press service. Reflection of values and ideals “Our flag, soaring in the blue sky, fills each of us with a sense of respect for our Homeland. Due to the victories in sports, the flag has repeatedly…