EBRD Invests Nearly $42 Million into Air Astana’s Shares
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested $41.99 million into shares of Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, acquiring a minority stake of 5% through the country’s first partial privatization via an initial public offering (IPO), the EBRD’s press service reported on Feb. 14. The shares will be listed on both…
Air Astana Begins Trading on LSE, AIX and KASE
ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s largest airline, kicked off its initial public offering (IPO) on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) on Feb. 15, the AIX’s press service reported. Following three and a half days of conditional trading, Air Astana’s ordinary shares and global depositary receipts (GDRs) are now unconditionally traded on AIX, representing a milestone…
Fifth EU-Central Asia Meeting Addresses Afghanistan’s Situation
ASTANA – The fifth European Union (EU)-Central Asia meeting focusing on Afghanistan took place in Bishkek on Feb. 14, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Discussions centered around the situation in Afghanistan, with particular emphasis placed on finding effective ways to interact with the country’s de facto government. The head of the Kazakh delegation,…
President Tokayev Addresses Qatar’s Consultative Assembly
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became the first foreign leader to address the Consultative Assembly of the State of Qatar (Shura Council) on Feb. 14, reported the Akorda press service. He noted the importance of Qatar’s decision to hold its first legislative elections in 2021, highlighting its potential to strengthen prosperity and international reputation. The…
Kazakh President Bolsters Business Ties with Qatar During State Visit to Doha
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Doha continued with meetings with executives of major Qatari business entities, resulting in several agreements on Feb. 14, reported the Akorda press service. Economic and investment cooperation At a meeting with Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, Chairman of Al Faisal Holding and the Qatari Businessmen Association, coordinator…
Astana to Host Central Asia FIRST Championship This Month
ASTANA – Central Asia FIRST Championship, the largest regional robotics competition, will take place on Feb. 23-25 in Astana, reported the Kazakh Education Ministry’s press service. The event will bring together over 3,000 schoolchildren from ten countries, including Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye. Kazakhstan will be represented by 200 teams that received…
Satbayev University and Penn State Forge Academic Alliance to Advance STEM Collaboration
ASTANA – Satbayev University and Pennsylvania State University signed a general agreement for academic cooperation during the visit of the Satbayev University delegation of senior administrators and faculty to Penn State on Feb. 1-2, reported Penn State’s press service. The visit included facility tours, presentations, a library tour, break-out sessions with Penn State faculty, and…
Kazakhstan Collaborates with Uzbekistan’s Tour Operator to Attract Foreign Tourists to Turkistan
ASTANA – During the Samarkand Tourism Forum last week, Kazakh Tourism national company signed a memorandum of cooperation with Uzbekistan’s large tour operator Rocket Group to attract tourists from Türkiye, South Korea, and several other countries to Turkistan, the company’s press service reported on Feb. 12. “This year, Turkistan promises to become a real oasis…
Kazakhstan Poised to Lead GovTech Technology Exports
ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed several memorandums of understanding on exporting its government technology (GovTech) solutions during the Digital Almaty 2024 forum on Feb. 1-3, Profit.kz reported on Feb. 13. Kazakhstan’s IT solutions for e-government development, such as Smart Bridge, the Unified Platform for Internet Resources of Government Agencies, and the Smart Data Ukimet information and…
Kazakhstan Emerges as World Middle Power for First Time
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has secured a place among the world’s middle powers for the first time, joining the ranks of countries such as India, Israel, and Türkiye, according to a comprehensive compilation of articles published by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) on Jan. 23. The middle powers concept refers to countries…
Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 3.9% in January
ASTANA – The growth rate of Kazakhstan’s economy stood at 3.9% in January, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov said at a Feb. 13 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The construction sector grew by 12.8%, transport and warehousing by 11.4%, information…
Kazakhstan Announces Dates for Second Astana International Forum
ASTANA – The second annual Astana International Forum (AIF) will take place on June 13-14 and will be chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service announced on Feb. 12. The premier international conference in Central Asia, which demonstrated its inaugural success in 2023 by drawing over 5,000 participants from more than…
Kazakhstan Signs Agreement with Presight AI on Supercomputer Creation
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin, the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, and Presight AI signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Presight AI Holding on Feb. 12 on the basic terms for the creation of a supercomputer in Kazakhstan and the construction of a corresponding Data…
Kazakhstan, UK Forge Partnership on Climate Initiatives
ASTANA – The United Kingdom’s (UK) delegation unveiled its Program Fund for Climate, Energy and Water Security for Central Asia, estimated at 19-20 million pounds ($24 million) for a three-year period, during a Feb. 6 meeting between Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev and UK Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach, reported the ministry’s press service. Kazakhstan…
Headgear Exhibition Opens in Kazakhstan’s Turkistan City
ASTANA – The World of Headdresses exhibition displaying national headgear from various countries opened in Turkistan city on Feb. 5, reported the regional administration’s press service. Dedicated to World Hijab Day, the exhibition aims to show headdresses and scarves of people from countries around the world. Based on the character Mudhatter from a fairy tale…
AstraZeneca Proposes Localization of Drug Production in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – AstraZeneca considers the drug localization project as one of the priority areas of its activities, said Country Director of AstraZeneca in Kazakhstan Maria Shipuleva at the Kazakhstan Pharmaceutical Forum in Almaty on Feb. 7, reported the company’s press office. Earlier, the Kazakh Health Ministry signed a roadmap for the drug localization project with…
Seven Kazakh Artists to Showcase Works at 60th Venice Biennale
ASTANA – The Kazakh artists, including Kamila Mullasheva, Yerbolat Tolepbay, Saken Narynov, Sergey Maslov, Anvar Musrepov, and the2vvo group will present their works at the 60th edition of the Venice Art Biennale, scheduled for April 20 – Nov. 24 in Venice, Italy, reported the Kazakh Culture and Information Ministry’s press service. Slated to run in…
Almaty Enters Top Foreign Holiday Destinations For Indian Travelers in 2024
ASTANA – Almaty, Kazakhstan, secured the top position as the most-searched holiday destination among Indian travelers in a recent publication by India Today on Feb. 6. Situated at the foot of the Tien Shan mountains, Kazakhstan’s largest city has experienced a massive boost in interest from Indian tourists in 2024 with its blend of modern…
Retail Investor Accounts on Astana International Exchange Triples in 2023
ASTANA – The number of new retail investor accounts on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) increased by 1.05 million in 2023, according to an analytical report on the capital market based on AIX exchange activities, released by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) on Feb. 7. AIX witnessed several other historical milestones last year, with…
National Fund Allocates Nearly $700 Million to Children in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has allocated $695.5 million to 6,919,131 children born between January 2006 and December 2023 under the National Fund for Children program launched this year, the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund’s (UAPS) press service reported on Feb. 7. Over $30.6 million was accrued to the targeted savings accounts of 304,815 program participants who turn…
UNICEF Launches Campaign in Kazakhstan to Foster Safe Digital Space for Children
ASTANA – The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) office in Kazakhstan has launched the Cyber Tumar (mascot – from Kazakh) information and educational campaign, designed to navigate cyberspace safely, UNICEF’s press service reported on Feb. 7. This set of information tools aims to help children develop a safe online experience and learn to…
Kazakhstan Ratifies Agreement on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments with Singapore
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the law on ratifying the agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments between Kazakhstan and Singapore on Feb. 7, reported the Akorda press service. As per the agreement, both countries encourage and create favorable conditions for investors’ activities on each other’s territory in alignment with their national…
Kazakhstan’s Sardar Special Forces Unit Triumphs at UAE SWAT Challenge 2024
ASTANA – A special forces unit of Kazakhstan’s state security service, Sardar, took third place at the United Arab Emirates Special Weapons And Tactics (UAE SWAT) Challenge 2024, held from Feb. 3 to 7 in Dubai, reported the state security service’s press office. Kazakhstan won this prestigious international competition among special forces for the first…
President Tokayev Presents France’s Macron with Tazy Dogs
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron with two national Tazy dog breed puppies, Akorda press service reported on Feb. 7. President Macron named the puppies Jules и Jeanne. During his visit to Astana last November, Macron explored Kazakh culture at the Ethnoauyl (ethno village) exhibition, where he especially liked the…
Kazakhstan Adopts New Draft Concept to Ensure National Water Security
ASTANA – The Kazakh government adopted the draft Concept for developing a water resources management system for 2024-2030 at a Jan. 30 meeting chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Ensuring Kazakhstan’s water security According to Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, the document envisages the construction of…
