Qazaq Air to Launch Turkistan-Samarkand Flights in March
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s airline Qazaq Air plans to launch flights on the Turkistan-Samarkand route from March 15, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service. Flights will be operated twice a week on Fridays and Sundays on De-Havilland Dash 8-Q400 aircraft.
Kazakhstan’s Trade Turnover Reaches $139.8 Billion in 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s trade turnover totaled $139.8 billion last year, the Trade and Integration Ministry’s press service reported on Feb. 18. China has become Kazakhstan’s main trading partner, alongside Russia and Italy. Kazakhstan increased non-oil exports by 10% to China, 34% to Hong Kong, 30% to South Korea, and 64% to Vietnam. The share of…
Four Branches of Foreign Universities to Open in Kazakhstan this Year
ASTANA – Four branches of foreign universities will open in Kazakhstan in 2024, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek reported on Feb. 14 on his Telegram channel. City University of Hong Kong, currently ranked 82nd among the top 100 universities globally, will be established at Satbayev University. Pennsylvania State University will open its…
Kazakhstan’s Digital Family Card Wins 2024 GovTech Prize in Dubai
ASTANA – At the World Government Summit in Dubai, Kazakhstan’s innovative project, the Digital Family Card, was honored as the best in the Inclusive Digital Transformation category, receiving the prestigious 2024 GovTech Prize, reported the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) press service on Feb. 13. Developed with the support of UNDP in Kazakhstan, this flagship…
U.S. Department of State Hosts Inaugural Critical Minerals Dialogue with Central Asia
ASTANA — The U.S. Department of State hosted on Feb. 8 the inaugural meeting of the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue (CMD) to increase the region’s involvement in global critical minerals supply chains, strengthen economic cooperation, and advance the clean energy transition while also protecting Central Asia’s unique ecosystems, reported the U.S. Department of State press…
World Bank Initiates Caspian Sea Research to Address Looming Crisis
ASTANA – The World Bank intends to conduct research on the study of the decline in the Caspian Sea level, one of the urgent problems for the region’s community, reported Aktau port’s press service on Feb. 7. “Our goal is to find answers to several questions: is the decline due to reduced inflows from key…
Kazakhstan Reveals Opponents for 2024/25 UEFA Nations League Group B
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to face off against Austria, Norway and Slovenia after being drawn into Group B3 for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League, according to the league phase draw conducted in Paris on Feb. 8. After participation in League C last season, the Kazakhstan national team secured promotion, clinching the top spot in…
SCAT Airlines Set to Resume Astana – Batumi Flights This Summer
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines plans to resume flights on the Astana – Batumi route from June 8, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service. Flights will be operated two times a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Boeing 737 aircraft. From July, the frequency of flights will be increased to three times per week.
Fifth World Nomad Games to Include 20 National Sports
ASTANA – The fifth World Nomad Games will feature 20 traditional competitive sports, reported the games’ press service on Jan. 6. Those include horse races, national wrestling, traditional intellectual games, martial arts competitions, traditional archery, national bird hunting, horseback riding and folk games. The fifth World Nomad Games will be held in Astana on Sept.…
Kazakh Startup Secures $305,000 in Pre-Seed Funding
ASTANA – The Kazakh startup Beksar attracted $305,000 in investments during the Pre-Seed stage, reported the press service of MOST Ventures on Feb. 1. The startup, valued at $4.8 million, positions itself as a provider of a business automation tool to enhance operational efficiency. The company offers an opportunity for small businesses to optimize their…
Kazakh Government Gears Up for Expanded Meeting on Feb. 7
ASTANA — The government’s expanded meeting is set for Feb. 7, announced Maulen Ashimbayev, chairman of the Senate, the upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, to journalists after the meeting of the Senate, reported Kazinform news agency on Feb. 1. The meeting will assess the socio-economic development of the country and chart strategies for future…
KMG Chairman Presents 2023 Performance and Strategic Plans to President Tokayev
ASTANA — KazMunayGas (KMG) Chairman Magzum Mirzagaliyev presented a comprehensive report on the company’s operational and financial performance for 2023 and strategic plans to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a Jan. 31 meeting, Akorda press service reported. KMG is Kazakhstan’s national operator for hydrocarbon exploration, production, refining and transportation. The data revealed significant growth in crucial…
Baiterek National Holding Reports Stellar Performance and Ambitious Plans for 2024
ASTANA — The Chair of Baiterek National Management Holding Nurlan Baibazarov presented remarkable achievements of the holding in 2023 and discussed ambitious plans for the year ahead with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a Jan. 31 meeting, Akorda press service reported. Baiterek National Holding stands as a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s economic development, overseeing a diverse portfolio…
Mobilography Fest Winners from Kazakhstan Take Short Course at New York Film Academy
ASTANA – Twenty winners of the Mob Fest participated in a week-long course at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in New York, as reported by the President’s TV and Radio Complex on Jan. 29. The students had the opportunity to create their films, taking on roles such as a screenwriter, director, camera operator, and…
Kazakh Government to Establish Caspian Sea Research Institute
ASTANA – On Jan. 26, the Kazakh government approved a resolution to establish the Caspian Sea Research Institute, developed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, reported the ministry’s press service. The institute will study environmental issues of the Caspian Sea, the problem of declining water levels, the causes of mass mortalities of seals…
Samruk Kazyna, BAE Systems to Sell Their Shares in Air Astana IPO
ASTANA – The Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and the BAE Systems (Kazakhstan) Limited, shareholders of Air Astana, plan to sell their shares at the upcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange (AIX), and Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), said Managing Director for Development and Privatization of Samruk Kazyna Saltanat…
Kazakh President Arrives in Almaty for Working Visit
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Almaty on a working visit on Jan. 24, reported the Akorda press service. Tomorrow, Tokayev will visit several infrastructure and social facilities. The city administration is expected to introduce their plans for the development of the road transport system. The President is also set to attend a meeting…
President Tokayev to Visit Almaty This Week
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is set for a scheduled working trip to Almaty on Jan. 24-25, said Tokayev’s spokesperson Berik Uali on his Instagram page. The President will visit several facilities, particularly the city administration building renovated after the 2022 January events. Tokayev will hold a meeting at this location, covering the situation in…
Wizz Air Launches First Direct Flight from Abu Dhabi to Turkistan
ASTANA – Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has launched the Abu-Dhabi-Turkistan flight route on Jan. 16 carrying nearly 100 passengers onboard, reported Khabar news agency. The same day, the plane headed back to Abu Dhabi with 200 Kazakh tourists. With early booking, air ticket prices start at 20,000 tenge (US$44). Operating Airbus A321 aircraft, the airline…
Visa-Free Travel Between Kazakhstan and Seychelles Comes Into Effect
ASTANA – A visa-free regime between Kazakhstan and Seychelles took effect on Jan. 6, Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov announced at a Jan. 15 briefing, reported the ministry’s press office. The agreement was signed by the governments of Kazakhstan and Seychelles in New York on Sept. 22. Citizens of both countries can now travel…
Kazakhstan Advances in 2024 Henley Passport Index
ASTANA – The Kazakh passport ranked 66th, moving four spots up in the Henley Passport Index 2024 released on Jan. 9. The citizens can travel to 78 destinations visa free, according to the report. The index includes 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. In 2023, Kazakhstan ranked 70th. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain…
Foreign Ministry: Kazakhstan Reaffirms Commitment to ‘One China’ Policy on Taiwan
ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry released a statement on Jan. 14 on the election in Taiwan, reaffirming that Kazakhstan supports Beijing’s One China policy on the issue of Taiwan and views the island as an inalienable part of China’s territory. “Kazakhstan supports Beijing’s efforts to achieve the peaceful reunification of the country,” the statement…
Qazaq Air to Resume Astana-Novosibirsk Flights This Month
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s airline Qazaq Air will resume flights from Astana to Novosibirsk on Jan. 15, the airline’s press service announced on its Instagram page. Flights will be operated twice a week on Mondays and Fridays on Canada’s De-Havilland Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. Tickets can be booked on the airline’s official website or sales offices.
Air Astana Unveils Plans for IPO in Kazakhstan and London
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s flagship airline Air Astana revealed plans on Jan. 12 for an initial public offering (IPO), publishing a statement on its official website. The airline seeks to list on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) and the London Stock Exchange. The potential offering would involve the sale of global depositary receipts and shares by…
Kazakhstan Ships 993,000 Tons of Oil to Germany in 2023
ASTANA – KazTransOil national oil transporter supplied 993,000 tons of oil to Germany in 2023, KazMunayGas (KMG) oil and gas company’s press service reported on Jan. 12. The KMG subsidiary transported oil via Russia’s Transneft system of trunk oil pipelines in the direction of the Adamowo-Zastawa oil delivery point. Now KazTransOil plans to transport 100,000…
