Astana Hosts Intergovernmental Commission for Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan
ASTANA — The Kazakh-German Intergovernmental Commission for the Affairs of Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan convened on May 21 for its 20th-anniversary meeting, aiming to enhance cultural and humanitarian cooperation and discuss the German ethnic group’s affairs, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. According to statistics, Kazakhstan is home to 226,000 ethnic Germans, with around…
Middle Corridor Cargo Transportation Rises 35% in Early 2024
ASTANA — Cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) saw a 35% increase from January to April, according to a meeting between Azerbaijan Railways Chairman Rovshan Rustamov and China State Railway Group Chairman Liu Zhenfang, Kazinform reported on May 22. A train carrying 61 containers departed from the port in the Chinese province…
Tokayev Meets Singapore’s PM, Signs New Memorandums of Cooperation
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, congratulating him on his recent appointment and wishing him success in his governmental duties during his state visit to Singapore on May 23, reported the Akorda press service. The President emphasized that Singapore is Kazakhstan’s strategic partner in Southeast Asia and praised the…
UN Secretary-General to Attend SCO Council of Heads of State in July
ASTANA – During a May 20 meeting with Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) António Guterres confirmed his participation in the meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), scheduled for July 3-4 in Astana, reported the ministry’s press service. The meeting, held…
Kazakh President Visits Singapore For First Time in Over 20 Years
ASTANA—President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Singapore for a state visit on May 23, the Akorda press service reported. This was the first visit by a Kazakh President to Singapore in over twenty years. During his meeting with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Tokayev highlighted Singapore as a time-tested and reliable partner of Astana. Over 140 Singaporean companies…
Kazakh Movie Wins Award at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival 2024
ASTANA – Kazakh film “Madina” received a Special Recognition award at the 40th edition of the Visual Communications (VC) Film Fest/Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, as reported by the festival’s press service on May 16. Directed by Aizhan Kassymbek and featuring an all-woman crew, the movie delves into the oppressed lived experiences of its…
Kazakhstan Increases Road Transportation to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev announced a significant increase in the number of additional permit forms for road transportation to European countries, particularly Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, the ministry’s press service reported on May 20. In the current realities, Kazakh carriers’ demand for permit forms from European countries has sharply risen. Over…
Kazakhstan Expands Non-Commodity Exports
ASTANA – The number of exported non-commodity goods from Kazakhstan increased by 278 positions in 2023, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said at a May 21 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Since 2019, the number of permanent active exporters in Kazakhstan has grown by…
Kazakhstan Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening SCO’s Potential
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is making every effort to enhance the potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during its chairmanship, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a May 21 meeting with SCO Foreign Ministers, reported Akorda. Tokayev expressed his deep condolences to the people and leadership of Iran following the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi…
Kazakhstan’s Oil Transportation Volume Grows 14.2% in First Quarter of 2024
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s mainline and sea oil transportation volume increased by 14.2% to 21,541 tons in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period last year, according to a May 17 report by the national oil and gas company, KazMunayGas (KMG). The volume of oil transported through Kazakhstan’s main pipelines grew 7.9% to…
Kazakh Prime Minister Addresses Accelerated Restoration As Flood Peak Passes
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting on the implementation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions on eliminating the consequences of floods and expediting restoration efforts, following the peak of floods across the country on May 20. Flood control efforts are ongoing in the Atyrau Region, particularly along the Zhaiyk River, where water…
Kazakhstan, Malaysia Sign Agreements Worth More Than $350 Million
ASTANA – Kazakh and Malaysian businesses signed agreements and memorandums totaling over $350 million at a May 17 investment roundtable chaired by Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as reported by the Prime Minister’s press service. Participants agreed to collaborate on attracting investments in Islamic finance and trade development, as…
Kazakhstan Increases Agricultural Exports to China
ASTANA — Exports of Kazakh agricultural goods to China increased by 84% over the year. This was announced during a May 16 meeting between Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. During the same period, agricultural product turnover grew 1.7 times, with an additional 6%…
Kazakhstan to Participate in Central Asia-Italy Meeting in Rome
ASTANA – Antonio Tajani, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will meet with foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in Rome on May 29, reported Agenzia Nova. The meeting confirms Italy’s growing interest in Central Asia, a region of increasing political and economic…
EBRD to Support Modernization of Kazakhstan’s Mining Sector
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev and First Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Jürgen Rigterink signed a memorandum of understanding on May 16 to develop and modernize Kazakhstan’s mining industry, reported the EBRD’s press service. The agreement establishes a more modern and sophisticated system for…
Flood-Affected Families in Kazakhstan Receive Housing
ASTANA — Some 202 Kazakh families received houses and apartments to replace their homes destroyed by the recent floods as of May 17, the Prime Minister’s press service reported. The government continues to compensate citizens affected by the extensive floods this spring following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions. Some 24,641 families have received one-time payments totaling…
Kazakhstan to Strengthen Cooperation with Malaysia
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready for closer and more productive interaction with Malaysia, which plays an important role in the Southeast Asian region, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the meeting in an expanded format with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on May 16, reported Akorda. Highlighting business contacts as crucial for developing bilateral relations, Tokayev…
Almaty Region Launches Alatau Hub Innovation Center
ASTANA – The Alatau Hub regional innovation center was officially launched on May 15 in Konayev town, the Almaty Region, reported the press service of the Astana Hub International Technopark of IT Startups. The Alatau Hub’s opening was celebrated with an exhibition showcasing large IT companies from across the country. Like other regional innovation centers…
Central Asian National Trade Committees Develop Joint Action Plan
ASTANA – The National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) have developed a joint action plan to streamline trade procedures throughout Central Asia at the 11th NTFCs regional meeting, which took place on May 15 during the Central Asia Trade Forum in Almaty. In addition to the joint action plan, participants focused on a roadmap for digitizing…
Kazakhstan Can Emerge As Drone Hub in Central Asia, Says Official
ASTANA – A reciprocal partnership with South Korea in drone production has the potential to elevate Kazakhstan’s status as a drone hub in Central Asia, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Azamat Beispekov said in an interview with The Korea Herald on May 9. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with South Korea in the…
EBRD Forecasts Kazakhstan’s GDP to Grow 4.5% in 2024 Despite Severe Floods
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s GDP is projected to increase by 4.5% in 2024 despite severe floods that hit the country this spring, according to the latest Regional Economic Prospects report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on May 15. “While elevated government spending is expected to soften their impact on aggregate demand,…
KazPost, China’s YTO Express Group to Build International Warehouse in Almaty
ASTANA – KazPost and China’s YTO Express Group are set to establish a high-tech Class A warehouse with an area of approximately 40,000 square meters in Almaty, KazPost CEO Assel Zhanassova said at a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on May 14, reported Akorda. The facility is expected to become a key transit hub in…
Life Expectancy of Kazakh Citizens Increases
ASTANA – Life expectancy of Kazakh citizens at birth reached 75.09 years in 2023, marking the highest figure recorded in the past 25 years, the Bureau of National Statistics reported on April 25. During the pandemic in 2020-2021, this indicator dropped after a prolonged upward trend, and then recovered again. People living in urban areas…
World Bank Ready to Assess Flood Damage in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The World Bank Group (WBG) proposed providing grant support for assessing the damage caused by extensive floods in Kazakhstan during a May 14 meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov and representatives of the WBG and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), reported the Prime Minister’s press service. WBG…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Trade Turnover with Central Asian States
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with Central Asian countries totaled $7.7 billion in 2023, Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev said at the 13th Central Asia Trade Forum in Almaty on May 14, reported the ministry’s press service. Torebayev noted that strengthening trade ties in Central Asia contributes to economic growth, job creation,…
