The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan convened in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on August 9 to hold the sixth consultative meeting of the leaders of Central Asian states, RFE/RL reported. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev greeted his counterparts and stressed that the regular meetings of the regional leaders indicate the Central Asian states’
At the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan business forum in Astana on August 7, the two countries agreed on joint implementation of 34 investment projects worth $4.4 billion and signed trade contracts worth $2.6 billion. As reported by the Kazakh government’s press service, the joint projects will be implemented in energy, mining and geology, transport, chemical industry, construction, electrical
Over 80 media representatives and bloggers from approximately 30 countries have applied to participate in the 9th annual contest “Kazakhstan through the Eyes of Foreign Media.” This contest is traditionally organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s Chief Editors’ Club. It serves as a platform to acknowledge the contributions
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport says works have begun on dredging the port of Kuryk on the Caspian Sea coast. The bottom at the port will be deepened by 1.5-2 meters, which will increase its cargo transshipment capacity and further increase the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). A large European company, Jan de
President of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso on August 2 visited Kazakhstan and held talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Noting the growing role of African countries in international politics and the global economy, Tokayev said that the development of cooperation with African countries is one of the key areas of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. “Today, negotiations
More Japanese companies have shown interest in working with Kazakhstan in the energy sector, transport, infrastructure, and digitalization of the logistics process, Japan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Jun Yamada announced during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek Kuantyrov on August 2 in Astana, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Emphasizing that Kazakhstan is
On August 1 in Astana, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held talks with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell. The diplomats overviewed a wide range of relations between Astana and Brussels within the framework of
The “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue Summit will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan on August 9 and 10. The event marks the 20th anniversary of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, which was launched in 2004 at Japan’s initiative to foster cooperation between Japan and five Central Asian countries. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is
Hungary’s Globalia Ltd is creating an agricultural industrial park in Kazakhstan’s Akmola region using the latest Hungarian agricultural technologies, the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture reported. The agro-park will accommodate different types of agribusiness activities, demonstrating advanced agricultural practices, sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies, ensuring traceability of products from the producer to the end consumer, “from
Authorities in Russia have once again proposed sending immigrants who have received Russian citizenship to fight in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry has increased the size of payments for those who sign contracts to join Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. An article published by Radio Azattyk (RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service) reveals how Russia lures Central Asians
The implementation of the National Project “Comfortable School” was considered at a meeting in the Government on 29 July under the chairmanship of First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar. As reported by the Kazakh Government’s press service, the National Project “Comfortable School” provides for building 369 schools of a new format for 740 thousand pupils
The Youth Camp, organized within the framework of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) programme on strengthening community resilience and regional cooperation to prevent violent extremism (PVE) in Central Asia, was launched on July 29 at Suleyman Demirel University (SDU) in Almaty. In Kazakhstan, this initiative, funded by the Government of Japan, aims to empower
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says it has signed a transaction advisory services agreement with the Government of Kazakhstan for its Hydropower Development Program. ADB’s mandate is to work with the government to conduct pre-feasibility studies, assist in preparing auction documents and a template power purchasing agreement, and attract competitive offers to crowd in investors.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is promoting greater use of green technologies and creating growth opportunities for small firms in Kazakhstan by providing a financial package of US$ 60 million (€55.3 million) to the country’s major private lender, Bank CenterCredit (BCC). The package consists of a loan in Kazakhstan tenge equivalent to US$ 30
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Thailand, Arman Issetov, on July 24 met at the Thai Government Office with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Phumtham Wechayachai to discuss the implementation of the agreements reached during the recent visit of the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, to
During the summer season, traveling to Borovoye resort by train has become even more popular among tourists in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s national railways company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) said that in June, 49 thousand passengers were transported to this picturesque place some 200 km north of Astana by electric trains, a 30% increase compared to June
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has agreed with the presidential commission on clemencies to reject a pardon request filed by Karim Masimov, a once-powerful politician who was prime minister twice and is now serving 18 years in prison on charges of high treason and attempting to seize power during unrest in 2022, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported.
According to the Kazakh Ministry of Transport, Kazakhstan’s airlines have transported about 5.5 million passengers since the beginning of this year, an increase by 17% compared to the same period last year. Today, domestic flights in Kazakhstan are operated by six airlines on 53 routes with a frequency of 640 flights per week. The state
The official opening ceremony of the Astana Genetic Center laboratory of the Chinese company BGI Group took place on July 19 at the National Center of Biotechnology in Astana. Kunsulu Zakariya, advisor to the President of Kazakhstan on Science and Innovation; Akmaral Alnazarova, Minister of Health; and Saule Sabyr, First Secretary of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) have signed a financing deal worth 58.2 billion tenge (around $123 million) to expand the high-voltage transmission network in the southern region of Kazakhstan. This expansion will allow the integration of large-scale renewable power generation into the grid, reinforce and stabilize power
