Reports about the existence of Pentagon biological laboratories in Kazakhstan are untrue, says Zauresh Zhumadilova, director general of the National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections under the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, as reported by KazTAG information agency. “There are no American biological laboratories in Kazakhstan. All our laboratories are Kazakhstan’s own. They are
As part of his working trip to Pavlodar region on March 6, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov inspected the construction of a new Palace of Children’s Creativity in Ekibastuz, his press service reported. The modern centre with an area of 7.2 thousand square metres is being built to expand the coverage of children
In a recent announcement by Roman Vassilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Kazakhstan, the nation revealed plans for an extraordinary international endeavor: the reintroduction of Przhevalsky horses into its national nature reserve in the Kostanay region, “Altyn Dala.” This initiative aims to bring 40 Przhevalsky horses from Europe to Kazakhstan within five years, bolstered
In a significant move to bolster regional collaboration, representatives from Central Asian nations convened at a workshop in Almaty on March 1 to forge a roadmap and action plan for a proposed second phase of the World Bank-supported Central Asia Hydrometeorology Modernization Project (CAHMP II). This gathering underscored an advancement in regional cooperation and modernization efforts in
On behalf of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 2,000 tons of diesel fuel have been allocated by the government of Kazakhstan to help Kyrgyzstan overcome the consequences of the recent accident at the Bishkek thermal electric power plant. The first batch of diesel fuel in the amount of 1,000 tons was shipped by 17
On February 29, in the Chinese city of Chongqing, Kazakhstan’s national railways company KTZ and the logistics platform Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd signed an agreement on the organization and dispatch of 200 container trains through Kazakhstan, including along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, with a cargo volume of more than 20 thousand 20-foot equivalent
During a working visit to Geneva, Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu on February 28 met with the leadership of the Swiss companies INOKS Capital, Stadler Rail, Воѕсhung and MSC. The parties discussed current and new investment projects in Kazakhstan in the priority areas of the national economy – agriculture, mechanical
Within the framework of the annual reception of the UNESCO Circle of Permanent Delegates in Paris on February 27, the Delegation of Kazakhstan presented the culinary traditions of their country to the ambassadors to and the personnel of the intergovernmental organization with a mandate to safeguard the world’s cultural diversity, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. The
Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, during his visit to Geneva on February 26, held a number of bilateral meetings with the heads of international organizations. At the meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the current global challenges, deepening regional cooperation between the countries of Central Asia, as well as the
Karakalpak activist Aqylbek Muratov (aka Muratbai), who was arrested in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, at Uzbekistan’s request earlier in February has been given asylum seeker status in Kazakhstan, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. A relative of Muratov, Fariza Narbekova, told RFE/RL on February 26 that Kazakh officials had given him an asylum seeker’s certificate three days earlier. A
Earlier this month, Tajik migrant workers in the Russian city of Samara were scared after Sunatullo Nazriev, the leader of the local Tajik diaspora, called on Tajiks who have Russian citizenship and those who want to get Russian passports in an expedited way to join Russia’s armed forces fighting in Ukraine. According to the migrant
Members of Kazakh parliament’s lower chamber, the Mazhilis, on February 21, approved the first reading of a bill that would allow life imprisonment for individuals convicted of pedophilia and/or the murder of children, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. The bill comes after President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered in his address to the nation in September 2023 that
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu on February 20 received the newly appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary General–Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Kakha Imnadze, who arrived in Kazakhstan as part of his tour of the Central Asian countries, the Kazakh
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released the latest Macroeconomic Review for its six member states — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. In the face of a challenging external economic environment, the Review says, the EDB region saw a strong recovery in 2023, with the aggregate GDP of the Bank’s member states increasing
On February 19, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) launched the Central Asian Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme titled “Strengthening the Digital Skills of Women Entrepreneurs”. The programme will serve as an online platform for exchange, learning, and dialogue for 21 women-led businesses from Central Asia. Through a series of workshops,
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan (SBK) are helping to increase the capacity and attractiveness of Kazakhstan’s major conference hub, the Atakent Business Cooperation Centre in Almaty, by financing its expansion, the EBRD said on February 19. The EBRD will share half of the risk of a KZT 3 billion (US$ 6.6 million) loan
Being close neighbors with centuries-long ties and common roots, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan continue to deepen their relationship, setting a good example for regional cooperation. Both countries are close trade and economic partners as part of the Eurasian Economic Union, which also includes Armenia, Belarus, and Russia. From January-November 2023, bilateral trade grew by 12% and reached
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on February 14 said it has invested $41.99 million into shares of Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, supporting the country’s first partial privatisation through an initial public offering (IPO). The EBRD’s investment represents a 5 per cent shareholding in Air Astana. The shares will be listed on both the London
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent economic sanctions imposed by the west have underlined the urgency of finding alternative trade routes between Europe and Asia that do not pass through Russia. In the new geopolitical realities, Kazakhstan has a good chance to become the main and most sustainable transit route between Europe and Asia. In
During his official visit to Qatar on February 14, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and participated in the Kazakhstan–Qatar Investment Roundtable in Doha. During his talks with the Amir of Qatar, Tokayev expressed his firm belief that in the near future Qatar will become one
