Author: Shukurbek Isanov

Brussels (21/08 – 62.50) The theatrical performance, 40 Days of Miracles was shown in the main concert hall of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea by the Republican State Academic Korean Theater of Musical Comedy of Kazakhstan, which is on tour in South Korea. In total, more than 500 spectators attended the event, including the Chairman of the Korea-Kazakhstan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Woo Won Shik, deputies, politicians, the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, cultural and art figures, businessmen, as well as representatives of the…

Today, the creative economy sector in Central Asia is developing rapidly. UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office has supported the Cultural and Creative Industries sector over the past four years with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea through projects such as “Strengthening Digital Literacy Skills and Competencies and Promoting Gender Equality in Cultural and Creative Sectors in Central Asia” and “Strengthening Film Industries in Central Asia”. Taking into account the experience and recommendations gained from these projects, UNESCO Almaty is pleased to offer you a Mapping of Educational Platforms that support creative entrepreneurs and creative industries…

Central Asia is one of the priority regional directions of China’s foreign policy, with developing land transport links making the region an important mineral resource base. China’s active policy has positive aspects, but also contains potential threats for the Central Asian republics. While in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, China has managed to form a deep dependence on investment, in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the PRC is trying to maintain a stable level of its presence. Chinese Mining Interests in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is a strategically important supplier of uranium. The country’s share of China’s uranium supply is about 65% of China’s total, while…

Kazakhstan, the giant of Central Asia, has been bolstering its connections with neighboring nations and major economies across Asia and Europe The global trade landscape is quickly evolving as international supply chains reconfigure themselves following the retreat of globalization, driven by the deepening bifurcation of the international arena between U.S.-led and China-led subsystems. Such a time of rapid change calls for future-oriented leadership informed by strategic foresight and diplomatic acumen. This is particularly true for countries that may find themselves in delicate geo-economic positions, such as Central Asian states. Investments in infrastructure are essential for the economic growth of these…

Kazakhstanis have become much less likely to purchase foreign currency. NUR.KZ journalists learned how much the country’s foreign exchange market sank compared to previous periods. Wishing to keep their savings, Kazakhstanis resort to various financial instruments. Some, for example, prefer to keep money on deposits in banks. According to analysts, this method turned out to be one of the most effective. Others, for this purpose, acquire foreign currency, which in some cases may be more stable than the tenge. However, there has been a noticeable decline in the foreign exchange market. According to the National Bank of the Republic of…

Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov signed a decree on approval of the comprehensive action plan to combat the shadow economy for 2023-2025, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on July 26. By 2025, Kazakhstan plans to reduce the shadow turnover in wholesale and retail trade to 5%, which stood at 6.7% last year. The government intends to bring this figure in transport and warehousing to 2.4% from 3.2% recorded in 2022. The plan, drawn by Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency and government stakeholders, includes systemic measures to improve tax and customs administration, ensure effective competition and budget distribution, and protect the population…

Ombudsperson of Kyrgyzstan Jamila Jamanbaeva and Ambassador of the EU Delegation Marilyn Josefson held a meeting. During the meeting, the parties discussed the situation of ensuring human rights and freedoms in Kyrgyzstan. The parties exchanged views on the promotion of fundamental values of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and civil society in Kyrgyzstan. Jamilya Jamanbaeva noted the EU’s contribution to strengthening democratic values and high standards of human rights and freedoms in Kyrgyzstan. Jamilya Jamanbaeva stressed that the Ombudsman Institute is taking all measures to improve the situation with human rights in the country. “In particular, a draft…

Azamat Sarsenbaev, an activist from the Kazakh Caspian Sea city of Aqtau, is trying to bring attention to a problem that is closing in on residents of his city at the same time as their only water source recedes further into the distance.“Ten years ago we would swim around 200 meters in order to get to these rocks,” Sarsenbaev told RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service, recalling his childhood. “Now we are standing on them.”There is no doubt that the Caspian Sea — the world’s largest enclosed body of water that is shared by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan — is shrinking.And…

Geneva, London (29/7 – 50) Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, condemned the arrest and imprisonment of journalists, bloggers and civil society activists in Tajikistan, and questioned the credibility of the evidence presented in court against them. Lawlor was on a two-week official visit to Tajikistan last December. The report prepared by her and members of the delegation on the results of this visit was published in May of this year, but only now became available to the public. The authorities of Tajikistan will have to prepare an official response to the document, which…

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Kyrgyzstan Nicholas Bowler. The head of state accepted credentials from the ambassador and congratulated him on the start of his diplomatic mission in Kyrgyzstan. Sadyr Japarov confirmed his readiness for active cooperation with the UK, stressing that last year the countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Sadyr Japarov noted the importance of intensifying bilateral political dialogue and building up trade and economic ties. The head of state said that Kyrgyzstan was included in the new UK trade scheme for the developing countries, and that the Kyrgyz side would continue…