Kazakh PM holds operational meeting over situation in Ukraine
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Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held an operational meeting today to fulfill the tasks of the Head of State to take urgent measures in order to ensure security at the key military and civilian objects over the situation in Ukraine involving the Defence, Interior, Emergencies, Foreign Affairs, Healthcare, Transport, Energy, Industry and Construction, National Economy, and Finance Ministries, Kazinform news Agency learnt from the Government’s press service.
Kazakh Defence Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov reported on the work to ensure the protection of the strategic and infrastructure objects. The Prime Minister set tasks to enhance the work of state bodies. Maintenance of stability, law and order, transport communication and critical infrastructure safety were prioritized at the meeting.
The Prime Minister assigned authorities to keep the execution of the Kazakh President’s tasks under control, to ensure security and to report on developments.
As earlier reported, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave the Prime Minister, the head of the Presidential Administration, heads of national security, defence and law enforcement agencies, and governors a task to take urgent measures to ensure the security of the basic military and civilian objects over the escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
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Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov holds Kazakhstan-EU dialogue platform meeting
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Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov together with the Charge d'Affaires of the Representation of the European Union Johannes Baur held the 16th meeting of the Kazakhstan-EU dialogue platform with the participation of heads of diplomatic missions of EU member states, as well as heads of a number of leading European industrial companies, primeminister.kz reports.
The EU is an important partner of Kazakhstan in the international arena. Over the period from 2005 to 2024, the total gross direct investment inflow from the EU countries to Kazakhstan was over $200bn, which is 47.8 per cent of total FDI in the country.
Today, the European Union is Kazakhstan's largest trade and investment partner. It accounts for more than a third of the country's foreign trade and half of the attracted investments. Mutual trade turnover between our countries grew by 17% last year and almost reached $50 billion. We are interested in further expansion and diversification of commodity nomenclature supplied to Europe," Olzhas Bektenov noted.
In order to increase trade and economic cooperation within the framework of implementation of the instructions of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, systematic work is being carried out to create the most favourable business climate for the inflow of private investment.
An updated Investment Policy Concept until 2029 is being implemented, which is aimed at launching a new investment cycle and fulfilling the strategic goal of doubling the country's GDP.
The government is introducing digital solutions in public administration to de-bureaucratise and streamline regulatory procedures. The National Digital Investment Platform has been launched, as well as the minerals.gov.kz and e-qazyna.kz portals to ensure transparency of licensing processes. The legislative framework is being improved to prioritise the development of raw materials processing and the production of finished products with high added value. The measures taken are aimed at removing barriers to business and liberalising the economy.
Together with Kazakhstan, we are developing the next Strategic Partnership Roadmap for 2025-2026, focusing on concrete actions such as support for digitalisation and geodata management," Johannes Baur said.
German Ambassador Monika Iversen, French Ambassador Sylvanus Guioguet and Polish Chargé d'Affaires Michal Rafal Labenda made proposals to strengthen cooperation in the areas of trade, science and industrial co-operation.
A number of initiatives in the mining industry were voiced by Andres Blanco, General Director of Xcalibur Multiphysics, Spain, a world leader in aerogeophysics and mapping geophysics; Kamil Alyautdinov, Vice President of the Central Asia Region of Metso, Finland, a major equipment supplier; Kamshat Galieva, Regional General Manager for Central Asia of Epiroc, Sweden, a leading global manufacturer of equipment and solutions for mining, infrastructure and natural resources extraction.
The raised issues were commented by the leadership of the Ministries of Industry and Construction, Ecology and Natural Resources, Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
At the same time, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov voiced to the heads of diplomatic missions problematic issues directly affecting the business activity of domestic business, with which Kazakhstani entrepreneurs face. In particular, the topic of visa procedures was raised.
During my recent meeting with domestic entrepreneurs, the issue of difficulties in obtaining Schengen visas was raised, especially in countries such as Lithuania, Germany and Poland. Kazakhstani trucking companies face a limited number of slots in visa centres, long waiting times - up to two months, and the issuance of short-term visas - up to three months, which significantly complicates their activities.
Additional obstacles are created by the requirement of original forms of permits for international transport (note - so-called ‘permissions’). These restrictions create additional barriers for Kazakh companies and affect the development of bilateral economic relations with the EU," Olzhas Bektenov noted, expressing hope for a constructive dialogue on simplification of procedures for Kazakh businessmen and cargo carriers.
At the end of the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to further develop mutually beneficial partnership, strengthen economic ties and work together on new promising initiatives.
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Kassym-Jomart Tokayev meets IACA President Pamela Harris
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Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has received today Pamela Harris, President of the International Association for Court Administration, Kazinform News Agency learned from the Akorda press service.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Pamela Harris on her election to this responsible post and expressed confidence that her experience will give a new impulse to the organization’s activity.
The Head of State highlighted that ensuring rule of law and judicial system reform play a key role in building a law-governed state.
We carry out very important reforms aimed at promotion of law and order in Kazakhstan. We are confident that the rule of law should turn into reality. I believe that it is important for ensuring stability and prosperity of our country. Therefore, I reckon on further cooperation of the IACA with Kazakhstan and our judicial system," said the President.
For her part, the President of IACA highly assessed the judicial reforms ongoing in the country and expressed readiness to continue the interaction. According to her, the separation of powers of the Court Administration and the Supreme Court is one of the most effective decisions in the world practice. Pamela Harris noted that the IACA aims at strengthening ties with Kazakhstan. She told the President about active participation of the national judicial administration in the IACA activity.
The parties reviewed the key aspects of the judicial system reform, with special attention given to the expansion of interaction between judicial authorities, prospects for application of digital solutions and AI in judicial proceedings.
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President Tokayev holds meeting with Omani FM Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi
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Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who had arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, Akorda reports.
During the meeting, the Kazakh President noted that there is considerable potential yet to be unleashed to enhance Kazakhstan-Oman interaction on the bilateral level as well as within the regional and international agenda.
Taking the opportunity, Tokayev conveyed his greetings to Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq and invited him to pay a visit to Kazakhstan.
Oman is well respected in Kazakhstan. There is a lot of interest in your country among our citizens, including business representatives and culture figures. That’s why it’s necessary to provide a strong impetus to make our cooperation more multifaceted and fruitful, said Tokayev.
In turn, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi thanked the Kazakh President for the warm welcome, highlighting that ‘it reflects the high level of mutual respect between our countries’.
We follow with great interest Kazakhstan’s development. The large-scale reforms benefitting the wellbeing of the country and people as well as its economic growth, significant place in this part of the world and key role in strengthening good neighborly relations for the benefit of peace and security produce a deep impression on us.
The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation in transport and logistics, agricultural, cultural and humanitarian, digitalization spheres as well as establishment of direct flights.
In addition, the interlocutors exchanged views on the pressing issues of regional security and interaction within multilateral organizations.
As earlier reported, Kazakhstan and Oman vow to revive cooperation.
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Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan discuss measures to strengthen trade and economic cooperation
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Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Head of the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Adylbek Kassymaliyev, who arrived on his first official foreign visit, held talks in Astana in a narrow and enlarged composition, primeminister.kz reports.
The parties reviewed the implementation of the agreements reached between the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov. A wide range of issues related to trade and economic, investment, transit and transport, water and energy, tourism, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as the sphere of agro-industrial complex were covered.
Trustful relations between the heads of our states in the spirit of mutual respect and sincere friendship contribute to bringing the multifaceted co-operation to a new level. Strengthening and deepening of trade relations has a multiplicative effect for the development of the economies of the two countries. It is gratifying to note that at the end of last year the indicators of mutual trade increased again, totalling $1.7 billion. At the same time, we see a significant potential for further increasing trade and economic cooperation," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised.
Bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring states is of special strategic importance. Since ancient times, our neighbouring peoples have been united by centuries-old friendship, good-neighbourly and brotherly relations, common culture, language and even customs. I am confident that this meeting will provide an opportunity to exchange views on many issues of interest to both sides and develop new proposals that meet the interests of the two countries," Adylbek Kassymaliyev said.
During the talks, the sides discussed mechanisms to unlock the existing potential and increase trade turnover.
In the transit and transport sphere, a set of measures is being implemented to increase the capacity of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border. Road border checkpoints are being modernised and expanded, including Aksu-Kamyshanovka and Besagash-Kichi-Kapka. Development of the Sortobe - Tokmok and Aukhatti - Ken-Bulun checkpoints is also envisaged.
Special attention is paid to water and energy co-operation. The issues of water supply during the growing season along the Shu and Talas rivers, safe operation of the Kirov reservoir and regional energy security were discussed.
An important area of mutually beneficial co-operation is tourism. The sides discussed measures to develop new tourist destinations, including the creation of cross-border eco-routes, the development of infrastructure for active tourism and attracting investment in the hotel business.
On the line of cultural and humanitarian cooperation in the current year Days of Kazakh cinema in Kyrgyzstan are planned, as well as issues of opening branches of Kazakh universities in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic are being worked out.
Following the talks, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasised that the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is ready to support the high dynamics of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz trade and economic partnership.
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