News

On Feb. 3, President Donald Trump signed a decree authorizing federal authorities to prepare a plan for the future National Fund in the U.S. It will differ from its Kazakhstani counterpart in terms of funding sources, tasks and goals, financing strategy and governance model. Let’s take a look at the key differences.

Sources of funding and goals

According to the RBC news agency, citing Adnan Mazarei from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the proposed U.S. fund will be financed through tax revenue, special bonds and private-sector investments.

The fund’s primary goal is to finance infrastructure projects within the U.S...

Russia will not obstruct the transit of Kazakhstan’s goods to third countries, as reported by the Kazakhstani Ministry of Agriculture.

«As a result of talks between Kazakhstani Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov and Oksana Lut, his Russian counterpart, in January, the issue of the transit of agricultural products from Kazakhstan via Russia was successfully settled,» the agency said in a statement.

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) stated that the temporary ban on the import of Kazakhstan’s wheat, lentil and flax seeds imposed on Oct. 17, 2024, doesn’t apply to the...

Kazakhstan’s cabinet weighs exempting small and micro-businesses from the value-added tax (VAT), Lada.kz reported, citing Vice Minister of National Economy Bauyrzhan Omarbekov.

This statement followed a meeting of Omarbekov with Mangystau region entrepreneurs where the two sides discussed the upcoming increase of VAT to 16%. In his speech, the minister stated that authorities intend to exempt small businesses from VAT. 

«During his speech, Omarbekov emphasized that the government was considering the possibility of exempting small and micro-businesses from VAT to prevent price increases in groceries and socially important goods,» Lada.kz reported.

In late January, Kazakhstan’s...

Kazakhstan is seeking the extradition of its citizen Adilet Oraz from Kyrgyzstan, according to the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Oraz is suspected of creating and operating the Mudarabah Capital financial pyramid scheme. Popular Kazakh social media comedians (also known as viners) Meirzhan Turebayev and Meirkhan Sherniyazov are already serving prison sentences for their involvement in the case.

«Oraz was detained in Kyrgyzstan, where he is also facing prosecution for a separate criminal offense. The issue of his extradition to Kazakhstan is being addressed under relevant international agreements,» the ministry said.

Blogger Azimzhan Saidbayev, wanted...

Secretary General at Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges Konstantin Saroyan told Kursiv.media about positive and negative influences of anti-Russia sanctions on Eurasian stock markets.  

Saroyan believes that a «particular flow of financial assets from Russia to other countries» occurred following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This situation served as a stimulus for the development of capital markets in the Central Asian states.

«Apart from everything else, this situation led to the development of expertise in these countries. For instance, specialists and experts from Russia began establishing companies and so on. Thanks to this...

According to National Bank Chair Timur Suleimenov, the regulator does not plan to cut the base rate to avoid potential negative consequences. He made this statement in response to an MP inquiry.

Once again, Suleimenov reiterated that the high base rate — currently at 15.25% — is necessary to curb inflation, which reached 8.9% in January. The price increase was even higher at 13.2%, while inflation is expected to surge to 14.6% within a year.

«In this situation, cutting the base rate may have serious consequences. If the rate is lower than inflation and public, business...

Tengizchevroil (TCO) CEO Kevin Lyon has affirmed the fairness of the company’s contract for hydrocarbon production at Kazakhstan’s largest oil field Tengiz.

«As the General Director of Tengizchevroil, I believe that the contract in place for the Tengiz operations is fair. […] The investments in the facilities come from our shareholders. […] That investment creates incremental value for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Also, if you compare the value created per ton of oil produced, TCO is the best-performing company in Kazakhstan. So, our contributions, based on our actual production and the amount paid to the republic...

Ivanhoe Mines, one of the world’s leading mining companies from Canada, has announced the commencement of geological exploration in the Chu-Sarysu Basin in Kazakhstan, according to a statement posted on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) website.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction refers to the Canadian enterprise as a pioneer of the largest copper deposits of the 21st century and describes the project implemented in Kazakhstan as one of the largest copper projects in the country’s history.

Ivanhoe Mines has established a joint venture with Pallas Resources, a U.K.-based enterprise specializing in exploration in Central Asia, to study 16,000 square...

Under the proposal from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, prisoners could cut their sentences by three days for each book they read — provided they prove their comprehension by narrating the story, Gazeta.uz reported.

«A draft law proposes introducing a new Article 74-1 on inmates ‘moral correction’ by encouraging them to read books. Those serving full jail terms could reduce their sentences by three days for every book they read from an approved list and after successfully passing an official exam,» the report states.

Additionally, reading books would be crucial when a state commission reviews...

Qiwi, an international payment system that runs a subsidiary of the same name in Kazakhstan, has completed its rebranding, changing its name to NanduQ. The company has also notified the Astana International Exchange (AIX) of the changes and launched a new website.

The final decision to change the company’s logo and name was made at the annual shareholder meeting on Feb. 6, although the company revealed this information only on Feb. 13.

«The name change does not impact the company’s business operations or its financial position. Holders of the company’s American depositary shares (ADSs) are not...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of National Economy sees no reason for further weakening of the tenge, stating that an exchange rate of 500 tenge per U.S. dollar is fundamentally sound, according to Arman Kassenov, vice minister of national economy. He made the remarks to reporters on the sidelines of the Senate, the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament.

«In terms of fundamental factors, we see no grounds for devaluation. We believe that the current exchange rate is fundamentally sound,» Kassenov said.

However, he cautioned that this assessment applies only to present conditions, as the national currency could still...

Azat Peruashev, head of the Ak Zhol political party, revealed that Kazakhstani banks refuse to lend to domestic industrial manufacturers that export products to Russia, citing the risk of secondary sanctions. Speaking to Kursiv.media, the MP elaborated on why banks are reluctant to finance Kazakhstani enterprises.

«I raised this issue at a meeting with the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan and nearly all banks said they don’t need this. They don’t want to deal with the risks of secondary sanctions, including the possibility of being disconnected from the SWIFT international payment system. This is why almost...

Uzbekistan has adopted a regulation increasing the recycling fee for electric vehicle private importers and unauthorized dealerships. The new policy will be effective May 1. However, local manufacturers, such as the BYD Uzbekistan Factory, are exempt from this fee for the next five years. This resolution may lead to higher prices for Chinese electric cars imported by private companies.

Who will be affected by the new recycling fee?

On Jan. 31, 2025, the Uzbek government approved a recycling fee increase for imported EVs without prior discussions. The amendment primarily affects private importers, who supply affordable cars from China. Local media...

Boston-based New Balance, a prominent American footwear and apparel brand, has filed a lawsuit against an entrepreneur in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region for trademark infringement.

The plaintiff has filed a lawsuit in the specialized inter-district economic court of the Zhambyl region, seeking approximately $730 in damages from a local entrepreneur, identified only as B., for the unauthorized use of its registered trademark, according to the court’s press office.

New Balance discovered the violation while making an online purchase. A store on the platform of a major Kazakhstani bank was selling products bearing a designation identical to the American brand’s registered trademark...

MP Askhat Aimagambetov commented on a high-profile incident in which a teenager attacked a five-year-old child in an elevator in Astana. The official proposed not only punishing the perpetrator’s parents but also reforming Kazakhstan’s neuropsychiatric services. The Mazhilis, the lower chamber of parliament, is already working on a draft law to address the issue.

According to Aimagambetov, the attack on the child was not just a tragedy but a sign of deeper systemic problems. He pointed out that the assailant was a mentally ill teenager.

«Simply punishing his parents won’t solve anything. We need a comprehensive...

Islam Kurayev, a Kazakhstani political scientist specializing in the Middle East, commented on MP Irina Smirnova‘s recent proposal for Kazakhstan to adopt a controversial foreign agent law. He is confident that this «anti-national law» will not make its way to parliament due to its irritating perception among Kazakhstan’s society.

Kurayev suggests that the authorities have nothing to do with this initiative.   

«As a rule, if the government is interested in pushing a topic, officials test the waters first, then move the initiative through the ministries and finally take it to parliament. This case is not...

In 2024, 64% of mobile devices imported into Kazakhstan entered the country illegally or through gray-market schemes, causing the state to miss out on approximately $200 million in VAT payments, according to MP Ekaterina Smyshlyayeva, who cited data from device manufacturers.

Smyshlyayeva noted that Kazakhstan currently lacks a procedure for distinguishing between legal and illegal devices. Existing laws do not provide for verifying IMEI codes (the unique 15-digit identifier for every mobile phone) against customs data and fail to address the secondary market or re-export of mobile devices.

The lawmaker believes Kazakhstan should integrate the IMEI system with customs data...

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze stated that his country will restore diplomatic relations with Russia only when Georgia’s territorial integrity is restored. He also emphasized that the country’s government must pursue a pragmatic foreign policy.

«There are no diplomatic relations with Russia and they won’t be established unless Georgia’s territorial integrity is restored. However, we believe in a pragmatic approach because our country cannot survive without pragmatism,» Kobakhidze said.

He also noted that Georgia has no political relations with Russia and that communication between the two countries remains significantly hindered.

Despite political tensions, Russia...

Almaty authorities plan to completely phase out diesel buses by 2026-2027 as part of ongoing efforts to modernize the city’s public transportation system. The city has been replacing its diesel bus fleet with more environmentally friendly alternatives for several years. However, progress has been hindered by a lack of gas fueling stations in the suburbs, as discussed at a recent meeting of Almaty’s maslikhat (city council).

The need to transition away from diesel buses in Almaty has been debated for years, but deadlines have been repeatedly postponed. According to Sagyndyk Telibayev, head of the Almaty Urban Mobility Department, the primary...

The prominent European Newspaper Award has selected Kursiv, a business weekly published by Kursiv.media in Kazakhstan, as the winner in the Cover and Cover Story Nationwide Newspaper category. The world’s 26th newspaper and online media design competition received over 3,000 applications in 20 categories from 22 countries.

For the contest, Kursiv.media has chosen a newspaper issue featuring a cover story about the criminal boss’s empire from Kyrgyzstan, titled «Criminal Kyrgyzstan: The Rise and Fall of a Notorious Central Asian Kingpin» (Original: Бандитский Кыргызстан: как криминалитет соседней республики попал в кустуризацию). The article is accompanied by infographics and an illustration...

Archaeologists have uncovered rare burial mounds dating back to the fifth century B.C. in Kazakhstan’s Atyrau region, revealing unique jewelry, weapons and ceramic vessels. These findings provide new insights into the region’s ancient history, according to the press office of the akimat (local administration) of the Atyrau region.

The artifacts, including household items, jewelry and weapons, led archaeologists to identify the tombs as «royal tents.» Researchers note that the Sarmatians, the ancient people who once inhabited the area, buried their nobility with weapons, household goods and personal belongings. Excavations uncovered three such tents, each containing 10 to 15 burials.

President of the European Council António Costa called President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss prospects for cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU. During the conversation, Tokayev invited Costa to Kazakhstan for an official visit, as reported by Kazakhstan’s president’s office.

“Initiated by the European side, a phone conversation took place between President Tokayev and President of the European Council António Costa. The conversation was focused on discussing key issues and prospects of strengthening cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan,” the office said in a statement.

Tokayev noted that although EU-Kazakhstan relations are progressing, there is a...

MP Irina Smirnova has proposed that Kazakhstan adopt a foreign agent law, arguing that the country «must revise the rules of the game» with foreign donors, who, she claims, often disguise their interests under the pretense of promoting free media and protecting human rights.

Smirnova has prepared an inquiry addressed to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, proposing a foreign agent law similar to those in Israel, China, Australia, the United States and France. She believes Kazakhstan should adopt this practice and require media outlets to disclose their sources of funding to readers and viewers.

Around 200 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kazakhstan...

Experts from Kazakhstan’s National Bank have criticized the current implementation of minimum reserve requirements (MRR), one of the country’s key monetary policy tools, arguing that it operates too passively.

MRR mandate financial institutions to hold a certain percentage of their deposits in accounts with the central bank. In most countries, MRR serve multiple functions: regulating money market rates and liquidity, establishing liquidity buffers for financial institutions, strengthening the financial system’s resilience to systemic risks and ensuring the effectiveness of monetary policy across different economic conditions. However, the specific objectives of MRR may vary depending on a country’s economic and financial...