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Twelve Regional IT-Hubs Operating in Kazakhstan

The development of regional IT hubs is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, the ministry stated on January 3rd. The goal of regional IT hubs is the development of innovative projects in the regions and the training of specialists in the field of information technology. These platforms are also a space for creating local IT communities, bringing together startups and investors. The main task of regional IT hubs is to help young entrepreneurs organize startup projects. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also spoke about the importance of expanding the innovation ecosystem at a regional level when delivering his Address to the Nation last year. Today, 12 regional IT-hubs are officially open and successfully functioning across Kazakhstan: Abai IT Valley (Semey, Abai Oblast), Kyzylorda Hub (Kyzylorda city), Digital Jetisu (Taldylkorgan city), Zhambyl Hub (Taraz city), Oskemen IT Hub (Oskemen city), Jaiq Hub (Uralsk city), Turkistan IT Hub (Turkistan city), Qostanai IT Hub (Qostanai city), Aqtobe IT Hub (Aqtobe city), Pavlodar Hub (Pavlodar city), Aqmola IT Hub (Kokshetau city), and Terricon Valley (Karaganda city). These IT-hubs have presented 194 promising startup projects from the regions.

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Kazakhstan’s Hotels Report Growing Number of Visitors

Kazakhstan’s hotels grossed more than $384 million over the first nine months of 2023, a 36% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports has reported. From January to September 2022, the country's accommodation facilities had brought in $282.5, almost twice as much as pre-pandemic levels. In total, there are more than 4,000 tourist accommodation facilities throughout Kazakhstan, including hotels, motels, boarding houses, campsites, and hostels.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13491" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]The acting Chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Nurtas Karipbaev said, “The committee will continue to work to create comfortable conditions for guests, expand the range of accommodation and improve the quality of tourism services. These efforts are aimed not only at meeting the needs of our visitors, but also at supporting economic growth in the tourism industry. At the same time, they contribute to strengthening Kazakhstan’s reputation as an attractive tourist destination with a variety of quality accommodation options.”

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EU’s €20M Project to Diversify Internet Resources in Kazakhstan with Satellite Communications

The European Union (EU) is set to contribute to the diversification of internet resources in Kazakhstan, as announced by Johannes Baur, the Head of the Cooperation Department of the EU Representative Office in Kazakhstan. This initiative is part of the EU's broader commitment to bolstering digital infrastructure and connectivity in Central Asia. "In Kazakhstan, internet traffic now comes from Russia and China," Baur said during a meeting organized by the Eurasian Foundation for Central Asia. He further explained the EU's proposition: "Our project wants to offer Kazakhstan the opportunity to use European satellite communications, a product of the European company, SES. For example, while Starlink satellites orbit the Earth in a low orbit, SES satellites orbit in a medium orbit. Satellites in medium orbit can cover the whole of Kazakhstan, which is an advantage. We can even cover the whole of Central Asia." This ambitious project has received approval from the European Commission and is set to be showcased at the Central Asia - European Union summit scheduled for 2024. Baur disclosed the initial funding earmarked for the project, stating, "First of all, the European Union will allocate 20 million euros, but this is the amount allocated to the whole of Central Asia. I think most of these funds will be directed to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The specific details are still unknown, but it will be a large loan from the European Investment Bank." This initiative aligns with the EU's ongoing efforts to diversify its supply chains and strengthen its relations with strategic partners like Kazakhstan. Moreover, it is expected to contribute significantly to the development of a secure and sustainable supply of digital resources across Central Asia.

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Large Gas Condensate Field Put into Operation in West Kazakhstan

On December 21st, the Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field was put into commercial operation in the West Kazakhstan region. The Rozhkovskoye field was discovered in 2008. By 2040, the field is expected to produce 14.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 7.1 million tons of condensate. The field is operated by a joint venture which includes Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company, KazMunayGas (50%), the Hungarian company, MOL Group (27.5%), and the Chinese Sinopec (22.5%). To date, about $534 million has already been invested in the field’s development. The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov, who took part in the launch ceremony via teleconference, emphasized the strategic importance of the project, initiated upon the instructions of the Head of State to attract investment in the exploration and development of new gas fields. Smailov added that in the medium term, the launch of several more gas projects is expected in Kazakhstan, including Urikhtau Central (Aktobe region), Western Prorva (Atyrau region), and Kalamkas (Mangistau region). “Combined, they will provide an increase in production of over 2 billion cubic meters per year. Together with international companies, 12 more promising geological exploration projects are being developed, as well as projects for the additional exploration of existing fields,” the Prime Minister said. In his words, the growing needs of the population and industry require not only an increase in gas resources, but also the capacity for its processing. “The head of state has set the task of increasing commercial gas production to 30 billion cubic meters by 2030. In this regard, new gas processing plants will be built at the Kashagan and Karachaganak fields, as well as in the city of Zhanaozen,” Smailov said.

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Over 10,000 Schoolchildren in Kazakhstan Learning French

The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan has reported statistical data on the study of the French language in Kazakh schools. Currently, 380 students in eight schools are studying French as their first foreign language, and 9,948 students in 38 schools are studying it as a second foreign language, the ministry said. The choice of subject made taking into account the needs of students, the availability of teachers, and the opinions of parents. On November 1st of this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced plans to open French schools in Kazakhstan. As previously reported, the Ministry of Education is currently working on the formation of a working group to implement the agreement on the opening of international schools. In accordance with this agreement, the opening of a French language school is planned to take place in the cities of Astana and Almaty in 2025.

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Head of Constitutional Court Addresses Tokayev’s Reforms

The head of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan has spoken about the implementation of three packages of President Tokayev’s reforms. A delegation from Kazakhstan took part in UN events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights in Geneva, where they addressed Kazakhstan's experience in carrying out political and human rights reforms. The head of the delegation, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Elvira Asimova spoke about Kazakhstan's priorities in the human rights sphere, naming these as the protection of children and women, the implementation of the concept of a "listening state," digitization, and increasing the active role of civil society in the field of human rights protection. At a special event hosted by human rights NGOs, Asimova reported on the implementation of three packages of President Tokayev’s reforms and on his Decree "On the Action Plan in the field of human rights and the rule of law." “Today's global challenges require the development of global solutions and the ability to respond correctly to current events. In this regard, it should be noted that almost all the delegations with whom we met on the sidelines of the event highly appreciate the reforms being carried out in Kazakhstan. And they welcome the adoption by the head of state on December 8th of the Action Plan in the field of human rights," Asimova said. The document consists of nine sections containing 41 points, from strengthening gender equality and combating domestic violence, to protecting citizens in the field of criminal justice. For the first time in Kazakhstan, the experience of a human rights organization was included in this list. Zhemis Turmagambetova, Executive Director of the Charter for Human Rights Foundation stated that “This year, I conducted the first part of the project to create a ‘Dialogue Police.’ In times of peaceful gatherings and marches and informal associations of citizens on various issues, the police will conduct a dialogue. It is necessary to involve representatives of government agencies there. This is a great support for the actions of the non-governmental sector and civil society. Because everything at a legislative level and at a practical level should be applied by all legislators and all government agencies.” On the sidelines of the forum, the Commissioner for Human Rights of Kazakhstan, Artur Lastaev, together with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and UNDP, held a discussion on the contribution of national human rights institutions to the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals. “Over the past few years, very serious steps have been taken to strengthen both the institution of the Commissioner for Human Rights and, in general, regarding the implementation of international standards into national legislation,” Lastaev said. “A lot of people say that these are the reforms of President Tokayev. These reforms have already acquired a household name. In this regard, we really have something to be proud of. There are concrete results. If we take the fight against torture, 42 people...