Around 400,000 Vehicles Enter Almaty Daily from the Region, Tokayev Orders Review of Skytrain Project
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the administrations of Almaty and the Almaty Region, together with the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund, to develop proposals for the construction of Skytrain lines extending eastward and westward from the boundaries of the city.
According to the head of state, around 400,000 vehicles enter Almaty from the surrounding region every day, underscoring the need to improve transport connectivity within the Almaty agglomeration and accelerate the development of public transportation.
To address this issue, I instruct the akims of Almaty and the Almaty Region, together with Samruk-Kazyna, to examine all aspects of implementing the project for the construction of Skytrain lines extending east and west from the city limits by August 1 of this year," Tokayev said at a meeting on the development of the city of Alatau.
The president also ordered officials to consider the development of high-speed public transport links between Almaty and the new city of Alatau.
According to Tokayev, Alatau’s location along the Big Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD), as well as the planned construction of a railway line connecting the city with Khorgos, will create the conditions for the formation of a major regional cluster extending beyond the Almaty agglomeration.
The transport sector remains one of the main sources of air pollution in Almaty. According to city authorities, annual emissions of air pollutants in the Almaty agglomeration exceed 225,000 tonnes. In Almaty alone, emissions amount to 189,000 tonnes per year, of which 60%, or 112,000 tonnes, are generated by road transport.
Vehicles meeting the EURO 0 emissions standard account for 84% of all transport-related emissions, or approximately 94,600 tonnes annually.
The situation is being exacerbated by the rapid growth of the vehicle fleet and heavy traffic congestion. More than 1.1 million vehicles travel through the city each day, while the daily inflow of vehicles from surrounding areas is comparable to the size of an entire country's vehicle fleet.
Forecasts also remain unfavorable. By 2030, further growth in both the number of vehicles and the population is expected, increasing pressure on the environment and air quality.
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Kazakhstan Opens Embassy in Cyprus Capital
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Kazakhstan has opened its embassy in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, according to the presidential press service Akorda.
We are interested in developing a multifaceted partnership with Cyprus. Relations between our countries are steadily advancing, supported by regular contacts at the political level and between our diplomatic services. The mutual opening of embassies in Astana and Nicosia has created a solid institutional foundation for more systematic and practical cooperation," Tokayev said.
The Kazakh president noted that Christodoulides had arrived in Kazakhstan accompanied by a sizeable business delegation, reflecting the growing interest of Cypriot companies in the Kazakh market. According to Tokayev, the business forum held on Wednesday and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries’ chambers of commerce will help establish direct dialogue between business communities.
Kazakhstan welcomes Cypriot companies willing to invest and expand their presence in our country. Creating favourable conditions for businesses and investors remains one of the key priorities of Kazakhstan’s economic policy," he said.
Tokayev stressed the importance of coordinating government efforts to achieve a productive economic agenda. In this regard, he proposed developing a Roadmap for Economic Cooperation through 2028. He also initiated the establishment of an Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and a Business Council, as well as regular exchanges of trade delegations.
For his part, Christodoulides described his visit to Kazakhstan as an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations.
We recognise the geopolitical importance of Central Asia and Kazakhstan’s role in the world. Kazakhstan is a strategic partner of the European Union. As a member state of the European Union, Cyprus can serve as a reliable gateway to the European market for Kazakh investors and companies. We offer a predictable business environment fully aligned with EU standards," the Cypriot president said.
The two leaders also discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, transport and logistics, digital communications, artificial intelligence and finance.
Following the talks, Tokayev awarded Christodoulides the First Class Order of Dostyk (Friendship).
In the presence of the two heads of state, members of the official delegations exchanged a number of intergovernmental and interagency documents, including:
1. A memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy on cooperation in ICT, e-government, space activities and cybersecurity;
2. A memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information and Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry of Culture;
3. A memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Cyprus’ Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth on cooperation in education and science;
4. A memorandum of understanding on sports cooperation between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Cyprus’ Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth;
5. A cooperation agreement between the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry aimed at strengthening investment and business opportunities between the two institutions.
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Kazakhstan Appoints New Deputy Head of Presidential Administration
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Erzhan Zhiyenbayev has been appointed Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, the presidential press service said.
By decree of the Head of State, Erzhan Nurlanovich Zhiyenbayev has been appointed Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan," the statement said.
The presidential administration also reported that he has been relieved of his previous position.
Born on December 20, 1981, in Almaty, Zhiyenbayev graduated from Turan University in 2002. Over the course of his career, he has held various positions at the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office.
From October 23, 2019, to September 1, 2023, he served as Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration. Since September 2023, he has been serving as Assistant to the President for Legal Affairs.
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Kazakhstan to Introduce Administrative Amnesty for the First Time
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Kazakhstan is set to introduce an administrative amnesty mechanism for the first time. The initiative will be regulated under a new Article 889-1 of the country's Code of Administrative Offences. A draft law and related amendments were approved by the Mazhilis on Wednesday, a correspondent reports.
As this mechanism is being introduced for the first time, the most transparent and secure implementation format has been chosen. At this stage, the amnesty applies exclusively to administrative fines. It does not cover repeat offences or cases under judicial consideration," the Mazhilis said.
The amnesty will apply to both ordinary citizens and individual entrepreneurs, as well as private notaries, private bailiffs, lawyers and legal consultants. The inclusion of individual entrepreneurs is intended to support economic activity and small business development.
At the same time, the administrative amnesty will not apply to fines imposed by courts or to offences that pose a threat to public safety, citizens’ lives and health, or state interests.
In particular, violations related to road safety have been excluded from the amnesty. These include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving into oncoming traffic, and other serious traffic offences.
Also excluded are administrative offences related to the illegal circulation of weapons and narcotics, public health, sanitary and epidemiological safety, personal data protection, and a number of other sensitive areas.
The Unified Register of Administrative Proceedings will be used to implement the amnesty. Based on criteria established by law, the system will automatically generate a list of individuals eligible for the measure.
Decisions will be issued electronically and certified with the digital signatures of authorized officials. Citizens affected by the amnesty will be notified through digital services and SMS messages, with no need to submit applications or contact government agencies.
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Tokayev Criticizes Slow Pace of Infrastructure Development in Konaev
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Infrastructure development in the city of Konaev is progressing too slowly, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting on the development of the city of Alatau, according to the presidential press service Akorda.
As has been noted, the appearance of the city has not changed and everything remains largely the same. For the full development of the Almaty Region, Konaev urgently needs basic infrastructure, including educational, administrative, cultural and sports facilities. The regional authorities must pay close attention to this pressing issue," the head of state said.
Tokayev also stressed the importance of implementing plans to establish a special legal regime in the city of Alatau.
The city administration plans to ensure the adoption of all key regulatory acts for Alatau within 12 months. The City Development Council should accelerate this process. The work must not be delayed. Any procrastination will result in direct investment losses and undermine business confidence," the Kazakh leader said.
He added that the council, together with the city administration, must also develop an effective financial and economic model to ensure Alatau’s long-term sustainable development.
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Tokayev Arrives in Almaty Region on Working Visit
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has arrived in the Almaty Region on a working visit, the presidential press service Akorda reported.
During the trip, the head of state is expected to hold a meeting on the development of the city of Alatau and visit a number of industrial and social facilities across the region.
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Kazakhstan Does Not Plan to Increase Fines for Violations at Hazardous Industrial Facilities
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Kazakhstan does not plan to raise fines for safety violations at hazardous industrial facilities, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askarbek Yertayev said during a government briefing, an agency correspondent reported.
At present, the goal is not to increase fines and so on. Our task is to work together with employers to develop the necessary measures to ensure that workers are as protected as possible and provided with appropriate safety equipment," the minister said.
At the same time, Yertayev acknowledged that there are "problems with the provision of personal protective equipment and worker training."
Since last year, together with Parliament, we have strengthened these regulations, and mandatory requirements are now being introduced under which employers must ensure specific safety measures. For example, if an employee works in hazardous conditions, all relevant information about that worker will be reflected in a labor risk profile," Askarbek Yertayev said.
According to the minister, around 98,000 enterprises have already been connected to the platform. The ministry expects digitalization to help shift the focus from punitive measures to preventive oversight, reduce workplace injuries, and improve worker protection.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Minister for Emergency Situations Chingis Arinov told a government meeting that the country is actively developing a unified digital platform, known as "e-TZhM," incorporating artificial intelligence technologies. The system will include a registry of hazardous industrial facilities as well as a database on accidents and occupational injuries.
At the same time, the integration of industrial facility monitoring and control systems is continuing. Last year, 55 mines and mining sites were inspected. Modern safety systems have already been introduced at 45 facilities. To date, the video surveillance and positioning systems of 14 mines and mining sites have been connected to the ministry’s situational center, allowing real-time monitoring of conditions and оперативe response capabilities," Arinov added.
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Adilet Party Officially Registered in Kazakhstan
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Kazakhstan's newly established Adilet Party has officially completed state registration, the party's press service announced.
The Adilet Party has been officially registered," the press service said in a statement.
The party was launched in early May. Aibek Dadebai was elected chairman of the new political organization.
The registration formally grants the Adilet Party legal status and allows it to operate as a political party under Kazakhstan's legislation.
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