Kassym-Jomart Tokayev News

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently announced that his country has successfully attracted $400bn in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with plans to bring in an additional $150bn by 2029. This new investment cycle will be spearheaded by the Investment Council. During his address at the Astana International Forum, President Tokayev highlighted the significant political reforms underway, which aim to bolster stability and cater to the democratic aspirations of the populace. He cited the recent referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant as evidence of Kazakhstan's commitment to democratic values. In addition to attracting foreign capital, Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to regional cooperation, particularly within Central Asia. He noted the beneficial impacts of increased collaboration among neighboring countries and highlighted the significant transformations in the region over the past decade.

Polls are open in Kazakhstan for a landmark referendum on building the country’s first nuclear power plant

Central Asia’s biggest and resource rich state Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by 5.1% in 2023. All major sectors experienced positive growth: construction increased by 13.3%, trade by 11.3%, information and communication services by 7.1%, transport services by 6.9%, and industry by 4.3%. In 2024, the government predicts further growth of at least 5.3%.

SCO summit held here under the Kazakhstan Presidency will adopt an important document to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. The summit will also discuss SCO anti-drug strategy amid the rising menace of drug addiction.Kazakhstan assumed the SCO chairmanship in July 2023. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasised that the Summit will present the initiative “On world unity for a just peace and harmony” This document will lay down the principles of strengthening confidence-building measures, maintaining stability and security, ET has learnt. And the main task of this document is to prevent a geopolitical fault between East and West, sources here said. Tokayev noted that the Astana SCO summit will be held under the slogan “Strengthening multilateral dialogue — the pursuit of sustainable peace and development.”

Kazakhstan): The SCO Summit is a major occasion, not least because the organisation represents over 3 billion people – nearly 45% of the world’s population. The SCO plays a key role in fostering regional stability, economic growth, and multilateral cooperation. “As one of the founding members, Kazakhstan has always prioritised the development and success of the SCOwithin our balanced foreign policy framework,” Kazakhstan Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko told select group of foreign journalists ahead of the Summit. “This summit is an opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of mutual respect, equality, and consensus-building and to chart a path forward for the organisation.”

SCO) Summit being held here under the Kazakhstan Presidency will adopt an important document to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, echoing India's stand on countering terrorism and radicalisation in the Eurasian region. The July 3-4 summit will also discuss an anti-drug strategy to counter the rising menace of drug addiction. Recent arrests of terrorists in Kyrgyzstan and earlier in Tajikistan have established ISIS links emanating from Afghanistan. The Indian establishment has been closely monitoring the spread of ISIS influence in Eurasia and its impact across the border in India, ET has learnt. What has come to their notice is recent ISIS literature that aims to target India, according to sources.

Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin underscored the crucial role of the United Nations in addressing urgent global challenges ahead of the July 3-4 SCO Summit. He recently highlighted the high level of interaction between Kazakhstan and the UN over 32 years of cooperation.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kazakhstan has actively advocated at the UN for the condemnation of this inhumane act against civilians. Attempts to exploit international turbulence to promote radical ideologies and incite xenophobia are increasing, Tokayev noted in his recent speech at the Session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. Ethno-religious motives are being attributed to the geostrategic ambitions of states, framing them as inter-civilizational conflicts, the Kazakh President pointed out.

The chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Payment Corporation (NPC), Binur Zhalenov, has made the first transaction with the country’s new central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital tenge. During his speech at the XI Congress of Finance in Almaty on Nov. 15, he paid with a debit card tied to the CBDC account, according to local outlet, Kapital.kz. 

The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan has officially confirmed they have blocked the Coinbase website in the country. The authorities of Kazakhstan have been blocking local IPs' access to Coinbase since September at least.  

Kazakhstan has started the process of acquiring ArcelorMittal SA's local business after dozens died in a fire at the company's mine on Saturday. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered the government to stop investment cooperation with ArcelorMittal Temirtau after the accident at the Kostenko mine near the city of Karaganda, Interfax reported. The government said on Saturday that it has reached a preliminary agreement with the shareholders of ArcelorMittal Temirtau and is preparing the transaction to transfer ownership of the enterprise in favor of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Digital asset miners in Kazakhstan have written an open letter to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev asking for lower energy prices.

Local crypto-mining operators in Kazakhstan — the world’s third-largest market in terms of Bitcoin mining hash rate — are complaining about high energy prices to the country’s president. 

Kazakhstan, one of the biggest Bitcoin (BTC) mining hubs in the world, announced plans to introduce new crypto regulations aimed at reducing tax fraud and unlawful business operations. 

Kazakhstan, the world’s third-largest Bitcoin (BTC) mining hub after the United States and China, found feasibility in launching its in-house central bank digital currency (CBDC), a digital tenge. The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) revealed the finding following the completion of the second phase of testing. 

Voters in Kazakhstan are casting their ballots Sunday in a snap election that looks likely to return the incumbent president to power, in an election the OSCE has described as "low-key." 

For over a year, the oil-rich Central Asian country of Kazakhstan has maintained its position as the third-biggest contributor to Bitcoin (BTC) mining after surpassing Russia back in February 2021. 

Some cryptocurrency exchanges continue onboarding Russian nationals despite the latest Western sanctions against Russia, but not without certain restrictions.

After a build-up of multiple memorandums of understanding (MoU) and an initial “in-principle” approval to operate in Kazakhstan, Binance received a permanent license to operate in the country.

Kazakhstan is ready to legalize a mechanism for converting cryptocurrencies to cash if there is demand, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, per local news agency Informburo on Sept. 28.

Long queues have been building up at the Vishnevka border crossing from Russia to Kazakhstan as thousands continue to flee a possible call-up for the war in Ukraine.