ASTANA – Astana Times has selected articles about Kazakhstan published in international media around the world. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Central Corridor, Almaty as a travel destination, Kazakhstan-Turkey relations, 5G technology development, and more.
Ascension Cathedral in Almaty. Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton.
Kazakhstan emerges as a 5G pioneer in the Eurasian Economic Union
Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest country, is moving forward with plans to accelerate the development of 5G services, establishing itself as a leader in 5G deployment among Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member states. report Caspian News for January 11th.
According to the report, “Just 10 months after spectrum was issued to carriers through a competitive auction held from March to December 2023, 5G rollout is not only on track but also on track. “This has been brought forward.”
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s agenda regarding Kazakhstan’s technological future is the driving force behind this accelerated 5G rollout. In his speech at the Digital Bridge 2023 Forum in October, President Tokayev emphasized the need to speed up the provision of new generation communications to all regional centers by the end of 2025.
Kazakhstan is ready to lead major organizations including the SCO in 2024: President Tokayev
The Economic Times newspaper is article On January 9, President Tokayev quoted comments made in a recent interview with a national newspaper about a constructive and balanced foreign policy in 2024 that emphasizes national interests. The country will host several international organizations, including the Organization of Turkish States (OTS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Council on Exchange and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
The President of Kazakhstan also reflected on the tragic events of January 2022, pointing out that the people of Kazakhstan united as a nation, overcame this crisis, stood their ground and emerged even stronger.
Central Asia emerges as a hub for a new era of global trade
According to a report, Central Asia’s transport potential is becoming increasingly important for global connectivity, with Kazakhstan serving as the epicenter. article Central Asia, and Kazakhstan in particular, is an increasingly important gateway for China to trade with Europe and the wider world, and this is underpinned by investments made through the Belt and Road Initiative. It was announced by President Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2023.
“For Western countries, too, Central Asia offers an important alternative route for trade with Asia. As a result, they have embraced the Trans-Caspian international shipping route as a way to improve infrastructure and promote regional trade.” The article points out.
Intermediate Corridor – an important route that determines the geopolitical strategy of the region
Matthew Orr, Eurasia analyst at RANE, said the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Intermediate Corridor) will determine the region’s geopolitical balance strategy. tendency News agency.
“The Central Corridor is an important transport route to many states in the Eurasian region. In fact, this route is so important that many countries have adopted geopolitical balancing strategies (multi-vector diplomacy) between regional powers. policy) presupposes its operation.”
Intermediate corridors are transport and trade routes that connect Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. This is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.
Travel Destinations in 2024: 52 Places to Visit This Year – New York Times
The New York Times released its annual report on January 9th. list Almaty ranks 25th out of 52 trending destinations for 2024.
“Kazakhstan’s largest city, with a population of 2 million people, has a peaceful yet lively country town feel. The subway shines with intricate tilework. It’s the apotheosis of the pleasures of bathing: massages, cold plunges, unbearably hot saunas. Stroll carefully through the leafy streets and you’ll see a mustachioed man playing the accordion in front of the kaleidoscopic Cathedral of the Ascension. “You’ll find endless amounts of fun,” the report says.
Strategic alliance: delicate cooperation between Turkiye and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has evolved from a stable investment partner to a strategic ally for Turkiye, fostering continued cooperation through diplomatic harmony and providing important links to Central Asia. report Daily Sabah newspaper on January 9th.
In 2022, trade between Kazakhstan and Turkiye skyrocketed to $6.3 billion, making Turkiye the fourth largest trading partner of Kazakhstan. This economic cooperation was further emphasized by Turkiye’s large direct investments in Kazakhstan’s economy, amounting to more than $5 billion and cementing Turkiye’s position among the country’s top ten investors.
“From January to September 2023, Kazakhstan’s exports to Turkiye decreased by 18.4% to $2.92 billion, while imports from Turkiye increased by 40.4% to $1.51 billion. Kazakhstan According to the Statistics Bureau’s data for September 2023, the overall foreign trade showed a more balanced trend, affected by the decline in Turkiye imports, while Turkiye exports increased significantly by 40.4%. ”, the report says.
Kazakhstan and Saudi companies consider joint gold mining project
Announced by Trend Tsushinsha. article On January 11, it was reported that Kazakhstan and Saudi Oil Refinery, a major company in the gold mining and processing sector, intend to explore the possibility of future joint projects.
This was stated during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev and the General Director of the Saudi company Suliman Al-Otaim.
“It was noted that the joint project aims to strengthen the partnership between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia. At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed their intention to continue the dialogue. Meanwhile, trade between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in 2022 The amount reached $16.5 million, an increase of 90.5% from the previous year ($8.6 million),” the article states.
