Brussels, December 12, 2025 – A solemn reception dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the European Union and its Member States was held in Brussels. The event gathered representatives of the European Commission, the Federal Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, the diplomatic corps, business and expert communities, as well as the media. The event was supported by Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) as its official partner.In his remarks, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium, Head of the Mission to the EU and NATO, Roman Vassilenko, noted that over ten years of implementation, the EPCA has elevated relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union to the level of a genuine strategic partnership.He underlined that mutual trade reached a record USD 50 billion in 2024, while cumulative investments from EU countries have exceeded USD 200 billion since 2005. More than 4,000 European companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan, reflecting the high level of confidence in the country’s economy.The Ambassador highlighted the active development of cooperation in critical raw materials, green energy, transport, digitalisation, and sustainable development, and informed the audience about the launch of negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements. He also drew attention to Kazakhstan’s political and socio-economic reforms, including its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.Particular attention was given to transport connectivity, with emphasis on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (the “Middle Corridor”), which is becoming a key element in Kazakhstan’s integration into global supply chains.Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Vassilenko noted that the high-level visits planned for 2026 will provide additional impetus to the further strengthening of bilateral cooperation.EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Eduards Stiprais, commended the active and consistent development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union, emphasizing the EPCA’s vital role as a solid foundation for long-term partnership.Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Ambassador Pierre Cartuyvels, congratulated Kazakhstan on the occasion and underlined the steady progress of Kazakhstan–Belgium relations, noting the considerable potential for their further deepening.The highlight of the evening was a fashion show featuring a collection in the Kazakh national style by leading designers under the direction of Bayan Zhambauova. The collection, combining traditional motifs with modern design elements, captivated the audience and vividly showcased the richness and distinctiveness of Kazakh fashion.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-brussels/press/news/details/1125115?lang=kk

The Head of State of Kazakhstan proposed the creation of an International Water Organization within the UN. According to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, cooperation between states plays an important role in solving global water problems. Currently, there is no specialized structure within the UN system dedicated solely to water issues. Kazakhstan is considering the possibility of transforming the UN-Water inter-agency mechanism into a full-fledged specialized agency or organization through its initiative. This step is in line with the UN's sustainable development goals and in the interests of the international community. Kazakhstan intends to launch international consultations during the Regional Environmental Summit to be held in Astana in April next year. The Head of State noted that a common political will is needed to systematically address pressing water issues. In addition, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed confidence that the Ashgabat Forum will strengthen the partnership of interested states and give a new impetus to the formation of a just order in the world.

Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the Kazakhstan-Iran business forum, paying special attention to the development of economic and investment relations between the two countries. The President thanked the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, for his contribution to strengthening Kazakh-Iranian friendship. During the forum, the potential for growth of bilateral trade turnover, investment projects and issues of transit and logistics cooperation were discussed. According to last year's figures, trade turnover exceeded $340 million, and this year this amount is expected to increase several times. Our countries plan to increase trade turnover to $1 billion in the first stage, and then to $2 billion. In addition, the importance of the initiative to open a Trade House of Kazakhstan in Tehran was noted. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev touched upon the development of partnership in the fields of agriculture, transport and logistics, digital economy and artificial intelligence. In particular, more than 350 enterprises opened by the Iranian business community are successfully operating. New projects are planned, including the construction of a transport and logistics terminal at the Shahid Rajai port, connecting the ports of Aktau and Kuryk with Iranian ports, as well as the development of agricultural products and modern industries. The Head of State also focused on the preservation of the Caspian Sea ecosystem, ecology, and regional cooperation. In addition, Kazakhstan intends to provide a new technological impetus by improving digital development, creating international centers in the field of artificial intelligence, and developing innovative cities. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian noted that the centuries-old friendship and socio-economic cooperation between the two countries have entered a new phase. The agreements will include shipping, the creation of consortia, joint production plants, export parks, and regional trade projects. The forum is expected to give a new impetus to deepening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Iran, and to the development of trade, investment, logistics, and technology.

Astana, 12 December 2025 – Ahead of Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan, students of School №4 in the city of Kosshy visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During a tour of the Museum of Kazakh Diplomacy, the students learned about the history of the development of the country’s diplomatic school – from the origins of steppe diplomacy to the modern era.The pupils were shown the museum’s unique exhibition, which includes archival records, rare materials, and exhibits illustrating the major milestones in shaping the foreign policy of independent Kazakhstan. Special interest was drawn to the sections covering the country’s first international recognitions, the establishment of diplomatic ties, and Kazakhstan’s admission to leading international organizations.The event aimed to broaden the younger generation’s understanding of the formation of sovereign Kazakhstan and the role of the diplomatic service in advancing national interests and strengthening the country’s international standing.Ministry staff told the students how the fundamental principles of foreign policy laid down during the years of independence helped transform Kazakhstan into a respected and active participant in global affairs. Particular attention was given to the contribution of Kazakhstan’s diplomacy to advancing peace initiatives, strengthening regional security, and safeguarding the state’s political and economic interests.The visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped foster students’ civic responsibility, patriotism, and an understanding of the importance of diplomacy as a key tool for ensuring sustainable development and advancing national goals on the international stage.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/1125079?lang=kk

Employees of the Department of State Revenues in the Akmola region who have passed state and English language training courses were awarded certificates of the regional Department of Internal Policy. It is gratifying that language training is available for civil servants and other categories of citizens - says Gulnara Imambaeva, chief specialist of the human resources department of the DGD - our employees were able to qualitatively master the state and English languages   in order to confidently apply their professional and everyday activities.At the end of the event, a photograph was taken as a keepsake.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-akmola/press/news/details/1125080?lang=kk

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/almobl/press/news/details/1125081?lang=kk

  From January 1, 2026, the norms of the new Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan come into legal force. In order to uniformly understand and apply the norms of legislation when assigning and registering tax audits, the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with the Committee on State Revenues of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held an online training seminar with video conferencing of all areas, in which representatives of specialized departments of territorial Departments of State Revenues took part. During the event, the seminar participants received comprehensive answers to their questions.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-akmola/press/news/details/1125083?lang=kk

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Ashgabat on Dec. 11 to participate in a high-level forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s status as a permanently neutral state.Upon arrival, Tokayev was welcomed by the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, with whom he held a brief exchange before beginning a series of official meetings, reported the Akorda. President Tokayev noted the positive outcomes of Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s state visit to Kazakhstan in late November, stressing the importance of implementing the high-level agreements into practical cooperation.During his meeting with Berdimuhamedov, Tokayev congratulated Turkmenistan on the anniversary of its permanent neutrality and emphasized the relevance of the forum’s agenda.Both leaders reaffirmed their intention to expand mutual trade, strengthen economic ties, and advance joint projects in energy, logistics, and agriculture.UN reform and greater global dialogueSpeaking at the forum on Dec. 12, Tokayev emphasized that Turkmenistan’s political vision has contributed meaningfully to stability and sustainable development across Eurasia. He noted that the proposals voiced at the forum highlight the importance of neutrality.Tokayev underscored the importance of Turkmenistan’s initiative to designate the International Year of Peace and Trust, noting Kazakhstan’s support for the United Nations (UN) resolution. He also warned that global tensions continue to rise, undermining the principles of international law and the effectiveness of multilateral institutions.“Without restoring strategic balance and building a just world order, international stability and security will remain only a figure of speech,” said Tokayev.Kazakhstan, he noted, advocates for reforming the UN, including expanding the Security Council and strengthening the role of the General Assembly. Tokayev also recalled his proposal at the 80th UN General Assembly to establish a “group of like-minded states” dedicated to developing recommendations for UN reform.Kazakhstan welcomes peace dialogue Tokayev expressed support for diplomatic efforts to resolve regional conflicts and urged global powers to demonstrate political will and promote large-scale dialogue.He welcomed Turkmenistan’s proposal to establish a UN University for Peace and Neutrality and noted recent developments related to the conflict in Ukraine.“Kazakhstan welcomes the activation of the negotiation process on the Ukrainian conflict. The discussions following the meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States indicate the possibility of achieving long-awaited peace,” Tokayev said. He emphasized Kazakhstan’s long-standing support for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state as a key element of a lasting settlement.Tokayev also welcomed the signing of the joint declaration on peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, calling it a historic step that opens new prospects for cooperation in the South Caucasus.Assistance to Afghanistan and regional stabilityPresident Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to continued support for Afghanistan, highlighting the role of the newly established UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty.He also highlighted the importance of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). He expressed gratitude for support in transforming it into a full-fledged international organization.Tokayev stressed Kazakhstan’s longstanding commitment to fostering interethnic, interreligious, and intercultural dialogue. He recalled that at the recent Eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, Kazakhstan launched the Movement for Peace initiative.“This is essentially a call to end military violence and seek peaceful solutions based on our collective responsibility to future generations,” he said, adding that sustainable socio-economic development is crucial for global stability. “Kazakhstan’s economic growth this year will exceed 6%, with GDP surpassing $300 billion and per capita income reaching more than $15,000,” Tokayev added.Water securityTokayev noted that Central Asian countries are rapidly expanding their transit and transport potential to enhance connectivity across Eurasia. Kazakhstan, he said, is prioritizing development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and modernizing its railway, port, and road infrastructure.He also emphasized the urgent need to address water security, transboundary resource management, and the environmental conditions of the Aral and Caspian Seas.“Kazakhstan has proposed developing a special interstate program to prevent the degradation and drying of the Caspian Sea. We call on the international community to support our efforts to preserve this unique body of water,” Tokayev said. Tokayev stressed that global water diplomacy requires deeper institutional coordination and noted the absence of a dedicated UN body focused exclusively on water issues. He announced that Astana will host a Regional Environmental Summit next April, at which Kazakhstan intends to initiate global consultations on establishing such an organization.Concluding his remarks, Tokayev expressed confidence that the Ashgabat forum will deepen constructive cooperation among participating states and reinforce collective efforts to build a fair and trust-based international order.https://astanatimes.com/2025/12/kazakhstan-turkmenistan-strengthen-regional-push-for-connectivity-and-peace/ Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-geneva/press/news/details/1125066?lang=kk

The new complex is of crucial importance for ensuring the quality and safety of drinking water for the residents of Kostanay.The facility's capacity is 50,000 cubic meters of purified water per day, which fully covers current needs and creates a reserve of capacity for further growth of the city.As part of the project, a modern 5,000 m2 sewage treatment plant was built, as well as three auxiliary facilities with a total area of 2,100 m2.About 3 km of power grids, 670 meters of heating mains, 860 meters of water supply networks have been laid, and a digital reagent supply system has been introduced.The service life of the new water treatment plant exceeds 50 years, and the total cost of the project is more than 7 billion tenge.Construction was carried out from 2021 to 2025, with commissioning completed in November this year.The construction and installation work was carried out by the contractor JSC "Pavlodar River Port", which ensured the high-quality and timely implementation of the project.As part of the project, the processing line has been completely renovated and new equipment has been installed to ensure stable operation of the treatment facilities.The facility was built in compliance with all safety, energy efficiency and staff convenience requirements.The commissioning of the new unit is a key step in providing the city's population with high-quality drinking water.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanai-kalasy-akimat/press/news/details/1125033?lang=kk

The Karatal District Department of State Revenues organized an “Open House Day” for entrepreneurs and local residents, during which the main provisions and changes of the new Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking effect on January 1, 2025, were explained.The event provided participants with the opportunity to receive clarification on the practical application of the new regulations and to ask specific questions to the leadership and leading specialists of the Department.During the meeting, the staff of the Department elaborated on the changes related to special tax regimes for small and medium-sized businesses. New approaches to tax control were also presented. It was emphasized that control measures will be based on a risk management system, which will reduce the administrative burden on compliant taxpayers and allow focusing control on areas with higher levels of risk.The “Open House Day” became part of a broader information campaign aimed at helping taxpayers prepare in advance for the upcoming tax reform.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-zhetysu/press/news/details/1124935?lang=kk

Today, Deputy Akim of the Kyzylorda Region Bakhyt Zhakhanov arrived in the Karmakshy district on a working visit.He first inspected the major renovation work at the railway station in Zhosaly settlement. The station, which has nearly a century of history, is being modernized in accordance with the regional akim’s instructions to improve passenger comfort. In this regard, several directives on quality and project execution were given to the contracting companies.The working visit then continued in the Toretem settlement, where the progress of the major renovation and reconstruction of the railway station was reviewed. Construction stages were examined, and contractors were instructed to accelerate the pace of work and strictly comply with quality standards.At the end of the visit, Bakhyt Zhakhanov inspected the construction site of five residential buildings with 50 apartments each in the city of Baikonyr. The housing project, aimed at improving the living conditions of the population, is scheduled to be completed by the end of December. Clear instructions regarding the deadlines for putting the housing into operation were given to responsible officials.The Deputy Akim of the region emphasized the importance of completing all facilities on time and with high quality, and provided relevant recommendations for increasing the pace of construction.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kyzylorda-karmakshy/press/news/details/1124950?lang=kk

Today, District Akim Zhandos Erkinbek held another series of meetings with residents of the Zhanazhol, Iirkol, and Torebay bi rural districts, where he reported on the results of work carried out this year.Zhanazhol village is one of the district’s key settlements in the agricultural sector. The land fund of the rural district totals 5,406 hectares. This year, “Zhanazhol” LLP planted 3,100 hectares of rice and harvested 192,882 tons of produce. Due to these results, the farming enterprise received well-deserved recognition at the regional “Altyn Dan” festival and was awarded a first-degree diploma. In addition, one of the most significant achievements this year was the supply of natural gas to the village of Dur Ongar and the full provision of drinking water to the entire rural district.In Iirkol village, several infrastructure projects were also completed. The street-lighting project for Kazakhstan Street, worth 24.4 million tenge, has been fully implemented. The issue of drinking water has been resolved. Furthermore, this year two electricity-supply projects were completed. Among them, the construction of power transmission lines in Iirkol village, valued at 226 million tenge, was fully completed and commissioned.In Torebay bi village, the 60th anniversary of the settlement was widely celebrated this year. In honor of this milestone, significant landscaping was carried out: paving the central village square with stone tiles and installing fencing, with the total cost reaching 22.4 million tenge. Street-lighting work on P. Baishorauly Street was also completed, and the drinking-water issue was resolved.During the meetings, the district akim held an open dialogue with residents, listened to raised issues and suggestions, and provided concrete responses.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kyzylorda-karmakshy/press/news/details/1124965?lang=kk

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mod/press/news/details/1124886?lang=kk

Denpasar, December 10, 2025 - As part of efforts to expand investment, trade, economic and tourism ties with the regions of Indonesia, a round table was held in Denpasar city (Province of Bali) with the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Indonesia and the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Bali on the theme: “Kazakhstan – Bali: Exploring Business, Investment and Tourism Opportunities”.The event was attended by representatives of local authorities, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Bali), the business community and tourism companies of Bali Province.The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Indonesia, Mr. Serzhan Abdykarimov, highlighted Kazakhstan's favorable investment and business climate, promising areas for bilateral cooperation within the framework of the objectives set by the President of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his September’s Address to the Nation “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Key Tasks and Their Solutions through Digital Transformation”.Indonesian business circles were invited to cooperate in areas such as energy and mining, transportation and logistics, agriculture and food industry, digitalization, artificial intelligence, as well as tourism.The diplomat also mentioned the forthcoming conclusion this December of a Free Trade Agreement between Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Indonesia, which will contribute to a significant increase in mutual trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Indonesia, as well as the EAEU member states. It was also emphasized that foreign investors who invest at least 300 thousand US dollars in the Kazakh economy are provided with a "golden visa" and residence permit for 10 years.During the round table Indonesian entrepreneurs put forward concrete business proposals and received answers to their numerous questions. They expressed practical interest in expanding investment, trade, and tourism cooperation with our country. As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached to organize a trade and economic mission from Province of Bali to Kazakhstan in the first half of 2026.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-jakarta/press/news/details/1124795?lang=kk

In order to implement paragraphs two, three, four, fifth, seventh, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth of subitems 17), 18), 21) and 24) of paragraph 2 of Article 55 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, effective January 1, 2026, the order of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted. Kazakhstan No. 698 dated November 12, 2025 "On Approval of Forms for Providing Information to the State Revenue Authority by Banking Organizations on the Availability and Numbers of Bank Accounts of Individuals and Legal Entities, on the Balances and Movement of Money in such Accounts, loans granted to an individual who has an obligation to submit declarations of assets and liabilities, income and property, Rules and deadlines for submitting information on taxpayers engaged in electronic trade in goods, as well as a List and Rules for submitting information on the total amount of money deposited into the bank account of an individual who has signs of receiving income from the sale of business activities and criteria for attribution to such operations" (hereinafter referred to as the Order).      An innovation of the Order is the introduction of a threshold for classifying transactions on bank accounts of individuals as transactions that have signs of generating income from entrepreneurial activities.     Previously, the criterion was based solely on the number of receipts from 100 or more different persons within three consecutive calendar months. The new version is supplemented by the following condition: the total amount of receipts for the same period must exceed 12 times the minimum wage effective on January 1 of the corresponding fiscal year.     Thus, the criteria include the receipt by one individual during each of 3 (three) consecutive calendar months from 100 (one hundred) or more different persons of money to a bank account(s) of an individual not intended for entrepreneurial activity, the total amount of which for the specified period exceeds 12- a multiple of the minimum wage established by the law on the republican budget and effective as of January 1 of the relevant fiscal year.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-karaganda/press/news/details/1124807?lang=kk

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kazaid/press/news/details/1124812?lang=kk

Public Service Centers (ЦОНs) and Specialized Public Service Centers will not operate on December 16The State Corporation announces that due to the celebration of Independence Day, Public Service Centers, including specialized centers, will not operate on Tuesday, December 16.As a reminder, on weekdays, PSCs, including specialized centers, operate from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00.Duty PSCs operate on weekdays from 09:00 to 20:00, and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00. At the same time, duty specialized PSCs accept applications on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00, while ready documents are issued until 20:00. On Saturdays, applications are accepted from 09:00 to 12:00, and ready documents are issued until 13:00.The State Corporation congratulates all Kazakhstan citizens on Independence Day and wishes everyone good health and prosperity! Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/akimat-mangistau-rayon/press/news/details/1125032?lang=kk

The SRC of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan informs about the approval of the Order of the Ministry of Finance dated October 17, 2025 No. 917 "On establishing the List of information contained in the taxpayer's passport, the Rules and deadlines for its formation and posting on the Internet resource of the authorized body." The document was adopted in order to implement paragraph 4 of Article 36 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The order is aimed at ensuring open access to information about taxpayers that is not related to tax secrecy. The introduction of a mechanism for the public posting of such data will allow citizens, buyers and users of services to identify the taxpayer for subsequent referral of appeals and complaints if violations are detected on his part. 📌The adopted norms increase transparency and responsibility of business entities, creating an effective tool for public control. The openness of information helps to strengthen confidence in the tax system and increase the level of compliance with tax legislation. In addition, a taxpayer engaged in activities in the fields of public catering and trade is required to place a taxpayer's passport in the places where the KKM is located and publicly accessible places to inform the public.The taxpayer's passport is posted on the Internet resource of the authorized body.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-karaganda/press/news/details/1124765?lang=kk

The Kazakh Customs Service traces its history back to December 12, 1991, the date of the creation of a system designed to protect the economic interests of an independent state.Over the past years, the country's customs authorities have gone through a significant development path. This made it possible to effectively fulfill the key tasks of the department: to prevent the import and export of contraband and prohibited goods, to control the movement of foreign currency, to ensure the ability to make electronic payment of customs duties.Today, the customs service represents professionalism, responsibility and honor. These are people who ensure border security, trade transparency, and support for bona fide business on a daily basis.Congratulations to all colleagues on their professional holiday – the Day of Formation of the customs authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which are now part of the system of state revenue authorities!Thank you for your dedication, perseverance, honesty, and service that requires attention, strength, and a big human heart.    Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-pavlodar/press/news/details/1124739?lang=kk

On December 11, the Department of State Revenue hosted a technical training on important areas of work for 2025.  Analyzing data on corruption risks, experts examined the dynamics and key indicators affecting the state of corruption in the public revenue system. Special attention is paid to the prevention and timely prevention of violations.  The results of the key performance indicators of the departments for the current year, as well as measures to improve the quality of work and transparency of processes were discussed.  Compliance with the norms of the Code of Ethics Reminded of the personal responsibility of each employee for honesty, impartiality and correctness in the performance of official duties. The need to maintain a high level of public confidence in the state revenue authorities was noted.  Analysis of administrative offenses The results of the identified administrative violations are summarized, typical errors are considered and measures to prevent them in the future are outlined.  The work on strengthening official discipline, increasing professionalism and openness remains a priority of the DGD. Studying and discussing problematic issues make it possible to strengthen the system and move towards a better quality of service for citizens and businesses.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-kostanay/press/news/details/1124744?lang=kk