On August 19, a Forum on Meat Product Quality was held in Astana as part of the plenary session of ISO/TC 34/SC 6 "Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs and Products Thereof."The event was organized by the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the RSE "KazStandard." Representatives from ISO, government bodies, businesses, scientific organizations, and industry experts participated in the forum.One of the key topics was expanding Kazakhstan's participation in international standardization. This year, the country is participating in the elections to the ISO Council and intends to increase the number of domestic experts in international technical committees.Kazakhstan's main initiative was the proposal to develop the first international ISO standard for ready-to-eat horsemeat products. Currently, there is no single international document for this product category, which leads to differences in requirements for terminology, classification, labeling, and quality assessment and can create barriers to export.The proposed basis for the future standard is GOST 34921–2023 "National Horsemeat Products. Technical Specifications." The document could cover traditional products — kazy, shuzhuk, zhal, zhaya, as well as smoked and sausage products.Kazakhstan is ready to form and lead an international working group to prepare the draft standard and its further discussion with producing countries.Deputy Chairman of the CTRM MTI RK Kanat Kabylbekov noted that Kazakhstan's participation in the ISO Council elections will allow for more active involvement in international decision-making processes and the promotion of initiatives that serve the interests of the domestic economy.The forum also discussed the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the field of standardization and conformity assessment, including joint research, interlaboratory comparisons, and improvement of testing methods.Following the forum, further areas of cooperation were identified: development of an ISO standard for horsemeat products, expansion of participation by Kazakhstani experts and businesses in international standardization, development of the laboratory base, and strengthening of international cooperation.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1277178?lang=ru

Residents of East Kazakhstan decided to take care of their health, save time, and entrust meal preparation to professionals. They signed contracts with an individual entrepreneur for the delivery of healthy meal plans and, as conscientious clients should, paid for the services in full upfront. But at some point, the deliveries simply stopped.The promised meal plans stopped arriving, and no one was in a hurry to return the money people had already paid for the services. For some, the amount might have seemed insignificant, but when there are many such people, it is no longer a matter of individual domestic disputes, but a mass violation of consumer rights.Residents of the region began seeking help from the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection of the East Kazakhstan Region. As a result, this story involved not just one dissatisfied client, but 21 consumers who found themselves in the same situation.The Department stepped in to protect their interests. First, they tried to resolve the issue without going to court. The consumers contacted the entrepreneur directly, and the Department itself sent him a pre-trial claim. However, neither these appeals nor the demands for a refund yielded any results. Then the case went to court.The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Protection of Consumer Rights" directly provides for the right of citizens to demand proper quality of services, and if the service is provided improperly or the obligations are not fulfilled by the contractor, to terminate the contract and get their money back. In addition, the legislation gives the authorized body the right to go to court in defense of an indefinite circle of consumers if the same violation affects the rights of more than ten people. In this case, there were 21 such people.The Department filed a class action lawsuit with the Interdistrict Court for Civil Cases of the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, demanding to protect the rights of the affected clients and return their money for the unrendered services. On July 16, 2026, the court put an end to this story by satisfying the Department's claims.Now the entrepreneur is obliged to pay the 21 consumers not only the money for the services that were never provided, but also a penalty for violating the deadlines for fulfilling the requirements. The main material damage amounted to 3,055,138 tenge, and another 611,028 tenge was recovered as a penalty.In total, the amount that the entrepreneur must return to the affected clients amounted to 3,666,166 tenge.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1276780?lang=ru

One of the stores in the city of Karaganda purchased rice at 205 tenge per kilogram and sold it to consumers at 556 tenge. Thus, the trade markup on the product amounted to 160%. This fact was revealed during state control by the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for the Karaganda Region of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as a result of which the entrepreneur was brought to administrative responsibility. As a result, the price of rice was reduced to 235 tenge.This is just one of the cases identified during price control for socially significant food products in the Karaganda region.For instance, the purchase price of hard cheese was 3,353 tenge, but it was supplied to retail chains at a price of 5,517 tenge. Thus, the trade markup amounted to 64%. Based on the results of the inspection, the price of the product was reduced to 3,855 tenge, a difference of 1,662 tenge.A significant difference was also identified for black tea. The product with a purchase price of 472 tenge was sold at 1,079 tenge. The trade markup reached 130%. After being brought to administrative responsibility, its price was reduced to 496 tenge, i.e., by 583 tenge.The price of minced chicken was also adjusted. Initially, the entrepreneur purchased it at 1,655 tenge, illegally increased the trade markup to 45%, and sold it at 2,400 tenge. After control measures were carried out, the price of the product was reduced to 1,903 tenge.Since the beginning of the year, inspections of 170 business entities have been conducted in the Karaganda region regarding compliance with legislation in the field of trade, of which 155 were brought to administrative responsibility.Among those held accountable are 44 wholesale suppliers operating in trade markets and 11 wholesale and retail stores. This is 39.6% more compared to the same period last year. In 2025, for the same period, 111 business entities were brought to administrative responsibility. At the same time, the total amount of administrative fines imposed in the current year exceeded 4 million tenge.During the control measures, violations were not limited only to the establishment of trade markups on food products. 11 violations in the field of trade and 11 violations of tax legislation were identified at wholesale and retail trade markets. In addition, 2 rapid response measures were taken by the sanitary and epidemiological control authorities.The inspections addressed issues of the use of cash registers, the presence of price tags on goods, compliance with the established maximum trade markup on socially significant food products, as well as requirements for labeling and sale of food products. The identified violations were eliminated, and compliance with legal requirements was ensured.Based on the results of the control carried out, prices for a number of socially significant food products were reduced. At the same time, the department's work is not limited only to eliminating identified violations.In the Karaganda region, work continues on price monitoring, identifying unjustified intermediary links, and preventing unjustified price increases for socially significant food products. This area is under constant control of the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for the Karaganda Region.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1276768?lang=ru

A case of price discrepancy between the shelf and the checkout has been identified in Kostanay Region. At the "A-Market" supermarket, a chocolate bar was marked on the shelf at a price of 445 tenge. However, at the checkout, the item cost 460 tenge.As a result of the inspection, the trade entity has been brought to administrative liability. The case was considered under a simplified procedure, and a fine of 140,562.5 tenge was imposed.This is an example of how important correct pricing is in retail facilities. Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection for Kostanay Region of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan has brought 141 entrepreneurs to administrative liability.Of these, 135 exceeded the established trade markup limit, thereby violating paragraph 1 of Article 9 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Regulation of Trade Activities." Another 6 entrepreneurs were held liable due to the absence of price tags on the shelves.As a result of state control, the Department reduced prices for socially significant food products: potatoes — from 235 tenge/kg to 170 tenge/kg, or by 38.2%, onions — from 330 tenge/kg to 200 tenge/kg, or by 65%, cabbage — from 230 tenge/kg to 195 tenge/kg, or by 17.9%, carrots — from 420 tenge to 360 tenge/kg, or by 16.7%, "Rava" cucumbers — from 1,900 tenge/kg to 1,380 tenge/kg, or by 37.7%, "Mirinda" cucumbers — from 650 tenge/kg to 550 tenge/kg, or by 18.2%, tomatoes — from 1,560 tenge/kg to 1,260 tenge/kg, or by 23.8%, apples — from 850 tenge/kg to 840 tenge/kg, or by 1.2%, first-grade flour — from 165 tenge/kg to 144 tenge/kg, or by 14.6%, C-1 eggs — from 65 tenge/piece to 60 tenge/piece, or by 8.3%, sugar — from 530 tenge/kg to 490 tenge/kg, or by 8.2%, buckwheat — from 370 tenge/kg to 310 tenge/kg, or by 19.4%, rice — from 470 tenge/kg to 460 tenge/kg, or by 2.2%, pasta shells — from 450 tenge/kg to 370 tenge/kg, or by 21.6%, sunflower oil — from 799 tenge/piece to 776 tenge/piece, or by 3%, tea — from 1,350 tenge/piece to 1,265 tenge/piece, or by 6.7%, cheese — from 4,655 tenge/kg to 4,490 tenge/kg, or by 3.7%, kefir 2.5% fat, 1 kg — from 470 tenge/piece to 380 tenge/piece, or by 23.7%, chicken meat — from 1,241 tenge/kg to 921 tenge/kg, or by 34.7%.The Department continues its work to prevent exceeding the legally established trade markup limit on socially significant food products.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1276507?lang=ru

A meeting of the regional akimat dedicated to preparations for the new 2026–2027 academic year was held under the chairmanship of Kostanay Region Akim Kumar Aksakalov.The Head of State pays special attention to education and the younger generation. Over the past three years, 10 schools have been built in our region, six of which are "Schools of the Future." The Schools of the Future are fully equipped in accordance with international standards. Artificial intelligence is used in scientific projects and research."The shortage of student places in schools has decreased from 7,500 to 2,500, that is, by 3 times. To address the remaining shortage of 2,500 places, two schools will be built," noted the head of the region.Since 2023, primary school students have been provided with free hot meals. To ensure quality nutrition, no educational facility should have a cafeteria without a sanitary-epidemiological certificate."It is necessary to conduct the 'Road to School' campaign in a high-quality and transparent manner, ensuring full coverage of children in need of assistance. I call on business representatives to actively participate in this campaign. All of this creates conditions for comfortable learning for children, their comprehensive development, and the achievement of good results," emphasized Kumar Aksakalov.Over the past two years, the region's economic growth rates have exceeded the national average. This is the result not only of attracting investments and launching new plants and factories, but also of the work of qualified specialists – graduates of educational organizations.It should be noted that currently, the share of workers under the age of 35 at new production facilities ranges from 50 to 70%.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1276174?lang=ru

Kazakhstan's trade turnover of non-resource  goods with all countries of the world reached $43.9 billion in January–June 2026. Compared to the same period last year, the figure increased by 7.6%  or $3.1 billion. Meanwhile, exports demonstrated significantly higher dynamics. In the first six months of 2026, Kazakh enterprises supplied $15.2 billion worth of processed goods to foreign markets,  17.6% more than a year earlier.The first six months of 2026 became another period of growth in Kazakhstan's foreign trade in non-resource and processed goods. Against the backdrop of moderate import growth, exports became the main source of positive dynamics. Over the year, export supplies increased by $2.3 billion  from $12.9 billion to $15.2 billion, while imports grew by 3%, from $27.9 billion to $28.7 billion.Thus, exports of non-resource and processed goods in January–June 2026 grew almost six times faster than imports. At the same time, the negative trade balance decreased from $14.9 billion to $13.5 billion, improving by $1.4 billion.The dynamics over the past seven years are particularly indicative. In January–June 2019, the trade turnover of non-resource and processed goods amounted to $23.6 billion, and exports were  $7.72 billion. By January–June 2026, these figures reached $43.9 billion and $15.2 billion, respectively. Thus, over seven years, trade turnover increased almost 1.9 times, and exports nearly doubled, adding about 97%. Moreover, the current export figure of $15.2 billion is the maximum value for the entire observation period presented.The growth in supplies is driven by the expansion of Kazakh products' presence in several large and promising markets simultaneously. The most significant increase was recorded for Turkey, where exports in January–June 2026 doubled — from $950 million to $1.91 billion. Thus, in the Turkish direction alone, Kazakhstan received an additional approximately $960 million in export revenue.Even more notable dynamics were observed for the United Kingdom: exports grew 2.7 times, from $248.9 million to $671.8 million. Supplies to China increased by 12.1%, reaching $3.67 billion, which provided an additional approximately $400 million compared to the same period in 2025.Significant growth was also noted in the markets of Uzbekistan, France, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. Exports to Uzbekistan increased by 23.5%  to $1.39 billion, to France  2.4 times, to $385.4 million, to Afghanistan  2.1 times, to $344.9 million, and to Hong Kong  2.9 times, to $220 million.It is especially important that Turkey, the United Kingdom, and China alone provided about $1.8 billion in additional exports compared to the first half of last year. This demonstrates not only the growth in physical supply volumes but also the expansion of opportunities for Kazakh companies in major international markets.Today, the export basket is formed by such items as copper and copper cathodes  $2.84 billion, uranium $1.51 billion, ferroalloys  $1.1 billion, silver  $781.3 million, sunflower oil  $533 million, and animal feed products $438 million.An important result is also the ratio of growth rates. With exports increasing by 17.6%, imports of non-resource and processed goods grew by only 3%. As a result, the gap between exports and imports is gradually narrowing, and the trade balance improved by $1.4 billion over the year.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1275987?lang=ru

Starting January 1, 2027, the officially approved standard ST RK "Organic Fertilizers. General Technical Requirements for Industrial Production" will come into effect in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The document establishes unified rules for manufacturers aimed at improving the overall quality of domestic products and developing the organic farming ecosystem in the country.The new standard systematically regulates the processes of industrial processing of livestock waste, particularly manure, poultry litter, composts, vermicompost, and other types of raw materials.The document pays special attention to the processing of digestate obtained from biogas plants and also establishes specific technological standards for aerobic and vermicomposting processes, anaerobic fermentation in methane tanks, as well as drying and granulation. This will enable domestic enterprises to efficiently utilize production capacities and produce high-quality fertilizers that meet international requirements.To ensure product safety, the standard provides for strict veterinary and sanitary indicators. The presence of pathogenic microflora, including salmonella and helminth eggs, is completely prohibited in finished organic fertilizers. In addition, the maximum permissible concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, as well as requirements for the radiation background of products, have been brought into compliance with hygienic standards.The natural and artificial radiation background of products is also regulated, not exceeding the established hygienic standards. The document defines in detail the requirements for equipping production sites, bioreactors, ventilation systems, and preventing environmental pollution. Furthermore, the standard establishes the procedure for packaging, labeling, transportation, and storage of fertilizers.The document was developed as part of the direct implementation of the provisions of the Technical Regulation "Requirements for Fertilizer Safety" (Order of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 26). The requirements of environmental legislation, fire safety, and sanitary-hygienic safety standards have been taken into account.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1275715?lang=ru

From August 14 to 16, 2026, the Kostanay Regional Environmental Gathering for Youth and Volunteers is taking place at the "Aly Parus" recreation center in the city of Lisakovsk.The event is organized by the public foundation "Ecological Club 'Neco'" with the support of the State Institution "Department of Public Development of the Akimat of Kostanay Region" as part of the project "Promotion of Environmental Ideas among Youth and Volunteers EcoZhas within the framework of the 'Taza Kazakhstan' principle."Up to 80 representatives of active youth and the volunteer community of Kostanay Region, aged 18 to 35, are participating in the gathering, including representatives from youth resource centers of the region's districts and cities.The main goal of the gathering is to foster environmental culture, develop environmental volunteering, leadership competencies, and project thinking skills among youth, as well as to increase the level of young citizens' involvement in solving environmental issues in the region.After the guests assembled, the program began with an excursion, where participants visited eco-enterprises and organizations such as the Eco-Office, the State Nursery, a Private Nursery, "Atameken 4+", and "AgroEcoHub". Afterward, they proceeded in an organized manner by bus directly to the venue of the three-day gathering in the city of Lisakovsk at the "Aly Parus" recreation center.As part of the three-day program, participants will get acquainted with the activities of environmental enterprises and organizations, take part in educational trainings, master classes, team-building events, and project work.One of the key areas of the program will be training in the development of environmental strategies and practical solutions. In teams, participants will identify current environmental problems in the region, develop their own strategies, and present them at the final defense.The educational program is planned to cover areas such as environmental volunteering, conscious consumption, animal volunteering, waste recycling and reuse, landscaping, renewable energy sources, environmental and climate projects, as well as international practices in the field of ecology and volunteering.Speakers and experts of national and regional level have been invited: Asyl Okapova, Lyudmila Yevzhenkova, Olga Solovyova, Dinara Shadrina, Gennady Ipatov, Azim Zhanburchinov, Zhumat Bauyrzhan Kiikbayuly, and Tatyana Mironyuk.The three-day program includes team-building, sports, and cultural and leisure activities aimed at developing team interaction and strengthening professional and interpersonal ties among participants.Based on the results of the three days' work, participants will present the developed environmental strategies. The best strategy will receive funding of at least 1,000,000 tenge for subsequent implementation. All participants of the gathering will receive certificates.The event will conclude with the environmental campaign "We Were Never Here!", during which participants will clean up the area.The gathering is aimed at developing the youth environmental movement in Kostanay Region, supporting volunteer initiatives, and forming practical mechanisms for youth participation in implementing the region's environmental agenda in accordance with the principles of "Taza Kazakhstan".Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1274627?lang=ru

On August 14, with the participation of the Akim of Kostanay Region, Kumar Irgibayevich Aksakalov, the regional August conference of education workers was held on the theme «Human Capital – the Strategic Foundation for Regional Development: Quality of Education and Priorities for the New Academic Year».The plenary session was held in the format of a professional dialogue. Participants discussed the quality of education, modern educational technologies and artificial intelligence, the development of rural schools, professional competencies of teachers, and the skills needed by the children of the future.A particular impression on the participants was made by Ұмай – a digital virtual host, who appeared on stage for the first time alongside the traditional moderator of the plenary session. Created using artificial intelligence technologies, she became a real highlight of the event.In her video address, the Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhuldyz Suleimenova, outlined the strategic guidelines for the development of education, noting the importance of improving quality, digitalization, and the introduction of modern technologies and AI.Head of the Education Department of Kostanay Region, Ardak Begatarov, presented regional priorities, including improving the quality of education, functional literacy of students, professionalism of teachers, and ensuring equal access to quality education.Vice Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhaiyk Sharabasov, spoke about the main directions of state educational policy and tasks for the new academic year.AI and data analysis expert Muhammad Ali Javed from the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (Abu Dhabi) spoke about preparing schools for the AI era, the responsible use of technology, and preserving the key role of the teacher.First Vice President of the Bilim-Innovation International Foundation, Yerzhan Aubakirov, presented practices for supporting rural and small schools within the framework of the «Auyl Mektebi – Sapa Alany» project.Teacher of the «Bilim-Innovation» Lyceum in the city of Semey, Marat Aitkaliyev, addressed the topic of Generation Alpha and the competencies of the future, emphasizing the role of the teacher as a mentor and leader.Summing up the results, Akim of Kostanay Region, Kumar Aksakalov, noted the special attention of the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, to issues of education and the younger generation, which was reflected in the new People's Constitution.«For us, education also remains one of the main priorities, as it is a sphere that directly concerns every family,» emphasized the head of the region.Today, the region's education system covers about 150,000 children, with more than 36,000 employees working in the sector. This year, 227.1 billion tenge has been allocated for education, which is about a third of the regional budget. In 2023, this figure was 176.8 billion tenge.Over the past three years, 15 kindergartens and 10 schools have been built in the region, and 457 facilities have been renovated, including 30 major overhauls. During the same period, 83 graduates of the region received grants to study at leading universities around the world.«Our task is to ensure that such examples are not isolated, that every child has opportunities, regardless of where they live. And the task of teachers is to recognize talent in time, support it, and help it flourish,» emphasized Kumar Aksakalov.In the lobby of the «Zhastar Saraiy», thematic exhibitions were held where teachers got acquainted with modern educational solutions, digital tools, and practical developments. As part of the master classes, participants were able to learn about new approaches and apply them in practice.The conference concluded with an awards ceremony for education workers. The Akim of the region presented 25 teachers with departmental and regional awards.3 teachers were awarded the «Eңbek Ardagerі» medals, 4 – the I. Altynsarin breastplates, 2 – the «Bilim Beru Salasynyn Uzdigi» breastplates, 2 – honorary diplomas «Orta Bilim Beru Isinin Uzdigi», 2 – honorary diplomas «Tekhnikalyk Zhane Kasіptik Bilim Beru Isinin Uzdigi».In addition, 3 employees were recognized with Certificates of Honor from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 4 – with Letters of Gratitude from the Ministry, and another 5 teachers – with certificates from the Akim of Kostanay Region.Certificates were also awarded to the winners of regional competitions. The I. Altynsarin Gymnasium in the city of Arkalyk was recognized as the best secondary education organization of 2026, and the Rudny Mining and Technology College – as the best technical and vocational education organization. They were awarded certificates for 68 million tenge.According to the results of the rating assessment among the education departments of the region's cities, the winner was the Education Department of the city of Rudny, and among the districts — the Education Department of the Beimbet Mailin District. They were awarded certificates worth 5 million tenge. Cash prizes were also received by the winners of the «Taza Kazakhstan» competition in the «Best Schoolyard» nomination.The August conference combined the discussion of strategic educational tasks with practical solutions and the experience of teachers, which are to be implemented in the new academic year.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1274618?lang=ru

During a working trip to the Kamysty district, Akim of Kostanay region Kumar Aksakalov handed over keys to new well-appointed apartments to five families. The area of each apartment is 80 square meters.The Head of State pays special attention to social protection of the population, in particular to creating decent conditions for the older generation.«Over the past three years, 120 families in the district have been provided with housing. Currently, another 36 apartments are being built for families in need of state support,» – noted the head of the region at the ceremonial event.It should be noted that business entities in the district make a significant contribution to the development of housing construction. Since 2023, 34 residential houses with a total cost of 840 million tenge have been built through private investments.Overall, over the past 3.5 years, about 1.8 million square meters of housing have been commissioned in our region. More than 18 thousand families have improved their living conditions.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1274567?lang=ru

Today, the akim of the region, Murat Ergeshbayev, received the Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan, Supreme Mufti Nauryzbai kazhy Taganuly.The meeting discussed ongoing efforts to maintain public stability in the region and further improve the religious situation.«Our region is a sacred land with a deep history, where Kazakh identity has been preserved. Today, thanks to the fruitful work of religious servants who honestly serve the country, the religious situation in the region is stable.If in the early years of independence there were only 14 mosques in the region, today their number has reached 195, and they serve for the benefit of the residents. In addition, the construction of 6 mosques is underway in the region. Three of them will be able to accommodate about 1,000 people at a time.The mosque in the village of Tasboget, built with the sponsorship support of entrepreneurs and officially opened today, is among them. At the same time, two prayer houses under construction in the cities of Aralsk and Baikonur will be put into operation in the near future.The Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich, attaches special importance to the spiritual upbringing of the younger generation. Today, the majority of the representative office's employees are young and highly educated specialists. This indicates the growing demand among the region's youth for obtaining quality and correct religious information.Today, employees of the akimat and law enforcement agencies, within the framework of the «Law and Order» principle, conduct ongoing awareness-raising work among residents of cities, districts, and remote settlements. They organize appropriate measures for the prevention of and fight against destructive movements.Your support is of great importance for further intensifying this work.I am confident that the joint positive initiatives of both sides will strengthen public stability and become a solid foundation for preserving the unity and integrity of our sovereign country», – said the head of the region.In turn, the Supreme Mufti gave a positive assessment of the work to maintain religious stability and expressed gratitude for the joint initiatives.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kyzylorda/press/news/details/1274400?lang=ru

Today, under the chairmanship of the region's akim Murat Ergeshbayev, a meeting was held dedicated to the further development of cooperation with South Korea.Friendly relations and strategic partnership between the two countries have had a positive impact on the development of interregional ties. In particular, this is yielding results in attracting investments, opening new production facilities, and introducing advanced technologies.Last year, the volume of mutual trade turnover between the Kyzylorda region and the Republic of Korea reached 1.2 million US dollars, with growth indicators increasing.It is known that the Head of State has given instructions to open branches of leading foreign higher education institutions in the country. In accordance with this, the School of Artificial Intelligence of the South Korean SeoulTech University was opened on the basis of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University.To date, 225 students are studying at the country's first school of artificial intelligence. In the upcoming academic year, another 128 students will be admitted.In addition, negotiations are underway with Korean companies to increase raw material production.In particular, a number of proposals are being considered to establish the production of stained-glass windows and create a trade and logistics center.These projects are planned to be located in the "Korkyt Ata" special economic zone, which has high investment potential.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kyzylorda/press/news/details/1273077?lang=ru

As part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the city of Arkalyk, the 39th Summer Regional Spartakiad was held at a high organizational level. The traditional sports festival returned to Arkalyk after 20 years.Today, Arkalyk is receiving a new impetus for development and is being transformed. With the support of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, measures aimed at the socio-economic development of Arkalyk and the entire Torgay region are being systematically implemented.Sport is the key to the nation's health. Therefore, special attention is paid in the region to the development of mass sports and the modernization of sports infrastructure."Over the past three years, more than 30 sports facilities have been built in the region. Among them are 18 physical culture and health complexes, 8 sports halls, 2 stadiums, 6 indoor hockey rinks, an equestrian arena, and a swimming pool. Projects for 7 more sports facilities are currently being implemented. 47 sports grounds have been built in courtyards," noted the head of the region, Kumar Aksakalov.Last year, a wrestling hall, a boarding school for gifted children, and the "Kazakhstan" sports complex were put into operation in Arkalyk, and the "Zhiger" stadium was modernized. Currently, the construction of an indoor hockey rink and a physical culture and health complex is underway in the city.School and student leagues are regularly held in the region to develop mass sports. For many of our athletes, such district and regional competitions have become the first step on the path to great sporting achievements.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1271398?lang=ru

The 70th anniversary of the city of Arkalyk was celebrated at a high level. One of the significant events within the framework of the jubilee celebrations was the opening of the railway station after reconstruction.On the instructions of the Head of State, a large-scale modernization of 125 railway stations is being carried out in the country. In the Kostanay region, six railway stations are being reconstructed — in Kostanay, Arkalyk, Tobyl, Zhelezorudny, Amankaragay, and Kushmurun. The railway stations of Amankaragay, Kushmurun, and Rudny have already been opened earlier.«Today we have witnessed a very important and joyful event for the city of Arkalyk. On the day of the city's 70th anniversary, the renovated, modern railway station has opened its doors. This is not just an infrastructure project; it is a vivid testament to the development of Arkalyk and the implementation of the Head of State's policy on regional development!» — noted Akim of Kostanay region Kumar Aksakalov in his congratulatory speech.1.3 billion tenge was allocated for the renovation of the station. The building was constructed in 1972, with the last renovation carried out in 2015. This year, the architectural appearance of the building has been completely updated, and the engineering networks have been repaired. The waiting hall, ticket offices, and sanitary rooms are equipped in accordance with modern requirements. The station square has also been landscaped.The area of the railway station has increased from 1,772 to 2,400 square meters.Eight trains pass through the station, including four suburban trains in the directions of Astana, Kostanay, and Shubarkol.«For the 70th anniversary of our city, the passenger train „Nurly Zhol – Arkalyk“, consisting of new carriages and running every other day, has been launched. This is of great importance. The new route has significantly improved the transport accessibility of the region. This project was implemented primarily to provide the population with high-quality, comfortable, and safe services,» — noted Kumar Aksakalov.The station is capable of serving up to 428 passengers per day. A barrier-free environment has been created for people with disabilities, elderly citizens, and passengers with children.The renovated station will contribute to an increase in passenger traffic and business activity. In particular, the transport and logistics potential of the region is increasing. The Head of the region emphasized that without the development of transport links, it is impossible to ensure the growth of the country's economy.In order to give a new impetus to the economy of the Arkalyk region, two important highways are being renovated. The first is the «Zhezkazgan – Arkalyk» highway. The distance from Arkalyk to Zhezkazgan is 309 kilometers. On the section passing through the territory of the Kostanay region, 71 kilometers of the road have been repaired. This year, repair work on another 8 kilometers is nearing completion. Repair work on the road section in the territory of the Ulytau region will also be completed this year. The repair of the highway from Arkalyk to Esil in the territory of the Kostanay region has been fully completed. Thanks to this, the route will be shortened by 500 kilometers.The second is the new «Center – West» highway, the construction of which is being carried out on the instructions of the Head of State. It will pass through Arkalyk and Torgay.«In the near future, we will open the renovated airport. This project is of great importance both for the region and for local residents. As a result, Arkalyk will become an important transport and logistics hub connecting the north, center, west, and south of the country. The development of transport logistics will give a new impetus to the economy of Arkalyk, as well as boost entrepreneurship and domestic tourism,» — emphasized the Akim of the region. Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1271360?lang=ru

As a result of interaction between the Department of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology for the West Kazakhstan Region and the sanitary and epidemiological control authorities, a fact of so-called «grey» certification of food products was revealed.The basis for carrying out the relevant work was the materials received following the results of a control purchase of frozen meat-containing semi-finished products. The products were accompanied by a declaration of conformity of the EAEU, issued by a certification body of the Republic of Belarus.During the study of the conformity assessment materials, it was established that the declaration was adopted on the basis of a test report allegedly issued by an accredited testing laboratory in the city of Almaty.To verify the authenticity of the document, the Department sent an official request to the specified laboratory. According to the received response, the tests of this product were not conducted by the laboratory, and the corresponding test report was not drawn up or issued.Thus, the declaration of conformity was registered on the basis of unreliable evidentiary material, which did not actually confirm the testing of the products and their compliance with the mandatory requirements of the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union.Based on the results of the review of the materials, a decision was made to cancel the validity of the declaration of conformity on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The information was sent to the authorized body and state bodies exercising control and supervision in the field of technical regulation.For violation of the rules for conducting conformity confirmation and assessment procedures, the product manufacturer was brought to administrative responsibility.This case shows that the formal presence of a declaration in the register does not always mean the actual completion of the tests provided for by law. Verification of the authenticity of test reports and the traceability of evidentiary materials is one of the key tools for countering «grey» certification and protecting the market from products with unconfirmed safety.The Department will continue interdepartmental work to identify unreliable conformity assessment documents and suppress the practice of registering declarations without actually conducting the necessary tests.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1271202?lang=ru

Laboratories, certification bodies, and inspection organizations in Kazakhstan have begun to undergo part of their mandatory assessments remotely. The National Accreditation Center of the CTRM MTI RK has already conducted 32 remote assessments, confirming that the digital format allows maintaining a high level of objectivity, independence, and quality of procedures. The transition to remote assessment has become the next stage in the digitalization of the national accreditation system. The new mechanism reduces time and organizational costs for businesses, lowers the administrative burden, and contributes to more efficient use of public resources. At the same time, the key principles of accreditation remain unchanged, such as independence, competence, and reliability of results. As experts note, in 2026, remote assessment is being conducted in a pilot mode during the second scheduled assessments. As early as 2027, the National Accreditation Center plans to expand the practice and extend the remote format to all scheduled assessments. At the same time, conducting assessments in a remote format is not mandatory. This mechanism is applied only to accreditation entities that meet the established criteria and have the necessary technical capabilities for remote interaction. To implement the new format, the Center has developed a set of methodological documents, including the working instruction «Remote Assessment», recommendations for assessors, and a feedback questionnaire for accreditation entities. This will ensure a unified, transparent, and clear approach to conducting remote assessments, as well as improve the mechanism based on practical experience and feedback from process participants.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1270748?lang=ru

The Concept of Anti-Corruption Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022–2026 identifies as one of the priority areas the formation of an anti-corruption culture in society, principles of integrity, increasing legal literacy of citizens, as well as strengthening sustainable intolerance to any manifestations of corruption.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1270705?lang=ru

The Trade Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan has summarized the results of its work for the first half of 2026. During the meeting, the results of measures to stabilize prices for socially significant food products were reviewed, as well as the effectiveness of the work of territorial departments.Thanks to the systematic work carried out, the growth rate of prices for socially significant goods in the country has significantly decreased compared to the same period — by 4.6 percent.This was achieved by strengthening state control, expanding the list of goods under monitoring, as well as support measures for domestic producers.A total of 3,907 administrative cases were registered, of which 2,391 are related to exceeding the permissible trade markup. As a result of the work of regional commissions, 2,322 violations were identified, and 164 inefficient intermediaries were eliminated from supply chains.In addition, as part of control measures, more than 46.5 thousand illegally imported eggs were seized, digital food vouchers were introduced, as well as price monitoring for 31 commodity items. 132 agricultural fairs were organized weekly. The modernization of 25 trade markets and the strengthening of executive discipline for the timely provision of information are under special control.At the same time, following the results of June, a decrease in the effectiveness of price control work was noted in certain regions.The work of Atyrau and North Kazakhstan regions in the field of state control was criticized. In particular, in the Atyrau region, only 12 violations were identified in the first half of the year, which indicates insufficient effectiveness of control activities. In addition, since the beginning of the year, not a single inefficient intermediary has been eliminated from the market in Abai, Aktobe, Karaganda, Zhambyl, Turkestan regions and the city of Astana.«We do not need meetings held for the sake of reporting. We need a concrete result — identifying violations, eliminating inefficient intermediaries from the market, and preventing unjustified price increases remain our main tasks», — emphasized Yernur Zhautykov, Chairman of the Trade Committee, outlining strict requirements for the quality of control work.Following the results of the board meeting, it was instructed to complete the modernization of trade markets by the end of 2026. The main priorities for the second half of the year are maintaining price stability, developing small "near-home" fairs, as well as implementing the digital food voucher project.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1270158?lang=ru

According to the National Product Catalog, as of August 2026, over 29 million product items are registered in the registry. The largest share of registered product cards belongs to clothing and everyday goods.An analysis of the distribution by OKTRU categories in the National Product Catalog shows a clear leadership of two industries. Clothing and everyday goods rank first by a wide margin – over 8 million registered cards in this category, which accounts for a significant portion of the entire catalog. In second place are vehicles and transport equipment – over 2 million products, followed by equipment and materials for engineering systems – over 1 million cards.The top 10 also includes construction products, furniture and interior items, food and beverages, building materials, jewelry, machinery and equipment, as well as printed products.This distribution reflects the structure of the Kazakhstani consumer goods market and confirms the demand for the NPC primarily among manufacturers and importers of mass-market goods – segments with the most dynamic turnover and a high need for product traceability.The National Product Catalog (NPC) is a centralized state database containing information on all goods produced and imported in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The mandatory use of the NPC as a unified state product reference book is enshrined in the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 215-VIII dated July 18, 2025.Each product in the catalog is assigned a unique identification code NTIN – a 13-digit number used at all stages of the product life cycle: during production, import, storage, sale, issuance of electronic invoices, and in the operation of cash registers. The code is issued free of charge and is valid indefinitely.As of July 1, 2026, the transitional period for implementing NPC requirements for the last category of market participants – small and micro-business entities, including convenience stores – has ended. As of today, all categories of trading participants – from large importers and manufacturers to small retail outlets – are required to use it as a unified product reference book.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1270147?lang=ru

A three-day agricultural festival "Kostanay Dala" was organized at a high level in our region. In the future, this event will become annual and turn into the country's main agricultural exhibition. Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aidarbek Saparov visited the region specifically to participate in the festival.Akim of Kostanay region Kumar Aksakalov noted that the region's farmers are successfully fulfilling the tasks set by the Head of State. This year, 275 billion tenge has been allocated for the development of the region's agro-industrial complex, which is 33% more compared to last year. Over the past five years, the volume of financing for the sector has increased by 3.6 times.Under the preferential leasing program, agricultural producers purchased 1,034 units of agricultural machinery last year. This year, 799 units of new machinery have already been purchased. At the same time, 90% of the purchased machinery is produced in Kazakhstan.At the end of last year, the best result in the last ten years was achieved: the yield amounted to 16.7 centners per hectare, and the total volume of harvested grain reached 6.7 million tons. This year, 140.4 billion tenge in preferential loans has been allocated for the sowing campaign."Our region is the country's leader in food production and export of processed agricultural products. Last year, out of 8.1 million tons of processed agricultural products exported by Kazakhstan, 27.2% came from Kostanay region. This year, the export of all agricultural products from the region amounted to 525.3 million US dollars, which is 59% higher than the same period last year," noted Akim of the region Kumar Aksakalov.In the development of the region's agro-industrial complex, priority is given to investment projects in the processing sector. In recent years, major projects have been implemented for processing legumes, producing dry mare's milk, and a flour milling complex and a cheese production plant have been put into operation. In August, the "Confectionery Capital" project will start operating. A pasta production project will also be launched, and the construction of an oil extraction plant and a complex for processing grain and oilseeds continues.Of particular importance for the region's economy will be the implementation of two more major projects — deep grain processing and sustainable aviation fuel production.The comprehensive livestock development plan, implemented under the "Igilik", "Bereke", and "Zhailau" programs, contributes to the increase in livestock numbers in the region. A pool of 21 investment projects with a total cost of 20 billion tenge has been formed, providing for the purchase of 14.2 thousand heads of imported pedigree cattle.In dairy farming, seven dairy farms have been put into operation over the past two years. The construction of six more such facilities is currently underway. This year, the implementation of three more new projects will begin.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1268938?lang=ru