As of November 25, 2024, 12,835 citizens have been assigned a special social payment (hereinafter referred to as CER) for persons who have worked in harmful working conditions for a long time. A total of 13,673 people applied for an appointment.3,151 people applied for the appointment of a special social payment from 2 sources (the republican budget and the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund), of which 3,037 recipients were appointed.10,522 people applied for appointments from 4 sources (the republican budget, the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund, the employer and the life insurance company), of which 9,798 recipients were appointed.In addition, 351 citizens are awaiting the conclusion of a pre-retirement annuity agreement with an insurance company, and another 119 citizens did not respond to an SMS message. 368 applicants for the CER were denied its appointment due to non-compliance with the mandatory conditions.By region, the largest number of applicants for the appointment of special social payments were registered in Karaganda (2 sources – 538 people, 4 sources – 1,835 people), Kostanay (2 sources – 340 people, 4 sources – 1,151 people) and East Kazakhstan (2 sources - 283 people, 4 sources – 1,173 people) areas.As previously reported, since January 1, 2024, Kazakhstan has introduced a special social payment for people who have worked in harmful working conditions for a long time.Mandatory conditions for the appointment of CERS are the achievement of 55 years of age and the availability of occupational pension contributions to the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (hereinafter – UAPF) for at least 7 years. The payment is made before retirement age. To receive a special social payment, you need to leave work with harmful working conditions. Employees can transfer to light work, then they will receive a salary and payment, or go on vacation and receive a special social payment before retirement.Taking into account the mandatory conditions for the appointment of CERS, according to the UAPF, more than 37 thousand employees can apply for it in 2024, the average amount of payment in general is more than 208 thousand tenge. The amount of payment for each employee depends on the savings in the UAPF.According to the Social Code, employers list mandatory occupational pension contributions for employees whose professions and activities are included in the List of industries, jobs, professions of employees engaged in jobs with harmful working conditions, numbering more than 2.3 thousand positions. Thus, the special social payment is due to Kazakhstanis working in 17 sectors of the economy, including mining and manufacturing industries and others.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/890915

Astana, November 25, 2024 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vasilenko received the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia Terhi Hakala, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a visit on the occasion of the completion of her mission.The sides noted with satisfaction the progress made in strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation, emphasizing the importance of the meetings of the leaders of the Central Asian countries and the European Union in Astana and Cholpon-Ata, which gave a powerful impetus to multilateral cooperation. Special mention was made of the large-scale joint action plan between the Central Asian countries and the European Union, adopted at the meeting of Central Asian-EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg in 2023.R. Vasilenko welcomed the launch of the Coordination Platform for the Development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and outlined the need to take joint practical steps, including issues of modernization and digitalization of the ports of the Caspian Sea.The Deputy Minister also drew the attention of the EU Special Representative to the importance for both sides of the early start of negotiations between Astana and Brussels on an Agreement on simplification of the EU visa regime for citizens of Kazakhstan.For her part, T. Hakala assured of the EU's commitment to deepening long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan, including in the field of combating climate change, water issues, science and education, as well as regional interconnectedness.At the end of the meeting, R. Vasilenko presented T. Hakala with a letter of thanks from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with the badge "Barys" for an important contribution to strengthening friendly relations between Astana and Brussels.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/890798

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan has developed amendments to the "List of persons who do not require permission from local executive bodies to attract foreign labor for employment." The document is posted on the Open NPAs portal for public discussion until December 10, 2024.The amendments are aimed at clarifying the category of persons, including foreign investors, who create legal entities with a one hundred percent share of foreign participation. According to the changes, the first head and his deputy of such legal entities will be able to carry out work activities without obtaining permits from local executive bodies.The text of the draft and the proposed changes can be found on the Open NPAs portal at the link: https://legalacts.egov.kz/npa/view?id=15310429 .Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/890466

Astana, November 26, 2024 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev received the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa Keitumetsi Matthews on the occasion of the completion of her diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan.During the conversation, Bakayev expressed gratitude to Matthews for her efforts to strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.In particular, Deputy Minister Bakayev underscored the contribution of the African diplomat to the development of political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Astana and Pretoria.At the end of the meeting, the Ambassador of South Africa was presented with a letter of gratitude on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu. Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/890402

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/almobl/press/news/details/890141

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/almobl/press/news/details/890045

As of November 1, 2024, 13,246 foreign citizens are working on the territory of Kazakhstan with the permission of local executive bodies.Among the permits for attracting foreign labor (hereinafter – IRS) there are the following categories: 543 permits for managers and their deputies (the first category), 2,514 permits for heads of structural divisions (the second category). The main part of the attracted IRS belongs to the third (specialists) and fourth (skilled workers) The categories are 4,859 and 917 people, respectively. 1,120 people were also involved in seasonal work, and 3,293 people were involved in corporate transfer.At the moment, there are 1,789 employers using IRS in Kazakhstan. They employ more than 389.8 thousand citizens of Kazakhstan, which is 96.8% of the total number of employees.By type of economic activity, the largest number work in the following areas: construction – 5,155 people, manufacturing industry – 1,387 people, administrative and auxiliary services – 1,363 people, mining and quarrying – 1,359 people, agriculture, forestry and fisheries – 1,168 people.The main countries of origin of migrant workers are: China – 4,664 people, Uzbekistan – 1,230 people, Turkey – 1,150 people, India – 1,108 people.Recall that in order to protect the domestic labor market, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan annually establishes and distributes a quota for attracting foreign specialists to the Republic. In 2024, the total quota is set at 0.23% in relation to the number of workers in the republic, or 17.2 thousand units.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/890105

Astana, November 22, 2024 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev received the President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev.During the meeting, the parties discussed the current activities of the organization, the events planned for 2025, and exchanged views on priority areas of cooperation.In addition, the Kazakh side noted the importance of the Academy's work on the adoption of the unified alphabet of the Turkic world, which was approved on September 11 this year in Baku by the relevant commission.A.Bakayev noted that the work of the Academy should be aimed at deepening cooperation between the Turkic states in the field of science, education and culture, contributing to the strengthening of the common cultural and historical heritage, as well as its recognition throughout the region.The Turkic Academy was established on May 25, 2010 on the initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The agreement on the establishment of the Academy was signed on August 23, 2012 in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) during the II Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States. The members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. The observer countries are Hungary and Uzbekistan.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/889829

In 2024, 16,535 ethnic Kazakhs returned to their historical homeland and received the status of Kandas. A total of 1 million 144.9 thousand ethnic Kazakhs have returned to the republic since 1991.45.9% of the Kandas who have arrived in Kazakhstan since the beginning of this year are from China, 39.2% from Uzbekistan, 5.8% from Mongolia, 5.2% from Turkmenistan, 2.8% from Russia and 1.1% from other countries.As of November 1, 2024, the number of ethnic migrants of working age is 57.4%, underage citizens – 33.2% and pensioners – 9.4%.Of the working-age Candace, 17.8% have higher education, 24.8% have specialized secondary education, 54.4% have general secondary education and 3% have no education.The ethnic Kazakhs who arrived settled in various regions of the republic.At the same time, the following labor-deficient regions have been identified for the settlement of Kandases: Akmola, Abai, Kostanay, Pavlodar, East and North Kazakhstan regions.The quota for admission of Candace in the regions of settlement for 2024 is 3,033 people. As of November 1, 2024, 2,841 Candace have been resettled in the resettlement regions.Kandas settling in the above–mentioned regions are provided with state support measures in the form of a subsidy for relocation – at a time in the amount of 70 MCI (258.4 thousand tenge) per head and each family member; for housing and utilities - monthly for one year in the amount of 15 to 30 MCI (from 55.3 to 110.7 thousand tenge). tg).Since the beginning of the year, various support measures have been provided to 2,390 Kandas. In particular, 763 people were employed permanently.At the same time, in order to increase the effectiveness of voluntary resettlement, institutional measures have been taken to support employers involved in the resettlement of citizens to the northern regions. A certificate of economic mobility has been introduced for the purchase, construction of housing or to cover part of the down payment on mortgage housing loans at a time on a gratuitous and irrevocable basis in the amount of 50% of the cost of housing or up to 4.28 million tenge per family.Recall that last year, a mechanism for assigning the status of candace on the principle of "one window" through the embassies of Kazakhstan was implemented in a pilot mode. Within the framework of the pilot, it is possible to resolve the issue of visiting our country, place of work, housing opportunities and obtain the status of a candace without entering the territory of the republic. To date, 21,166 applications from ethnic Kazakhs have been accepted in the new format.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/889235

Zagreb, November 22, 2024 – Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu within the framework of an official visit to the Republic of Croatia held a meeting with the heads of leading Croatian companies representing various sectors of the economy.In particular, the event was attended by representatives of the following companies: INA – one of the largest oil companies in the Balkan region; JANAF – operator of the Jadranski naftovod oil pipeline system; the port of Rijeka, providing transshipment of various types of cargo; JGL – Jadran-Galenski Laboratory, which is a manufacturer of a wide range of medicines. At the same time, the meeting was attended by representatives of companies belonging to the Croatian Chamber of Economy, which are involved in tourism, trade and consulting services.The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the prospects of bilateral business partnership and to define new directions of its development taking into account the current geopolitical and geo-economic realities.The Kazakh Foreign Minister presented to the interlocutors information about the main political and socio-economic reforms carried out in Kazakhstan. It was noted that systemic transformations in our country, as well as large-scale investments in the development of infrastructure, transport and logistics, and high level of digitalization provide favorable conditions for doing business in Kazakhstan.Minister Nurtleu invited Croatian companies to establish and develop cooperation with Kazakh partners and expand business ties. It was emphasized that the foundation for the expansion of business ties is the positive dynamics of the political dialogue held at all levels between the two countries.Taking into account the favorable geostrategic location of Kazakhstan and Croatia, the development of trade, economic and investment partnership contributes to the desire of both sides to strengthen their positions as key transport and transit hubs between Europe and Asia.The participants of the meeting agreed that there is a significant potential for mutually beneficial joint projects in such areas as energy, transportation and logistics, agro-industrial complex, IT-technology, education, tourism.In this regard, Croatian companies were invited to take advantage of bilateral mechanisms to identify promising projects – the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and the Kazakhstan-Croatia Business Council, the next meetings of which are scheduled in Astana in 2025.Following the meeting, it was agreed to maintain feedback between the governments and business circles of both countries in order to develop bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/889104

Zagreb, 22 November 2024 – Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu on the second day of his official visit to Croatia was received by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković.In continuation of the bilateral talks between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Head of the Croatian Government held on the margins of the COP29 in Baku in November this year, the parties discussed further steps aimed at strengthening political dialog and expanding business ties between the two countries.In particular, the Kazakh Minister familiarized the interlocutor with the institutional political and socio-economic reforms in Kazakhstan, initiated by the Head of State. It was emphasized that the measures being implemented contribute to the creation of an environment conducive to opening and doing business in our country.Minister Nurtleu invited Croatian companies to establish and develop trade and investment partnership with Kazakhstan, noting such promising areas as energy, transportation and logistics, agriculture, information technology, education, and tourism.In this context, the parties expressed a common view that the work of the Kazakh-Croatian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and the Kazakhstan-Croatia Business Council, the next meetings of which are scheduled to be held in Astana in 2025, should contribute to building business ties.In turn, Prime Minister Plenković confirmed the mutual desire to strengthen political dialog and mutually beneficial partnership between Astana and Zagreb, based on trust and mutual support.Following the meeting, the sides reached an agreement to continue constructive interaction between the two countries, including by organizing and holding high-level visits.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/889037

Today, celebrations dedicated to the Day of Agricultural, Food and Processing Industry Workers were held in the Kostanay region. On this day, the best farmers were honored, those who make an invaluable contribution to the development of the agro-industrial complex of the region and the country as a whole.In his congratulatory speech, Akim of the Kostanay region Kumar Aksakalov noted the significance of this holiday for the region, emphasizing the importance of agricultural workers to ensure food security in Kazakhstan.“We live in an agricultural region, and the success of our region directly depends on the work of people working on the land. Thanks to your selfless work, we have collected a record harvest, and our region continues to develop and introduce innovations in agriculture,” Aksakalov said.At the event, state awards of the Republic of Kazakhstan were presented to those who have achieved high results in their professional activities:The Order of "Parasat" was awarded to:•Turemurat Utepov, Director of TOO "PKF Kairat" (Kamystinsky district)•Kairat Maishev, General Director of TOO "Zhas Kanat 2006" (Rudny)•The Order of "Kurmet" was received by:•Ruslan Kabayev, Director of TOO "Togas i K" (Karabalyk district)•Nikolay Pospelov, Head of the peasant farm "Asar 1" (Arkalyk)•The Order of "Yenbek danky" of the 3rd degree was awarded to Tulegen Suleimenov, agronomist of TOO "Zhanabek" (Altynsary district)•The medal "Eren enbegi ushin" was awarded to Elizaveta Ryazantseva, Acting Head of the Kamystinsky District Branch of the Republican Methodological Center for Phytosanitary Diagnostics and Forecasts of the KGI in the AIC of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.Departmental awards of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan were also presented. Among the awardees:•Medal "Enbek ardageri": Kali Balguraev (Amangeldy district), Ivan Shpis (Denisovsky district), Abay Umerbaev (Kamystinsky district) and others.•The badge "Auyl sharuashylygy salasynyn uzdigy" was presented to Larisa Storozhenko, Director of TOO "Aidala" (Altynsary district), Berik Seitmuratov, Chief Agronomist of TOO "Saryagash" (Denisovsky district) and others.•The “Kurmet Gramotasy” of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan was awarded to a group of the best workers in the industry, including agronomists, heads of farms and machine operators.These awards are recognition of the high professionalism and dedication of all those who work in agriculture and processing enterprises of the Kostanay region.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/888937

Astana, November 22, 2024 – A solemn ceremony of a commemorative postage stamp block cancellation dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the ratification by the Republic of Kazakhstan of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and World Children’s Day was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.The CRC was one of the first international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan in the early days of its independence. Thus, the country has voluntarily undertaken global commitments to ensure equal rights for every child. The Convention has become a fundamental document for building a child-friendly society and has laid the foundation for Kazakhstan’s long-term cooperation with UNICEF.The ceremony was attended by Talgat Temenov, Director of Multilateral Cooperation Department of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Kazakhstan, and Talgat Gazizov, Managing Director – Member of the Board of Kazpost JSC. The event also welcomed heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations.Temenov, in his speech, highlighted the exceptional importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child not only for Kazakhstan, but for the global community as a whole. He emphasized that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his State of the Nation Address of September 2, 2024, noted that improving the well-being of children “is a key priority of Kazakhstan’s state policy.” The Kazakh diplomat also expressed gratitude to all partners who contribute to the implementation of children’s rights at the national level and conveyed hope for further effective cooperation.The representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund in Kazakhstan stressed that over the past 30 years Kazakhstan and UNICEF have been working together fruitfully to enhance the welfare of children. This includes significant progress in areas such as health, education and child protection. “However, this anniversary is not only an opportunity to reflect on past achievements, but also to identify new challenges and priorities. It is crucial to continue developing sustainable solutions to support every child, ensuring access to quality services and protection of rights in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals,” added the representative of UNICEF in Kazakhstan.In turn, Gazizov noted that “Kazpost is proud to support the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNICEF. The commemorative postal block draws attention to important social issues and symbolizes our common goal – to create equal opportunities for children across Kazakhstan.”For reference: The Convention on the Rights of the Child serves as the basis for cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Children’s Fund. On November 25, 1994, the Basic Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and UNICEF was signed. Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/888953

The board meeting was held at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, chaired by the head of the department Svetlana Zhakupova, at which the results of work for 10 months of 2024 and plans for 2025 were discussed.The meeting was attended by vice ministers, Chief of Staff, chairmen of committees, directors of departments, deputy mayors, heads of subordinate organizations of the Ministry of Health, departments for the coordination of employment and social programs, as well as labor mobility centers from all regions of the country.On the agenda were issues of adoption and further implementation of the Concept of Inclusive Policy for 2025-2030, licensing of organizations providing special social services (hereinafter - SSS), provision of measures to promote employment and transformation of the targeted social assistance system (hereinafter – TSA).In his speech, Vice Minister Askarbek Yertayev said that from January 1, 2025, licensing of the activities of organizations providing SSU will be introduced. A draft methodology for the formation of tariffs for these services has been developed.A draft Concept of Inclusive Policy for 2025-2030 has also been developed, which is under consideration by the Government Staff."The conceptual innovation of the draft Concept is the creation of conditions for the transition from a medico-social to a socio-human rights model of disability. New approaches to the implementation of an inclusive policy provide for the adoption of a set of effective measures aimed at creating conditions for the full-fledged social integration of people with special needs into society. The draft Concept provides for 13 directions and contains about 56 events," Yertayev said.Vice Minister Askar Biakhmetov informed that more than 804 thousand people were employed within the framework of regional employment maps, of which 260 thousand were employed within the framework of the initiative of the Head of State "100 new jobs per 10 thousand population". He stressed that the Ministry conducts weekly monitoring of employment through information systems, analyzing data on pension contributions and electronic employment contracts.In addition, within the framework of the Year of Working Professions, measures are planned to protect the rights of workers, improve the system of training workers, attract employers to train specialists, as well as increase the prestige of working professions.Vice Minister Olzhas Anafin spoke about plans to improve mechanisms for providing targeted social assistance. "The head of state has set the task to review the approaches to providing TSA, taking into account the expenses of citizens. In this regard, it is necessary to transform the TSA, using a Digital family card and integration with the systems of state and non-governmental organizations. The upcoming changes in the mechanism for the appointment of TSA will make it possible to identify really needy citizens and provide them with targeted support from the state," Olzhas Anafin said.Acting Chairman of the State Labor Inspection Committee Murat Muratbekov reported that over 4.5 thousand inspections were carried out in 10 months, more than 7 thousand violations were revealed. 2,723 prescriptions were issued to employers, 3,207 administrative fines in the amount of 339 million tenge were imposed. Wage arrears in the amount of 4.3 billion tenge were revealed at 268 enterprises of the republic. Thanks to the measures taken, 3.2 billion tenge was paid, the rights of 16.6 thousand employees were protected.Concluding the meeting, the participants discussed the key tasks that need to be solved by the end of this year, as well as planned activities for 2025. Priorities were highlighted in improving the effectiveness of social support measures, digitalizing services and promoting employment.Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Svetlana Zhakupova stressed the importance of high-quality execution of tasks and focused on the need to ensure transparent monitoring of their implementation. She also gave a number of specific instructions aimed at strengthening social protection of citizens, strengthening control over labor rights and improving support mechanisms for vulnerable segments of the population.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/888715

Today, the next meeting of the Akimat of the Kostanay region was held, where the most important issues of the socio-economic development of the region were considered. In his speech, the Akim of the region Kumar Aksakalov touched upon a number of topical issues, including support for farmers, industrial development, fire safety and stability during the heating season.Support for farmers and development of agricultureThe Akim of the region noted the importance of the agro-industrial complex as one of the main drivers of economic growth in the region. This year, funding for agriculture has been increased threefold, and next year an additional increase of 2.6 times is planned. One of the main tasks remains the processing of agricultural products, with the aim of increasing the share of processed goods in the agro-industrial complex to 70%."In order for agriculture to become more profitable and sustainable, it is necessary to develop processing and produce final products. This will increase added value and create new jobs," said Kumar Aksakalov.In the coming years, the region plans to implement more than 30 major projects, including the construction of dairy farms, meat complexes and wheat processing plants. One of the largest projects is a plant for the production of gluten, starch and bioethanol.Industrial development and increase in production volumesThe second question of the meeting concerned the state of the region's industry. As the head of the region emphasized, positive dynamics are observed in most economic indicators in the Kostanay region. However, in some industries, such as the production of passenger cars, a slight decline was recorded. It is important to compensate for these losses by increasing production in other sectors, for example, in metallurgy and agricultural machinery.In particular, the production of tractors and rolled steel will be increased, and new projects for the production of car bodies and cast iron will be launched.Fire safety during the heating seasonDamir Maksutuly Ermagambetov, head of the emergency department, spoke about the problems associated with the increased risk of fires during the heating season. This year, the region has already seen several tragic incidents related to violations of the rules for operating heating systems. "This year, the region has seen several tragedies where children died as a result of faulty heating equipment," he noted.The regional akim emphasized the need for strict control over the condition of heating systems and preventive measures, including regular inspections of stoves and chimneys. The responsibility of citizens themselves is also important in this matter, as they must promptly report any faults in the heating system.At the next meeting of the akimat, much attention was paid to the development of agriculture and industry, as well as ensuring safety during the heating season. Kumar Aksakalov emphasized that the joint efforts of government agencies and businesses will help achieve significant results in the economic and social development of the region.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/887156

Astana, November 21, 2024 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko received Ambassador of North Macedonia Sali Limani on the occasion of completion of his diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan.The Kazakh diplomat presented Sali Limani with the Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, emphasizing North Macedonian Ambassador’s productive efforts in promoting bilateral political, trade and economic ties during his mission in Kazakhstan. He also underlined participation of the delegation of North Macedonia in the World Nomad Games in Astana and successful entry of the well-established pharmaceutical Alkaloid company, backed by 88 years of work, into the Kazakh market.The parties noted that the recent meeting between the heads of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova within the framework of the COP29 in Baku and the invitation to the North Macedonian leader to visit Kazakhstan next year provided a significant momentum to bilateral cooperation. The diplomats expressed confidence that the opening of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in North Macedonia this year will further deepen relations.At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Minister Vassilenko extended his best wishes for Ambassador Limani’s future endeavours.In his turn, having completed four years of productive work in Astana, the Ambassador of North Macedonia conveyed gratitude to the Kazakh side for the warm reception and expressed hope for the continued fruitful partnership between the two countries.For reference: during January-September 2024, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and North Macedonia reached 5.7 million US dollars (exports – $204,000, imports – $5.5 million). The main imported goods are medical products, packaged for retail sale.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/888092

Islamabad, 19-20 November 2024 – During the visit to Islamabad Alibek Bakayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, attended the third round of bilateral political consultations with Ahmed Naseem Warraich, Additional Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.At the consultations, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of the bilateral agenda, stressing the positive dynamics in the development of cooperation across various sectors, particularly in trade, economy, transportation, and logistics. Importance of further strengthening political dialogue, developing inter-parliamentary ties and fostering cooperation in the area of security were emphasized. Special attention given to collaboration in education, culture, tourism, and sports fields.The parties also exchanged views on current international issues and regional developments, highlighting the importance of further strengthening cooperation within multilateral organizations.In addition, Deputy Minister Bakayev met with several key federal officials in Pakistan. In particular, he held meetings with the Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Minister of National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain; First Deputy Minister – Federal Secretary for Economic Affairs, Kazim Niaz; and First Deputy Minister – Federal Secretary of Commerce, Jawad Paul Khawaja.At the meetings, the parties discussed cooperation in agriculture, strategies for boosting bilateral trade and content for the 13th session of the Kazakhstan-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission. Importance of further development of the legal and regulatory framework to create favorable conditions for collaboration between Kazakh and Pakistani entrepreneurs was also stressed.Furthermore, Bakayev participated at the roundtable titled “Business and Investment Opportunities in Kazakhstan in the context of Trade and Economic Cooperation with Pakistan,” which was attended by the prominent business representatives and leadership of chambers of commerce and industry of Pakistan’s major cities.In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Bakayev presented Kazakhstan’s investment climate and business opportunities, encouraging Pakistani companies to actively engage and develop partnerships with Kazakh business communities.Managing Director of Kazakh Invest National Company Azamat Kozhanov delivered presentation on specific sectors of the Kazakhstan’s economy that interest Pakistani entrepreneurs.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/888135

Zagreb, 21 November 2024 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, arrived on an official visit to the Republic of Croatia at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlić-Radman.This visit marks the first-ever official visit by a Kazakh Foreign Minister to Zagreb, setting a new milestone in the history of bilateral relations and will give a new impetus to the development of Kazakh-Croatian cooperation.During the visit, the two sides discussed a broad range of bilateral issues, including political dialogue, strengthening trade, economic and investment collaboration, and enhancing cultural and humanitarian ties. It was emphasized that Kazakhstan and Croatia have substantial potential to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as energy, transport (including civil aviation), agriculture, digitalization and innovation, education, and tourism.The Kazakh Foreign Minister highlighted Croatia's role as a long-standing and close partner of Kazakhstan in the Balkans and the European Union. "We highly value our meaningful political dialogue at all levels, founded on friendship and mutual trust. Economic cooperation is one of the key areas of Kazakh-Croatian relations," said Nurtleu.Croatia is Kazakhstan's third-largest trading partner in Southeast Europe. By the end of 2023, mutual trade turnover reached 432 million USD. In this regard, the two sides agreed to enhance the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, with its second meeting scheduled for 2025 in Astana.The Croatian Foreign Minister expressed Zagreb's interest in fostering progressive relations with Astana and reaffirmed Croatia’s readiness to promote mutually beneficial partnerships across all areas of shared interest.The two sides also exchanged views on topical issues on the international agenda and discussed cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the UN, OSCE, and others. Particular attention was paid to aspects of partnership in Central Asia and the Balkans, as well as to matters of ensuring global and regional stability.Following the meeting, two key documents were signed: Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia for 2025-2027, and a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Institute of Diplomacy, Academy of Public Administration of Kazakhstan and the Croatian Diplomatic Academy.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/888189

Since the beginning of the year, about 508.3 billion tenge has been allocated from the republican budget for the payment of state social benefits (hereinafter referred to as GSP) for disability and loss of breadwinner. In addition, social payments for disability and loss of breadwinner in the amount of about 66.5 billion tenge were made from the State Social Insurance Fund (hereinafter referred to as the GFSS).As of November 1, 2024, the number of recipients of GSP for disability is about 542.2 thousand people, in case of loss of breadwinner – about 177.9 thousand people.The amount of state social benefits for disability depends on the group and cause of disability, as well as on the amount of the subsistence minimum established by the law "On the Republican Budget" for the corresponding financial year.The amount of state social benefits in case of loss of a breadwinner depends on the number of dependents of the deceased (deceased) breadwinner, the cause of death and the amount of the subsistence minimum.In addition, participants in the compulsory social insurance system receive social payments from the State Social Insurance Fund in the event of social risks. So, as of November 1, 2024, 99.9 thousand people received social benefits for disability, and about 66.3 thousand families received social benefits for loss of breadwinner. The amounts of payments are individual and depend on: the average monthly income from which social contributions were made to the State Social Insurance Fund over the past 2 years, disability rates, the number of dependents, length of service in the compulsory social insurance system and income replacement. These payments are made in addition to similar benefits paid from the republican budget.Since January 1, 2024, the amount of state social benefits for disability and loss of breadwinner has been increased by 7% due to an increase in the subsistence level. According to the decision of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the amount of payments from the State Pension Fund for disability and loss of breadwinner was also increased by 7%.So, this year, the size of the GSP for disability from a common disease is 95,496 tenge for 1 group, 76,397 tenge for 2 groups, 52,089 tenge for 3 groups.As of November 1, 2024, the average amount of social benefits for disability is 59,256 tenge, for loss of breadwinner – 63,743 tenge.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/887374

The First Vice-Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Akmadi Sarbasov, took part in a number of sessions of the UN Climate Change Conference held in Azerbaijan. The event discussed issues of inclusivity and gender equality in the context of climate change, as well as measures taken by governments, trade unions and employers to protect the environment.In his speeches and dialogues, Akmadi Sarbasov stressed that climate change is not only an environmental, but also a social problem that requires a systematic approach."Climate change is a social challenge that affects everyone and requires a comprehensive approach. Environmental sustainability is inextricably linked to the sustainable development of the economy and society, which means it requires the participation and efforts of all segments of the population," he said.The First Vice Minister spoke in detail about the comprehensive measures that are being implemented in Kazakhstan, including the Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality until 2060, the provisions of the Environmental and Social Codes, the Concept of Investment Policy and programs to ensure safe work.A. Sarbasov paid special attention to the issues of gender equality."Women face increased risks of job losses, as sustainable energy and construction related to the environmental transition are predominantly focused on male professions. Our climate measures must take into account the principles of inclusivity and gender equality, so as not to exacerbate existing inequalities, but, on the contrary, create conditions for equal participation of women and other vulnerable groups in the environmental transition," he stressed.The First Vice Minister also noted the importance of creating a social protection system capable of preventing poverty and social exclusion for those who may lose their jobs or income due to environmental transformations. Social protection programs should provide opportunities for retraining and adaptation, helping people integrate into the new economy. They must support the transition of workers to new jobs and ensure their safety.As an example, A. Sarbasov cited an effective operating tool – the "Electronic Labor Exchange" (hereinafter – EBT), which is a single digital employment platform with the possibility of job search and recruitment.At the end of his speech, the First Vice Minister discussed the importance of improving occupational safety and health, creating high-quality jobs and strengthening social dialogue between all participants in the process.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/887787