The Departments of State Revenue for the city of Almaty and the Almaty region held a working meeting with the delegation of Xiyan Customs (PRC). The purpose of the event is to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of customs administration and discuss topical issues of cross—border trade.During the talks, the parties discussed ways to improve the efficiency of customs procedures, issues of expedited cargo clearance, as well as measures to enhance border security. Representatives of both sides shared their best practices and best practices in these areas.The meeting culminated with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation, which reinforces the parties' desire to develop partnership, simplify customs procedures and create favorable conditions for international trade.The parties expressed confidence that the agreements reached would serve as a basis for deepening cooperation and improving the efficiency of work in the field of customs administration.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-almaty/press/news/details/973124?lang=kk

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mod/press/news/details/973116?lang=kk

Berlin, April 9, 2025 – The 21st meeting of the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Ethnic Germans in the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed the issues of supporting ethnic Germans, strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany.Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities, Member of the Bundestag Natalie Pawlik co-chaired the annual session in the German capital.The agenda of the IGC covered issues of cooperation in education, culture, science, youth policies, the studying of German language, archival work, facilitating business contacts and liberalization of the visa regime, focusing on implementation of the joint projects to support the national identity of Germans in Kazakhstan.The participants welcomed the opening of the Centre for German Language and Culture at the Eurasian National University and the branch of the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences at the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications in 2024, noting also the important contribution of the Kazakh-German Center in Astana, the Kazakh-German University in Almaty, the Kazakh-German Institute of Sustainable Engineering in Aktau, the National Academic German Drama Theatre and other institutions in strengthening the bilateral interaction.“Just as the Kazakh land has traditionally connected the West and the East, so the ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan and former citizens of our country in Germany have today created a “living bridge” between Kazakhstan and Germany and are key to perspective development of Kazakh-German relations,” said Vassilenko.He noted that ensuring favourable conditions for coexistence of various people in a common socio-cultural space remains one of the key objectives of the Government of Kazakhstan. The Deputy Foreign Minister also highlighted the important role of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, in supporting and developing national cultures.In turn, Natalie Pawlik confirmed the German Government’s plans to continue providing assistance to ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan. “I would like to highlight the dynamic development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany, including support for ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan that play an important role in further deepening bilateral relations”, noted the Member of the Bundestag.The parties agreed on the implementation of further measures to ensure comprehensive support to ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan that were stipulated in the Communique signed at the end of the meeting.During his visit to Berlin, Deputy minister Vassilenko also held meetings with Member of the German Bundestag Stefan Rouenhoff and the Director for Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Konrad Arz von Straussenburg. The parties discussed the current state and prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation, as well as exchanged views on global and regional affairs.The Intergovernmental Commission on Ethnic Germans in the Republic of Kazakhstan was established in accordance with the Agreement on Cooperation in the Support for Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan of German Nationality between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany signed in Almaty on May 31, 1996.According to statistics, there are 226,000 ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan and around one million German resettlers from Kazakhstan in Germany.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/973088?lang=kk

Astana, April 8, 2025 — The visit of Mr. Jan-Kees Goet, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kingdom of the Netherlands started in Astana. During the visit he is accompanied by a delegation that includes representatives of leading agribusiness companies and educational institutions specializing in training for the agro-industrial sector.On the first day of the visit, the Dutch delegation participated in the official opening of the international agricultural exhibitions Astana Flora Expo 2025 and Astana Grow Expo 2025, which showcased cutting-edge solutions in greenhouse technologies, sustainable farming, and automation. Negotiations were also held with representatives of Kazakh agribusiness and government bodies. One of the key events was the meeting of the Kazakhstan–Netherlands Working Group on Agriculture.Jan-Kees Goet noted that Kazakhstan and the Netherlands have complementary strengths: Kazakhstan offers vast land resources and a drive to modernize its agro-sector, while the Netherlands contributes advanced technologies, sustainable solutions, and extensive experience. He emphasized that Kazakhstan remains an attractive partner for Dutch investors due to its stable economy, favourable geographic location, and government support measures, including subsidies for dairy farms and environmentally friendly technologies.Overall, the program of the visit includes plenary sessions focused on sustainable agribusiness, smart greenhouse technology, financing, and agricultural education. The Kazakhstan–Netherlands Working Group meeting addressed topics such as seed production, veterinary cooperation, aquaculture, and agri-food education. A highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Agricultural Science and Education Centre of Kazakhstan and the Dutch platform GroenPact.It is worth to note that particular attention during the visit is being given to developing educational partnerships. The delegation includes representatives of the GroenPact platform of Dutch institutions such as Aeres, Lentiz, and HAS green academy. Their goal is to establish strong ties with Kazakh universities and launch joint initiatives in agricultural education. The high-level visit of Dutch delegation was organized with the support of KazakhInvest JSC.Photo credit: Ilyas OmarovSource : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-hague/press/news/details/973042?lang=kk

Today, PPP is becoming an important tool in the context of growing demand for infrastructure facilities. In this regard, work is underway to improve the legislation. In recent years, amendments have been adopted that have increased the efficiency and transparency of PPP project planning. Now the conclusion of PPP contracts is carried out only on a competitive basis, planning and competitive selection procedures have been digitized. This was announced by Deputy Director of the Department of Investment Policy and Financial Sector Development of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alisher Shayakhmetov at a press conference in the CCS.According to the speaker, in order to avoid circumvention of public procurement, mandatory requirements for the implementation of investment and operational periods have been established for PPP projects. To actively involve businesses in the creation of social infrastructure, a Comprehensive PPP Development Plan for 2024-2028 has been adopted, providing for the implementation of 43 facilities in the fields of education, healthcare, sports and social protection of the population."In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, international experts from the Asian Development Bank were involved last year to conduct an independent analysis of PPP legislation. The results of the report confirmed the compliance of the Law on Public-Private Partnership with international standards. At the same time, in order to further improve the PPP system, work is underway to form a pool of large-scale PPP projects, giving this list the status of special importance. This will ensure the interest of international financial organizations in the joint preparation of projects and their financing," said Alisher Shayakhmetov.This year, within the framework of the new Budget Code, amendments were adopted aimed at unifying legislation in the field of PPP, which involve combining the laws "On PPP" and "On Concessions", which will create a more holistic legal framework. Currently, work is underway to coordinate regulatory by-laws aimed at implementing the adopted amendments. In order to offset the negative impact of excessive budget obligations, the Ministry has set limits on government obligations of local executive bodies for 2025-2027.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanai-ekonomika-zhosparlau/press/news/details/973794?lang=kk

On March 15 of this year, the Head of State signed the Law on improving budget legislation, within the framework of which amendments were made, among other things, concerning public-private partnerships. At the site of the Central Communications Service, the Chairman of the Board of JSC «Kazakhstan Center for Public-Private Partnership» Aslan Kaligazin spoke about how the procedure for implementing PPP projects will be improved.According to the speaker, an important amendment concerns a change in the approaches to the use of two-stage and one-stage competitions. Until now, two-stage competitions have practically not been held in Kazakhstan, with the rare exception of some PPP projects at the national level.«At the same time, international financial organizations, on the contrary, point to the need for a two-stage selection. This type of selection is considered the best practice for determining a private partner by choosing the best technological and financial solutions at the first and second stages of the competition. Thus, within the framework of these amendments, it is envisaged to transfer all PPP projects, including the design and construction of a PPP facility, to two-stage procedures», said the head of the Kazakhstan Center for Public-Private Partnership.In addition, the amendments provide for a reduction in the requirements for potential private partners to invest in the project of their own capital from 20% to 10%. According to the speaker, this amendment reduces barriers to participation in competitions, simplifies entry into the market for those companies that cannot allocate a large amount of their own funds, but at the same time have the competence and capabilities to implement the planned PPP projects.Also, the need for a potential private partner to «freeze» these funds in their accounts to pass the qualification selection at the stage of competitive procedures has been eliminated. That is, confirmation of these funds is necessary only after the conclusion of the PPP agreement.«In order to improve the quality of project development, accreditation of organizations providing consulting and expert services in the field of PPP is being introduced. Accreditation will be carried out by the Ministry of National Economy in accordance with the requirements approved by it, excluding the evaluative nature of the procedure. I would like to dwell separately on the amendments to the implementation of the «software PPP» mechanism, which allows for a reduction in project planning time and state budget expenditures on their development and examination by optimizing procedures and using standard documentation. Thus, with the help of software PPP, industry central government agencies can determine the basic parameters of PPP projects. They will be able to independently approve the rules for determining a private partner and concluding a PPP agreement, as well as ready-made standard packages of documents for holding a competition for replicated PPP projects, taking into account industry specifics,» – noted Aslan Kaligazin.At the moment, such industry rules and standard documents have been approved for the implementation of replicated projects for the construction and operation of schools, dormitories and clinics. Similar documents in the fields of education, healthcare, social protection of the population, sports and ecology are at the development and approval stage.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/press/news/details/973000?lang=kk

At the site of the Central Communications Service, the Chairman of the Board of JSC «Kazakhstan Center for Public-Private Partnership» Aslan Kaligazin spoke about the implemented PPP projects. In particular, over the entire period of application of this mechanism, more than 1200 contracts have been signed for a total of 3,4 trillion tenge.According to the speaker, most contracts were concluded in the field of education, healthcare, energy and housing and communal services. These industries account for about 90%. At the same time, in value terms, about 33% falls on the transport and infrastructure sector, since this is where the most capital-intensive projects are, such as highways and airports.«As for the statistics of PPP projects for the past year, 54 contracts were concluded, more than half of which are projects to modernize school canteens in the Atyrau and Turkestan regions. The largest of them are two projects in the Almaty region for the construction and operation of sewage treatment facilities in the city of Konayev, the implementation and operation of a road and public safety system, as well as two projects for the construction and operation of two schools for 4 thousand students in the city of Atyrau. Other projects include landscaping, construction of student dormitories and 7 PPP projects in the field of sports for the organization and operation of sports complexes, sports clubs, and youth sports schools», – said Aslan Kaligazin.Given the scale of financing and the need for effective management, special attention is paid to monitoring and evaluating activities at the regional level. Therefore, as the speaker noted, a rating of the implementation of PPP projects is being introduced for the regions. Such an innovation is necessary to increase the share of projects paid for by extra-budgetary sources of financing and consumer fees, and to establish the monitoring process by akimats. Currently, the methodology for calculating the rating is at the development stage.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/press/news/details/972993?lang=kk

Last year, the Head of State in his Address to the People of Kazakhstan noted the need to pay attention to better preparation of public-private partnership projects with the participation of international financial institutions. In order to fulfill this instruction, work is currently underway with international financial institutions to form this pool. Chairman of the Board of JSC «Kazakhstan Center for Public-Private Partnership» Aslan Kaligazin spoke about it in more detail during a press conference in the CCS.According to him, projects are selected from among proposals from local and central government agencies. Then they are agreed with international financial institutions and included in the relevant list, which is approved by the Government of Kazakhstan. The development of these projects is carried out by international consultants selected by international financial institutions with the participation of interested government agencies and the PPP Center.The head of the Center cited the example of the university hospital project in Karaganda, which was included in the list. Consultants from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) developed tender documentation and announced an international competition to select a private partner. Also, currently, ADB consultants are developing documentation for the project for the construction and operation of a student dormitory in Almaty.«In general, practice shows that the presence of such a pool of PPP projects is assessed by international investors as transparency and consistency of the state's investment policy, which increases its investment attractiveness. Such joint work will certainly provide an opportunity to improve the quality of these projects through the use of the best world practices,» – said Aslan Kaligazin.He also focused on the issue of developing the professional competencies of all participants in the process. Since 2015, the PPP Development Center has been training specialists from government agencies and the business community. Over the past three years, about 60 seminars and webinars have been held, covering about 800 participants. On-site seminars were held in Aktobe, Almaty, Konayev, Kostanay, Karaganda and Turkestan.The PPP Development Center also interacts with international financial organizations. Thus, with the support of the EBRD, ADB and IFC, training was conducted under the international certification program for specialists in the field of PPP for 67 participants from central government bodies and local executive bodies.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/press/news/details/972987?lang=kk

Administrative Cases Initiated Against Two Probationers in Mangystau for Avoiding Community ServiceThe Probation Service of the Mangystau Region Department of the Penal Enforcement System has taken concrete legal measures against two individuals on probation who attempted to evade their sentences.The first offender was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months of restricted freedom under Article 190 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan — Fraud. The damage caused to the state exceeded 7 million tenge. Although the court imposed a sentence involving community service, the individual failed to fulfill the assigned duties.The second offender was also sentenced to 100 hours of community service. However, he too avoided performing the required work.As a result, the probation service classified both cases as administrative offenses under Article 669 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan — Evasion of Enforcement of a Court Verdict, and submitted the case materials to the court.The Probation Service of the Mangystau Region Department of the Penal Enforcement System reminds: failure to comply with a court decision leads to new legal consequences.Probation is an opportunity — but it only has meaning when obligations are fulfilled.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/duis-mangystau/press/news/details/972984?lang=kk

The Unified Accumulative Pension Fund is actively introducing modern technologies and digital solutions to improve interaction with the population. In the period from 01.01.2025 to 28.02.2025, about 13.7 million services were provided to the population. Of the total number of services provided since the beginning of the year, more than 4.8 million were provided electronically, and 8.6 million were provided automatically. Thus, the share of services provided in automatic, electronic and remote formats amounted to 98.6% of the total. About 190.3 thousand services were provided in person, including 184.7 thousand directly in the Fund's offices.We remind you that all pension accounts are opened in UAPF automatically upon receipt of the first contribution. Target requirements and target savings are also automatically accrued to participants in the National Fund for Children program.In total, during the reporting period, the total number of individual pension accounts (IPA) opened automatically for all types of pension contributions, including notional pension savings accounts (NPA, opened as a result of the transfer of ECPC by the employer) and target savings accounts (TSA, within the framework of the National Fund for Children program) amounted to 529.2 thousand.The most popular service is still obtaining a statement from an individual pension account, a notional pension account (NPA), and a target savings account (TSA). Since the beginning of the year, about 5.4 million statements have been issued from IPA, NPA, TSA, of which more than 4.4 million were issued electronically and more than 865.0 thousand were issued automatically.In addition to receiving a statement in their personal account on the website and in the mobile application, contributors (beneficiaries) have the opportunity to use such services as making changes and additions to their details, obtaining a certificate of the availability of accounts, filing an application for the appointment of pension payments in connection with the establishment of disability of group 1 or 2 indefinitely or by voluntary pension contributions, tracking the status of an application for payment, transfer of part of the savings by the investment portfolio manager (IPM), forecast calculation of the future pension using a pension calculator, etc. 24/7 anywhere in the world.More than 28.1 thousand applications were received to change the details from January to February 2025, of which more than 25.9 thousand were submitted to the Fund's offices.When applying for a particular service to UAPF specialists, contributors, as a rule, receive additional consultations and advice on how to form savings. As part of the information and explanatory work, 7.1 thousand on-site presentations were held, attended by about 148.3 thousand people. More than 7.6 thousand materials on UAPF messages were posted in the media.The number of requests received from depositors and recipients through feedback channels amounted to about 129.2 thousand.We remind you that any company can apply for a presentation and consultations on the funded pension system with a visit to the office, for which you just need to call the call center at 1418 or contact through the Fund's website or mobile application.UAPF consulting services can be obtained via instant messengers (chat bot in WhatsАpp and Viber at +7 777 000 14 18), call center at 1418 (free call within Kazakhstan), on the corporate website enpf.kz, as well as on the official UAPF pages on social networks Instagram, Facebook, VKontakte, X (Twitter), Telegram, Odnoklassniki.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanai-zhangeldi-audany-akimat/press/news/details/972935?lang=kk

Probation Service of the Mangystau Region Department of the Penal Enforcement System: 19 Individuals Convicted for Avoiding Child Support PaymentsCurrently, 970 individuals are registered with the Probation Service of the Mangystau Region Department of the Penal Enforcement System. Among them, 19 have been convicted by court for evading child support payments for their underage children.Collecting alimony is not only a legal obligation but also a matter of parental responsibility. However, some individuals neglect this duty and, as a result, face criminal liability. Probation officers consistently monitor the repayment of alimony debts and conduct explanatory work with the convicted. In addition, measures are taken to support their resocialization through the provision of social and legal assistance.For example, a man identified as M., registered with the Zhanaozen city probation service, failed to make regular alimony payments for his underage daughter. His total debt exceeded 3 million tenge. After leaving his job, he did not register as unemployed. By court order, he was sentenced to one year of restricted freedom and 100 hours of community service.Another registered individual, a man identified as S., found himself in a similar situation. His alimony debt exceeds 2 million tenge. Although he has two children, he failed to fulfill his parental responsibilities. As a result, the court sentenced him to one year of restricted freedom and 100 hours of mandatory labor.The primary goal of the probation service is to rehabilitate offenders without isolating them from society, to promote their reintegration, and to prevent repeat offenses. In this direction, the probation service carries out comprehensive work with registered individuals in cooperation with state and non-governmental organizations.Evading child support is not just a violation of the law — it is a betrayal of the child’s future. Every parent must understand their responsibility and fulfill their legal obligations in good faith.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/duis-mangystau/press/news/details/972922?lang=kk

Akim of Kostanay region Kumar Aksakalov visited the district of SKHI, where work began on the construction of a modern cultural and sports park on the site of the wasteland. The head of the region personally reviewed the preparatory activities and stressed the importance of the project for improving the quality of life of citizens.— The development of the city is, first of all, taking care of people. Every vacant plot should be transformed into a space for relaxation and inspiration," Kumar Aksakalov said.The future park will become a point of attraction for residents of the district and the entire city. The project provides everything necessary for active and family recreation: an amphitheater, children's and sports grounds, a skate park, green areas, lighting and sanitary modules. The construction is scheduled to be completed on November 4, 2025.The park project is a step towards creating a modern, comfortable and inspiring city where you want to live and develop.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/972901?lang=kk

The Department of State Revenue for the Mangystau region reports that 557 passenger vehicles passed customs clearance under the "Release of goods for domestic consumption" procedure in the region during the first quarter of 2025.The total statistical cost of these cars was five million US dollars.Most of the cars were imported from 2 countries: the United Arab Emirates and Georgia.During customs clearance, the price of the car is indicated. Price information for vehicles is posted on the website of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is updated and supplemented as necessary.This grid is intended as a recommendation and is provided as information.The customs legislation establishes a list of documents confirming the information stated in the customs declaration. For example, if the price of an imported car differs significantly from the price information of the State Revenue Committee, carriers need to provide the following documents:- the price list of the manufacturer or car dealer, his commercial offers;- a commercial offer by sellers of imported, identical, homogeneous goods, as well as goods of the same class or type;- explanations on the grounds and conditions for the provision of discounts by the seller to the buyer. A certificate from the seller stating that a discount was provided and in what amount from the initial cost.It is noted that the above documents must be submitted together with the filing of the goods declaration. This measure will help to significantly reduce the time of customs clearance.Customs clearance in the Republic of Kazakhstan is carried out electronically through the information system of state revenue authorities, in connection with which a participant in foreign economic activity has the opportunity to independently file a declaration for goods by signing his EDS from any location.The rules for customs clearance of imported passenger cars are quite simple. During the customs declaration of goods, the importer must determine its customs value as the costs incurred by him for the purchase, as well as related costs associated with delivery to Kazakhstan (transportation costs, insurance claims, etc.).Therefore, in order to accept the customs value during customs clearance of a vehicle, its value must be based on a reliable, quantifiable and documented information.The following documents can be used: export declaration of the country of origin, invoice, transportation costs for the delivery of goods, purchase agreement between buyer and seller, bank transfer, auction list, etc.(unofficial translation)Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-mangistau/press/news/details/972887?lang=kk

In accordance with the order №2 of the Head of the Department of Regional Representatives Office in Kostanay of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (hereinafter – Agency), the LLP " Ломбард Astana Gold " (hereinafter – Partnership) was deprived of a license to carry out microfinance activities (pawnshop activities).The grounds for the revocation of a license to carry out microfinance activities (pawnshop activities) was the failure of the Partnership to operate for six consecutive calendar months.Revocation of a license to carry out microfinance activities (pawnbroking activities) does not release borrowers from their obligation to fulfill their obligations to the organization.Borrowers are responsible for non-fulfillment of obligations to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of concluded microcredit agreements. External Communications Departmentpress@finreg.kzSource : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ardfm/press/news/details/972839?lang=kk

Seoul, April 5–6, 2025 – The second Kurultai of Kazakhs of Asian countries took place in South Korea, bringing together over 200 participants, including members of the Kazakh community from Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China, and Mongolia.The event was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea, the Otandastar Foundation, and the Qazaq Nomad Kazakh Association in Seoul. The gathering was held at the Global Campus of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.The main goal of the Kurultai was to strengthen cultural ties and promote economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Asian countries with ethnic Kazakh communities.Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nurgali Arystanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, highlighted the growing investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and South Korea. He noted that South Korea ranked as the third-largest foreign investor in Kazakhstan in 2024, with investments totaling USD 1.2 billion. Today, 876 companies with Korean capital are operating in Kazakhstan, with major joint projects underway in innovation and infrastructure.Ambassador Arystanov also emphasized the growing connectivity between the two countries, with 13 direct flights operating weekly. He noted the increasing people-to-people exchanges that contribute to mutual understanding and trust. In 2024, a total of 40,180 Korean tourists visited Kazakhstan – a 12% increase from the previous year. At the same time, 53,224 Kazakh citizens traveled to South Korea, representing an 8% year-on-year growth.President of the Otandastar Foundation Daniyar Kadyrov emphasized the special significance of holding the second Kurultai of Kazakhs of Asia. According to him, the event served not only as a symbol of unity among Kazakhs living in different Asian countries but also as an important platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the preservation of the Kazakh language, traditions, and cultural values. He noted that such gatherings help foster a common cultural space where ethnic Kazakhs can feel connected to their historical homeland and actively engage in the development of interethnic and interstate relations.The first day of the Kurultai featured a conference, including a plenary cultural session and an economic session. Honored Artist of Kazakhstan Svetlana Aitbayeva introduced the audience to the rich traditions of Kazakh jewelry art. Ethnographer Aygerim Musagazhinova delivered a presentation on the nutritional value of traditional Kazakh cuisine. In the cultural segment, renowned Kazakh artist Zhubanysh Zheksenuly performed iconic songs alongside the audience.Another highlight of the first day was the first-ever public speaking competition in the Kazakh language held in South Korea. Organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul, the contest featured students from the Department of Central Asian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies who are currently studying Kazakh language. Seven finalists competed before a jury chaired by Kanat Aitbayev, People's Artist of Kazakhstan.Sophomore student Lee Seo Yeon took the first place, impressing the judges with her fluency and eloquence in Kazakh. “To build closer cultural ties, we need to meet and communicate more often,” she said. “I want to master the Kazakh language and contribute to the cooperation between our two countries.” She was awarded a round-trip flight from Seoul to Almaty or Astana and a two-day stay at a Pana hotel – her first trip to Kazakhstan.Second place went to senior Son Won Jin, who received a commemorative gold bar as a prize. Third place was awarded to junior Jeon Jae Hon, who was presented with a traditional Kazakh musical instrument – the dombra.On the second day, participants celebrated Nauryz with concerts, traditional dances, folk music and games, as well as exhibitions of Kazakh national clothing, crafts, and cuisine.The Kurultai served as a vibrant platform to deepen cultural understanding, strengthen community ties, and foster long-term cooperation between Kazakhstan and its Asian neighbors.  Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-seoul/press/news/details/972812?lang=kk

The Anti-Corruption Service of Almaty city held a meeting on anti-corruption issues in the internal affairs bodies.The event was attended by Arman Rakhimov, Head of the Anti-Corruption Service, Arystangani Zapparov, Head of the Police Department, Alik Shpekbayev, Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Network public Association, as well as police personnel.During the meeting, the submissions made in accordance with article 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on previously identified corruption offenses were considered.Special attention is paid to the issues of prevention and prevention of corruption. The participants were presented with measures aimed at reducing corruption risks and increasing professional integrity.The Anti-Corruption Service and the internal affairs bodies of the city of Almaty maintain constant and constructive cooperation. This is confirmed by the Joint Action Plan approved this year, aimed at developing partnership between anti-corruption actors and creating intolerance to any manifestations of corruption in society.A separate section discussed cooperation within the framework of the Integrity Check mechanism, which provides for checking the integrity of law enforcement officers. This tool allows you to identify potential risks in a timely manner and contributes to the formation of a personnel policy based on the principles of transparency, openness and trust.At the end of the meeting, the head of the city's Anti-Corruption Service, Arman Rakhimov, stressed the importance of continuing systematic anti-corruption work.:"Only through joint efforts can we effectively counter corruption. It is necessary to further develop internal control mechanisms, ensure maximum transparency in the activities of law enforcement agencies and strengthen the trust of citizens. It is important that every employee is aware of their personal responsibility to society and understands that any corruption offense will inevitably have corresponding consequences."Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/anticorruption-almaty/press/news/details/972800?lang=kk

Vienna, March 30, 2026 – At the initiative of the Viennese diplomatic magazine "Society," a festive celebration of Nauryz, the holiday of spring and renewal, took place with the participation of 9 diplomatic missions accredited in Vienna. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan showcased their cultures and traditions.The event became a vibrant cultural occasion uniting representatives from various countries and highlighting the rich traditions of nations celebrating Nauryz. Guests enjoyed folk music, national cuisines, and had the opportunity to explore traditional costumes and decorative arts that captured the region's unique spirit and charm.The festive evening was enriched by the traditional Kazakh kyuis “Adai” and “Balbyraun,” performed by talented dombra players Zhasulan Zhumazbay and Adilzhan Erzatuly. The piece “Kozimnin karasy,” presented by renowned opera singer Aigul Shamshidenova, received a particularly enthusiastic response from the audience.Kazakhstan’s stand attracted considerable interest from visitors. The Embassy offered national dishes and displayed an exhibition highlighting the symbolism of Nauryz as a celebration of renewal, harmony, and goodwill. Participants appreciated the warm atmosphere created by Kazakhstan and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with the country’s cultural heritage.  Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-vienna/press/news/details/1191235?lang=kk

On April 9, 2025, Örken East Kazakhstan Regional Scientific and Methodological Center for Informatization and Education Development of Education Administration of East Kazakhstan region, jointly with Anastasia V. Sklyar, a chief expert of State Fire Control Administration, conducted an important and informative lesson for schoolchildren. The topic of the lesson - “A fire dangerous season. Matches are not toys for children” - was chosen deliberately as the risk of fires increases during spring and summer, both at home and in nature.The lesson aimed to increase students’ awareness of fire safety and foster a responsible attitude towards handling fire. Drawing on her extensive experience in state fire control, Anastasia Sklyar shared with the students how dangerous it is to play with matches and other sources of fire. She provided real-life examples from her practice, showing how even innocent mischief can spiral into tragedy.  During the lesson, students learned about essential safety rules during the fire hazardous season, how to respond correctly in case of a fire and taught how to head off fire risks before they start. A particular emphasis was placed on the fact that matches and lighters are not toys, but items that require careful handling. The students were also informed about the importance of reporting adults about any suspicious situations related to fire.To make it convenient for students, the lesson was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Education Administration of East Kazakhstan region. This allows students, their parents and teachers make it accessible at any time for revision or classroom use. The organizers hope that such events will help cultivate a culture of safety and responsibility among the younger generation.This lesson marked an important step in fire prevention among the younger generation, combining the efforts of educational organizations and fire service specialists. Let every child remember that safety starts with us!Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/vko-bilim/press/news/details/972754?lang=kk

Launch of the state service for inclusion in the customs register of intellectual property objects in IP "Keden" The State Department of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan informs that the Keden information system is putting into operation the functionality for the provision of public services in the field of customs, namely for inclusion in the customs register of intellectual property objects. Applications will be submitted and processed starting from April 14, 2025 at the Keden IP. Important: The acceptance of applications through the "Single Window for export-import operations" system will be discontinued from April 11 this year at 6:30 p.m. , Instructions on how to fill out the application and register in the system are available: - on the portal https://keden.kgd.gov.kz - in the official Telegram chat for intellectual property objects https:// t.me/kedenkgdgovkz/46130 . When registering, you must provide valid mobile phone numbers and email addresses in order to receive notifications about the status of applications. For more information and advice, please contact customer support. Phone numbers and addresses of the support service: +7 7172 73 55 19 📞 +7 705 956 53 89 , e-mail: keden_support@kgd.minfin.gov.kz . 💠 telegram channel: https://t.me/kedenkgdgovkz .Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kgd-zko/press/news/details/972745?lang=kk

Promotional materials and videos are being distributed on social networks offering citizens to sign a contract with the Armed Forces of other states for monetary rewards."The Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan provides for criminal liability measures for participation in armed conflicts. The intentional unlawful participation of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan in an armed conflict or military operations on the territory of a foreign state in the absence of signs of mercenary activity (Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan) is punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to nine years. Depending on the severity of the act, mercenary activity (Article 170 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan) is punishable by imprisonment for a term of seven years or life imprisonment with or without deprivation of citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with confiscation of property," the ministry warned.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/vko-samar-sarybel/press/news/details/972715?lang=kk