Kazakhstan concludes first Kurultai election with turnout at 74.19%
Kazakhstan has concluded its first election to the new unicameral Kurultai, with turnout reaching 74.19 per cent, as vote counting begins following...
Kazakhstan and The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will continue to work together to support transport infrastructure, green energy, small and medium-sized businesses, agriculture, and information technology in the country.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso discussed cooperation in these sectors on Monday (23 June) ahead of the 37th plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council.
Odile Renaud-Basso highlighted the record increase in the EBRD investments in Kazakhstan last year, emphasizing the EBRD's strong interest in further deepening cooperation and jointly implementing projects focused on building a sustainable economy. She affirmed that the EBRD will continue to support the execution of initiatives under the National Infrastructure Plan through 2029.
“We highly value the strategic nature of our cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Just last year, we signed 25 new projects with the Bank, totaling a record $935 million across key priority sectors. The Government of Kazakhstan is ready to further deepen its partnership with the Bank across a wide range of mutually beneficial areas,” Olzhas Bektenov stated at the meeting with EBRD President held ahead of the 37th plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council in Astana, Kazakhstan.

In 2024, the Bank expressed support to 25 projects, including the EBRD’s largest municipal project in Central Asia - construction of new wastewater treatment plant and related infrastructure in Aktobe, as well as the country’s first major public-private partnership (PPP) project for building a 630-bed multidisciplinary hospital in Kokshetau. The focus was also placed on supporting small and medium-sized businesses through consulting services and providing credit lines via domestic financial institutions.
The current portfolio includes 129 active projects valued at more than $3.2 billion, with 75% concentrated in the sustainable infrastructure sector. Since the beginning of their partnership, a total of 340 projects worth $11.6 billion have been implemented.
During the meeting, the sides highlighted the joint development of Kazakhstan’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) platform that would serve as a vital tool for attracting green investments to the country’s energy sector.
A project to build a substation in Astana which was considered with the purpose to enhance power supply reliability and meet the capital’s increasing electricity demand.
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
A large-scale drone attack has hit Russia's Samara region, damaging facilities and disrupting operations at an Ozon logistics complex, according to regional authorities and the company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was not ready to make what he called the "right deal" with Washington as tensions persisted over the war and the Strait of Hormuz.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of August, covering the latest developments.
Kazakhstan has concluded its first election to the new unicameral Kurultai, with turnout reaching 74.19 per cent, as vote counting begins following a major overhaul of the country’s parliamentary system.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have elevated bilateral ties with a Treaty on Eternal Friendship signed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on 23 August. The leaders also agreed to expand trade, investment, transport, and regional cooperation.
Syria has called for international action after an Israeli drone strike hit a civilian vehicle near Damascus, warning that continued Israeli attacks could deepen instability and put civilians at greater risk.
Pakistan says it has added 12 sites to its UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, taking the total from 25 to 37 and widening the country's roster of potential future nominations.
Uzbekistan and Georgia have launched an electronic permit system for international road freight, replacing paper documents in a move aimed at speeding up cross-border transport and cutting bureaucracy.
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