Foreign media on Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan’s achievements in conservation of snow leopard, Wabtec secures $405m Kazakhstan locomotive deal

TTW: Kazakhstan showcases cultural fusion and artistic innovations at the Venice Biennale

Kazakhstan makes a notable second appearance at the Venice Biennale with “Jerūiyq: Journey Beyond the Horizon” hosted at the historic Naval Museum, reports TTW. This exhibition, open until November, draws inspiration from the mystical stories surrounding the 15th-century figure, Asan Kaigy. The term “Kaigy” which translates from Kazakh as “pain” reflects deeply rooted societal traumas in contemporary contexts.

Commissioned by Aida Balayeva, the Minister of Culture and Information, the exhibition is professionally curated by Danagul Tolepbay, with Anwar Musrepov serving as co-curator and guest artist. The theme of the 2024 Biennale, “Foreigners Everywhere — Foreigners Everywhere” aligns with the exhibition’s exploration of Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage, merged with artistic innovation.

Artists in the exhibition present visions of utopian realities inspired by spiritual and mystical practices. The Kazakh pavilion features works connecting the past, present, and future, highlighting the creativity of the 1960s and 1970s.

This project explores Kazakhstan’s cultural essence and key political shifts of the 20th century, especially resistance to Soviet influences, while touching on the theme of humanity’s dispersal. Yerbolat Tolepbay’s works contrast hope and destruction in apocalyptic scenes, while the duo the2vvo explores nature and culture through a performance highlighting ecological issues. Sergey Maslov and Saken Narynov examine the link between humanity and space, merging traditional Kazakh imagery with futuristic concepts. Kamil Mullashev’s futuristic paintings and Anwar Musrepov’s video, set in a sunless future, delve into ancient Tengri rituals.

“Jerūiyq: Journey Beyond the Horizon” combines tradition and innovation, offering a fresh take on Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage

Azernews: Kazakhstan plans to export cars to Afghanistan

Kazakhstan is considering the possibility of starting car deliveries to Afghanistan, Azernews reports. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin.

According to him, the Afghan side asked to organize meetings and events for the sale of new or used cars. “I think it's realistic to start selling the first cars next year,” Zhumangarin said.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that he had already held preliminary negotiations with Kazakhstani suppliers. However, in order to implement the project, two key issues need to be resolved: to find a reliable partner from the Afghan side and to develop supply routes.

On October 22, a Kazakh-Afghan business forum was held in Almaty with the participation of representatives of both countries.

Azernews: Longest bridge in country opened in Kazakhstan

The longest bridge in the country has been opened across the Bukhtarma reservoir in the East Kazakhstan region, Azernews reports.

The project connects six districts of Kurchum, Ulken-Naryn, Markakol, Katon-Karagai, Tarbagatai and Zaisan.

The two-lane road bridge with a length of 1,316 meters is capable of passing up to 80,000 vehicles per day. A new 18-kilometer road has been brought to the pass. The project was implemented using advanced engineering technologies and in accordance with all quality standards.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, during a meeting with local residents, noted that the project’s implementation will ensure safe year-round movement of vehicles, stimulate the socio-economic development of East Kazakhstan, and positively impact the country's transport and logistics industry.

East Kazakhstan is a strategic region crossed by key transport corridors. The bridge over the Anchor Reservoir will enhance logistics routes and ensure uninterrupted connections with neighboring countries.

UNDP: The achievements of Kazakhstan in the conservation of the snow leopard

According to UNDP, the snow leopard is a living symbol of Kazakhstan and has important social and cultural significance.

It inhabits regions like the Western Tien Shan, Altai, and other mountain ranges that extend into China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan’s snow leopard population, crucial for international research, faces challenges due to human encroachment and habitat degradation, leading to a decline in numbers by the late 20th century. By 1995, only 80-100 remained.

Listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List and protected by all countries where it is found, the snow leopard faces threats from human activities and climate change. Urbanization, tourism, agriculture, poaching, and climate change all threaten the snow leopard’s habitat and prey, impacting mountain ecosystems where it resides.

Recognizing the threat, Kazakhstan launched conservation efforts, including “The Strategy for the Conservation of the Snow Leopard” and “The National Action Plans”. Protected areas have been expanded, and the population has grown, thanks to habitat restoration and stronger protection measures. UNDP and other initiatives have supported these efforts with advanced monitoring, increasing the number of snow leopards in protected areas.

Significant progress includes sightings of snow leopards in new regions and the discovery of breeding groups in places like the Altyn Emel National Park. The use of satellite telemetry since 2021 has tracked their movements across borders, revealing migration routes to China and Kyrgyzstan. This data aids in managing protected areas and guiding conservation efforts.

To protect the species, UNDP has worked to establish new protected areas and expand existing ones, covering millions of hectares. A 2024 agreement between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan focuses on joint efforts to conserve the snow leopard in key mountain areas. These initiatives aim to safeguard the snow leopard as an indicator of healthy mountain ecosystems, reflecting the well-being of nature and local communities.

GlobalData: Wabtec secures $405m Kazakhstan locomotive deal

US rail manufacturer Wabtec has secured a $405 million deal to supply Evolution Series ES44ACi locomotives to Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), reports GlobalData. This deal aims to modernize KTZ’s aging fleet to handle increasing rail transport demands.

The Evolution Series locomotives are equipped with a 12-cylinder, 4,500-horsepower engine, designed for high performance with low maintenance costs. They are built to endure Kazakhstan’s harsh weather and challenging terrain, offering longer intervals between maintenance compared to KTZ's older models.

Manufacturing will be done at Wabtec’s Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty facility in Astana, employing over 700 workers.

Gokhan Bayhan, Wabtec’s regional senior vice president, praised Kazakhstan’s government, saying, “Kazakhstan has a progressive and open-thinking local government that understands the importance of railways in driving the local economy. KTZ serves as a critical link for the transportation of freight between China and the West. These Evolution Series locomotives will provide the efficiency, reliability, and operational savings to effectively support the growing demand on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.”

Wabtec, which offers a range of rail and industrial solutions, recently partnered with Indian Railways to open a maintenance facility in Andhra Pradesh.