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ASTANA — The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers a new rare-metals research center backed by South Korea, U.S.-Central Asia cooperation on trade and critical minerals, military reforms, investment opportunities, and efforts to expand the Middle Corridor’s shipping capacity.
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Kazakhstan opens $15 million rare metals research center with South Korea
Kazakhstan is seeking to turn more of its mineral wealth into high-value materials for electric vehicles, electronics, and other advanced industries with the opening of a Korean-backed rare-metals research center in Almaty. The center, which opened on Oct. 21, is supported by a five-year funding program worth approximately $15 million, reported The Times of Central Asia on Oct. 22.
Based at the Institute of Metallurgy and Ore Beneficiation at Satbayev University, the center will develop technologies for processing and refining rare metals. The project is being developed under South Korea’s official development assistance program, with the participation of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) and the Korea National Institute of Rare Metals (KORAM).
Rubio puts Trans-Caspian trade and critical minerals at centre of Central Asia talks
The US and five Central Asian governments backed closer transport and industrial cooperation at a C5+1 meeting in Samarkand. Rubio also held bilateral talks, while Uzbekistan signed the Artemis Accords, reported Euronews on Oct. 19.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries agreed to deepen cooperation on transport, critical minerals and security at a C5+1 meeting in Samarkand on Monday.
The talks brought together the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In a joint statement, they backed investment in the Trans-Caspian trade route, closer industrial cooperation and simpler customs procedures.
Citibank Kazakhstan chairperson sees opportunities for US-Central Asia collaboration
Foreign investors are looking outside Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector. But turning that interest into investment will require predictable regulations and stronger cross-border connections, according to Saule Zhakayeva, chairperson of Citibank Kazakhstan’s management board and president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan (AmCham).
Citi has operated in Kazakhstan since 1994, when it opened a representative office in Almaty. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia on Oct. 19, Zhakayeva discussed the country’s investment climate and its role as a regional business hub. She also addressed the future of economic relations between the United States and Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan expands Middle Corridor fleet as Caspian Sea levels fall
Containers are piling up on Kazakhstan’s Caspian coast as they await shipment to Azerbaijan. A shortage of vessels and weather-related restrictions are delaying cargo along the Middle Corridor, a trade route connecting China and Europe while bypassing Russia, reported The Times of Central Asia on Oct. 22.
Kazakhstan plans to acquire five vessels and has ordered another six to expand maritime freight capacity. At the same time, falling Caspian Sea levels are limiting how much cargo existing ships can carry and complicating port operations.
Yerkin Nygmetov, CEO of KTZ Express Shipping, described the container backlog at the New Silk Way international transport forum, held in Astana on Oct. 15-16. According to Nygmetov, adverse weather conditions can restrict operations at Kazakhstan’s ports for a total of up to 75 days a year.
Kazakhstan military training overhauled with new drone forces planned
Less than a month after 14 service members died during military exercises in the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan has approved plans to overhaul conscript training and introduce new safeguards against abuse in the armed forces. The reform plan was approved at a Security Council meeting on Oct. 21, with the main changes scheduled for 2027, reported The Times of Central Asia on Oct. 22.
The Sept. 24 tragedy prompted an investigation that uncovered serious failures in the planning of the exercises and measures to protect soldiers. A wider inspection of the Defense Ministry has since led to 13 criminal cases involving suspected embezzlement, abuse of authority, and other violations.
The post News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Critical Minerals, Middle Corridor and US Ties appeared first on The Astana Times.