Foreign Media Covers Kaspi.kz’s Nasdaq Debut and Aport Apples in News Digest
Kazakhstan in the International Media: President’s Meeting with Pope Francis, Aport Apples, Nasdaq IPO and More
The Astana Times has gone through the latest articles on Kazakhstan published in international media and here are some highlights of the week’s foreign media digest.
Fintech heavyweight Kaspi.kz valued at $17.5 billion in tepid Nasdaq debut: Kaspi.kz, a Kazakhstan-based banking and fintech giant, was valued at $17.51 billion when its shares debuted 0.5% above their offer price on Friday, reported Reuters on Jan. 20. The company’s American depositary shares opened at $92.50 each, compared with their IPO price of $92.
Kaspi looks beyond London listing to brighter lights of New York: Kaspi CEO, Mikheil Lomtadze, expressed that the U.S. was the “natural home” for the ambitious technology company, reported the Financial Times on Jan. 21. The company raised just over $1 billion for existing shareholders through an offering on Nasdaq this week, less than three years after it first listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Tajikistan’s foreign policy harps on intense cooperation with Kazakhstan, Rahmon says: Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, stated that the development and strengthening of cooperation with Kazakhstan remains a priority in Tajikistan’s foreign policy, as reported by Trend on Jan. 25. He made these remarks during a meeting with Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, expressing satisfaction with the sustained expansion of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Kazakhstan updates forecast on Middle Corridor-run cargo transit growth: Trend news agency published an article on Jan. 23 about Kazakhstan’s plan to increase the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) from 6 to 10 million tons of cargo by 2025. According to Kazakh Minister of National Economy, Alibek Kuantyrov, new railway lines are being laid, and the infrastructure of ports located on the Caspian Sea (Kuryk, Aktau) is being expanded.
Kazakhstan looks to strengthen position as transit country between Asia, Europe: Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko informed EFE in an interview that Kazakhstan hopes to strengthen its position as a transit country between Asia and Europe by strengthening the TITR, through which cargo bypasses Russia. He also mentioned that an investment forum will be held in Brussels where new measures to strengthen TITR will be discussed.
Kazakhstan seeks FAO support in promoting exports of aport apples: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s meeting with Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, focused on promoting the famous Kazakh aport apples as part of the FAO’s One Country One Priority Product program.
Kazakhstan’s actions to address nuclear and biological risks: Carnage Endowment for International Peace announced an upcoming event in Washington, D.C. where the discussion will feature Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United States of America Yerzhan Ashikbayev, focusing on Kazakhstan’s role in the changing threat landscape of weapons of mass destruction and its actions to reduce nuclear and biological risks.
Pope Francis meets with President of Kazakhstan: In an article published on Jan. 19, Vatican News reported that Pope Francis met with President Tokayev to discuss the importance of promoting peace and stability in the world. The President also met with Vatican officials to express appreciation for the positive bilateral relations between the Holy See and Kazakhstan.
These are just some of the many stories surrounding Kazakhstan’s presence in the international media, shedding light on the country’s economic, political, and cultural engagements with the world.
