Home - The Astana Times

Central Asia Needs More Than Power Lines to Build Regional Electricity Market, EDB Report Finds

By Aida Haidar in Business,Central Asia,Editor’s Picks on 3 November 2026

ASTANA – Central Asia could unlock significant economic benefits from closer cooperation between its electricity systems, with a developed regional architecture potentially generating up to $640 million in annual gross benefits, according to a new report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). However, the region’s ability to realize this potential …

Kazakhstan Retains Central Asia’s Top University Rankings as Nazarbayev University Climbs 62 Places

By Ayana Birbayeva in Nation on 3 November 2026

Kazakhstan Sets Aside $ 14.3 Billion for Infrastructure and Social Projects Through 2029

By Aiman Nakispekova in Nation on 3 November 2026

Japan, UNDP Commit $ 3 Million to Greener Mining in Kazakhstan

By Aiman Nakispekova in International on 3 November 2026

Global Tech Weekend 2027 to Launch in Tbilisi With Startup Pitches

By Aida Temerkhan in International on 3 November 2026

Build! Once Again - Build: Kazakhstan’s Construction Program to Boost Growth, Improve Living Standards

By Ayana Birbayeva in Business on 3 November 2026

Most Popular Stories

Day | Week | Month

Videos

Tokayev in Brussels, China Ties & Eurasia’s Future | Kazakhstan News Digest

After Strait of Hormuz — Who Controls Next Supply Chains?

Exploring Tashkent: History, Food, Markets and Modern Life

Why World Depends on Kazakhstan for Uranium | Explainer

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

More videos

Videos

Tokayev in Brussels, China Ties & Eurasia’s Future | Kazakhstan News Digest

After Strait of Hormuz — Who Controls Next Supply Chains?

Exploring Tashkent: History, Food, Markets and Modern Life

Why World Depends on Kazakhstan for Uranium | Explainer

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

More videos

Editor's Picks

Two More Amur Tigers to Join Kazakhstan’s Wildlife Comeback in 2027

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is preparing the next stage of its tiger reintroduction program, with two cubs expected to be released...

Alatau City Secures $ 1.3 Billion in Deals During London Investment Roadshow

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Nine agreements with international partners worth a combined $1.3 billion were signed during an investment roundtable for Alatau...

Central Asia Needs More Than Power Lines to Build Regional Electricity Market, EDB Report Finds

ASTANA – Central Asia could unlock significant economic benefits from closer cooperation between its electricity systems, with a developed regional...

Kazakhstan’s First Coal-Chemical Complex Planned by 2028 at Qarmet as Tokayev Hails Industrial Progress

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s steelmaker Qarmet is building new coke batteries scheduled to enter service in 2027, a project that will...

Kazakhstan Releases Second Tiger Into Wild as Reintroduction Program Advances

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ASTANA – Kazakhstan released a second Amur tiger into the wild on Oct. 31, marking another milestone in the country’s...

TikTok Becomes Business Tool for Kazakhstan’s Entrepreneurs, Survey Finds

ASTANA — A new survey by TikTok and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs found that more than 70% of...

Educator Who Changed Kazakh Schooling: Remembering Ybyrai Altynsarin

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ASTANA – In 1864, a school with just 16 boys opened in Turgai, marking an important step toward expanding secular...

Kazakh Ophthalmologist Puts Down Roots in Hong Kong With Award-Winning Eye-Tech Venture

HONG-KONG – Kazakh ophthalmologist Mukhit Kulmaganbetov has spent the past five years building a medical technology career in Hong Kong,...

Almaty’s Murals Turn City Walls Into Open-Air Galleries, Reflecting History and Identity

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – From a snow leopard against a mountain backdrop to portraits of celebrated Kazakh artists and scenes inspired by...

One Number Could Save Life: Why Kazakhstan Needs Unified Emergency Hotline

BY Aigul Akhmetova

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Path of Abai: Novel That Preserved World of Kazakh Life

ASTANA — Abai is widely regarded as the founder of modern Kazakh written literature and one of the country’s most...

Weekend Picks: Welcoming November With Music and More

BY Fatima Kemelova

ASTANA — Unwind this weekend after a busy work week by visiting engaging exhibitions and sporting events. The Astana Times...

More stories

Editor's Picks

Two More Amur Tigers to Join Kazakhstan’s Wildlife Comeback in 2027

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is preparing the next stage of its tiger reintroduction program, with two cubs expected to be released...

Alatau City Secures $ 1.3 Billion in Deals During London Investment Roadshow

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Nine agreements with international partners worth a combined $1.3 billion were signed during an investment roundtable for Alatau...

Central Asia Needs More Than Power Lines to Build Regional Electricity Market, EDB Report Finds

ASTANA – Central Asia could unlock significant economic benefits from closer cooperation between its electricity systems, with a developed regional...

Kazakhstan’s First Coal-Chemical Complex Planned by 2028 at Qarmet as Tokayev Hails Industrial Progress

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s steelmaker Qarmet is building new coke batteries scheduled to enter service in 2027, a project that will...

More stories

Opinions

Kazakh Ophthalmologist Puts Down Roots in Hong Kong With Award-Winning Eye-Tech Venture

HONG-KONG – Kazakh ophthalmologist Mukhit Kulmaganbetov has spent the past five years building a medical technology career in Hong Kong,...

One Number Could Save Life: Why Kazakhstan Needs Unified Emergency Hotline

BY Aigul Akhmetova

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Digital Government Should Not Leave People Behind

BY Alikhan Orazaly

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Kabul’s Qosh Tepa Canal and Water Security Challenges for C5

BY Hamzah Rifaat

Domestic political, economic and security dynamics in Afghanistan directly impact countries in close proximity to Kabul. This includes Central Asian...

Why the Age of AI Needs Academic Libraries More Than Ever

Universities are racing to embrace artificial intelligence. But who is helping students decide when its answers deserve to be trusted?...

Republic Day Is Reminder That Kazakhstan Belongs to Its People

Every year, as Kazakhstan marks Republic Day on Oct. 25, we return to a moment in our history that is...

Kazakhstan’s Recycling Problem Is Not Lack of Willingness

BY Samat Tulepbayev

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

C5+1 at Ten: How Central Asia Turned Diplomatic Dialogue Into Strategic Partnership

BY Sapargali Shalgimbayev

The Samarkand meeting marks a decade of engagement between the United States and Central Asia, reflecting the region’s growing strategic...

Turkic World: From Shared History to Shared Future

BY Kubanychbek Omuraliev

There are critical moments in the life of nations and states when shared history ceases to be merely a memory...

CICA’s Moment to Turn Confidence Building into Secure Connectivity

BY Eldaniz Gusseinov, Andrew Kuchins

The seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku on Oct.15 adopted...

From Transit to Trade: Economic Opportunity After Avaza

BY Bauyrzhan Auken

The eighth Consultative Meeting in Avaza, Turkmenistan, on Oct. 8 was the first regular summit since Azerbaijan became a full...

Kazakhstan Cannot Wait 202 Years For Gender Parity

BY Adilya Tugel

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

More stories

Opinions

Kazakh Ophthalmologist Puts Down Roots in Hong Kong With Award-Winning Eye-Tech Venture

HONG-KONG – Kazakh ophthalmologist Mukhit Kulmaganbetov has spent the past five years building a medical technology career in Hong Kong,...

One Number Could Save Life: Why Kazakhstan Needs Unified Emergency Hotline

BY Aigul Akhmetova

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Digital Government Should Not Leave People Behind

BY Alikhan Orazaly

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives...

Kabul’s Qosh Tepa Canal and Water Security Challenges for C5

BY Hamzah Rifaat

Domestic political, economic and security dynamics in Afghanistan directly impact countries in close proximity to Kabul. This includes Central Asian...

More stories

Infographics