Kazakhstan, Oman Deepen Ties During Sultan’s First Central Asia Visit

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman agreed to deepen strategic partnership across energy, transport, logistics, agriculture and digitalization on Oct. 6, as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said...


Digital Bridge 2026: New AI Order Beyond US-China Race — Who Gets to Act for You?

ASTANA – The emerging AI order may look bipolar from a distance, with the United States (U.S.) and China dominating the most advanced models, chips and computing...


Astana School Named Finalist for 2027 Zayed Sustainability Prize

ASTANA – Astana’s General Education School No. 101 has been named one of three finalists representing Europe and Central Asia in the Global High Schools category of...


Kazakhstan, Partners Target Falling Caspian Sea Levels With New Monitoring Project

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and international partners are stepping up efforts to address falling Caspian Sea levels, biodiversity loss and pollution, as Aktau hosted a high-level dialogue on...


Kazakhstan Accelerates Digital Transformation as Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Link Nears Launch

ASTANA – Officials discussed implementing Kazakhstan’s Digital Qazaqstan Strategy at a government meeting on Oct. 6, outlining plans to expand AI-powered public services, develop large-scale computing infrastructure,...


Where Kazakhstan’s Oil Goes: Key Export Markets and Volumes 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan exported a record 76.3 million tonnes of crude oil in 2025, up 7.4% from the previous year and 20% from 2015, according to data...


Kazakhstan-Germany Relations Through Lens of Global Instability

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Germany in September took place in Berlin and Munich and, judging by its formal results, became one of the most productive in...


Tokayev Orders Defense Reforms After Inspection Finds Systemic Failures

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered reforms in Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces after a commission investigating a military incident in the Mangystau Region revealed serious shortcomings in planning,...


Kazakhstan’s Population Tops 20.6 Million as Astana Passes 1.7 Million

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s population reached 20.62 million as of Sept. 1, while Astana surpassed 1.7 million residents, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The capital’s population...


Tokayev Says Teachers Matter More Than Ever in AI Era

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said teachers are more important than ever as artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape education, urging Kazakhstan to strengthen human capital and...


US Report Sees Progress in Kazakhstan’s Investment Climate, Flags Tax and Regulatory Risks

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has made significant progress in developing a market economy and attracting foreign investment, but regulatory uncertainty, localization policies and concerns over the rule of...


Central Asia’s Air Cargo Volumes More Than Double Since 2019, IATA Report Shows

ASTANA – Central Asia is emerging as an increasingly important intercontinental bridge for global air cargo, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan recording particularly strong growth, according to a...


OPEC+ Agrees to Keep Oil Production Steady

ALMATY – The seven OPEC+ countries participating in additional voluntary production adjustments, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, have agreed to maintain their current...


Kazakhstan Wins 84 Medals at Asian Games, Finishes Eighth in Overall Standings

ASTANA – Kazakhstan finished the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with 84 medals, 12 gold, 24 silver and 48 bronze, placing eighth in the overall medal...


What Oman Sultan’s Visit Could Open Up for Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman are looking to turn growing political ties into new opportunities in trade, transport, investment and technology as Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq...


S&P Global CSA Raises Corporate Sustainability Score of Bank CenterCredit

ASTANA – Bank CenterCredit (BCC) improved its score in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) this year, earning 78 points out of 100, up from 75...


New Comic Book Explores Parallels Between George Washington and Abylai Khan in Story of Leadership 

ASTANA – The parallel lives of George Washington and Abylai Khan, two leaders who lived in the same era but on opposite sides of the world, are...


Caves, DNA and Metal Trace Kazakhstan’s Ancient Past 

ASTANA — Cave sediments may help identify ancient human populations in Kazakhstan even where no skeletal remains survive, as new methods allow archaeologists to reconstruct how people...


First Przewalski’s Horse Foals Born in Kazakhstan Named Botai and Tumar

ASTANA – The first Przewalski’s horse foals born in Kazakhstan have been named Botai and Tumar, marking a new stage in the country’s efforts to restore the...


Tokayev Highlights AI’s Potential to Transform Creative Industries at Astana AI Film Festival

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in cinema and the creative industries, while stressing the importance of responsible AI development...


Beyond ChatGPT: What Could AI Mean for Kazakhstan’s Creative Industries?

ASTANA – Artificial intelligence is increasingly shifting beyond text and image generation into art, design and immersive digital experiences. For Kazakhstan, this development presents an opportunity to...


Astana as Bridge: From Financial Centre to Family Office and Private-Capital Hub

Central Asia is entering a new phase of economic development. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are attracting rising international investment, regional capital markets are deepening, entrepreneurial wealth is accumulating,...


Kazakhstan Commemorates 85 Years of Bakhytzhan Momyshuly’s Literary Legacy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks the 85th anniversary of Bakhytzhan Momyshuly, a prominent writer and translator, whose literary work preserved the stories of prominent Kazakh figures and explored...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Investment, Raw Materials and Transport Partnerships

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. This week’s foreign media digest covers new investment in Kazakhstan’s...


Kazakhstan, Vatican Discuss Interfaith Cooperation and Protection of Children with Serious Illnesses

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Vice President and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Erlan Karin met with Cardinal George Jacob...


Astana AI Film Festival Opens New Chapter For Cinema Industry

ASTANA – Astana is emerging as a platform for exploring how artificial intelligence could reshape the industry, with the Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF 2026) bringing AI-generated...


October Starts Here: Your Weekend Guide

ASTANA — Unwind after a busy working week with inspiring concerts, thought-provoking exhibitions and captivating spectacles. There is something for everyone, whether you are looking to enjoy...


Tokayev Urges AI-Driven Industrial Transformation, Proposes ‘Washington Model’ for Global AI Governance

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for a comprehensive AI-driven transformation of Kazakhstan’s industrial sector, urging the government and businesses to focus on measurable gains in...


CAMCA Forum Explores Prospects for Greater Regional Convergence

BAKU – The CAMCA Regional Forum featured wide-range discussions on regional convergence on Oct. 1. Dr. Frederick Starr, the chairman of Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, introduced the topic...


$344 Million Invested in Kazakhstan as Carlsberg Opens Beverage Plant in Almaty Region

ASTANA – Carlsberg Kazakhstan has opened a new $344 million beverage production plant in Boraldai, the Almaty Region, expanding local production for Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic...