New Exhibition Unites Finest Uzbek Embroidery Pieces from Six Museums

ASTANA – The art of Uzbek embroidery was presented at “The Heritage in Stitches” exhibition at the National Museum of Kazakhstan in Astana on March 19. For the first...


World Bank Backs Crucial Kambarata HPP Project for Central Asia

ASTANA – The Kyrgyz Republic will receive an $11 million concessional loan and a $2.6 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank to provide...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Investment Climate, Middle Corridor, Oil Exports and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Middle Corridor, Kazakhstan’s oil exports and more. Kazakhstan’s...


Kazakhstan Celebrates Solidarity Day Highlighting Unity on Nauryz 

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is marking Nauryz with the ten-day Nauryznama celebration, which began on March 14. As part of these festivities, March 21 has been designated Solidarity Day, a...


Top Events to Embrace Spirit of Nauryz in This Long Weekend

ASTANA – March brings not only the first signs of spring but also one of Kazakhstan’s most cherished holidays – Nauryz. Celebrated from March 21-25, this holiday marks an...


Kazakhstan, Expertise France Boost Cooperation in Tech, Transport, and Health

ASTANA — Kazakh-French relations continue to strengthen with the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the government of Kazakhstan and the French Development Agency (AFD). Jérémie Pellet, Director General...


Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Exports Reach 16.1 Mln Tons in 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan exported 16.1 million tons of agricultural products worth $5.1 billion in 2024, a 3.9 % increase from the previous year, the Prime Minister’s press service reported...


Kazakhstan Marks 90 Years of Kazakh Poet and First Anthem Co-Author Tumanbai Moldagaliyev

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates 90 years of Kazakh poet Tumanbai Moldagaliyev on March 20, revered for love and nature-themed works, including Kazakhstan’s first national anthem. Through his poetic mastery,...


Recovered Assets to Build New Hematology Center in Oskemen

ASTANA – The Kazakh government allocated returned illegally acquired assets from the Special State Fund to finance the construction of commissioning the Hematology Center in Oskemen worth 33.6 billion...


Tokayev Meets with US Congresswoman Miller to Discuss Strategic Partnership

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasizes the strong and reliable partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States (U.S.) since the country’s independence during a March 20 meeting...


CPC Confirms Oil Shipments Uninterrupted Despite Reported Drone Attack

ASTANA – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has confirmed that oil shipments continue as usual despite ongoing repairs at the Kropotkinskaya pumping station. Russian media and Telegram channels reported...


Kazakh National Music Goes Global on Apple Music, Spotify

ASTANA – State Counselor Erlan Karin attended the launch of the Assyl Mura (Precious Heritage) audio collection, the largest national music archive in Kazakhstan’s history, now available on over...


Assembly of People of Kazakhstan to Convene in April, Celebrating 30th Anniversary

ASTANA—President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced that the 34th session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan will be held on April 23-24, marking the assembly’s 30th anniversary. The...


Children in Astana Showcase Culinary Traditions, Healthy Eating

ASTANA – Our Dastarkhan (table setting in Kazakh) children’s art competition opened its exhibition at the Al-Farabi Schoolchildren’s Palace in Astana ahead of the Nauryz holiday, awarding ten winners...


Ancient Burials in Kazakhstan Reveal High Status of Women in Nomad Culture

ASTANA – Ramazan Zhanuzak, an anthropologist at the Alkey Margulan Institute of Archaeology, spoke about the ancient burials with the high status of women in ancient nomadic societies of...


World Bank: 2025 Begins Strong for Kazakh Economy

ASTANA – The Kazakh economy kicked off 2025 strong, said the World Bank in their March update for the country.  Key details from the update “Early economic indicators suggest...


Honoring Art of Eagle Hunting on Kazakhstan’s National Sports Day

ASTANA – On National Sports Day, celebrated on March 20 as part of the ten-day Nauryz festivities, The Astana Times highlights eagle hunting—an ancient traditional sport that continues to...


Jibek Joly Train to Celebrate Nauryz in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

ASTANA – The Jibek Joly tourist train will set off on its third journey from March 20 to 25, celebrating the Nauryz holiday in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This time,...


Kazakhstan, China Enhance Cooperation in Water Resources

ASTANA — Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar signed documents with China to strengthen interdepartmental cooperation in water resources and archival affairs during his working visit to the...


OECD Secretary-General to Visit Kazakhstan in May for AIF

ASTANA – Mathias Cormann, the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), will visit Kazakhstan for the first time in May to participate in the Astana...


SCO Investors Association Holds First Meeting in Astana

ASTANA – The Association of Investors of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held its first meeting on March 18 in Astana, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press...


Kazakhstan Introduces Mutual Visa-Free Travel with Morocco

ASTANA – The agreement on mutual exemption from visa requirements between Kazakhstan and Morocco came into force on March 19, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Citizens of...


Tokayev Welcomes Outcomes of US-Russia Talks

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the outcomes of the phone call on Ukraine between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Ruslan Zheldibay,...


Kazakhstan’s Pension System Surpasses Singapore and China in Allianz Index

ASTANA – Kazakhstan climbed to 26th place among 71 pension systems in the Allianz Pension Index (API), surpassing Austria, Spain, Chile, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and other countries, the...


Kazakhstan’s Grain Exports Surge by 52.8% in Six Months, Reaching 6.1 Million Tons

ASTANA – Between September 2024 and early March, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy national railway company reported the transportation of 7.7 million tons of grain, which included 1.6 million tons for...


Astana to Join Earth Hour on March 22

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will take part in the Earth Hour 2025 campaign on March 22 at 8.30 p.m. local time. The annual event, initiated by the World...


This is Real Win-Win Partnership, Says EIB Top Executive on Kazakhstan-EU Ties

ASTANA – The European Investment Bank’s global arm, EIB Global, signed a 200 million ($218 million) euro loan agreement with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan on March 13. In...


Kazakhstan’s ‘Narrow Corridor’: Experts Discuss Future Prospects 

ASTANA — The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) hosted an expert meeting to discuss the country’s future, exploring its challenges and opportunities on March 18. The event featured...


Kazakh FM Discusses Investment Opportunities with Japanese Business Leaders During Official Visit

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with representatives of Japan’s business community to discuss ongoing and future projects, as well as potential investment...


Security Council Meeting Reviews National Security and Future Priorities

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired a meeting of the country’s Security Council on March 18 to review the results of the 2024 implementation of the Action Plan...


Kazakh FM Holds Talks with Japanese Officials to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with key Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, during his official...


Kazakh Officials Propose Tax Incentives and Funding to Strengthen Creative Industry

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s creative industry continues to grow, employing some 143,600 people across various sectors, Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva said during a March 18 government meeting....


Kazakhstan Establishes Nuclear Energy Agency to Strengthen Nuclear Safety

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree establishing the Nuclear Energy Agency under the President and appointed Almasadam Satkaliyev as its Chair on March 18...


New Film about Joshy Premieres in Astana, Highlights His Legacy of Tolerance

ASTANA – A new documentary film about the life of the eldest son of Genghis Khan, Joshy Khan, premiered in Astana on March 17. The feature-length documentary, titled “Joshy...


Kazakhstan and China Strengthen Ties in Nuclear Energy Sector

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Shen Yanfeng, the general director of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), on March 17 to explore prospects for cooperation in...


Survey Shows Rising Interest in AI, Digital Skills in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – A recent survey conducted through the eGov mobile application from March 3 to 9 revealed that 79% of respondents are eager to develop artificial intelligence (AI) skills,...


Kazakhstan’s Container Shipments via Trans-Caspian Route Increases 2.7 Times in 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s container shipments via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) increased 2.7 times in 2024, reaching 56,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).  The growth was discussed during a...


Astana Hosts Over 200 Events During Nauryz Celebrations

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital began to host concerts, exhibitions, performances, creative evenings, and other events on March 14 in the ten-day celebration of the Nauryz holiday, reported the...


EXCLUSIVE: Expert Highlights Global Disarmament Path, Kazakhstan’s Leadership

NEW YORK — The Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in New York on March 3-7, underscored both progress...


Kazakhstan Honors Tradition with National Clothing Day 

ASTANA – As part of the Nauryznama decade, Kazakhstan celebrates National Clothing Day on March 18, a tradition that encourages people to wear national attire. The initiative promotes the...


Kazakhstan Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan with partners has provided humanitarian aid to farmers in Logar Province, Afghanistan, as part of the newly launched Promotion of Wheat Cultivation for Sustainable Development in...


Kazakhstan to Establish Six Specially Protected Natural Areas

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will establish six specially protected natural areas, said Daniyar Turgambayev, the chairman of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology, Geology, and...


Kazakh Economy Strengthens Amid Global Challenges Over Last Six Years

ASTANA – Despite challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic and global geopolitical tensions, Kazakhstan has made significant economic progress over the past six years under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s leadership,...


Kazakhstan Expands Cooperation with US in Energy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s delegation, led by Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev, met with representatives of the United States (U.S.) Chamber of Commerce, headed by Senior Vice President Khush Choksy, on...


Historic Milestone for Kazakhstan: Kyzaibay Secures Third World Boxing Gold

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Nazym Kyzaibay won the 2025 International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships from March 9 to 16 in Niš, Serbia, reported the National Olympic...


Canadian Company Secures Critical Minerals License in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Canada-based Condor Energies secured a 6,800-hectare critical minerals exploration license, granted for six years, in Kazakhstan, reported Mining Technology on March 10.  The new Kolkuduk license is...


EDB Forecast: Kazakhstan on Track to Join High-Income Countries by 2028

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is projected to join the ranks of high-income countries by 2028-2029, according to macroeconomic forecast from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) released on March 13. According...


Kazakhstan Explores Alternative Energy Opportunities 

ASTANA – The development of alternative energy sources in Kazakhstan does not necessitate substantial government investments. Instead, market incentives play a much more important role than funding, reported Kazinform.  ...


From Governance to Economics and Welfare: Key Points from Tokayev’s 2022-2024 Reforms

ASTANA – Over the last three years Kazakhstan has undertaken large-scale political, economic and social reforms aimed at building Just Kazakhstan: from modernizing the governance system to improving the...


Adaptive Physical Education Transforms Lives 

ASTANA – For Zhanna Soltanbekova, social entrepreneur and director of the BLUE FOX adaptive physical education center in Ust-Kamenogorsk, physical activity is crucial for children’s development. In an interview...