Astana Attracts Nearly $2.5 Billion in Investments Over 10 Months of 2024

ASTANA – Over ten months of this year, Astana has attracted nearly 1.3 trillion tenge ($2.5 billion) in investments, while industrial production volumes increased approximately 7% compared to 2023,...


National Bank of Kazakhstan Raises Base Rate to 15.25%

ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) decided on Nov. 29 to increase the base rate to 15.25% per annum with a corridor...


KazISS Reviews Women’s Representation in 2023 Maslikhat Elections 

ASTANA — The 2023 maslikhat (local representative bodies) elections in Kazakhstan highlighted the continued efforts toward achieving gender parity with a 30% quota initiative introduced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev...


Smart Centers Index Ranks Astana Second in Eastern Europe & Central Asia

ASTANA – Astana is ranked second in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the 10th edition of the Smart Centers Index (SCI 10), published by independent experts Z/Yen. Cyprus...


Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Offers Promising but Costly Alternative for Kazakhstan’s Oil Export, Experts Say

ASTANA – The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is viewed by experts as a promising alternative for Kazakhstan’s oil exports, but its expansion comes with significant cost challenges, as transporting oil...


Weekend Highlights: Must-Attend Activities in Astana and Almaty

ASTANA – Relax this weekend after a working week by visiting inspiring concerts and thought-provoking exhibitions to captivating spectacles. There is something for everyone to enjoy. The Astana Times...


Kazakh Educator Receives Spain’s Prestigious Cultural Honor

ASTANA — Aizhan Kusainova-Oran, director of the Sin Fronteras Spanish Center, has become the second Kazakh citizen to receive Spain’s prestigious Order of Isabella the Catholic. Spanish Ambassador to...


Tokayev Reviews Outcomes of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship in CSTO During Astana Session

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reviewed outcomes of the country’s chairmanship in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) during a Nov. 28 CSTO Collective Security Council session. The...


Kazakhstan, Russia Open Al-Farabi University Branch at Interregional Cooperation Forum

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the 20th Forum of Kazakhstan-Russia Interregional Cooperation, which was held on...


Kazakh & Russian Presidents Discuss Cooperation Prospects, Sign Joint Statement

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a state visit, discussed cooperation prospects in the trade and economic, transport and...


Dimash Qudaibergen’s New Music Video Shows Beauty of Kazakh Land

ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen unveiled his new music video for the song “Kieli Meken” (“Sacred Homeland” in Kazakh) on Nov. 27. “This project is a heartfelt tribute...


US Congress Considers Granting Kazakhstan Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status

ASTANA – The U.S. Congress is exploring ways to strengthen ties with Kazakhstan, including granting the country Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. However, progress is stalled by the...


Kazakh Tourism: Data Shows 50% Increase in Visitors from China

ASTANA – The number of Chinese tourists visiting Kazakhstan continues to rise; from January to October, the figure reached 550,000, exceeding the figure for 2023 with 367,000 visitors, said...


EDB Advances Key Projects in Central Asia: Investments, Water Management, and Energy Transition

ASTANA – Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and member of Kazakhstan’s Foreign Investors Council, shared his perspectives on Kazakhstan’s strategic position...


President Tokayev Meets with Russia’s President Ahead of High-Level Talks

ASTANA – Relations between Kazakhstan and Russia are based on a very solid foundation of strategic partnership and alliance, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a narrow-format meeting with Russian...


Kazakhstan Establishes Visa-Free Regime with Saint Kitts and Nevis

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has approved an agreement on exemption from short-term visa requirements with Saint Kitts and Nevis, following a government resolution on Nov. 20, reported Online.zakon.kz. The resolution...


Four Kazakh Restaurants Enter La Liste’s Top-1000 Restaurants 2025

ASTANA – The prestigious French restaurant ranking guide La Liste has included four Kazakh establishments in its Top-1000 Restaurants 2025 list, announced on Nov. 25. Ogonyok in Almaty received...


“Money Heist” Director Starts Filming Netflix Movie About Karlag

ASTANA – Miguel Ángel Vivas, the acclaimed Spanish director of “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”), has started filming “The Truce” (“La Tregua”), a Kazakh-Spanish movie about Karlag under an...


Astana Hub’s Revenue Surges 31-Fold to $2.3 Billion Over 5 Years

ASTANA – The Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups demonstrates growth, with participant revenue soaring 31-fold to 1.2 trillion tenge ($2.3 billion) since its establishment in 2018, Minister...


Kazakhstan Should Address Employment Challenges for People with Disabilities

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives and meaningful conversations, we believe that this new section...


Kazakhstan Allocates Recovered Funds to Build School in Atyrau Region

ASTANA – The Kazakh government will allocate two billion tenge (US$3.9 million) from returned illegally acquired assets to build a school for 150 students in the village of Zhamansor...


Kazakhstan Reaffirms Support for UN Goals in Promoting Inter-civilizational Dialogue

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to continue promoting the UN goals and objectives for inter-civilizational dialogue, said Maulen Ashimbayev, the chairman of the Senate, an upper house of the...


Kazakhstans IT Exports Surge: On Track for $600 Million in 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s IT services exports grew to $306 million in the first half of 2024. This volume is expected to exceed $600 million by year-end. Over five years,...


Railway Upgrades to Bolster Kazakhstan’s Role in Global Logistics

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is implementing measures to enhance its transport connectivity through five main international railway corridors connecting Chinese markets with Europe and Central Asia, said Kazakh Transport Minister...


Kazakhstan Sets Strategic Course for Reviving and Preserving National Horse Breeds

ASTANA — Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin held a Nov. 25 meeting to outline the strategic objectives and development plans for the Institute of Horse Breeding and Forage Production,...


Kazakhstan Expands Network of Terminals Along TITR

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is expanding a network of terminals along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev announced this...


Turkistan Region Hosts Competition to Crown Fastest Tazy Dog

ASTANA — A competition showcasing the finest Tazy dogs, Kazakhstan’s iconic hunting greyhounds, concluded in the Turkistan Region on Nov. 25 with the crowning of Taimas as the most...


‘Energy in Transition’ Exhibition Concludes Central Asia Tour in Astana

ASTANA – The “Energy in Transition – Powering Tomorrow” traveling exhibition opened on Nov. 25 at Nazarbayev University in Astana – its final stop in Central Asia after visiting...


Dimash Qudaibergen Brings Stranger Show to Düsseldorf

ASTANA – Just two days after a sold-out performance in Prague, Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen and his team held a solo concert in Düsseldorf on Nov. 24. According to...


Project Sapphire: 30th Anniversary of US-Kazakh Mission to Promote Safer & More Secure World

ASTANA – This year marks the 30th anniversary of Project Sapphire. This landmark operation took place in 1994 and involved removing 600 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU) from...


Almaty Hosts 17th Eurasia International Film Festival

ASTANA – The 17th Eurasia International Film Festival kicked off on Nov. 24 in Almaty, bringing together international actors, directors and producers. The opening ceremony featured a theatrical show...


Trans-Caspian International Transport Route: First Container Train Leaves Baku for Xian on Return Trip

ASTANA – The first container train on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route’s (TITR) return trip from Baku (Azerbaijan) to Xian (China) via Kazakhstan was officially launched on Nov. 24....


Kazakh Students Tackle Gender-Based Violence at UN Case Championship

ASTANA — A citywide case championship organized by United Nations (UN) agencies and local partners at the Maqsut Narikbayev University on Nov. 25 marked the start of the global...


Sustainable Transport Key to Achieving Asia-Pacific Region’s Development Ambitions

Across the Asia-Pacific region, especially in urban centers, electric cars and buses are increasingly replacing gasoline-powered ones as a means of transportation. Aided by the ubiquity of smart devices,...


Kazakh Composer Wins Silver Medal of London’s Company of Musicians

ASTANA – Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin, a Kazakh composer, pianist, and Bolashak scholarship recipient, became the first from Kazakhstan to receive the prestigious 2024 Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of...


Kazakh Foreign Policy Advances with Successful Visits to Serbia and Hungary

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev marked significant milestones last week with an official visit to Serbia and a state visit to Hungary. The agreements and discussions from these...


Kazakh Film Wins Best Cinematography Nomination at Asia World Film Festival

ASTANA – Zhanarbek Yeleubek received the Best Cinematography nomination for his work on the film “Bauyryna salu” (Adoption) at the Asia World Film Festival (AWFF), held on Nov. 13-21...


Kazakhstan Plans to Export 68.8 Million Tons of Oil This Year

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to export nearly 68.8 million tons of oil in 2024, based on production forecasts of 88.4 million tons, Kazakh Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev said at...


Kazakh PM: Digital Solutions to Combat Shadow Economy, Improve Budget Efficiency

ASTANA – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted in a Nov. 25 meeting focused on digital solutions that these innovations are crucial in combating the shadow economy, improving tax and...


Kazakhstan to Compensate Oil Overproduction Under OPEC+ Deal Until 2025

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will address its accumulated overproduction of oil under the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreement by September 2025 as part of a comprehensive compensation...


Kazakhstan Set to Expand Business Partnership with Croatia

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković on Nov. 22 to discuss enhancing political dialogue and expanding...


Kazakhstan Marks 30 Years of UN Child Rights Convention

ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry hosted a ceremony to unveil a commemorative postage stamp block, marking the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s ratification of the UN Convention on the...


Kazakh Citizens Assess Changes in Lifestyle Over Past 33 Years

ASTANA – Nearly three-quarters of Kazakhstan citizens surveyed recently by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) positively assess the changes in their families over the past 33 years....


Magic of Social Dancing in Kazakhstan: Making Connections Through Movement

ASTANA – Imagine moving to a new city where you do not know anyone. Who can you talk to? Where can you find friends? The answer might surprise you—at...


Discover Aktau: Kazakhstan’s Key Port, Oil Hub and Future Capital of Turkic World

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, with a focus on the marvelous city of Aktau. We aim to unveil the...


Jibek Joly Tourist Train Sets Off on First Journey via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

ASTANA – A tourist train, dubbed Jibek Joly (Silk Road), departed from Almaty on Nov. 16 on a five-day journey via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, reported the press service of...


What COP29 in Baku Taught Me About Climate Action (and Inaction)

There is something surreal about attending a global climate event like COP29. One day, you are reporting on the massive floods that hit your home country, Kazakhstan, resulting from...


Bayanaul’s Balbals: Stone Guardians of Ancient History

ASTANA — The majestic mountains of Bayanaul have long attracted travelers with their beauty and mystery. However, not everyone knows that these lands conceal a rich legacy of ancient...


Naz State Dance Theater Celebrates 25 Years with Premiere of Aldar Kose

ASTANA — The Naz State Dance Theater celebrated its 25th anniversary with the premiere of “Aldar Kose,” a choreographic performance that beautifully combines traditional Kazakh dance with contemporary movement,...


Kazakh Documentary Film Wins Awards at California Best Shorts Competition

ASTANA – The Kazakh documentary film “Shekteusiz Umit” (Endless Hope) directed by Marat Teleuov received the award of merit at California-based Best Shorts Competition in the Documentary Short and...