Astana Unveils Premier Creative Hub for Cultural Renaissance – ÓzgeEpic

ASTANA – Akim (Mayor) of Astana Zhenis Kassymbek announced the inauguration of Astana’s creative hub, ÓzgeEpic, on his Instagram page on July 17. Situated within the Mirny Dom (Peaceful...


Kazakhstan’s Akmola Region Hosts Major Int’l Agricultural Exhibition

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Akmola Region hosts a large-scale international exhibition called Jana Dala/Green Day 2024 on July 18-19. Over 200 companies from Kazakhstan and 20 countries from near and...


50 Days Left Until Kazakhstan Hosts Fifth World Nomad Games

ASTANA — Just 50 days remain until the grand start of the Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG) in Astana from Sept. 8-13. This prestigious international event, renowned for showcasing...


Almaty-Based Auyl Restaurant Listed Among World’s 16 Most Beautiful Restaurants

ASTANA – Almaty-based Auyl (village in the Kazakh) restaurant, offering neo-nomad cuisine of Central Asia, has been included in the list of the 16 Most Beautiful Restaurants in the...


Kazakh Athletes Leave for 2024 Paris Olympics (Video)

ASTANA – Kazakh athletes departed for the 2024 Paris Games on July 17. Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev, famous boxing champion Yermakhan Ibraimov, the 2000 Sydney...


Kazakhstan Emerges as EU’s Primary Supplier of Durum Wheat

ASTANA — Kazakhstan delivered 19,062 tons of durum wheat to European Union (EU) countries from July 1 to 14, accounting for 68.5% of the total shipment, according to the...


Asian Development Bank: Growth Prospects for Kazakhstan Remain Unchanged

ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) maintained Kazakhstan’s economic growth forecast for 2024 at 3.8%, according to the latest edition of Asian Development Outlook 2024, released on July...


Kazakh PM Urges to Accelerate Restoration Work in Flood-Affected Regions

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the acceleration of housing restoration efforts in the flood-affected regions at the July 17 government meeting. As a result of flooding,...


Kazakhstan Generates Industrial Goods Worth $50 Billion in the First Half of 2024

ASTANA — Kazakhstan produced industrial products worth 23.5 trillion tenge (US$49.4 billion) in January-June. Of them, the mining industry made up 10.7 trillion tenge (US$22.5 billion), and the manufacturing...


Environmental Protection Expenditures Rise by 37.2% Last Year

ASTANA – In 2023, environmental protection expenses reached 610 billion tenge (US$1.3 billion), which is 37.2% more than in 2022. According to the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan,...


We Must Accelerate Transformative Action against Climate Change, Poverty, and Hunger

The Asia-Pacific region is faltering on decades of progress in reducing poverty and hunger. Increasingly, severe climate-related hazards are threatening food security and triggering human displacement on an unprecedented...


Kazakh Citizens Can Stay in Thailand Up to 60 Days Visa-Free

ASTANA—The Tourism Authority of Thailand included Kazakhstan among countries now eligible for more extended visa-free stays in Thailand. Under the updated rules, Kazakh citizens and nationals of 92 other...


Kazakhstan Returns $2.2 Billion of Illegally Withdrawn Assets in 2.5 Years

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has returned 1.07 trillion tenge (US$2.2 billion) in illegally withdrawn assets over the past 2.5 years, including from oligopolies, said Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Service Askhat...


Zhambyl Region Launches Large Enterprise to Produce Copper Concentrate

ASTANA — The Zhambyl Region marked the technical launch of the Shatyrkol concentrating plant, which can produce 98,600 tons of copper concentrate annually. The plant is planned to achieve...


KazMunayGas and Italy’s Eni Start Hybrid Power Plant Construction in Zhanaozen

ASTANA — KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil and gas company, and Italian energy company Eni have initiated the construction of a 247-megawatt hybrid power plant in Zhanaozen on July...


2024 Paris Games: Kazakh Olympic Committee Presents Badges in National Style

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee has prepared badges decorated with national ornaments for the Paris Games. Kazakh athletes have secured 92 licenses in 25 sports, including boxing, judo,...


Twelve Kazakh Referees Selected for 2024 Paris Olympics

ASTANA—Twelve referees from Kazakhstan will work at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which are scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 11. The list of specialists who received an invitation to...


Mads Mikkelsen to Headline Comic Con Astana, Confirms Visit with Exclusive Video Message

ASTANA — Renowned actor Mads Mikkelsen has confirmed his participation at this year’s Comic Con Astana, which will take place between July 27 and 28. Known globally for his...


Kazakh Airlines Transport 5.5 Million Passengers Since Year-Start

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s airlines have transported nearly 5.5 million passengers since the beginning of the year. According to the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service, this figure is 17% higher...


Euronews Sets to Open Regional Office in Kazakh Capital 

ASTANA — Euronews, Europe’s leading international news channel, will open a regional representative office in the Kazakh capital. Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva met with Pedro...


KazAID Presents Kazakhstan’s Efforts to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals at Beijing Conference  

ASTANA – The Kazakh delegation, led by Chairman of Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) Arken Arystanov, presented country’s role in the Central Asian region in promoting international development...


Latest Report Highlights Structural Barriers in Developing Competition, Promising Changes with New Law

ASTANA—A high level of market concentration remains in Kazakhstan, and the substantial role of the state in the economy is a key barrier to the development of competition, according...


WPC Energy Congress in Kazakhstan to Define Next Era in Energy 

ASTANA—The Kazakh capital will host the 26th World Petroleum Council (WPC) Energy Congress in 2028. This event marks a significant milestone for the entire region, providing participants with the...


National Museum of Kazakhstan Presents Fine Art Catalog for 10th Anniversary

ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan has presented a catalog of its best masterpieces of fine art released as part of the exhibition Painting of the Steppe: Symbols,...


Five Years of Transformation: President Tokayev’s Impact on Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Five years ago, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev officially assumed the presidency of Kazakhstan after winning a competitive open election. This marked the beginning of significant changes and challenges in...


Kazakhstan Exports 2.6 Million Tons of Grain in Five Months of 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan exported 2.6 million tons of grain in January-May this year, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov said at a meeting on July 15. According to the ministry’s...


Kazakhstan Enhances Investment Cooperation with Türkiye

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is keen on strengthening investment cooperation and jointly developing new markets with Turkish partners, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Nazira Nurbayeva said during negotiations with 35 large...


Kazakhstan Focuses on Precision AI Development with New Law and Committee

ASTANA — Based on best world practices, the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry and the Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, developed a...


National Bank Chairman Reports Inflation Slowdown to President Tokayev

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received a comprehensive briefing from the Chairman of the National Bank Timur Suleimenov on the current economic situation and the outcomes of the monetary...


Durov on Kazakhstan: Beauty Only Rivaled by Its Ambitions, Says Telegram Founder

ASTANA – Pavel Durov, founder of the largest social networking site VK and the Telegram messenger app, recently returned from Kazakhstan, “the economic powerhouse of Central Asia,” stating that...


Kazakhstan Discusses Green Locomotives Production with Wabtec

ASTANA – Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and CEO of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) Rafael Santana discussed the company’s plans to produce new generation green...


Kazakhstan to Introduce Four Gas Processing Plants by 2030

ASTANA—Kazakhstan plans to commission four gas processing plants gradually from 2026 to 2030. These plants will process raw materials from the Kashagan field, which has capacities of one billion...


Burabay Summer Camp Welcomes Ethnic Kazakh Children From Abroad 

ASTANA – The Otandastar (compatriots) Foundation and the IQanat Foundation welcomed ethnic Kazakh children living abroad for the Jas Qazaq summer camp, which operated from June 24 to July...


Kazakh Researcher Discusses Water Scarcity, Regional Cooperation Mechanisms

ASTANA—The future of water in Central Asia may look grim – rapidly growing population, climate change, and add inefficient water use to that. But regional cooperation, though varied, gives...


“The Legend”: Dimash Kudaibergen Performs Soundtrack for Jackie Chan’s New Film

ASTANA – The highly anticipated new film by Jackie Chan, “The Legend,” was released in cinemas on July 12. The film’s end features the soundtrack “This Love,” performed by...


Top 10 Youngest Kazakh Athletes at Summer Olympics

ASTANA – A 17-year-old taekwondo fighter Batyrkhan Toleugali will be the youngest participant from Kazakhstan at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 11. However,...


Kazakhstan’s First-Half Year Economic Review Highlights $318.3 Million in New Investments

ASTANA — In January-June, 18 projects worth 151 billion tenge (US$318.3 million) were introduced in Kazakhstan. Of these, foreign investments reached 122.7 billion tenge (US$258.7 million). The operational headquarters...


Kazakh School Students Win Four Bronze Medals at International Biology Olympiad

ASTANA — Kazakh school students won four bronze medals at the 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO), which took place in the capital from July 7 to 14. The event...


Kazakh Government to Intensify Support for Agriculture Investment Projects

ASTANA – Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture and Kazakh Invest national company assist 55 projects with the participation of foreign investors worth $3.8 billion. At a meeting chaired by Deputy...


Turkish School Children Visit Kazakhstan as Part of Initiative Devoted to Abai’s Legacy

ASTANA – Fourteen Turkish school children visited Kazakhstan last week as part of the initiative to promote the legacy of Kazakh great poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbaiuly. In April,...


Kazakh Confectionery Factory Produces Limited Batch of Chocolate Bars to Celebrate Paris Olympics

ASTANA — The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Kazakhstan and the Bayan Sulu confectionery factory produced a limited batch of chocolate bars to support the national team ahead of...


Generative AI, Future of Work, Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: Insights on Kazakhstan from Coursera’s Top Executive

ASTANA—Nikolaz Foucaud, managing director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Coursera, commended the partnership with Kazakhstan in an interview with The Astana Times. Foucaud discussed how generative artificial...


Tenge Ilu: Traditional Kazakh Equestrian Sport

ASTANA — Born from the battlefield and steeped in tradition, tenge ilu, or ‘picking up coins,’ is a captivating Kazakh equestrian sport. What began as a training exercise for...


Recent Discoveries in Kazakh Archaeology: Ancient Cities, Artifacts and Burials

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has emerged as a significant site for remarkable archaeological discoveries, revealing the area’s rich history and culture of ancient civilizations. Several important findings have been made,...


Kazakh, Italian Companies Launch Educational Project for Furniture Design 

ASTANA — As European companies seek more trade and economic cooperation in Central Asia, Kazakh and Italian business people are launching educational projects for furniture design, with Astana as a...


Italy’s Neos Airlines Launches Milan – Astana Route

ASTANA – The first direct flight from Milan landed in Astana on July 13 morning operated by Italy’s Neos, marking a significant boost to Kazakh-Italian relations. The airline has...


Kazakh Athletes Saw Triumphs and Trials Through Olympic History

ASTANA – The qualification tournaments for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have recently concluded. Eighty athletes will represent Kazakhstan in 25 sports, including boxing, judo, artistic gymnastics, kayaking...


New Law Amendments Give Kazakhstan’s Kostanai Horse Breed Chance to Survive

ASTANA – Horse breeders in Kazakhstan are celebrating new amendments to the law on the preservation and reproduction of domestic horse breeds, signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on June...


Kazakhstan’s Aluminum Exports Grow 4.7 Times in Four Months

ASTANA – The volume of aluminum exports in Kazakhstan increased 4.7 times from 16,000 tons to 75,400 tons from January to April, the Industry and Construction Ministry’s press service...


Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to Double Mutual Trade to $10 Billion

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan aim to double their mutual trade to $10 billion, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during the 21st meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission...