Seven Regions of Kazakhstan Elect 17 Rural Mayors

ASTANA – Seventeen rural akims (mayors) were elected in seven regions of Kazakhstan on Aug. 13, State Counselor Erlan Karin wrote on his Telegram channel. Over the period of...


Mangystau Region Limits Electricity to Curtail Power Outage During Emergency Shutdown

ASTANA – A power outage in western Kazakhstan caused by another emergency shutdown at the Mangystau Atomic Energy Complex (MAEC) forced the Mangystau Region Akimat (governor’s office) to roll...


Kazakhstan Hosts Joint Military Exercises with Uzbekistan

ASTANA – The second stage of the Kanzhar (Dagger) 2023 joint military exercises of the Kazakh and Uzbek armed forces took place in Aktau, Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry reported on...


Kazakhstan’s Exports of Wheat and Meslin Increase Almost 17%

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has exported 3.3 million tons of wheat and meslin worth $876.7 million over the first five months of this year, a 16.5% increase by volume and...


Kazakhstan to Build More Electric Charging Stations by 2029

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to build more electric charging stations as part of the electric vehicle infrastructure roadmap by 2029, reported the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development on...


Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 4.8% in January-July

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth reached 4.8% in seven months of this year, recording a 4.6% increase in the real sector and 4.7% in the service sector, Minister of...


To Forget Is to Repeat: Karlag Museum Chronicles Dark Legacy of Political Repression

KARAGANDY REGION – The museum of memory of victims of political repressions, known as Karlag (Karagandy corrective labor camp) museum, is housed in the original administrative building of one...


Uranium and Nuclear Energy: Kazakhstan’s Journey Towards Powerful Global Alliance

Kazakhstan holds a valuable resource that is becoming increasingly crucial in the world’s transition away from hydrocarbons: uranium. With 12% of the world’s uranium resources, the nation has emerged...


Tim Draper Reality Show Invites Kazakh Startups to Win $1 Million

ASTANA – The Astana Hub, an international technopark of IT startups, invites Kazakh startups founders to submit their project ideas to the Meet the Drapers reality show about startups,...


Almaty to Host Eurasian Film Market This September

ASTANA – Almaty is set to host the first edition of the Eurasian Film Market (EFM) on Sept. 11-14, reported the Travel Tomorrow on Aug. 7. “Due to its...


Kazakhstan’s Inbound Tourist Flow Doubles in January-March

ASTANA – Nearly 227,700 foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan in January-March, which is 2.3 times more than a year ago, reported the Ministry of Culture and Sports on Aug. 14....


Zhambyl Region to Launch Mineral Fertilizer Production

ASTANA – Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov visited the construction site of a EuroChem-Karatau large chemical complex and new investment projects at the Taraz Chemical Park special economic zone (SEZ)...


Works by Kazakh Artist on Display at Berlin Gallery

ASTANA – The exhibition featuring paintings by Kazakh artist Abai Chunchalinov has opened at the Ars Pro Dono gallery in Berlin, reported the gallery’s press service on its Instagram...


Kazakhstan’s Youth Presidential Reserve to Open Enrollment in September

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve will start enrollment from Sept. 1. This was announced at an Aug. 11 meeting chaired by Head of the Presidential Administration Olzhas...


Destination Samarkand: Unlike Anything You Have Seen Before

SAMARKAND – ASTANA – Samarkand is rightfully Uzbekistan’s most bejeweled and famous city, as its iconic medieval mausoleums, blue mosaics and incredibly delicious cuisine are unlike anything seen before. ...


From Q-pop to Indie and R&B: Dive into Top Kazakh Contemporary Artists

ASTANA – With music festival season at its peak, it is the perfect time to present Kazakhstan’s top artists. From Q-pop (Qazaq-pop) and R&B to Kazakh rap, soul, indie...


Korgalzhyn Reserve Offers Wildlife Encounters with Flamingos and Saiga Antelopes (Video)

AKMOLA REGION – For birdwatchers and nature-­lovers of all ages, the Korgalzhyn state nature reserve allows visitors to get close to a remarkable array of migratory birds and saiga...


New Finds at Ornek Illuminate Ancient Kazakh Culture

ASTANA – Echoes of history reverberate through the Zhambyl Region, where 116 settlements stand as witnesses to the past. Among these, the city of Taraz, with its two-millennial history...


President Tokayev Reaffirms Kazakhstan’s Commitment to OSCE

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored Kazakhstan’s commitment to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as a reliable member state at an Aug. 11 meeting with...


From Kazakhstan Around the World: 73-Year-Old Traveler’s Ambitious Global Journey

ASTANA — It’s a tale of resilience and ambition. A 73-year-old Sarsenbay Kotyrashov, a Kazakh wanderer who was celebrated last year for trekking across all 17 regions of Kazakhstan,...


Constitutional Court Chair Outlines Kazakhstan’s Reforms at International Chief Justice Forum

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court Chairperson Elvira Azimova outlined reforms the country has implemented since the start of the year at the International Chief Justice Forum on Aug. 9-11...


Kazakh Prime Minister Proposes Measures to Develop Aktobe Region

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov instructed to speed up the reconstruction of the Aktobe-Karabutak-Ulgaisyn highway, a part of the Western Europe – Western China International Road Corridor,...


Kazakh President Receives Adviser on Economic Development 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev positively assessed the contribution of Suma Chakrabarti, adviser on economic development, in improving the country’s investment policy at an Aug. 11 meeting, reported the...


Qazaq Air to Launch Direct Flights Between Almaty and Bishkek in September

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s airline Qazaq Air will launch direct flights from Almaty to Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic, on Sep. 11, the airline’s press service reported on Aug. 10. The...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakh-Afghan Ties, New Air Routes, Georgian Prime Minister’s Visit to Kazakhstan and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media across the world. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on the...


Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 5% in First Half of 2023

ASTANA – The growth of Kazakhstan’s economy reached 5 % in the first half of this year, with a 4. 8% increase in the real sector and 4.9 %...


Kazakhstan’s Population Approaches 20 Million People

ASTANA – As of July 1, Kazakhstan’s population reached 19,899,377, with 48.8% of men and 51.2% women, according to an Aug. 10 statement by the Bureau of National Statistics....


Astana Alive: Your Guide to This Weekend’s Must-Attend Events

ASTANA — The vibrant capital is brimming with exciting events this weekend. From art festivals to live concerts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a roundup of the...


Kazakh Chess Players Win Silver and Bronze Medals at World Schools Team Championship

ASTANA – A Kazakh team from Astana took bronze medals in a category under 12. The chess players from Almaty claimed silver in a category under 18 at the...


Kazakhstan and Lithuania Bolster Partnership in Development Assistance

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) and Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation to implement joint projects and strengthen regional...


Kazakh Animated Noir Film Wins Award at France’s Expo 

ASTANA – Seriktes (translated from Kazakh as Partner), an animated noir film made by Kazakh Tasqyn Studio, was recognized as the Best Short Film at the Animated Expressions Expo...


Kazakhstan Marks Day of Abai Kunanbaiuly

ASTANA – Today marks the 178th anniversary of Abai Kunanbaiuly, a renowned Kazakh poet, composer, educator, philosopher, public figure, and the founder of Kazakh written literature and its first...


Pavlodar Region Attracts Nearly $ 771 Million in First Half of This Year

ASTANA – The Pavlodar Region attracted 344 billion tenge ($ 771.2 million) in the first half of 2023, 30% more than in the same period last year, Akim (governor)...


Kazakh Prime Minister Instructs to Simplify Entry for Foreigners

ASTANA – One of the key objectives of the 2023-2027 Migration Policy Concept is to attract highly qualified specialists to Kazakhstan, including entrepreneurs and potential investors, Prime Minister Alikhan...


Kazakhstan and Central Asia in Multipolar World

In late February and early March of this year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in what US media touted as a major upgrade of...


President Tokayev Says Kazakhstan Needs New Economic Model During Regional Visit

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Ekibastuz power plant on Aug. 9 during his working visit to the Pavlodar Region and urged the government and Akim (governor) to...


Kazakh – Kuwaiti Relations Reach New Heights, Says Kuwait’s Ambassador

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and the State of Kuwait celebrated the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year. According to Omar Alkanderi, the Ambassador of Kuwait, who has been...


Kazakh Ministry Announces Number of Days Tourists Spend in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Tourists from Germany, India, South Korea, and the United States spent an average of four days in Kazakhstan, according to the eQonaq information system for registering international...


Kazakhstan Team Wins 20 Medals at Summer FISU World University Games

ASTANA – Kazakh national team secured 20 medals, including two gold, seven silver, and eleven bronze at the Summer International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games, which took...


Kazakh Folk Ensemble Performs Abai’s Songs at Austria’s Oldest Festival 

ASTANA – The Alatau folklore ensemble representing the Kenen Azerbayev Philharmonic of the Zhambyl Region performed works of Abai on the eve of the famous Kazakh poet’s birthday, celebrated...


Kazakhstan Plans to Send 100,000 Tons of Oil to Germany This Month

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to send 100,000 tons of oil to Germany via the Druzhba oil pipeline in August, despite the shutdown of one of its strings due to...


Saudi Company Installs Central Asia’s Largest Wind Turbine in Uzbekistan

ASTANA — ACWA Power, a Saudi-listed company, installed the first wind turbine at the Bash wind farm project in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, the company’s press service reported...


Astana Football Team Wins Home Match of Europa League

ASTANA — Astana football team won (2:1) a home match against Ludogorets team (Bulgaria) in the third qualifying round of the Europa League on Aug. 8, Sports.kz reported. Grigory...


Shrinking Caspian Sea and Pollution Lead to Unwanted Consequences

ASTANA – According to forecasts by scientists, the Caspian Sea’s water level is expected to decrease by nearly four meters over the next decade. Over the past 15 years,...


Astana to Host Digital Bridge Int’l Technology Forum in October

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will host the Digital Bridge 2023 international technology forum on Oct. 12-13 to address the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the modern world,...


Kazakhstan’s Migration Policy Delivers First in Decade Positive Migration Balance 

ASTANA — The implementation of the migration policy concept ensured a positive migration balance for the first time in the past ten years, Tamara Duissenova, Deputy Prime Minister and...


Kazakh Capital to Host International Circus Festival “Echo of Asia” This Week 

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital will host the 14th international festival of circus art, “Echo of Asia,” on Aug. 9, to commemorate Astana’s 25th anniversary, reported the capital’s administration...


Kostanai Region Plans to Create International Logistics Hub

ASTANA — The Kostanai business community proposed to create an international logistics hub and build a dry port in the region to expand the country’s export potential during an...


Heroes of Animal Care Recount Challenges and Advantages of Profession

ASTANA – Veterinarians dedicate their lives to rescuing and treating animals, striving to provide the best possible care. Victoria Malakhova, a veterinarian from Kazakhstan, spoke to the Astana Times...


Kazakh President Instructs to Improve Quality of Life for People With Special Needs

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart received Ombudsperson for the Rights of Socially Vulnerable Categories of the Population Svetlana Zhakupova on Aug. 7 to discuss ways to improve the quality...