Kazakhstan Boosts Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Exports

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will increase oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to 1.7 million tons in 2025 and strengthen energy cooperation with Türkiye, said Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Foreign Policy, Youth Power and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan’s dynamic foreign policy, renewed cooperation with Türkiye and...


Transport Drives Growth, Tokayev Says at Industry Ceremony

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the strategic role of Kazakhstan’s transport sector on Aug. 1 in Astana, marking Transport Workers’ Day. Addressing industry professionals, he outlined key infrastructure...


Trump Signs Order Imposing 25% Tariff on Kazakh Imports

ASTANA — United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 31, imposing new tariffs on imports from nearly 70 countries, including Kazakhstan. Under the order, Kazakh...


Kazakhstan Expands Investor Services at Astana Financial Center

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Investment Committee and Kazakh Invest national company launched a joint front office at the Astana International Financial Centre’s (AIFC) Expat Centre on July 30 to enhance...


Tokayev Strengthens Kazakhstan–Türkiye Strategic Partnership

The official visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Türkiye holds multidimensional and strategic significance that extends far beyond diplomatic protocol. The visit stands out as part of an ongoing...


UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Visit Kazakhstan

ASTANA — The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Aug. 3 as part of his ongoing engagement in Central Asia. According to the UN’s...


Kazakhstan Prosecutors Freeze 98,000 Drug Accounts Worth $4.2 Million

ASTANA – As of July 31, more than 98,000 drug accounts, valued at over 2.3 billion tenge (approximately US$4.2 million), have been blocked in Kazakhstan, according to the Prosecutor...


EVs Make Up Less Than 1% of Kazakh Cars, But Interest is Rising

ASTANA – Electric vehicles (EVs) make up less than 1% of Kazakhstan’s car fleet. However, the number is slowly rising as more drivers show interest in eco-friendly transport, according...


Step into August with Rhythm, Art, and Chance to Break Away 

ASTANA – The first weekend of August brings a vibrant mix of live music, bold art, and outdoor getaways. Whether you are wandering city streets or heading into nature,...


Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic Agree on Additional Water Supply

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic reached an agreement on additional supply of water volumes lost due to drought and low inflow during a July 28 meeting between...


Kazakhstan Reports Industrial Growth, 47 Projects Already Implemented

ASTANA – Of 190 projects worth nearly 1.5 trillion tenge (US$2.7 billion) planned for this year, Kazakhstan has implemented 47 valued at 196 billion tenge (US$360.4 million), creating over...


Middle Corridor Declaration Time Reduced from 8 Hours to 30 Minutes

ASTANA – The time required to file declarations on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been reduced from eight hours to 30 minutes, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Chairman Talgat Aldybergenov...


Nation Leads Central Asia in Reducing Premature NCD Deaths

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian country to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 target of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by 25%,...


Kazakh National Bank Intervenes as Tenge Faces Speculative Pressure

ASTANA – The Kazakh tenge reached 550 per US dollar during trading on July 30, weakening by 5.8% since the beginning of the month or by 4.7% since the...


Industrial Output Grows 6.5% in First Half of 2025

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s industrial production rose by 6.5% in the first six months of 2025, driven by an 8.4% increase in the mining sector and a 5.5% gain in...


Kazakhstan Targets 3.5-Fold Boost in Agricultural Exports by 2030

ASTANA – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has outlined plans to increase Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports 3.5 times by 2030, according to his response to a parliamentary inquiry. “To strengthen the...


Kazakhstan to Launch Logistics Hubs in Three Regions by 2027

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to open logistics complexes, including multimodal centers and dry ports, in Almaty, Astana, and the Kostanai Region by 2027, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said in...


Kazakhstan Opens First University in Russia, Showcases Its Work

ASTANA – Kazakhstan became the first Central Asian country to open a university branch in Russia, launching a campus of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) at Omsk State University...


China Reaffirms Support for SCO in Meeting with Secretary General

ASTANA – Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Nurlan Yermekbayev met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on July 25 during a credential presentation ceremony for newly appointed...


Kazakhstan, Türkiye Advance Strategic Partnership at High-Level Talks in Ankara

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met in Ankara on July 29 to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and co-chaired the fifth meeting of...


Climate Pressures Are Redefining Macroeconomic Resilience in Asia and Pacific

In the past year, Asia and the Pacific has faced intensifying climate pressures, from extreme heat in Bangladesh and India to devastating floods in northern Thailand and rising food...


New Deals Boost Kazakhstan-Türkiye Economic Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed an investment agreement worth 160 billion tenge (US$294.3 million) with Tiryaki Holding, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of grain, oilseeds, and feed,...


Kazakhstan Secures Exemption to Continue Coal Exports to Europe

ASTANA – Kazakhstan reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) on July 29 to allow the continued transit of its coal exports to Europe, despite the EU’s ongoing...


Dimash’s Song Airs on World Famous  Radio Disney in Mexico for First Time

ASTANA – Dimash Qudaibergen’s song “Love’s Not Over Yet” has entered regular rotation on all Radio Disney stations in Mexico, one of the world’s leading music radio brands, DimashNews...


Water from China Allows Kapshagai Reservoir to Reach Full Capacity

ASTANA – Kazakhstan received 10.2 billion cubic meters of water from China in the first half of 2025, enabling the Kapshagai reservoir in the Almaty Region to reach 100%...


Kazakhstan Opens Innovation Hub in Shanghai to Boost Tech Ties with China

ASTANA – Kazakhstan opened the Khan Tengri Innovation Hub on July 28 in Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, known as Asia’s Silicon Valley, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development,...


Kazakhstan Reports 16 Million Air, Rail Travelers in First Half of 2025

ASTANA – More than 16 million people used Kazakhstan’s rail and air transport in the first half of 2025, the Civil Aviation Committee reported on July 28. Railways transported...


What We Know about Data Leak Affecting 16 Million Kazakh Citizens

ASTANA – A database containing personal information of nearly 16 million Kazakh citizens was leaked in June, sparking fresh concerns about data security. As an official investigation is underway,...


Kazakh Opera Singer Wins Top Prize at International Competition in Italy

ASTANA – Kazakh soprano Aigerim Altynbek became the first representative from Central Asia to win the International Opera Competition CLIP 2025 in Italy, reported the Ministry of Culture and...


AIFC Reports Mid-Year Results With $ 2.6 Billion Investment Growth

ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) attracted $2.6 billion in investments in the first half of 2025, bringing its total investment volume to more than $16.9 billion,...


ADB Raises Growth Outlook for Central Asia, Warns of Rising Inflation

ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) revised its growth forecast for economies in the Caucasus and Central Asia upward to 5.5% for 2025 and 5.1% for 2026, up...


Kazakh National Currency Weakens as Market Forces Drive Decline

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is experiencing a sharp depreciation of its national currency, as the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar surpassed 540 tenge at currency exchange offices on July...


Dimash to Become First Kazakh Artist to Headline Madison Square Garden

ASTANA – World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen will perform a solo concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on Oct. 5, becoming the first artist from Kazakhstan and...


Kazakhstan, Türkiye to Deepen Strategic Ties at High-Level Council Meeting in Ankara

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay an official visit to Türkiye on July 29, during which he is scheduled to hold high-level talks with President Recep Erdoğan aimed...


Kazakhstan, UK Relations Flourish Under Envoy Leach’s Tenure: Education, Innovation and Shared Vision

ASTANA – As British Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach concludes her four-year diplomatic mission, she reflects on the major strides made in bilateral relations, trade, infrastructure, and cultural diplomacy...


Saka Burial Grounds: Prehistoric Silk Road on UNESCO Tentative List

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its Forgotten Cities of the Silk Road series, exploring Kazakhstan’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites. This edition highlights the early Silk Roads corridor...


Over 80 UAE Falcons Released into Wild in Karagandy Region

ASTANA – A total of 81 falcons were released into their natural habitat in Kazakhstan’s Karagandy Region from May 15 to 17, Kazinform reported. The group included 48 peregrine...


After Health Scare, She Turned Her Camera Toward Women Fighting for Their Lives

ASTANA – Kazakh photographer Anel Bazylova sheds light on women living with cancer and rare genetic conditions in her powerful portrait series titled “Be.” Her work earned international recognition...


Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to Join Efforts in Saiga Reintroduction

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are to sign a memorandum of understanding on saiga conservation with the prospect of saiga antelope reintroduction on the territory of Uzbekistan, reported the...


Kazakhstan Premieres Documentary to Mark 100th Heart Transplant

ASTANA – A life-saving operation and a milestone moment in Kazakhstan’s medical history were brought to the screens on July 24, as the Heart Center Foundation and University Medical...


Kazakhstan’s Renewable Energy Share Hits 6.8% in First Half of 2025

ASTANA – Renewable energy sources (RES) provided 6.81% of Kazakhstan’s total electricity output in the first half of 2025, Qazaq Green reported on July 24, citing the Energy Ministry....


From Culture to Horse Racing: What’s On This Weekend in Astana and Almaty

ASTANA – Had a busy working week? Here’s your chance to unwind by visiting festivals, exhibitions, and captivating spectacles. There is something to suit every mood. The Astana Times...


Kazakhstan Provides Free AI Training Programs for All Ages and Professions

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, in partnership with the Astana Hub technopark of IT startups, implements major free educational projects in artificial...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s First NPP, Veil Ban and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the country’s role in addressing Central Asia’s water crisis,...


Kazakhstan Monetizes Returned Assets With Growing Auction Sales in 2025

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Returned Asset Management Company has raised 198.5 million tenge (US$365,885) through auctions since the beginning of 2025, selling confiscated jewelry, luxury watches, collectible coins, and real...


President Tokayev to Visit Ankara Next Week

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay an official visit to Türkiye on July 29 at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reported Akorda. In Ankara, they will...


Kazakhstan Rises in Global Passport Ranking, Leads Central Asia

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has improved its global standing in the Henley Passport Index, climbing three positions to 63rd place, the highest among Central Asian countries. This rise reflects the...


Kazakhstan Presents Third Voluntary National Review at UN Forum

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s third Voluntary National Review (VNR) was presented at the UN high-level political forum on sustainable development on July 24 in New York, reported the Kazakh Ministry...


Kazakhstan’s Oil Sector Contributes $7 Billion to National Fund in 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national  fund contributions from the oil sector in 2024 amounted to 3.8 trillion tenge (US$7 billion), according to the report on the formation and use of...