Kazakh Population Assesses Work of State Agencies

ASTANA – The Strategy Social and Political Research Center conducted a survey of 2,400 respondents across the country in December, assessing the population’s approval of the activities...


Diplomacy of Spirit in Kazakhstan

This past October in Astana, Kazakhstan, I sat down with Ambassador Bulat Sarsenbayev, the chairman of the board of the Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and...


Astana Airport Welcomes 7.5 Millionth Passenger

ASTANA – Astana’s International Airport served 7.5 million passengers, setting a record on Dec. 25, reported the Kazakh Transport Ministry’s press service. “We visited relatives in Almaty...


Kazakh Passport Power Soars in 2023: 82 Visa-Free Countries, New Deals with China and EU

ASTANA — This year, the list of visa-free countries for holders of Kazakhstan’s passports has been expanded to 82 states for various categories of passports, including 29...


Samarkand Hosts World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships This Week

ASTANA – Samarkand hosts the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Dec. 26-30, reported the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) press service on Dec. 25.  FIDE President...


Kazakh Foreign Ministry Recaps Progress in International Relations in 2023

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov summed up the results of the ministry’s work in 2023, packed with major international events, high-level meetings, and new...


Kazakh President Takes Part in Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Meeting in St. Petersburg

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed technological cooperation, integrated information systems, and food security of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) at a Dec. 25 meeting of...


IMF World Economic Outlook: Kazakhstan Leads in GDP Growth Among Central Asian, CIS States

ASTANA – Kazakhstan occupies a leading position in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) among the countries of Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),...


Kazakhstan’s AIFC Spotlights Achievements and Growth Strategies

ASTANA – As the end of the year approaches, Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Governor Renat Bekturov discussed the accomplishments of the center and shed light on...


Kazakhstan’s Exports to EAEU Countries Increase by 90%

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exports to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) increased by 90% from $5.1 billion in 2015 to $9.7 billion in 2022, Minister...


AI Language Models in Process of Adaptation to Kazakh Language

ASTANA – Til-Qazyna National Scientific and Practical Center named after Shaisultan Shayakhmetov announced its readiness to adapt existing international large language models (LLM) to the Kazakh language...


Dimash Kudaibergen’s Solo Concert in Hong Kong Marks Seven Years of His Debut

ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen mesmerized fans with a solo concert on Dec. 23 in Hong Kong, commemorating seven years since his debut in the I...


Model SCO Interactive Game Unfolds in Beijing During Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship

ASTANA – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat hosted a Model SCO interactive game on Dec. 22 in Beijing as part of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the organization,...


Kazakhstan to Strengthen E-Commerce Infrastructure in Partnership with International Investors

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to develop the e-commerce infrastructure by constructing and launching logistics and warehouse centers with foreign investors, particularly from China, said Minister of Trade...


Kazakhstan’s Role in CICA Chairmanship

Kazakhstan has become an influential player in global diplomacy and the geopolitical landscape due to its prominent role as the chair of the Conference on Interaction and...


Kazakhstan Advances Agricultural Progress in 2023 in Pursuit of Eurasian Leadership

ASTANA — Summing up the country’s achievements in the agricultural sector in the outgoing year, the Prime Minister’s press service released an overview of the industry’s results...


Leonardo DiCaprio Applauds Kazakhstan’s Saiga Conservation Success

ASTANA – Leonardo DiCaprio, renowned Hollywood actor and environmentalist, congratulated the Kazakh government on the conservation success of the saiga population on his Instagram page on Dec....


China Southern Airlines Expands Connectivity with New Flights to Kazakhstan

ASTANA  — China Southern Airlines will launch regular passenger flights from the new Beijing Daxing International Airport to Almaty starting Jan. 25 next year, the Aviation Administration...


Bridging Digital Chasm: Empowering Rural Kazakhstan’s Youth for Brighter Future

With growing technology, the internet is no longer a necessity but a requirement, becoming crucial for individual achievement and overall societal development.  However, while Kazakhstan has made...


Swiss Economic Anthropologist Shares Research on Central Asian Transformation 

ASTANA – Scientific studies of Swiss economic anthropologist Peter Finke have encompassed the transformation of the socialist systems in Central Asia and the regional adaptation to a...


Astana Prepares for Winter Season with Festive Installations

ASTANA – Nearly 60 ice skating rinks and slides will be built in the five districts of the Kazakh capital, alongside the installation of street furniture and...


New Book Unveils Kazakh Tribal Legacy, Breaks Myths and Preconceptions

ASTANA – Amid growing demand for national identity reflection and reassessment, the new book “Tamga: History of Kazakh Tribes” written by historian Radik Temirgaliyev presents an opportunity...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Large Gas Project in Kazakhstan, Infrastructure at Caspian Ports and More

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


Kazakhstan’s Foreign Trade Turnover Grows to $114.1 Billion

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover in January-October reached $114.1 billion, 2.6% up compared to last year, according to data released by the Kazakh Bureau of National...


Large Rozhkovskoye Gas Condensate Field Starts Operation in Western Kazakhstan 

ASTANA – The large Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field, operated by Ural Oil and Gas LLP, launched commercial production on Dec. 21 in Western Kazakhstan, according to the...


Altyn Tugyr Awards Celebrate Kazakhstan’s Excellence in Traditional Sports

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Association of National Sports awarded the exceptional athletes who have achieved success on the national and international levels in 10 national sports nominations at...


KazAID Accelerates Export of Kazakh IT Solutions to Tajikistan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan started exporting its IT solutions in the e-government development to Tajikistan, owing to the partnership of the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and...


Kazakhstan’s Manufacturing Industry in 2023: Breakthrough Projects, Production of New Goods

ASTANA – Summing up the country’s achievements in the outgoing year, the Prime Minister’s press service released an overview of the industry’s results on Dec. 22. This...


Almaty Demonstrates Robust Economic Growth

ASTANA — Almaty attracted a staggering 1.5 trillion tenge ($3.2 billion) in investments in 2023, marking a remarkable 19.9% increase, announced Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev during a...


Kazakhstan Launches Migration Data Website to Simplify Procedures 

ASTANA – The migration.enbek.kz migration data website has been launched in Kazakhstan, reported the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Dec. 21. The website, which contains...