Middle Powers Face Down Great Powers at Astana Forum 

At the Astana International Forum on June 8-9, Kazakhstan launched a new diplomatic initiative that calls for dialogue among the Middle Powers as a way “to amplify...


Coursera CEO Talks Top Course Preferences of Kazakhstan’s Users

ASTANA – Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda shared insights into Kazakhstan’s user preferences for online courses, emphasizing the remarkable surge in enrollments and praising Kazakhstan’s unwavering dedication to...


Kazakh Animated Film Wins at Indian Festival

ASTANA – Kazakh short animated movie “Besik Zhyry” (Lullaby) was recognized as the best animated film at the Roshani International Film Festival 2023 in India, the Culture...


Time For Reform Is Now, and Rewards Are Boundless, Says Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Strategic Planning Agency 

ASTANA – Following Kazakhstan’s political reset and in the context of its economic landscape, The Astana Times interviewed Aset Irgaliyev, Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning...


Wildfire in Abai Region Decreases Significantly, Local Administration Says

ASTANA – The area of the fire in the Abai Region has significantly reduced in recent days, akim (governor) of the region Nurlan Urankhayev informed, stressing that...


From Pathway to Highway in Eurasia

2,500 kilometers – a drive from Astana to Almaty and back – is the average distance that can be saved by using the Middle Corridor to transport...


Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 4.5% in First Five Months of 2023

ASTANA – The economy of Kazakhstan has grown 4.5% over the first five months of this year, Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said at the government’s...


EBRD President Reaffirms Support for Kazakhstan’s Energy Transition, Women’s Representation

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will support Kazakhstan, recognizing its significant capacity to develop renewable energy and increase transit potential through Middle...


Roubini Highlights Kazakhstan’s Maneuver Among Major Countries, Its Role as Middle Power

ASTANA — The Astana International Forum featured a June 9 presentation of a book titled “The New Kazakhstan: Steering The Steppe Amid A Global Storm,” with renowned...


Eurasian Development Bank Forecasts 4.4% Economic Growth in Kazakhstan in 2024-2025

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth could reach 4.3% in 2023 and 4.4% in 2024-2025, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) macroeconomic outlook report for 2023-2025, published...


Kazakh President Appoints Ombudsperson for Rights of Socially Vulnerable Groups, New Commissioner for Children’s Rights

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Svetlana Zhakupova as the Ombudsperson for the Rights of Socially Vulnerable Categories of the Population on June 12, reported the Akorda...


Kazakh Citizens, Businesses Launch Campaigns to Support Wildfire Victims in Abai Region

ASTANA – Kazakh firefighters and emergency rescue teams are continuing to battle wildfires in the Abai Region, which erupted on June 8 in the Batpayev forestry and...


IMF Regional Capacity Development Center Opens in Almaty

ASTANA – The Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia Regional Capacity Development Center (CCAMTAC) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) opened in Almaty on June 9, reported the...


Kazakhstan Should Prioritize SDGs with Focus on Wellbeing, Says UN ESCAP Official

ASTANA — Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), shed light on...


Kazakhstan and Canada Discuss Establishing North American Mining Hub in Central Asia 

ASTANA – A group of major Canadian companies visited Astana to discuss with Kazakh officials the potential launch of a U.S.-Canada regional hub as part of the...


Astana International Forum Illuminates Kazakhstan, Central Asia as Renewable Energy Powerhouses

Central Asia, with Kazakhstan at its heart, has emerged as a beacon of hope in the global green energy revolution. Showcasing the region’s immense potential, the Astana...


Tourist Arrivals in Kazakhstan Almost Quadruple in Three Months of 2023

ASTANA – The number of international tourist arrivals in Kazakhstan increased 3.9 times to 1.1 million in the first three months of this year, the country’s Bureau...


Empowering Women Leaders: Key Insights from Astana International Forum’s Panel Session

ASTANA – Astana International Forum’s panel session, Advancing Women’s Leadership: Supporting International Global Initiatives, on June 9 considered the initiatives that should be taken to promote women’s...


Asian Development Bank and Almaty Electric Stations Ink Loan Agreement to Facilitate Green Energy

ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Almaty Electric Stations, an energy-producing organization owned by the Samruk Energy power holding, signed a loan agreement worth...


President Declares June 12 as Day of Mourning for Forest Fires Victims in Abai Region

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared June 12 as the day of national mourning to honor forest workers who lost their lives while trying to extinguish wildfires...


WTO Director-General Outlines Challenges Facing Global Trading System and Identifies Solutions at Astana International Forum

ASTANA – Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, spoke about the challenges facing the global trading system and proposed solutions during a high-level...


Elena Rybakina Climbs to Third Place in WTA’s Singles Ranking

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s top seed Elena Rybakina rose from fourth to third place in an updated Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking following the 2023 French Open...


Resolving Water Scarcity Requires International Cooperation, Public Support and Innovations, Say Experts at AIF

ASTANA – Solutions to water scarcity, a rising problem around the globe, was the focus of a panel session, Thinking Creatively About the Problem of Water Scarcity,...


Delegates from 34 States to Participate in International Volunteer Forum This Month

ASTANA – Delegates from 34 countries will attend the International Volunteer Forum on June 20-21 in the Kazakh capital, said Deputy Minister of Information and Social Development...


Embracing Heritage: Growing Trend of Kazakh Tattoo Art

ALMATY – Kazakh national symbols are emerging as a fresh trend in the world of tattoo art. Saltanat Kuanova, a tattoo artist from Almaty with around six...


Fires in Abai Region Declared under Control as President Tokayev Dismisses Minister of Emergency Situations 

ASTANA  – Two days since a fire broke out in the Batpayev forestry in the Abai Region, with large areas of forest and grasslands being engulfed in...


Middle Powers Can Resolve Global Challenges, According to Experts at Astana International Forum

ASTANA – Astana International Forum’s (AIF) panel session, Middle Power Diplomacy in Challenging Times, on June 9 focused on the role of middle powers in global diplomacy...


Ministers Brief Foreign Media about Kazakhstan’s Digital Progress and Logistics Capacity at Astana International Forum 

ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Bagdad Mussin held a press briefing for the foreign media on June 9, highlighting the opportunities...


Astana International Forum Sheds Light on Opportunities and Challenges for Middle Corridor

ASTANA – The Astana International Forum (AIF)’s panel session on June 9 on the Middle Corridor, the trans-Caspian transport route that starts from Southeast Asia and China...


Kazakh Dog Breeds Seek Recognition from International Canine Federation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has applied to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), or the International Canine Federation, for the recognition of Kazakh dog breeds, president of the Kazakhstan...