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...


Kazakhstan Wins 21 Licenses for 2024 Paralympic Games

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has secured 21 licenses to participate in the 2024 Summer Paralympics, the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s press service reported on July 11. Kazakh para athletes will...


Kazakhstan’s Dining Scene Booms with 4.5% Surge in Eateries

ASTANA – Kazakhstan registered 15,826 public catering venues in 2023, a 4.5% increase from 15,146 recorded in 2022, the Bureau of National Statistics reported on July 11. The surge...


News Digest: Foreign Media on SCO Summit, Green Economy and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, green...


Kazakhstan’s National Bank Reduces Base Rate to 14.25%

ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan has reduced the base rate by 25 basis points, setting it at 14.25% with a corridor of...


Dimash Kudaibergen Headlines Festival in Serbia Celebrating Nikola Tesla’s Anniversary 

ASTANA – Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen headlined the EXIT Festival, the largest festival in Southeastern Europe, celebrating the birthday of the famous inventor Nikola Tesla in Novi Sad,...


Alageum Electric Becomes General Sponsor of Fifth World Nomad Games

ASTANA – Alageum Electric became the general sponsor of the fifth World Nomad Games, according to a bilateral memorandum signed on July 11 with the Directorate for the Preparation...


Upcoming Events for Mid-July Cultural Weekend

ASTANA – Unwind this weekend after a busy workweek by visiting engaging exhibitions and sporting events. The Astana Times editorial team has curated a special list of events perfect...


Kazakh Film Included in Swiss Locarno Film Festival Competition Program

ASTANA – The film “Joqtau”(Mourning) directed by Kazakh filmmaker Aruan Anartai, has been included in the competition program of Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival on July 10. The first public...


Kazakhstan Poised to Become Educational Hub: Monetizing Export Beyond Central Asia (Part 2)

ASTANA – This is the second part of The Astana Times exclusive interview with Hugh Hallman, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan. In the first part, he elaborated on the transformative potential...


Aqmola Invest Opens in Kazakh Capital to Streamline Investor Support

ASTANA – Aqmola Invest, the regional investment attraction center for the Akmola Region, launched in Astana on July 9. Operating under a single window principle, the center simplifies government...


Kazakh Capital to Host President’s Cup Tennis Tournament This Month

ASTANA – International tournaments of the ATP Challenger Tour and International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour series, united under the general name President’s Cup, will be held on...


2024 Paris Games: Kazakhstan’s Team Uniform Reflects Cultural Heritage

ASTANA – Several types of uniforms were prepared for Kazakhstan’s national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. These are a ceremonial suit, a ceremonial sports uniform, a sports uniform...


SCO Summit Highlights Kazakhstan’s Growing Influence, Says State Councilor

ASTANA – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, held on July 3-4 in the Kazakh capital, marked the rise of Kazakhstan’s international authority to a new, significant level and...


Fifth World Nomad Games: Caravan of Unity Kicks Off in Zhambyl Region

ASTANA — The Caravan of Unity, a kind of torch relay, has started in the Zhambyl Region two months ahead of the fifth World Nomad Games, scheduled for Sept....


Antalya Unveils Monument to Kazakh National Instrument Dombra

ASTANA – A monument dedicated to the Kazakh  national musical instrument, the dombra, was erected in Antalya’s Zhambyl Zhabayev Park on July 9 to mark National Dombra Day. According...


Kazakh Surgeons Perform Live-Stream Surgery at Indian International Conference

ASTANA—Kazakhstan’s University Medical Center (UMC) specialists performed the operation in live-case online mode as part of the National Interventional Conference (NIC), one of the largest in interventional cardiology, held...


Kazakhstan Strengthens Position in Global Mineral Markets

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is well-positioned to ensure a steady supply of critical minerals, meeting the rising global demand driven by the energy transition and the electric vehicle market. According...


Kazakhstan, EU Discuss Plans to Develop Middle Corridor

ASTANA – Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Kazakhstan Kęstutis Jankauskas and heads of EU diplomatic missions expressed interest in unlocking the potential of the Middle Corridor at...


Honorary Consul Hallman: Kazakhstan’s Human Capital, Agriculture, and Engineering Set for Thriving Growth (Part 1) 

ASTANA – While oil and gas have been the backbone of Kazakhstan’s economic growth, they are now moving to a secondary position. Instead, Hugh Hallman, an Honorary Consul of...


UN Secretary-General’s Visit Highlights Strong UN-Kazakhstan Partnership

ASTANA – UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ recent visit to Kazakhstan highlighted the strong partnership between the country and the UN, focusing on sustainable development, climate action, and regional cooperation,...


Vietnamese Investor to Acquire Qazaq Air This Autumn

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev announced at a press conference following a July 9 government meeting that Qazaq Air’s sale to Vietnamese SOVICO Group is progressing,...


Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship in SCO: Achievements and Future Directions

As the chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Kazakhstan  hosted the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State, an important organization representing more than 40% of the...


Which Sports Will Kazakh Athletes Compete in at 2024 Paris Olympics

ASTANA – Eighty athletes will represent Kazakhstan at the 2024 Summer Olympics in 25 sports, including boxing, judo, artistic gymnastics, athletics, kayaking and canoeing, shooting, fencing, Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle...


President Tokayev Presents State Flag to Kazakhstan National Team for 2024 Summer Olympics

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented Kazakhstan’s national flag to Aslanbek Shymbergenov, the captain of the national team, in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26...


Joint UNESCO-EU Effort Brings Central Asian Heritage Sites Closer to Tourists

ASTANA – Four historical and cultural sites in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan went through restoration and rehabilitation efforts in a large-scale regional project implemented by United...


Life Expectancy in Kazakhstan Exceeds 75 Years

ASTANA – Life expectancy in Kazakhstan has surpassed 75 years, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said at a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on July 9. In a press statement...


Kazakhstan Puts 1,600 Kilometers of Main Roads into Operation with World Bank’s Support

ASTANA – As part of the ongoing South-West and East-West projects financed by the World Bank, over 1,600 kilometers of main roads have been put into operation in Kazakhstan,...


Kazakh Comics Writers to Make Splash at Comic Con Astana 2024

ASTANA – Over 100 Kazakh authors of graphic novels will showcase their works at the Authors’ Alley during Comic Con Astana 2024 from July 25 to 28, according to...


Hungarian Ambassador Touts Strategic Partnership, Centuries-Old Bond with Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Hungarian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Otto Ivan Rona touted the strong bilateral ties and the 10th anniversary of a strategic partnership agreement with Kazakhstan in an interview with...


Kazakhstan Pioneers Economic Liberalization with Structural Renewal Initiatives

Last year, Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, outlined a new economic strategy for the country, targeting a 6–7% annual growth rate to double gross domestic product (GDP) by 2029. This...


Which Countries Do Kazakh IT Specialists Provide Services To

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s IT services volume reached 1.4 trillion tenge (US$2.9 billion) in 2023, 46.4% higher in value than the previous year. According to the Energyprom analytical website, in...


Kazakhstan Selects Permanent Representative to TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission

 ASTANA – The Kazakh Transport Ministry appointed Almaz Aisin on July 9 as the head of its permanent representation in the TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) Intergovernmental Commission’s permanent secretariat,...


2024 Paris Games: Kazakh Athletes Secure 92 Licenses

ASTANA – Kazakh athletes have received 92 licenses in 25 sports for the upcoming Paris Olympics, said the Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev during a July...


Kazakh Capital Hosts International Street Theater Festival

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the international street theater festival for the first time as part of the Eurasia International Film Festival during the Astana Day holidays. The...


Almaty State Puppet Theater Wins Grand Prix at Ottawa International Festival

ASTANA — The Almaty State Puppet Theater won the Grand Prix at the first International Puppet Festival in Ottawa, Canada, which took place July 3-6. The Kazakh theater team...


EBRD Sets to Double Investments in Kazakhstan This Year

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to double the volume of investments in the Kazakh economy this year, said Hüseyin Özhan, acting Managing Director...


Kazakhstan Tightens Gambling Business Restrictions With Amended Law

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed legislative amendments on July 8 to tighten the country’s gambling and lottery regulations. The law introduces restrictive and stimulating norms aimed at...