Northern Aral Sea Water Levels Rise Substantially

ASTANA — The water volume in the Northern Aral Sea has increased to 22 billion cubic meters, said the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation’s spokesperson Moldir Abdualiyeva, during...


Kendirli: New Resort Town Planned for Mangystau Region

ASTANA – Key infrastructure projects are to be implemented to develop a new resort town, Kendirli, in the Mangystau Region, as reported by the Prime Minister’s press service on...


ADB Projects Kazakhstan’s Economy to Slow Down in 2024 and Accelerate in 2025

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is predicted to experience 3.6% growth of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, slightly lower than the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) previous forecast of 3.8% in...


Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Submit State Border Demarcation Treaty to UN Secretariat

ASTANA — The Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan submitted the treaty on the demarcation of their state border to the United Nations (UN) Secretariat on Sept....


Kazakh PM Assesses Logistic Potential of Aktau, Kuryk Seaports

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov examined the transport and logistics potential of Aktau and Kuryk seaports during his working trip to the Mangystau Region on Sept. 25,...


Organization of Turkic States Informal Meeting in New York Highlights Achievements

ASTANA  –  Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu discussed the achievements of Kazakhstan’s 2023-2024 chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) during an informal meeting...


Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative Reaches Finals of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s conservation efforts have gained global recognition as the country’s Altyn Dala conservation initiative has advanced to the finals of the prestigious 2024 Earthshot Prize, founded by...


Kazakh Foreign Minister Holds Talks with US Corporate Giants in New York

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu held several meetings with representatives of leading American companies on Sept. 23 in New York to discuss the...


Central Asian Designers, Jewelers Promote Cultural Diplomacy in Brussels   

ASTANA – Twelve Central Asian designers and creative professionals initiated the five-day Central Asia – European Creative Forum in Brussels to present their works and projects, as well as...


Kazakhstan Possesses Sufficient Resources to Build Nuclear Power Plant, Says Expert

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has the necessary technological capabilities and enough resources to build a nuclear power plant, said Gulmira Mursalova, deputy director of the atomic industry department at the...


Kazakh FM Nurtleu Engages International Leaders at UN to Strengthen Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu held talks with his foreign counterparts to deepen bilateral cooperation as part of the High-Level week of the...


Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum Declared State Protected Facility

ASTANA — The Azret Sultan State Historical and Cultural Reserve Museum in Turkistan, which includes the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum, a unique architectural monument that was inscribed on the...


Kazakh PM Bektenov Reports on State of Economy to Tokayev

ASTANA—Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov discussed the country’s social and economic development, the harvesting campaign and preparations for the heating season during a Sept. 24 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart...


Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency: Nearly $4 Billion Recovered Since 2022

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency has ensured the return of property assets and funds worth 1.9 trillion tenge (US$3.9 billion) to the state and quasi-public sector entities since 2022,...


Kazakhstan’s Bolashak Scholarship Sends Over 12,000 Students Abroad in 30 Years

ASTANA – The Bolashak International Scholarship, one of Kazakhstan’s most renowned programs for sending students abroad, has produced 12,731 graduates over its 30-year history. Funded by taxpayers, the initiative...


Prominent Kazakh Researcher Shares Journey from Cartography to Goodwill Ambassador

ASTANA – Kazakh researcher Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, a doctor of political science and director of the Institute of Modern Studies at the Gumilev Eurasian National University, has dedicated 20 years...


Kazakh Foreign Minister Addresses Multilateral Cooperation at UN Summit

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu addressed global challenges such as climate change, nuclear security and digital transformation, highlighting the significance of multilateral cooperation,...


First Deputy PM, China Datang Corporation Discuss Energy Projects in Kazakhstan

ASTANA — First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar met with Zou Lei, chairman of China Datang Corporation Ltd., one of China’s largest electricity producers, to discuss expanding energy cooperation...


Kazakhstan Targets New Agricultural Export Markets

ASTANA—Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the significance of achieving self-sufficiency in food production and expanding agricultural exports during a meeting with domestic agricultural enterprise representatives on Sept. 23....


Canadian Energy Companies Explore Carbon Capture Investment in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Canada and Kazakhstan are exploring opportunities to invest in efficient oil and gas production and carbon capture technologies as a key strategy to reduce Kazakhstan’s carbon footprint...


President Tokayev Approves Simplified Customs Corridor for Turkic Countries

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law ratifying the agreement to create a simplified customs corridor between member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on...


UMC Launches First Cardiac Arrhythmia Treatment Technology in CIS

ASTANA—Specialists at the University Medical Center’s (UMC) Heart Center have introduced Farapulse electro-pulse ablation technology, a groundbreaking method for treating cardiac arrhythmia. This marks the first use of the...


Kazakh Creator Introduces Nomad Yurt to Lego Fans

ASTANA — Kazakh creator Ainur Polatova and her team have designed a Lego model of the traditional Nomadic yurt to introduce a global audience to the essence of nomadic...


IMF: Climate Change Resilience and Economic Reforms Key for Central Asia’s Growth

ASTANA — In an interview with The Astana Times YouTube channel, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Bo Li discussed the urgency for the region to...


UN Human Rights Council Hosts Discussion on Children’s Rights in Education Initiated by Kazakhstan

ASTANA –  The UN Human Rights Council hosted the panel discussion on quality education for peace and tolerance for every child on Sept. 18 within the council’s 57th session,...


Turkic States Revive Latin-Based Alphabet to Preserve Linguistic Heritage

ASTANA—The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) approved a 34-letter Latin-based common alphabet on Sept. 11 to foster linguistic unity among Turkic nations. This historic decision revives a decades-old initiative...


Scientists Discuss Measures to Revive Aport Apples

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Academy of Sciences held the Garden Day dedicated to Almaty Aport (a type of apple) and discussed implemented measures to preserve the variety. The event...


Netherlands Delivers Two Amur Tigers to Kazakhstan to Restore Wild Animal Population

ASTANA – Two Amur tigers were transported to the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve in the Almaty Region from the Netherlands on Sept. 22 to revive wild tiger species. The...


Kazakh Special State Fund Receives $368 Million of Illegally Withdrawn Assets

ASTANA—Kazakhstan’s special state fund for the accumulation of illegally withdrawn assets as of Sept. 13 received 176.3 billion tenge (US$367.7 million), said Chairman of the State Property and Privatization...


Kazakh Delegation Attends UN Summit of the Future in New York

ASTANA – Ahead of the UN General Assembly’s annual High-Level Week in New York, a Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu participates in...


Kazakh Chess Team Wins Silver Medal at 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest

ASTANA — The Kazakhstan women’s chess team won a silver medal at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, from Sept. 10 to 23. The team included Bibisara...


Building Bridges: Albert Rau’s Journey of Kazakh-German Relations

ASTANA – Albert Rau, deputy chairman of the Mazhilis, the lower house of the Parliament, and co-founder of the Wiedergeburt Kazakh Association of Germans, shared his insights on the significance...


Revealing Kazakhstan’s Hidden Wildlife: Glimpse Through Lens of Camera Traps

ASTANA — The vast expanses of Kazakhstan hide true natural treasures — rare and endangered animals that inhabit the depths of its nature reserves. Among towering mountains, boundless steppes,...


Ultimate Nomadic Superfood: Mare’s Milk That Covers All Nutritional Bases

ASTANA – From fresh milk to its fermented state and finally as a sublimated powder, scientists reveal why mare’s milk should be on everyone’s plate, as they addressed the...


Survey Reveals Strong Public Interest in Nuclear Power Plant Referendum

ASTANA — According to a comprehensive survey conducted by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, more than half of surveyed Kazakh citizens are prepared to participate in the upcoming...


Historic Manuscript on Kazakhstan’s White Horde Period Unearthed in France

ASTANA – The copy of a valuable manuscript related to the history of Kazakhstan found in France was published by the National Center of Manuscripts and Rare Books, reported...


Kazakh Film “Aikai” Wins Best Screenplay at International Film Festival in Spain

ASTANA – The Kazakh film “Aikai” (Scream) won the Best Screenplay award at the ImagineIndia International Film Festival, held in Spain from Sept. 1-16, reported Kazinform news agency. The...


Kazakh Capital Hosts ‘Treasure Island’ Exhibition Redefining Jewelry Art

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital unveiled “The Treasure Island” exhibition on Sept. 19 at the Kulanshi Art Center, showcasing conceptual jewelry art.  The exhibition, which will run through Oct.12,...


Euronews: Kazakh Superstar Dimash Qudaibergen on Music, Heritage & World Nomad Games

ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with Euronews Culture, Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen reflects on his career, evolving musical style, and how the World Nomad Games provided a perfect...


Two Amur Tigers to Arrive in Kazakhstan in Population Revival Efforts

ASTANA – Two Amur tigers from the Netherlands will be brought to Kazakhstan by the end of September to revive the local population, said Kazakh Minister of Ecology and...


Unmissable Weekend Events in Astana and Almaty

ASTANA — Prepare for an unforgettable weekend filled with thrilling events and captivating experiences in vibrant cities of Kazakhstan. From fascinating exhibitions to festivals and lively concerts, there’s something...


Kazakhstan and Georgia to Boost Cooperation Along Middle Corridor

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Georgia agreed to strengthen cooperation in developing the Trans-Caspian International Transportation Route (TITR) during the meeting of Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Georgian First...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Dimash Qudaibergen, German-Central Asian Cooperation 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...


Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to Support Kazakhstan’s Sustainable Infrastructure Projects

ASTANA — The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) affirmed its commitment to expanding and strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan to promote sustainable infrastructure development during a meeting with Deputy Prime...


Kazakhstan Recovers $548 Million in Misappropriated Assets

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General Berik Assylov reported the recovery of assets totaling 262 billion tenge (US$548 million), including $205 million from abroad, during his presentation to President Kassym-Jomart...


German Chancellor Scholz’s Visit to Kazakhstan, First in Decades, Deepens Ties with Central Asia Nations

ASTANA – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz concluded his official visit to Kazakhstan on Sept. 18, the first visit of the German Chancellor in decades. In two days of his...


Almaty Schools Launch Green Project to Promote Environmental Awareness

ASTANA — Almaty launched the Green School environmental project among educational institutions. The project aims to raise schoolchildren’s environmental awareness and popularize the separate collection of solid domestic waste....


Kazakhstan’s Peace Initiatives Celebrated on International Peace Day

ASTANA – International Peace Day is celebrated annually on Sept. 21. The Astana Times spoke with political analysts to reflect on Kazakhstan’s peace initiatives and diplomatic efforts in peacemaking...


Bayanaul National Park’s Beauty Delights European Ambassadors

ASTANA – The Kazakh Tourism National Company organized a trip to the Bayanaul National Park in the Pavlodar Region for European ambassadors.  The envoys were acquainted with the region’s...


International Fund for Saving Aral Sea Approves Work Plan for Next Two Years

ASTANA – The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) approved the work plan for the period of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in 2024-2026 during the Sept. 18 meeting of...