65% of Annual Water Consumption in Kazakhstan Attributes to Agriculture

ASTANA—Annually, 20 cubic kilometers of water in Kazakhstan is directed to meet the needs of the economy, and 65% of it goes to agriculture, said Saule Temirbolatova, head of...


Almaty’s Economy Soars to Record $56 Billion in Decade

ASTANA – In 2023, Almaty’s Gross Regional Product (GRP) increased by 10.1% to 24.8 trillion tenge (US$56 billion), a record-breaking figure in a decade, the city administration’s press service...


Connectivity and Collaboration are Key Within Each of Central Asian Countries, Says Expert 

ASTANA – Enhancing intra-regional connectivity among Central Asian countries depends on strengthening connections within each of the five countries, said Kamran Bokhari, the senior director of the Eurasian Security...


Exploring Cultural Events in Astana and Almaty

ASTANA — An unforgettable weekend filled with exciting events and impressions will be held in lively cities. From interesting lectures to fests and concerts, everyone will find something interesting...


President Tokayev Outlines AIFC’s Key Role in Region’s Development

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the critical role of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in attracting green funding for the region and developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport...


Kazakhstan Prioritizes Development of Special Economic, Industrial Zones

ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to allocate more than 70 billion tenge (US$157.7 million) to construct missing infrastructure at the special economic (SEZ) and industrial zone (IZ) sites, said Kazakh...


Shymkent to Launch New Agriculture Production Facilities

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin visited Shymkent on May 1 to take a closer look at the progress of construction and the work of existing large...


Kazakhstan to Boost Investments in Rare Earth Metals Production 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to increase investments in the production of rare and rare earth metals, said Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev at an April 29...


Enhancing Relations with Afghanistan Offers Mutual Benefits, Says Kazakh Official

ASTANA – A top-level Kazakh delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, visited Kabul last week to forge closer trade ties with Afghanistan. Kairat Torebayev, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister...


Kazakhstan Marks 130 Years of Renowned Poet Ilyas Zhansugurov

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is commemorating the 130th anniversary of Ilyas Zhansugurov, a distinguished Kazakh poet, writer, and the first chairman of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan. Zhansugurov made...


Kazakh Business Leaders to Assist State in Eliminating Flood Aftermath

ASTANA – Leaders of Kazakhstan’s major businesses announced their readiness to assist the state in eliminating the consequences of floods in the Kostanai Region during an April 30 meeting...


Kazakhstan at Arab-Central Asian Forum: Strengthening Interregional Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev took part in the third session of the Arab Economy and Cooperation Forum with Central Asian states and...


Kazakhstan Establishes National Hydrogeological Service to Boost Water Resource Management

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed a government resolution to create the Kazhydrogeology national hydrogeological service on April 30, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The new...


Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan Sign Agreement on Energy Interconnection

ASTANA — The energy ministries of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan signed a historic memorandum at the Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 1, marking a significant step towards interconnecting...


Kazakhstan Plans to Sink 80 Exploration Wells Amidst Investment Surge

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is set to sink 80 exploration wells across various sites this year, said Vice Minister of Energy Askhat Khasenov on April 25 to Kazinform news agency. ...


Kazakhstan To Boost Gas and Oil Production

ASTANA — Kazakhstan maintained its robust global market position in 2023, producing nearly 90 million tons of oil and nearly 60 billion cubic meters of gas. This year, gas...


Central Asia is Region that Needs to Be Addressed by Itself, Says Researcher

ASTANA—Central Asia is a region with its own dynamics and should be addressed by itself rather than simply as a secondary concern related to conflicts in neighboring areas, said...


President Tokayev Welcomes Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Treaty Negotiations in Almaty

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to hold talks at the foreign ministers’ level to prepare a peace treaty between the...


Air Astana Resumes Astana-Seoul Flights, China Southern Boosts Almaty-Beijing Route

ASTANA – Air Astana is set to recommence flights between Astana and Seoul starting June 15, reported the Civil Aviation Committee on April 29.  The flights will operate twice...


Kazakh Peacekeepers Join Global Training Initiative in Hungary 

ASTANA – Kazakh officers from the Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defense (KAZCENT), which trains and prepares specialists for the national peacekeeping contingent, participated in the...


Kazakhstan Celebrates Day of Unity of People on May 1

ASTANA—On May 1, Kazakhstan celebrates the Day of Unity. Celebrated since 1996, the holiday is meant to cherish peace and harmony among Kazakhstan’s diverse ethnic groups. It symbolizes the...


Floods in Kazakhstan: Protection Efforts in Atyrau Region, Humanitarian Relief, Donations

ASTANA – During an April 29 meeting, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov assigned the Atyrau Region’s administration to protect the city and surrounding settlements from approaching flood waters, as...


Kazakh, Tajik Governments Ready to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

ASTANA — Kazakh and Tajik officials reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the high dynamics of the strategic partnership in all areas and outlined prospects for trade and economic cooperation...


Kazakh Commission Approves Return of Illegally Acquired Assets

ASTANA — The Kazakh Commission on the Return of illegally acquired assets approved Agreements on the voluntary return of illegally acquired assets worth over 40 billion tenge (US$ 90.5...


Kazakhstan Continues its Clean Cities Campaign

ASTANA — The third week of the Taza (Clean) Kazakhstan environmental campaign, which focused on planting tree seedlings and whitewashing greenery, concluded with more than 330,000 planted seedlings and...


Kazakhstan, Singapore Committed to Expand Collaboration

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Speaker of Singaporean Parliament Seah Kian Peng expressed a commitment to expanding bilateral ties between the states during an April 30 meeting, reported...


Nationwide Telemarathon to Address Aftermath of Massive Floods

ASTANA – Ten national TV channels will broadcast live a nationwide telemarathon dubbed “Biz Birgemiz” (“We are together” in Kazakh) at 5 p.m. Astana time on April 30 ahead...


Islamic Development Bank Sets to Finance Water Projects in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will provide grants and financing for implementing water projects in Kazakhstan. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and National Economy Minister Nurlan Baibazarov and...


Kazakhstan, China to Launch Xian-Almaty Passenger Train

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China agreed to launch an international tourist passenger train from Xian to Almaty, reported Kazakhstan Temir Zholy’s (KTZ) press service on April 29. According to...


Georgia Invites Kazakh Children Affected by Floods for Retreat

ASTANA – The Mayor of Borjomi Otar Arbolishvili officially invited Kazakh children from Atyrau and other flood-affected regions for a healing retreat in Georgia, Khabar TV Channel reported on...


Student with Special Needs Wins National Olympiad Among Peers

ASTANA – Beknur Zhanibekuly, a 6th-grade student, won a gold medal in the English language competition of the national scientific olympiad, held between grades 5 and 6 at a...


Dimash Kudaibergen’s New Song Premiers on All Music Platforms

ASTANA – Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen’s new composition “Smoke” is now available on all music platforms, the singer announced on his Instagram page on April 26. He first...


Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Sign Agreements on Agricultural Product Supply

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Afghanistan reached an agreement worth over $ 12 million on the supply of sunflower oil, cereal products, and flour at the Kazakh-Afghan business forum in...


Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan to Develop Transport Infrastructure in Afghanistan

ASTANA – Three countries agreed to enhance transit and transport infrastructure in Afghanistan at an April 27 trilateral meeting between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, Director General of...


Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia May Convene in Almaty for Peace Treaty Negotiations

ASTANA – As per Kazakhstan’s proposal, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia are due to meet soon in Almaty to advance negotiations on the peace treaty, President of...


Medical Experts, Nobel Laureates Discuss Breakthrough Discoveries in Astana

ASTANA—Leading medical experts from across the globe, including Nobel laureates, convened for the Nobel Fest festival in Astana on April 27-28. The festival focused on innovations in medicine and...


Kazakhstan’s Manufacturing Production Volume Reaches $48.7 Billion in 2023

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s manufacturing sector showed positive dynamics in 2023, with production value reaching 21.6 trillion tenge ($48.7 billion), Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev said at an...


Weekend Trip to Taldykorgan: Top Attractions to Visit 

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times introduces a new series, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of Kazakhstan’s cities. Starting with Zhezkazgan...


Kazakh Language Speaking Clubs Gain Popularity 

ASTANA — Learning the Kazakh language is a rewarding journey paved with challenges. For those interested in embarking on this journey or just improving their proficiency, The Astana Times...


Turning Environmental Crisis into Opportunity: Inspiring Efforts of Aral Tenizi

ASTANA—The tragic tale of environmental devastation in the Aral Sea is well-documented, marking it as one of the most significant ecological disasters of the 20th century. However, amidst the...


Kazakh Animation on Rise Fueled by Devote Creators, Overcoming Financial Hurdles

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s golden age in animation lies ahead despite challenges such as the lack of adequate funding and commercial unfeasibility, according to the founders of Tasqyn Animation Studio....


Volunteers Discover Bronze Age Petroglyphs in Kazakhstan During Environmental Campaign

ASTANA – Petroglyphs dating back to the Bronze Age were discovered by volunteers of the nationwide Taza (Clean) Kazakhstan environmental campaign in the Zhambyl region, reported Tengrinews. During the...


21-Year-Old Kazakh Author Presents Comic Book About Kazakh Khanate Founders

ASTANA — A 21-year-old Kazakh writer and comic author Ilyas Yusupzhanov presented a comic book about the founders of the Kazakh Khanate, Sultans Kerey and Zhanibek, at the National...


David Cameron’s Diplomatic Tour to Central Asia Ushers ‘New Era’ in UK Relations with Region

ASTANA—This week, the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Cameron embarked on a diplomatic tour across the five Central Asian republics, which Cameron himself said opens a “new era” in...


Kazakh Scholars Unlock European and Vatican Archives

ASTANA—Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, announced at an April 25 international conference in Turkistan, dedicated to the legacy of the Golden Horde, that Kazakh scientists...


Kazakhstan Continues Compensating Losses to Flood-Affected Population 

ASTANA — The Kazakh government compensated 12,642 families affected by devastating floods, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on April 26. To date, 21,658 applications have been accepted from...


Kazakhstan, China Set to Strengthen Allied Relations

ASTANA — The Kazakh and Chinese Foreign Ministries will strengthen and expand their partnership in all areas. This was stated at an April 25 meeting between Kazakh Deputy Prime...


Kazakh Rural Regions Receive 250 Starlink Equipment

ASTANA — The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry on April 25 sent 250 Starlink terminals to three regions, with 138 terminals delivered to the Akmola...


News Digest: Foreign Media on UK Foreign Secretary’s Visit to Kazakhstan, Chinese-Kazakh Ties and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron’ visit to Kazakhstan,...


Kazakh President Appoints New Ombudsperson for Protection of Entrepreneurs’ Rights

ASTANA — On April 25, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Kanat Nurov as the Ombudsperson for the Protection of Entrepreneurs’ Rights, reported the Akorda press service. The main functions of...