Trans-Caspian Transport Route Development Vital for Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth, Says Executive

ASTANA—Developing the Middle Corridor is a key factor in expanding Kazakhstan’s economy and that of Central Asia, said Gaidar Abdikerimov, the Secretary General of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route...


President Tokayev Congratulates Muslims on Holy Month of Ramadan

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extended congratulations on the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan on March 11, reported Akorda press service. The Islamic holy month of Ramadan,...


From Paper to Action: National Commission’s 25-Year Campaign for Women and Children’s Rights

ASTANA – It has been 25 years since the establishment of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy in Kazakhstan. The institution made significant steps in...


President Tokayev to Pay State Visit to Azerbaijan Today 

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Azerbaijan on March 11-12, reported Akorda press service. As part of the visit, Tokayev plans to hold...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Role as Middle Power, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles from global media outlets on news about Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s emergence as a...


Kazakhstan’s Space Communication Center Celebrates 20th Anniversary

ASTANA – The Republican Space Communications Center (RSCC), recognized as the nation’s pioneer in establishing ground-based space infrastructure, celebrates its 20th anniversary this March, reported Kazinform agency. Kazsat communications...


Kazakh Filmmaker Releases Documentary About Violence Against Women

ASTANA — Kazakh director Rinat Balgabayev released a documentary dubbed “Gorgon” about the problem of sexualized violence in the country, filmed with the support of United Nations (UN) Women...


Kazakhstan Advances Aral Sea Preservation Efforts

In modern realities, with ubiquitous population growth, rapid economic development of states, and increased water consumption per capita, the burden on the environment is steadily growing. Such an intensification...


Eco-Volunteer Project Contributes to Aral Sea Restoration 

ASTANA – The first eco-volunteer initiative, featuring the planting of saxaul seedlings on the Aral Sea’s bottom, took place in the Kyzylorda Region on March 1-3, reported the university’s...


National Equestrian Sports Team to Participate in World Nomad Games

ASTANA — Representatives from Kazakhstan’s Turkistan Region are set to participate in the World Nomad Games. Saken Sultankhanov, the Otyrar district akim (Governor), and Zhumabai Sarsenbayev, the chairman of...


Kazakhstan Introduces New Program to Expand Support for Women Entrepreneurs

ASTANA – DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund has allocated 10 billion tenge (US$22.4 million) for a new program to finance women’s entrepreneurship,  the fund’s press service reported on March 6....


UNDP, UN Women Research Public Perception of Gender Equality in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the UN Women Kazakhstan, presented the results of sociological research on public perception of gender equality and female...


Work-Life Balance: Challenges of Modern Working Mother

Editor’s note: The Astana Times has introduced a new section on the website that features articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives and meaningful conversations,...


Umai Deity and Modern Resonance of Kazakh Women in Mythology

ASTANA – International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, is a significant time in Kazakhstan’s calendar to honor female deities, reflecting the deep respect for women’s roles in society....


President Tokayev: Respect for Women is Manifestation of Cultural, Civilized Society 

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Kazakhstan’s women on the upcoming International Women’s Day and expressed appreciation and respect at a March 7 festive ceremony, reported the Akorda...


Letting Women Lead: Bridging Finance Gap for Women-Led Businesses

I get to meet many courageous women in my work for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Southwest and Central Asia. I have witnessed the seemingly unsurmountable challenges they...


Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia Willing to Strengthen Energy, Investment Cooperation 

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud discussed prospects of developing energy and investment cooperation during a March 7...


AIFC Participants Get Wider Access to Kazakhstan’s Financial Market

ASTANA – The list of financial services that participants of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) can provide to Kazakhstan residents has been expanded, reported the AIFC press service...


Kazakhstan’s Employment: Women Make Up 48.3% of Total Employed Population

ASTANA – Some 4,370,715 women – that is 48.3% of the total employed population – work in Kazakhstan, according to a March 6 report by the Kazakh Bureau of...


Kazakhstan Ships 100,000 Tons of Oil to Germany in February

ASTANA – KazTransOil national oil transporter shipped 100,000 tons of oil to Germany in February, reported the company’s press service on March 6. KazTransOil supplied oil via Russia’s Transneft...


East Kazakhstan to Introduce SpaceX Starlink Internet in 171 Rural Schools

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to introduce broadband internet in 171 rural schools in the East Kazakhstan Region using SpaceX Starlink technology, reported the region’s akimat (administration) press service...


Air Astana Cancels Frankfurt Flights Amid German Airport Strike

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship airline Air Astana has canceled flights KC921/KC922 Astana-Frankfurt-Astana on March 7 following the announced strike of aviation security employees at Frankfurt Airport, reported the company’s...


Kazakhstan Presents National Model of Continuous Inclusive Education in Geneva 

ASTANA – More than 86 percent of schools in Kazakhstan have created conditions for inclusive education, Vice Minister of Education Yedil Ospan said at the 30th Session of the...


Kazakhstan Gears Up for International Women’s Day with Flourishing Flower Imports in 2023

ASTANA – As Kazakhstan approaches the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8th, flowers take center stage as a cherished tradition. Last year, the country witnessed a notable...


“Trailblazers of Steppes” Book Celebrates 50 Inspiring Kazakh Women in Business

ASTANA – To create space for women’s voices and stories in entrepreneurship, Shumaila Yousafzai, an associate professor in entrepreneurship at Nazarbayev University, profiled the achievements of 50 female entrepreneurs...


Anniversary Forum of National Commission Marks Progress in Female Empowerment

ASTANA – The National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy in Kazakhstan held its 25th anniversary forum in Astana on March 6. The discourse covered the key...


President of Indonesia Explores Kazakhstan’s Sergek Transport Platform

ASTANA – Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo got acquainted with the Kazakh-developed transport platform Sergek, launched in pilot mode in Nusantara’s satellite city Balikpapan during a working visit to Nusantara,...


Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia Launch Innovation Hub in Riyadh

ASTANA — A new Kazakh-Saudi innovation hub, named after the great medieval scholar and outstanding Islamic philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi, who was born on the territory of modern Kazakhstan,...


Holy Month of Ramadan Begins on March 11

ASTANA – The holy month of Ramadan will commence on March 11, according to the general fatwa endorsed by the Shariah and Fatwa Department of Kazakhstan’s Spiritual Administration of...


Exciting Events for International Women’s Day Celebration

ASTANA — As the International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8 approaches, Astana and Almaty springs to life with anticipation, offering a bouquet of thematic events tailored for the...


Kazakh Foreign Minister Takes Part in Extraordinary OIC Session in Jeddah

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu took part in the extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation...


Kazakhstan Achieves Top Scores in Three Indicators of World Bank’s Working Women Index

ASTANA – Kazakhstan earned a “perfect score” of 100 points in three indicators, including freedom of movement, marriage, and gender differences in property and inheritance, according to the latest...


Kazakh-Azerbaijani Fund to Prioritize Port Infrastructure Development

ASTANA – The Kazakh-Azerbaijani investment fund, currently under development by Samruk Kazyna National Welfare Fund and an Azerbaijani investment holding, will focus on enhancing the port infrastructure of both...


Kazakh PM Urges Streamlining Investment Procedures, Reducing Barriers

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov directed state agencies to streamline investment project launch procedures, urging for a swift evaluation of support measures and proposing improvements at a...


Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress 

The fight for women’s rights over the past fifty years is a story of progress.  Women and girls have demolished barriers, dismantled stereotypes and driven progress towards a more...


Kazakh Business Activity Index Increases in February 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Business Activity Index (BAI), which measures the state of the economy in the real sector, showed an increase in February, as reported by the National Bank...


Astana Hub Recognized as Apple Authorized Training Center for Education

ASTANA – Astana Hub technology park has been recognized as an Apple Authorized Training Center for Education, reported its Telegram channel on March 4. The center provides all resources...


International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness: Kazakhstan’s Significant Role

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is one of the acknowledged world leaders in non-proliferation with a vast experience in nuclear disarmament. Kazakhstan is known as a peaceful country, prioritizing the idea...


Exploring Law in Eurasia: Insights from IAC Eurasia Arbitration Week 2024

ASTANA — The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) International Arbitration Centre (IAC) launched the Eurasia Arbitration Week 2024 (EAW24) on March 5. The session, Arbitration in Eurasia – Regional...


Kazakhstan Simplifies Cargo Transportation Procedure on Uzbek Border

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will simplify cargo transportation with Uzbekistan from April, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service on March 5. The pilot project provides for issuing permits of the...


President Tokayev Meets With Senate Chair, Outlines Tasks for 2024

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Chairperson of Senate, an upper house of the Parliament, Maulen Ashimbayev on March 5 to discuss the Senate’s work on legislative...


Kazakhstan Opens National Pavilion at Mining Convention in Toronto

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapaev took part in the opening of the national pavilion at the 2024 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)...


IAC Opens Eurasia Arbitration Week in Astana

ASTANA – The International Arbitration Center (IAC) opened its Eurasia Arbitration Week (EAW) 2024 on March 5, reported the center’s press service. The event will run until March 7....


Kazakhstan’s Renewable Energy Sector Gains Momentum with 146 Facilities in Operation

ASTANA — The Kazakh Ministry of Energy released a report on the country’s burgeoning landscape of renewable energy, boasting 146 operational renewable energy facilities exceeding 100 kilowatts (kW) on...


New Frontiers in Kazakh-UK Cooperation: Opening of Center, Oxford Qazaq Dictionary and Educational Projects 

ASTANA – Education and culture have long been central pillars of the enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan. The latest developments in cooperation between the two nations...


Kazakh Tourism Chairman Reveals Hidden Gems, Tauts Sustainable Tourism, Authenticity

ASTANA – Kazakhstan, a country where astronauts return to Earth and ancient traditions thrive in modern cities, is on the brink of a tourism renaissance as the tourism industry...


Kazakhstan Reiterates Commitment to Cooperation Within OIC

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu highlighted Kazakhstan’s commitment to interaction within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at a March 4 meeting with...


Kazakhstan, US Strengthen Partnership in Geological Exploration with AI Integration

ASTANA – Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev expressed Kazakhstan’s intention to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into geological exploration processes at a roundtable with Paul Johnson, the president...


IDB Implements Nearly 70 Projects in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The Islamic Development Bank’s (IDB) group has implemented around 70 projects worth over $1.6 billion in Kazakhstan. This was announced during a March 4 meeting of Kazakh...


President Tokayev Attends Oath-Taking Ceremony of AIFC Court Chief Justice

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the official oath-taking ceremony of The Lord Ian Burnett of Maldon, the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)...