Key Outcomes of Kazakh Ministry’s Activities: Legislative Innovations, Youth Empowerment, Upsurge in Creative Industries 

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva highlighted the key results of the ministry’s activities for this year at a Dec. 26 press briefing in the...


Top Sports Stories that Defined Kazakhstan in 2023

ASTANA – It has been a remarkable year for sport in Kazakhstan, which began with Elena Rybakina being the first woman to reach the Australian Open 2023 finals and...


Astana’s Joyous New Year Celebration Unwrapped

ASTANA — As we bid farewell to the year, the Kazakh capital is gearing up for an unforgettable New Year celebration filled with exciting events and activities for the...


Cargo Transportation Along Middle Corridor Soars 88%, Reaches 2 Million Tons in 2023

ASTANA – The volume of cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, surged by 88% in the first nine months of...


Saudi Arabia Becomes Observer State in CICA

ASTANA – Saudi Arabia joined the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) as its tenth observer state on Dec. 26, reported the CICA’s press service....


EBRD Allocates Funds to Advance Kazakhstan’s Major Logistical Hub

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided loan of up to $40 million to Kazakhstan to support the development of modern logistical infrastructure and address...


Kazakhstan Wraps Up 2023 to Foster Economic and Social Progress

ASTANA – 2023 in Kazakhstan marked significant political, economic, and social transformations.  This year witnessed a reset of political institutions, beginning with deputies at all levels and culminating with...


American Expert: US Should View Central Asian Countries as ‘Subjects of Their Own Stories’ 

ASTANA – The United States should view Central Asian countries as the subjects of their own stories rather than mere objects in the broader competition with other nations, said...


Kazakhstan’s Airlines Transport Record 13 Million Passengers in 2023

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s airlines set a new record in 2023, transporting 12 million passengers, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service on Dec. 28. The airlines increased their aircraft fleet...


Human Rights Ombudsperson Emphasizes Increased Legal Literacy in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The latest data from the National Human Rights Center indicates that in 2023, the number of complaints regarding violations of citizens’ rights and freedoms in Kazakhstan exceeded...


Free Trade Deal Inked Between EAEU and Iran to Unlock Prospects for Kazakhstan

ASTANA — The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), its member states, and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed a Free Trade Agreement on the sidelines of the Supreme Eurasian Economic...


Kazakh Chess Player Achieves Draw Against World Chess Champion

ASTANA – Yernur Amangeldy, a 15-year-old Kazakh chess player, secured a draw against vice world chess champion Ian Nepomniachtchi in a second-round match of the World Rapid and Blitz...


Number of Domestic Tourists in Kazakhstan Surpasses 5.5 Million This Year

ASTANA – The number of domestic tourists in Kazakhstan grew 12% to over 5.5 million in the first nine months of 2023, Silk Way TV Channel reported on Dec....


Kazakhstan to Introduce Mandatory Assets and Liabilities Declarations for Executives, Business Owners in 2024

From January 2024, the third stage of universal declaration in Kazakhstan will be introduced, which will oblige executives, founders (participants) of legal entities, individual entrepreneurs and their spouses to...


Kazakhstan Enhances Peacekeeping Presence in 2023

ASTANA – Kazakhstan extended the scope of its peacekeeping missions in 2023, as was instructed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said Deputy Minister of Defense Lieutenant-General Sultan Kamaletdinov at a...


Kazakhstan’s Diplomacy in 2023: Year of High-Profile Visits, Economic Success, and Soaring Foreign Investments 

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov wrapped up the results of the ministry’s work in 2023 at a Dec. 25 press briefing, the ministry’s press service reported. ...


Kazakhstan’s State Commission Rehabilitates 311,000 Victims of Soviet Political Repression

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s State Commission for the Full Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repressions has rehabilitated over 311,000 victims, State Counselor Erlan Karin said at the commission’s final meeting...


Kazakhstan’s Energy Sector Surges This Year

ASTANA – Reviewing the accomplishments in Kazakhstan’s energy sector over this year, the Prime Minister’s press service issued an overview on Dec. 26, highlighting significant achievements. Oil and gas...


Kazakh Population Assesses Work of State Agencies

ASTANA – The Strategy Social and Political Research Center conducted a survey of 2,400 respondents across the country in December, assessing the population’s approval of the activities of state...


Diplomacy of Spirit in Kazakhstan

This past October in Astana, Kazakhstan, I sat down with Ambassador Bulat Sarsenbayev, the chairman of the board of the Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue,...


Astana Airport Welcomes 7.5 Millionth Passenger

ASTANA – Astana’s International Airport served 7.5 million passengers, setting a record on Dec. 25, reported the Kazakh Transport Ministry’s press service. “We visited relatives in Almaty and today...


Kazakh Passport Power Soars in 2023: 82 Visa-Free Countries, New Deals with China and EU

ASTANA — This year, the list of visa-free countries for holders of Kazakhstan’s passports has been expanded to 82 states for various categories of passports, including 29 states for...


Samarkand Hosts World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships This Week

ASTANA – Samarkand hosts the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Dec. 26-30, reported the International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) press service on Dec. 25.  FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich...


Kazakh Foreign Ministry Recaps Progress in International Relations in 2023

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov summed up the results of the ministry’s work in 2023, packed with major international events, high-level meetings, and new investment initiatives...


Kazakh President Takes Part in Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Meeting in St. Petersburg

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed technological cooperation, integrated information systems, and food security of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) at a Dec. 25 meeting of the Supreme...


IMF World Economic Outlook: Kazakhstan Leads in GDP Growth Among Central Asian, CIS States

ASTANA – Kazakhstan occupies a leading position in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) among the countries of Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), reported Finprom...


Kazakhstan’s AIFC Spotlights Achievements and Growth Strategies

ASTANA – As the end of the year approaches, Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Governor Renat Bekturov discussed the accomplishments of the center and shed light on how it...


Kazakhstan’s Exports to EAEU Countries Increase by 90%

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exports to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) increased by 90% from $5.1 billion in 2015 to $9.7 billion in 2022, Minister of Trade...


AI Language Models in Process of Adaptation to Kazakh Language

ASTANA – Til-Qazyna National Scientific and Practical Center named after Shaisultan Shayakhmetov announced its readiness to adapt existing international large language models (LLM) to the Kazakh language at a...


Dimash Kudaibergen’s Solo Concert in Hong Kong Marks Seven Years of His Debut

ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen mesmerized fans with a solo concert on Dec. 23 in Hong Kong, commemorating seven years since his debut in the I am a...


Model SCO Interactive Game Unfolds in Beijing During Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship

ASTANA – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat hosted a Model SCO interactive game on Dec. 22 in Beijing as part of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the organization, reported the...


Kazakhstan to Strengthen E-Commerce Infrastructure in Partnership with International Investors

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to develop the e-commerce infrastructure by constructing and launching logistics and warehouse centers with foreign investors, particularly from China, said Minister of Trade and Integration...


Kazakhstan’s Role in CICA Chairmanship

Kazakhstan has become an influential player in global diplomacy and the geopolitical landscape due to its prominent role as the chair of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures...


Kazakhstan Advances Agricultural Progress in 2023 in Pursuit of Eurasian Leadership

ASTANA — Summing up the country’s achievements in the agricultural sector in the outgoing year, the Prime Minister’s press service released an overview of the industry’s results on Dec....


Leonardo DiCaprio Applauds Kazakhstan’s Saiga Conservation Success

ASTANA – Leonardo DiCaprio, renowned Hollywood actor and environmentalist, congratulated the Kazakh government on the conservation success of the saiga population on his Instagram page on Dec. 25. This...


China Southern Airlines Expands Connectivity with New Flights to Kazakhstan

ASTANA  — China Southern Airlines will launch regular passenger flights from the new Beijing Daxing International Airport to Almaty starting Jan. 25 next year, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan...


Bridging Digital Chasm: Empowering Rural Kazakhstan’s Youth for Brighter Future

With growing technology, the internet is no longer a necessity but a requirement, becoming crucial for individual achievement and overall societal development.  However, while Kazakhstan has made significant leaps...


Swiss Economic Anthropologist Shares Research on Central Asian Transformation 

ASTANA – Scientific studies of Swiss economic anthropologist Peter Finke have encompassed the transformation of the socialist systems in Central Asia and the regional adaptation to a globalizing world....


Astana Prepares for Winter Season with Festive Installations

ASTANA – Nearly 60 ice skating rinks and slides will be built in the five districts of the Kazakh capital, alongside the installation of street furniture and photo zones,...


New Book Unveils Kazakh Tribal Legacy, Breaks Myths and Preconceptions

ASTANA – Amid growing demand for national identity reflection and reassessment, the new book “Tamga: History of Kazakh Tribes” written by historian Radik Temirgaliyev presents an opportunity to explore...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Large Gas Project in Kazakhstan, Infrastructure at Caspian Ports and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media worldwide. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on Rozhkovskoye gas condensate...


Kazakhstan’s Foreign Trade Turnover Grows to $114.1 Billion

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover in January-October reached $114.1 billion, 2.6% up compared to last year, according to data released by the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics on...


Large Rozhkovskoye Gas Condensate Field Starts Operation in Western Kazakhstan 

ASTANA – The large Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field, operated by Ural Oil and Gas LLP, launched commercial production on Dec. 21 in Western Kazakhstan, according to the Prime Minister’s...


Altyn Tugyr Awards Celebrate Kazakhstan’s Excellence in Traditional Sports

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Association of National Sports awarded the exceptional athletes who have achieved success on the national and international levels in 10 national sports nominations at the 10th...


KazAID Accelerates Export of Kazakh IT Solutions to Tajikistan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan started exporting its IT solutions in the e-government development to Tajikistan, owing to the partnership of the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry,...


Kazakhstan’s Manufacturing Industry in 2023: Breakthrough Projects, Production of New Goods

ASTANA – Summing up the country’s achievements in the outgoing year, the Prime Minister’s press service released an overview of the industry’s results on Dec. 22. This year, 126...


Almaty Demonstrates Robust Economic Growth

ASTANA — Almaty attracted a staggering 1.5 trillion tenge ($3.2 billion) in investments in 2023, marking a remarkable 19.9% increase, announced Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev during a Dec. 21...


Kazakhstan Launches Migration Data Website to Simplify Procedures 

ASTANA – The migration.enbek.kz migration data website has been launched in Kazakhstan, reported the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Dec. 21. The website, which contains information about...


First-Ever Local Mayor Elections Align with Kazakhstan’s Political Modernization

ASTANA – Last month, Kazakhstan held first-ever pilot elections of akims (mayors) in districts and cities of regional significance. Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) defined the historic event...


Kazakhstan, China Agree on Some Articles of Transboundary Water Management 

ASTANA — The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation marked a significant achievement in its negotiations with China on Dec. 21 concerning a water distribution agreement, the ministry’s...