AIFC Recommends Key Reforms to Boost Kazakhstan’s Carbon Market

ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) recommends key reforms to enhance Kazakhstan’s carbon regulation system, including the paid allocation of carbon allowances, expanding emissions trading platforms, and...


Kazakhstan Proposes Simplifying Business Travel with France

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev proposed simplifying business trips with France at a meeting with Patrick Stefanini, the Special Representative of the French Interior Minister, on...


‘New Oil Market’: Assessing Kazakhstan’s Rare Earth Potential

ASTANA – As the world enters a new phase in the struggle for resources, discussions on the green transition and rare earth metals take center stage. Kazinform news agency...


Kazakhstan, Germany Strengthen Strategic Partnership

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko discussed ways to develop a strategic partnership with Germany on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 16, reported...


Kazakh Master of Hundred Techniques Carves Unique Path in Art

ASTANA – Kanat Nurtazin is renowned for his unique artistic approach, specializing in intricate carvings and continuously expanding his ambitious 100 Drawing Methods project. To date, he has mastered...


Kazakhstan Concludes Asian Winter Games with Impressive Medal Count

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s national team earned 20 medals, including four gold, nine silver and seven bronze, to finish fourth in the overall team competition at the 2025 Asian Winter...


Kazakh Scientist Develops AI to Translate Sign Language into Kazakh

ASTANA – Kazakh scientist Nurzada Amangeldy is developing a project that will translate sign language into Kazakh using artificial intelligence (AI) in hopes of changing life for the hard-of-hearing...


Canadian Mining Company to Explore Kazakhstan’s Chu-Sarysu Copper Basin

ASTANA – Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines announced the formation of an exploration joint venture to explore the Chu-Sarysu Copper Basin in Kazakhstan, which is the world’s third-largest sediment-hosted...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Repealing Jackson-Vanik Amendment, Kazakhstan’s Transition to Clean Energy and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has curated a selection of articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes topics such as the importance of...


Vibrant Events to Spark Your February Weekend

ASTANA – The second week of February is ending, bringing with it the celebration of Valentine’s Day. Feb. 14 is more than just a day of romance – it’s...


Tokayev Visits National Archive, Baiseitova University of Arts 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the newly completed building of the President’s Archive on Feb. 14, which has been relocated from Almaty to the capital in line with...


Kazakhstan Wins Gold in Men’s Hockey, Silver in Women’s at 2025 Asian Games

ASTANA – As the 2025 Asian Games in Harbin come to a close on Feb. 14, Kazakhstan celebrates impressive achievements on the ice. The men’s hockey team secured the...


Kazakhstan Can Be Favorite Place for Neo Nomads, Says Deputy Minister

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is opening its doors wider to digital nomads and remote professionals since the launch of the Neo Nomad Visa in November. In an interview with The...


Kazakhstan and EU Discuss Cooperation Plans in Brussels

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko held a series of meetings with representatives of key European Union institutions in Brussels to discuss the prospects for deepening Kazakhstan-EU...


Uzbekistan to Host Historic First EU-Central Asia Summit in April

ASTANA — The first EU-Central Asia summit, hosted by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will take place on April 3-4 in Samarkand, with the participation of the leaders of Kazakhstan,...


Kazakh Senate Approves Law Granting Special Status to Turkistan

ASTANA — The Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, approved a law granting special status to Turkistan city during a Feb. 13 meeting chaired by Senate Chairman...


Swiss Company to Invest in Сaviar Production in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Swiss Choice Holding will invest in a fish farm project on the Caspian Sea coast, aiming to produce 100 to 600 tons of sturgeon and 100 tons...


President Tokayev Welcomes Political Dialogue on Ukraine

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed planned negotiations on Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of stability for Kazakhstan. He made the remarks during the City of Working Professions festival...


First Comic Book About Bozok Medieval City Unveiled

ASTANA – The Bozok State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve presented the first edition of the comic book “Journey of Alikhan and Aikerim” on Feb. 12, reported the Kazakh Culture...


Kazakhstan’s Proved Oil Reserves Reach 30 Billion Barrels

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s proved oil reserves totaled 30 billion barrels as of Jan. 1, according to the United States (U.S.) Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report, published on Feb. 6....


Kazakhstan to Increase Gas Supplies to China

ASTANA – QazaqGaz national company and PetroChina International have agreed to increase gas supplies to China in 2025, reported QazaqGaz’s press service. The corresponding addendum to the existing three-year...


Kazakhstan to Use Recovered Assets to Build Medical and Social Center

ASTANA – The Kazakh government has allocated 2.6 billion tenge (US$5.1 million) from recovered illegally withdrawn assets to build a special social services center in the Abai Region, the...


Kazakhstan Men’s Hockey Team Reaches Asian Winter Games Finals in Harbin

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s men’s hockey team defeated China 3-1 in the semi-finals of the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin and will compete for the gold medal on Feb....


Kazakhstan’s International Reserves Surpass $45 Billion Due to Gold Purchases

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s net international reserves exceeded $45 billion in January, increasing by 3.29% over the month and by 29.7% over the year, according to statistics from the National...


From Davos to Central Asia: Transforming Global Change into Local Action

Standing on the global stage of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, I was reminded of one powerful truth: change begins at the grassroots level. I was...


New Program to Help Central Eurasian IT Companies Enter US Market

ASTANA – The Silkroad Innovation Hub has launched SCALE2US: IT Outsourcing Bootcamp, a new educational program designed to help IT outsourcing companies in Central Eurasia enter the United States...


Kazakhstan’s Transport Sector Sees 10% Growth in 2024, Led by Maritime Expansion

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s transportation sector experienced a 10% growth in 2024 across all modes, reported Trend on Feb. 7. A total of 1.0788 billion tons of cargo was transported,...


Kazakhstan Seeks Better Terms in Contracts with Foreign Oil Companies

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is preparing to revise its production sharing agreements (PSAs) with major foreign oil companies, securing more favorable terms for the country and meeting domestic demand, experts...


Kazakhstan’s Strongman Tsyrulnikov Sets New Guinness World Record for Bursting Hot Water Bottles (Video)

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s strongman Sergey Tsyrulnikov has set a new Guinness World Record by bursting nine hot water bottles in just one minute using only his breath, surpassing the...


Renewables Expose Weaknesses in Kazakhstan’s Power Sector, Transform Mindsets

ASTANA – Renewable energy generation reached 6.43% in Kazakhstan in 2024, surpassing its 2025 target a year ahead of schedule. As Kazakhstan pushes ahead with its green transition, renewables...


Kazakhstan, Tajikistan Strengthen Strategic Partnership

ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored the stable and positive growth of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and emphasized the importance of enhancing their strategic partnership...


ICAO to Develop Master Plan for Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Industry Until 2050

ASTANA — The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will develop a comprehensive master plan for the growth and modernization of Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector by 2050. Kazakh Ministry of...


Kazakhstan Experiences Record Low Emigration and Positive Migration Balance in 2024

ASTANA — In 2024, the number of people leaving Kazakhstan for permanent residence in another country reached its lowest level since the country’s independence, with approximately 12,800 individuals departing,...


Kazakhstan-UK Strategic Dialogue Deepens, Focusing on Trade, Investment, Labor Rights Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom continue to expand their bilateral strategic dialogue and cooperation steadily. Having marked a symbolic anniversary on Jan. 19, the 33rd year since...


Kazakh Government Reviews Key Details of Upcoming Tax Reform

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting on Feb. 11 to discuss the details of upcoming tax reforms, which include changes to the value-added tax (VAT),...


Kazakh Invest Announces Key Achievements for 2024

ASTANA – Kazakh Invest national company released a comprehensive report on Feb. 11 detailing its significant achievements in 2024 with a total of $15.7 billion in investments, which accounts...


Kazakhstan Develops Research Strategy to Safeguard Lake Balkhash

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is determining how to utilize 1.35 million euros (US$1.39 million) in funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) to...


Over 9,000 Endangered Animals Counted in Altyn-Emel National Park Census

ASTANA – A recent wildlife census in Altyn-Emel National Park recorded over 9,000 endangered animals, including 5,500 goitered gazelles, 3,600 kulans, and 190 argali, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology...


Kazakhstan’s Women in Tech Lead Innovation, Challenge Norms, Says Expert

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s tech industry growth presents tremendous opportunities for women to leave their mark, said Ayumi Moore Aoki, the founder and CEO of Women in Tech Global. In...


Kazakhstan’s Winter Games Success Continues with Biathlon Gold and Cross-Country Silver

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national team had an impressive showing at the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, winning two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal on Feb. 11....


Baikonur Cosmodrome: Celebrating 70 Years of Launching Humanity Into Space

ASTANA – In addition to its wealth of historical monuments that transport visitors to past eras, Kazakhstan is home to a site that tells a different kind of story—one...


Kazakhstan’s Direct Flights: Soaring Symbol of Enhanced Foreign Policy

Kazakhstan is recently gaining attention for its consistent attempt of expanding its direct flight connections to key global destinations. At first glance, this strategy looks like a straightforward economic...


Regional Cooperation and Infrastructure Upgrade are Key to Address Central Asia’s Water Challenges, US Experts Report

ASTANA – The recent report by Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center assessed the state of water security across the five Central Asian countries, encouraging increased regional cooperation, improved state-level water...


City of Working Professions Festival Expands Career Pathways for Youth

ASTANA—The City of Working Professions festival commenced in the capital on Feb. 11 as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Year of Working Professions initiative. The event, which runs through...


Foreign Digital Companies Pay $150 Million in Taxes to Kazakhstan Over Three Years

ASTANA – Over the past three years, 101 foreign companies registered in Kazakhstan have paid 75 billion tenge (US$147.3 million) in taxes, the Kazakh Finance Ministry’s press service reported...


Young Kazakh Football Talent to Join London’s Chelsea in Record Transfer

ASTANA – Almaty’s Kairat football team confirmed the transfer of 16-year-old forward Dastan Satpayev to London’s Chelsea Football Club on Feb. 10. He will move to London in the...


Kazakhstan Reaches Progress in Transparency International’s 2024 Index

ASTANA – Kazakhstan improved its ranking in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), climbing five spots to 88th place among 180 countries. The country scored 40 points, marking...


Coventry University Branch Graduates Can Earn British Diplomas in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Graduates of Coventry University’s branch in Astana, which opened this academic year, can now receive a British diploma without leaving Kazakhstan. Deputy Prime Minister Tamara Duissenova met...


Kazakhstan Intends to Join Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has expressed its intention to join the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), as announced by Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev...


Kazakhstan’s Freestyle Acrobatics Team Wins Historic Gold at 2025 Asian Winter Games

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s men’s freestyle acrobatics team secured a historic gold medal on Feb. 11 at the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin. Sherzod Khashirbayev and Roman Ivanov became...