- Tuesday, 10 March, 2026
- Almaty 48 °F / 9 °C
- Astana 14 °F / -10 °C
ALMATY – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided to keep its base interest rate at 18%, citing persistent inflationary pressures and elevated uncertainty in both...
ASTANA — From classical music and ballet to immersive art exhibitions and sports events, Astana and Almaty offer a diverse cultural agenda this season. The Astana Times...
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s digest covers the country’s growing diplomatic profile, major political reforms, investments...
ASTANA — The United Arab Emirates (UAE )’s clean energy champion Masdar signed a cooperation agreement with Emirates Utilities Development Company (EUDC) and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has presented its national pavilion at Bett UK 2026, one of the world’s largest international platforms dedicated to educational technology, digital transformation, and innovation...
ALMATY – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has signed government resolutions approving investment agreements between the Ministry of Healthcare and four pharmaceutical companies, including AltINFARM, MSP-ROMPHARM, Abdi...
ASTANA – Afghanistan has sent 20 kilograms of raw gold, valued at $2.9 million, to Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya region for processing. Termiz Gold Production, a jewelry manufacturing company...
The practice of concluding online contracts is expanding across the world. Companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals located in different time zones, countries, or continents sign agreements within minutes....
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the Board of Peace charter, established at the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump, on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland. Along...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan entered 2026 with a renewed focus on political reforms and governance priorities following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s address at the kurultai in Kyzylorda on Jan....
ASTANA – The United Nations University (UNU) released an article on Jan. 20 about the dawn of an era of global water bankruptcy, formally defining a new...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan citizens working illegally in South Korea can voluntarily leave the country without fines or restrictions on re-entry until the end of February, under agreements...
ASTANA – The volume of the Northern Aral Sea is planned to increase to 34 cubic kilometers over 4-5 years, and a 191.7 billion tenge (US$377.4 million)...
ASTANA – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a written declaration, entitled Support for Kazakhstan’s Democratic Reforms and Regional Leadership, on Jan. 19...
ASTANA – The Kazakh Energy Ministry has established a special commission to investigate a technological disruption that occurred on Jan. 18 at the Tengiz oil field, with...
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree establishing the Commission on Constitutional Reform on Jan. 21. To develop proposals for constitutional reform, Tokayev has decreed...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Abilkhan Kasteev National Museum of Arts reopened to the public after a major modernization, unveiling renovated galleries and updated exhibitions, reported the Ministry of...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan exported 5.1 million tons of grain from the new harvest between September 2025 and Jan. 15, 2026, marking an increase compared to 4.3 million...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to open and resume multiple international air routes in 2026 while increasing flight frequencies on existing destinations, as part of broader efforts to...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s engineering and sapper unit deployed to the Golan Heights has destroyed more than 1,200 explosive devices while carrying out tasks under the mandate of...
ALMATY – Trade and economic cooperation between China and Central Asia reached a historic milestone in 2025 as bilateral trade volumes exceeded $100 billion for the first...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will allocate around 8 trillion tenge (approximately US$17 billion) to support the real sector of the economy and ensure GDP growth of at least...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat suffered a heavy 4:1 defeat to Belgium’s Club Brugge in a UEFA Champions League group-stage match played at Astana Arena on Jan. ...
Kazakhstan sits at the crossroads of Eurasia’s commodity flows. As global supply chains diversify and shippers seek more resilient, cost-effective alternatives, the country’s geography and infrastructure have...
ALMATY – Oil production at Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oilfield could remain suspended for 7-10 days, following an emergency shutdown over the weekend, potentially further tightening crude exports through...
ASTANA – Countries across South and Central Asia are accelerating efforts to strengthen their artificial intelligence readiness, investing in digital infrastructure, skills and public-sector deployment as governments...
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will visit Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22 at the invitation of the United States President Donald Trump to attend the signing ceremony...
ASTANA – The Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theater will perform in Singapore for the first time on Jan. 23-25 at the National University of Singapore,...
ASTANA – Viajar, a leading Spanish travel magazine, has included Almaty among the world’s five mountain cities where skiing is within easy reach of the urban experience,...
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan’s ongoing political reforms, foreign policy priorities, and digital transformation agenda during the National Kurultai (Congress) in Kyzylorda on Jan. 20,...
ASTANA – Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) and the Institute of Archaeology at University College London (UCL) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen long-term...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan will be represented by 36 athletes at the Winter Olympics, which will be held in Italy from Feb. 6 to 22 in the cities...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Law on Artificial Intelligence entered into force on Jan. 18, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for the development and use of AI while enshrining...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s silver industry is shrinking even as prices soar. Production has now declined for a fifth straight year, underscoring a widening gap between market value...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has developed the largest artificial intelligence model for automatic speech recognition (ASR) of Turkic languages, marking a major milestone for the region’s digital transformation...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan has taken a significant step toward integrating its higher education system into the global academic space, as the Senate (upper chamber of Parliament) ratified...
ALMATY – KMG International (KMG) reported strong financial and operational performance in 2025, posting record profitability and solid growth across its refining and retail operations, according to...
ASTANA — Small acts of support can open new opportunities for children with autism and bring relief to their families. On Jan. 15, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation...
ALMATY – A cultural and educational center, American Space & Makerspace, officially opened in Almaty on Jan. 16, marking an expansion of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s ongoing parliamentary reform could lead to consideration of a new Constitution, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a Jan. 19 meeting with the working group...
ALMATY — Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has received an official invitation from the United States President Donald Trump to join the newly established Gaza Peace Council, with Kazakhstan proposed...
ALMATY — The Rhenus Group has strengthened its presence in Central Asia with the acquisition of its first rail-connected intermodal terminal in Kazakhstan, marking a strategic step...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Germany will establish a Regional Center for Sustainable Agriculture for Central Asia and Germany at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant...
ALMATY — Kazakhstan significantly strengthened its position in the oil sector in 2025, recording robust growth in hydrocarbon production, according to data released by the Bureau of...
ASTANA — European companies operating in Kazakhstan are shifting from entry-focused strategies to institution-led planning as reforms accelerate and the country positions itself as a regional platform,...
ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s chess star Bibisara Assaubayeva will make her long-awaited debut at Norway Chess Women 2026 from May 25 to June 5 at Deichman Bjørvika in...
When you attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, organized by Masdar, which I did this January, you expect discussions about clean energy, finance, technology, and the future of...
ASTANA — With less than a month remaining before the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, it is time to turn to Kazakhstan’s Olympic...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan enters the Berlin International Film Festival on Feb. 12 with two films in the Forum Special program: the world premiere of “River Dreams,” directed...
ASTANA – The Almaty Region attracted 1.3 trillion (US$2.5 billion) in investments in 2025, nearly 30% more than a year earlier, said the region’s akim (governor) Marat...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is completing its four-year Olympic cycle in winter sports, investing 13.3 billion tenge (US$26 million) to ensure full preparation of national teams and participation...
ALMATY – Astana has officially joined the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), becoming the first city from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to be admitted...
ASTANA – Orthodox churches in Kazakhstan’s capital will celebrate Epiphany on January 18-19, with traditional ice-hole bathing organized at the Astana’s Capital Park embankment. Four ice holes...
ASTANA – The Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026 will take place on April 22-24 bringing together around 1,500 participants from government bodies across the region, international organizations,...
ASTANA — The fifth meeting of the working group on parliamentary reform, chaired by State Counselor Erlan Karin, was held on Jan. 15 to review proposals aimed...
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Jan. 15 received Madina Abylkasymova, chairperson of the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, to review 2025 results...
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan’s perspectives on energy security, a major...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) rerouted approximately 300,000 tons of oil in December 2025 due to restrictions on Kazakh oil supplies through...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Iran discussed expanding cooperation in trade, transport, and logistics during meetings between senior foreign ministry officials on Jan. 15. Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) reported the results of the exchange market’s performance for 2025 at a Jan. 15 press briefing. Total trading volume reached 400.8...
BELFAST – ALMATY – 2025 became a defining year for Kazakhstan’s higher education sector. Record numbers of foreign students enrolled in Kazakh universities, local institutions reached their...
ASTANA – Winters in Kazakhstan have a way of shrinking the city to its essentials: home, work, and the route between the two. As the cold settles...
ALMATY – Europe’s oil market is tightening sharply, defying expectations of a global surplus, as reduced shipments from Kazakhstan via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) emerge as...
ALMATY – The International Olympic Committee has released the full competition schedule for athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will take place on Feb. 6-22 in...
ABU DHABI — Masdar, the United Arab Emirates’ clean energy champion, announced financial close on a $225 million package for the solar power plant and battery storage...
ALMATY – The United States will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Kazakhstan, starting Jan. 21, the U.S. State Department announced...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to fully cover its domestic electricity demand by early 2027 and move toward a stable power surplus by 2029 as the government accelerates...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan saw an increase in entrepreneurial activity in 2025, with the net growth in registered businesses rising more than sevenfold compared to the previous year,...
ALMATY – Air Astana announced changes to several regular and charter flights’ routes following the closure of Iran’s airspace, the airline’s press service reported on Jan. 15....
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national currency strengthened in 2025. But analysts warn that structural pressures could lead to gradual weakening in 2026. The tenge gained 1.3% in December,...
ASTANA — Kazmortransflot, a subsidiary of KazMunayGas(KMG), has reported an increase in container shipping across the Caspian Sea last year, strengthening Kazakhstan’s transit and transport potential. Along...
ASTANA – Jewelry production in Kazakhstan rose 41.3% in January-October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reaching $4.1 million, driven by domestic gold quotas, VAT...
ASTANA — The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will lend $150 million to support the Almaty Railway Bypass Project, a landmark investment aimed at strengthening freight efficiency,...
ASTANA — The Kazakh Foreign Ministry has released a statement on Jan. 14, addressing recent incidents involving tankers en route to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan aims to make manufacturing the main driver of economic growth this year, with metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemicals, and construction materials leading the expansion. The...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan is launching the next phase of geological exploration, with 240 billion tenge (US$470 million) to be invested over the next three years to improve...
ASTANA — Kazakh Energy Ministry confirmed a temporary decline in oil shipments through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal in December 2025 in a Jan. 13...
ALMATY — Winters in Almaty are often milder than in much of Kazakhstan, and long stretches without heavy snowfall are nothing unusual for the city. Yet even...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration is monitoring the U.S. statements regarding countries with trade ties to Iran and assessing potential scenarios, as details of...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan ranks fourth among Uzbekistan’s foreign investors, following China, Russia and Türkiye, with 1,199 enterprises with Kazakh capital operating in the country as of Dec....
ABU DHABI — Masdar, a clean energy champion of the UAE capital, is marking its 20th anniversary this year, having launched operations in 2006, long before renewable...
ASTANA – Oil prices fluctuated in overnight trading after United States President Donald Trump took action against Venezuela by capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3,...
ALMATY — KazMunayGas (KMG) reports that its chartered oil tanker Matilda did not sustain serious damage following a drone attack near the Black Sea loading terminal of...
ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims has approved the religious calendar for 2026 on Jan. 8, announcing the key dates of Islamic observances for the year....
ABU DHABI – Transforming global energy systems will require more than breakthrough technologies, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), released on...
ALMATY – Mukhtar Auezov Kazakh National Drama Theater celebrates its 100th anniversary on Jan. 13, marking a century-long contribution to the country’s cultural and spiritual life. The...
ABU DHABI — The capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 (ADSW) on Jan. 13, positioning itself once again as a...
ALMATY — Kazakhstan has provided all populated areas with access to drinking water by the end of 2025, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Kuandyk Kazhkenov reported...
ALMATY — Kazakhstan is intensifying efforts to digitalize water management and expand water-saving technologies to ensure sustainable water use amid rising demand and climate pressures, as Vice...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s passenger air traffic rose 5.8% in the first 11 months of 2025 as airlines expanded fleets, airports increased capacity, and Open Skies liberalization intensified...
ASTANA – Kazakh musicians, including a symphony orchestra, a chamber choir, and a ballet troupe, will perform at the 35th Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF) 2026, one...
ASTANA — Law enforcement dismantled 15 criminal groups and shut down 29 illegal cash-out platforms with a combined turnover exceeding 128 billion tenge (approximately US$270 million) in...
ASTANA — Transport corridors and logistics hubs are transforming how Central Asia grows and competes. But how can the region truly benefit from this shift, and what...
ASTANA — The Central Asia Climate Foundation (CACF) reported on Jan. 12 that, according to the National Report on the State of the Environment and the Use...
ABU DHABI — Despite renewable energy installations reaching a new peak, employment in the sector grew by just 2.3% year on year, totaling 16.6 million jobs in...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s economy expanded by 6.5% in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of National Statistics. Growth was driven...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s prosecutors secured the state’s economic interests worth more than 1.1 trillion tenge (US$2.1 billion) in 2025 amid ongoing economic reforms, Prosecutor General Berik Assylov...
ASTANA — Artificial Intelligence (AI) is predicted to raise productivity for approximately 70% of Kazakhstan’s workforce, transforming up to 53% of job functions, said Minister of Science...
ASTANA — Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information has announced the winner of the curatorial competition for the country’s national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition,...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s fishery sector recorded nearly 59,400 tons of processed fish in January-November 2025, contributing to a total market volume of 76,800 tons, up 10% from...
