Astana to Host International Tournament Featuring World Track & Field Stars

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will host the Astana Indoor Meet for Amin Tuyakov Prizes international athletics tournament on Jan. 25, featuring top athletes, including Olympic champions and world...


Swiss Company Promotes Shared Values Through Social Initiatives in Kazakhstan

ASTANA — Efforts to improve health, preserve cultural heritage, and promote community well-being are gaining momentum in Kazakhstan. Supporting this trend, companies like Nestlé in Kazakhstan lead social programs...


Winter Sports in Kazakhstan: Infrastructure & Athletes’ Successes in 2024

ASTANA – Winter’s fairytale, picturesque mountains, the snow-covered trees, rapid speeds, and the snow shining on the sun. What could be better than feeling the freedom that comes with...


Timeless Kazakh Traditions From Birth to Adulthood 

ASTANA – The Kazakh people possess a rich and diverse cultural heritage, deeply rooted in traditions that emphasize family and kinship. Central to this heritage are customs designed to...


Explore Zhambyl Region’s Ancient Wonders and Sacred Mysteries

ASTANA – The Zhambyl Region is one of Kazakhstan’s most historically rich regions, home to ancient mysteries, sacred monuments, and unique artifacts. Among the more than 200 ancient settlements...


Kazakhstan Seen as Top Candidate to Host 2028 Olympic Qualifying Tournament

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is among the most likely candidates to host the licensing qualifying tournament in weightlifting for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, said International Weightlifting Federation...


Kazakhstan Showcases Culinary Traditions to Chinese Media

ASTANA – A Chinese media team from Sanlian Lifeweek Magazine, one of China’s leading publications, visited Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent to explore Kazakhstan’s rich culinary heritage for an upcoming...


Kyrgyz Republic Creates Three Artificial Glaciers

ASTANA – Three artificial glaciers have been created in the Batken Region in the southern Kyrgyz Republic to solve problems with irrigation water in the spring, Kazinform reported on...


Dimash Qudaibergen Wins People’s Favorite Award in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakh pop star Dimash Qudaibergen received the People’s Favorite award on Jan. 16 in Astana, reported dimashnews.com. Now in its 14th year, this prestigious award celebrates the...


US Senator Advocates Lifting Cold War Trade Restrictions on Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Marco Rubio, a nominee for the United States Secretary of State post, spoke about repealing Cold War-era restrictions on Kazakhstan related to the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which restricted...


Kazakhstan Expands Islamic Finance with New Shariah ETF

ASTANA — Kazakhstan marked a significant milestone in Islamic finance with the Jan. 14 launch of Central Asia and Caucasus’ first Shariah-compliant exchange-traded fund (ETF) under the International Trading...


National Bank of Kazakhstan Maintains Base Rate at 15.25%

ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided to keep the base rate at 15.25%, NBK Governor Timur Suleimenov announced at a...


33 World Leaders Visit Kazakhstan in 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosted visits from 33 heads of state and government, four leaders and senior representatives of major international organizations, and seven parliamentary speakers in 2024, reported the...


Mid-January Adventures: What to Explore This Week

ASTANA –  Unwind this weekend after a busy work week by visiting engaging exhibitions and sporting events. The Astana Times editorial team has curated a special list of events...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakh President’s Visit to Abu Dhabi, Book on Kazakh Foreign Policy and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s speech at Abu Dhabi Sustainability...


Kazakhstan Records 23% Growth in Gold and FX Reserves

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s gold and foreign exchange reserves reached $44.2 billion as of November, marking an increase of $8.3 billion, or 23.1%, compared to 2023, according to the National...


East Kazakhstan to Build Five New Hydroelectric Power Plants

ASTANA – The East Kazakhstan Region plans to construct five new hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) with a combined capacity of 74.3 megawatts (MW) in the coming years, Kazinform reported...


Tazy Hunting Dog Breed Receives Patent

ASTANA – The Tazy hunting dog breed received a patent from National Institute of Intellectual Property Qazpatent on Jan. 14.  The Kansonar national group of public associations of hunters...


IRENA Director-General: Interconnectivity Key to Central Asia’s Energy Growth and Export Potential to Europe

ABU DHABI — In an interview with The Astana Times during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Francesco La Camera, director general of...


Kazakh Athletes Win Six Medals at 2025 FISU World University Games Winter

ASTANA – Kazakh freestyle skier Anastasia Gorodko won her second gold medal in the parallel moguls event at the 2025 FISU World University Games Winter, which takes place in...


Kazakhstan Advances in 2025 Henley Passport Index With 77 Visa-Free Destinations

ASTANA – The Kazakh passport ranked 65th, moving one spot up in the Henley Passport Index 2025 released on Jan. 8. Citizens of Kazakhstan can now visit 77 countries...


Almaty Becomes Most Popular Region for Foreign Tourists Visiting Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Almaty became the most popular region of Kazakhstan among foreign tourists in 2024, according to the Kazakh Tourism national company’s analysis based on data on accommodations registered...


Kazakh Capital to Create Second Industrial Park

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital started implementing the project to create a second industrial park on an area of 409 hectares based on the Astana – New City special...


KASE Index Grows by Over 33% in 2024

ASTANA – Last year, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) index continued to grow by 33.2%, to 5,578.10 points, according to KASE Chairperson Alina Aldambergen. The capitalization of the stock...


Kazakhtelecom Sells 100% Stake in MTS to Qatari Power International Holding

ASTANA – Kazakh national telecom operator Kazakhtelecom has completed a deal with a Qatari-based Power International Holding (PIH) to sell a 100% stake in Mobile Telecom-Service LLP (MTS). In...


Masdar Expands Renewable Energy Footprint in Central Asia with Wind Power Plant in Kazakhstan

ABU DHABI — Last November, during the COP29 conference in Baku, Masdar, a leading renewable energy company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signed an agreement with Kazakhstan...


Kazakh Startup Hero’s Journey Aims U.S. Expansion with $6 Million Investment

ASTANA—Hero’s Journey, a Kazakhstan-based gamified fitness studio, secured $6 million in funding at a $30 million valuation. In an interview with Digital Business on Jan 13, the founder, Ilyas...


Decrypted AZAL Plane Black Boxes Delivered to Kazakhstan 

ASTANA — Decrypted black boxes of the AZAL plane, which crashed on Dec. 25 last year in Aktau, were brought from Brazil to Kazakhstan. Today, their data is being...


Kazakh President Holds Talks With Officials, Business Leaders in Abu Dhabi 

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a number of meetings on Jan. 14-15 as part of his working visit to Abu Dhabi. Tokayev invites Italian PM Giorgia...


Chinese Religious Leaders Express Support for Kazakhstan’s Initiatives 

ASTANA – Religious leaders of China expressed support for Kazakhstan’s initiatives to strengthen interfaith dialogue. Maulen Ashimbayev, chair of the Senate, upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, head of...


Kazakh President Meets With Top AI Experts in Abu Dhabi

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with experts in the field of artificial intelligence on Jan. 15 as part of his working visit to Abu...


Kazakhstan Gearing up for IX Asian Winter Games

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed to intensify work to improve competitiveness of Kazakh sports ahead of the ninth Asian Winter Games during a Jan. 14 meeting....


How Digital Diplomacy Can Elevate Kazakhstan’s Global Image

What is digital diplomacy, and how can Kazakhstan leverage it to build a sustainable and strong country brand? How can the inevitable digitalization process bring the work of embassies,...


Kazakhstan’s Anastasia Gorodko Wins Gold Medal at 2025 FISU World University Games Winter

ASTANA – Kazakh professional freestyle skier Anastasia Gorodko won the gold medal with 79.79 points at the 2025 FISU World University Games Winter, which takes place in Torino on...


Investment Headquarters’ Meeting Approves New Industrial Projects 

ASTANA – The Investment Promotion Council (Investment Headquarters) held a meeting on Jan. 14 to review and approve the main terms of the investment agreements aimed at modernizing key...


Kazakh, Nigerian Presidents Ready to Advance Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Jan. 14 on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit. Tokayev...


Tourism Tax Revenues in Almaty Double in 2024

ASTANA – Tax revenues from Almaty’s tourism sector reached 85.5 billion tenge (US$161.8 million) in the first 11 months of 2024, doubling the previous year’s figures, the city administration’s...


Kazakh Families Uphold Marriage Traditions as Costly Weddings Lose Appeal, Survey Finds

ASTANA – Recent social survey results highlight that while Kazakh families continue to cherish marriage-related traditions, support for costly weddings and outdated practices, such as bride kidnapping, has significantly...


Kazakhstan Plants Forests on Dried-Up Bed of Aral Sea

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attracted national and private companies to plant forests on the dried bed of the Aral Sea, the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of...


President Tokayev Focuses on New Development Paradigm at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the pressing realities of global climate change, desertification, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and food insecurity in his address, named...


Kazakh National Bank Survey Shows Rising Use of Deposit Accounts 

ASTANA – A survey conducted by the National Bank of Kazakhstan found that nearly 50% of citizens hold their money in bank deposits, Kazinform reported on Jan. 13. Meanwhile,...


President Tokayev Attends Opening of ADSW Summit & Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the grand opening of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit and the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on Jan....


Volume of E-Commerce in Kazakhstan Increases Fivefold Since 2020

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens spent nearly 3.2 trillion tenge (US$6 billion) on online purchases over the first 11 months of 2024, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said...


Rights of Persons with Disabilities Must be Protected During Climate Emergencies in Kazakhstan

Last year’s Baku Climate Conference, the 29th Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC), concluded with mixed outcomes. While the contentious negotiations on...


Kazakhstan, China Deepen Cooperation on Middle Corridor Development

ASTANA – The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route effectively ensures the security of supply chains between Asia and Europe. Kazakhstan and China continue to deepen cooperation on this route and...


President Tokayev Meets UAE President Ahead of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ahead of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week...


How Transboundary River Management in Central Asia Affects Kazakhstan’s Water Crisis

ASTANA – With vast agricultural lands but inefficient irrigation systems, Kazakhstan might face major challenges when it comes to water scarcity. This article explores the use of transboundary rivers...


Thai Diplomat Reflects on Bilateral Ties, Shared Life Values Between Thailand and Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and Thailand are growing, with both nations showing commitment to deepen relations across trade, tourism, and culture. In an interview with The Astana...


Kazakhstan’s Major Sporting Events in 2025

ASTANA – This year, Kazakhstan will host several international competitions, as Kazakh athletes will compete at the world’s leading sports events. In January, Kazakhstan became the venue for the...


Kazakhstan’s IT Services Exports Keep Growing

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s IT services exports increased to $306 million between January and June last year. According to Finprom financial and business analytical service, in 2020, the figure was...