Kazakh Football Team Beats Northern Ireland in EURO 2024 Qualifying

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national football team defeated Northern Ireland 1:0 securing fourth victory in Euro 2024 qualifying at the Astana Arena on Sept. 10. Maksim Samorodov scored the only...


Central Asia Seizes Opportunity for Investment and Talent

For many corporations and governments, Central Asia has often been overlooked. Known for its five former Soviet Union “Stan” countries, with Kazakhstan leading as the region’s largest economy, the...


Kazakhstan’s Astana Opera Theatre Embarks on Georgia Tour

ASTANA – Astana Opera is set to debut its “The Steppe Motives in Tbilisi” program at the Rustaveli National State Academic Theater in Georgia on Sept. 23, according to...


Cinereous Vulture Nest with Chick Found in Altyn-Emel National Park (Video)

ASTANA — An active nest containing a Cinereous vulture chick—also known as a black vulture—was recently discovered in Altyn-Emel State National Park, situated in the Ili River valley within...


Besbarmak Named Most Popular National Dish Among Foreigners

ASTANA – Besbarmak, a traditional Kazakh dish of boiled meat served with pastry noodles and potatoes, has been named the most popular national dish among foreign visitors, according to...


Kazakh Auteur Directors Gain Worldwide Fame

ASTANA – The beginning of the second decade of the 2000s marked the turning point for Kazakh auteur cinema. The country launched a reboot of Kazakh art cinema through...


Kazakh Banking Sector Boasts Growing Resilience, Says Latest Fitch Report

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s banking sector has displayed increased resilience in recent years despite the criticism from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev regarding the business models of banks in his recent address...


Economic Course of a Just Kazakhstan

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev`s State of the Nation Address delivered on September 1, 2023 Dear Compatriots, Distinguished Members of Parliament and Members of the Government, In accordance with Article 59...


Forty Przewalski’s Horses to Be Reintroduced to Kazakhstan

ASTANA — The Prague Zoo is set to facilitate the transportation of the first batch of Przewalski’s horses to Kazakhstan in 2024, according to Kazinform. These horses will be...


Kazakhconcert to Host Alem Saz International Music Festival This Fall

ASTANA – Kazakhconcert state musical organization named after Roza Baglanova will host the second Alem Saz International Music Festival from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, reported the organization’s press...


Kazakhstan Ranks 49th in Happiness and Life Satisfaction 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has secured 49th place out of 165 countries in the 2022 Happiness and Life Satisfaction study, conducted by analysts from Our World in Data. The study...


Kazakh and Chinese Experts Reflect on First Decade of Belt and Road Initiative 

ASTANA – Astana hosted an international conference on Sept. 7, marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), one of the world’s largest development and infrastructure...


Kazakhstan Reaches FIDE World Women’s Team Championship 2023 Quarterfinals

ASTANA – Kazakhstan qualified for the knockout stage in the International Chess Federation World Women’s Team Championship (FIDE WWTC) 2023 with four wins, FIDE’s press service reported on Sept....


China’s Loong Airlines Launches Hangzhou-Almaty Route

ASTANA – China’s Loong Airlines launched its first passenger flight to Kazakhstan on the Hangzhou-Almaty route on Sept. 7, reported the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service. The airline will...


Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina Qualifies for 2023 WTA Finals

ASTANA – Elena Rybakina became the first Kazakhstan athlete and the third player to qualify for the 2023 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals, Sports.kz reported on Sept. 7. With...


UN Kazakhstan Country Team Discusses Agenda of SDG Summit with Media

ASTANA – The United Nations Office in Kazakhstan held a meeting with media representatives to highlight the upcoming agenda for the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit and address...


Kazakhstan Unites 30 Constitutional Courts Worldwide in International Conference

ASTANA – The Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan hosted an international conference titled Constitutional Justice: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All, bringing together judges from the constitutional courts of 30...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Jackson-Vanik Amendment and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has compiled a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest includes coverage of the Trans-Caspian International Transport...


Cargo Transportation Volume Via Middle Corridor Increases by 86%

ASTANA – The volume of cargo transported via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) through Kazakhstan increased 86% year on year over the first seven months of this year,...


Astana to Host Nobel Fest in October

ASTANA – Nobel Fest: Digital Upgrade will unite Nobel laureates and world science stars of IT, economics, and innovation on Oct. 5-6 in Astana, reported the festival’s press office....


Kazakhstan-Malaysia Partnership: Advancing Trade, Innovation and Prosperity

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to open its first Honorary Consulate in Penang, Malaysia, this fall. Datoˊ Wira Louis Ng Chun Hau, the founder and executive chairman of Public...


Hollywood’s Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker “Can’t Wait” to Visit Astana’s Comic Con

ASTANA – Two Hollywood stars, Sean Gunn and Michael Rooker, the headliners of Comic Con Astana addressed Kazakh residents in a video message, saying that they “can’t wait” to...


A Diverse Array of Events Awaits Astana This Weekend

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital is gearing up for a weekend packed with diverse events. Whether you’re a fan of poetry, art exhibitions, retro music, or football, Astana has...


Kazakhstan, Albania Agree to Strengthen Ties During Albanian President’s First Visit to Astana

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and his Albanian counterpart, Bajram Begaj, outlined high dynamics of political and economic cooperation and expressed a shared desire to contribute to peace,...


Kazakhstan, Italy Announce Intention to Deepen Mutual Partnership

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Italy confirmed their intention to deepen mutual partnership and explore new forms of collaboration in a joint statement signed by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and...


Qazaqstan Halqyna Fund Allocates $315 Million to Support Nation’s Social Welfare 

ASTANA – The Qazaqstan Halqyna Fund (to the people of Kazakhstan) has allocated over 146.5 billion tenge ($315.2 million) to finance more than 40 charitable programs and projects. These...


Air Astana Plans to Launch Flights to Tokyo, Singapore, New York Next Year

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s national carrier Air Astana plans to launch flights to Tokyo and Singapore next year and to New York in 2025, said company’s CEO Peter Foster during...


Kazakh PM Encourages NCOC to Increase Kashagan Field’s Production

ASTANA – Production potential of Kashagan field can reach 75 million tons of oil per year, said Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov during a solemn event to mark the...


Kazakhstan Ranks 78th in National Cyber Security Index

ASTANA – Kazakhstan achieved a cybersecurity index score of 48.05%, ranking 78th out of 176 countries, according to the National Cyber Security Index, as reported by Ranking.kz on Aug....


Altynsarin Book House Shines as Hub of Culture and Knowledge in Astana

ASTANA – The Almatykitap publishing house opened the Ybrai Altynsarin Book House on Sept.5 in Astana, to bolster international collaboration in book distribution, fostering a culture of reading, and...


Breakthrough Agenda: President Tokayev’s Bold Vision for Kazakh Economy

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes it is time for Kazakhstan to adopt a new economic model and implement fresh policies to support it. He outlined his vision for the economy...


BAIQONYR International Film Festival Kicks Off in Almaty

ASTANA – The eighth BAIQONYR International Film Festival kicked off in Almaty on Sept. 6 and will run until Sept. 10, the festival announced on its Instagram page.  With...


TechCrunch Ranks Kazakh Startup CerebraAI Among Best Startups in US

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Cerebra AI-powered software for early stroke detection and faster and more accurate treatment was selected among the best startups for the TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 exhibition, The...


President Tokayev Visits Almaty Region to Review Military, Food, Construction, Sports Facilities

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Almaty Region on Sept. 5 to review military, food, construction, sports, education, and agriculture facilities, reported the Akorda press service....


Kazakhstan Set to Increase Exports to Italy Across 110 Commodity Items 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is poised to expand exports to Italy in 110 commodity items valued over $900 million, according to Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov. The statement was made during...


UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on UN-SCO Cooperation 

ASTANA – The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution on Cooperation between the United Nations (UN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Sept....


Kazakh President Observes Military Exercises in Almaty Region

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces, visited the Batyl Toytarys (Bold Rebuff) 2023 military exercises at the Bereg training ground...


Standard & Poor’s Reaffirms Kazakhstan’s Sovereign Credit Rating, Outlook Stable

ASTANA – The international rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) confirmed Kazakhstan’s sovereign credit rating at BBB-/A-3 and maintained a stable outlook on Sept. 4. Kazakhstan’s economic growth momentum...


KazISS: New Council of Economic Experts to Advise on National Growth

ASTANA – Experts from both the Kazakh state and independent sectors will soon have the opportunity to assess economic development indicators and offer recommendations to the President, the Executive...


SDG Ambition Program Accelerates Sustainable Business Goals

ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) Global Compact launches the SDG Ambition program, aimed at expediting the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the strategic and operational...


Kazakh President Sets Task to National Bank’s New Chair

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key tasks to the new Chair of the National Bank, Timur Suleimenov, during a Sept. 4 meeting with the bank’s leadership, reported...


FM Tajani: “Italy Wants To Be Key Partner for Kazakhstan”

ASTANA – Antonio Tajani, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is paying an official visit to Kazakhstan on Sept. 5. In an...


Kazakhstan, Shandong Province Explore Promising Areas for Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and Secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong Province Lin Wu discussed the advancement of cooperation in trade, economics, transport and logistics...


Kazakh President Reshuffles Key Government and Ministry Positions

ASTANA – Following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1, Kazakhstan has undergone a significant government reshuffle, including the establishment of new ministries. These changes aim to address...


Guardians of the Galaxy Star to Headline Upcoming Comic Con Astana

ASTANA – The eagerly anticipated Comic Con Astana has announced Hollywood actor Michael Rooker as its latest star headliner, according to a press statement released on September 4. Rooker...


Kazakhstan Ships First 1,300 Tons of Grain to Eastern China

ASTANA – Kazakhstan dispatched its first 1,300-ton shipment of grain from Almaty to Jinan, China, on a new freight container train on September 3, according to an announcement made...


Mangystau Region Begins Construction of New Desalination Plant

ASTANA – Nurlan Nogayev, the akim (Governor) of Mangystau Region, and Magzum Mirzagaliyev, сhairman of KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil and gas company, initiated the construction of a new...


Energy Week Central Asia and Mongolia 2023 to Advance Clean Energy Transition

ASTANA – The Energy Week Central Asia and Mongolia 2023 to take place in Astana on Sept. 19-20 will focus on advancing clean and renewable energy initiatives in the...


President Sets Ambitious Yet Achievable Goals, Says Kazakh PM

ASTANA – In the state-of-the-nation address, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set ambitious yet achievable goals, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said at a Sept. 2 government meeting, noting that...


EBRD Provides Funds for Building New Wind Power Plant in Zhambyl Region

ASTANA – Aiming to support Kazakhstan in its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provides financial support for building a...