Kazmortransflot Boosts Caspian Container Shipments by Over 15% in 2025

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...


Kazakhstan’s Jewelry Production Surges 41% in January-October 2025

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...


AIIB to Lend $150 Million for Almaty Railway Bypass Project

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,...


Kazakh Foreign Ministry Releases Statement on Incidents Involving Tankers in Black Sea

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...


Manufacturing to Drive Kazakhstan’s GDP Growth This Year, Officials Say

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...


Kazakhstan Deepens Geological Exploration, Plans $470 Million in Investments

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...


Kazakhstan Maintains Oil Export Stability Despite Temporary CPC Disruptions

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...


Mild Even by Local Standards: January Warmth Brings Early Bloom to Almaty

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...


Kazakh Trade Ministry Evaluates Scenarios Following US Statements on Iran-Linked Trade

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...


Kazakhstan Becomes Fourth-Largest Foreign Investor in Uzbekistan by End of 2025

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....


From Early Bet to Global Scale: Masdar Turns 20 as it Expands in Central Asia

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...


Experts Say Venezuela Events Move Oil Markets, With Limited Impact on Kazakhstan

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,...


KazMunayGas Reports No Serious Damage to Tanker After Drone Attack Near CPC Terminal

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...


Kazakhstan’s Muslim Authority Approves 2026 Islamic Calendar

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....


IRENA: Systemic Innovation, Not Silver Bullets, Seen as Key to Energy Transition 

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...


Century on Stage: Auezov Theater Marks 100 Years of Kazakh Drama

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 Sustainability Week 2026 Opens with Focus on Systems-Level Solutions

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...


Kazakhstan Completes Nationwide Access to Drinking Water by End of 2025

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...


Kazakhstan Accelerates Digitalization and Water Efficiency to Address Future Water Risks

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...


From Routes to Hubs: Air Traffic Reshapes Strategy

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...


Kazakh Musicians to Perform at Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival in India 

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...


Financial Monitoring Agency Reports Major Crackdown on Money Laundering in 2025

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...


EDB’s Evgeny Vinokurov: Central Asia’s Future is Industry, Not Just Transit

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...


Kazakhstan’s Forest Fund Surpasses 23 Million Hectares, Highlights Regional Variations

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...


IRENA–ILO Report Finds China Drives Renewable Jobs, Warns of Uneven Global Growth

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...


Kazakhstan’s GDP Grows 6.5% in 2025, Led by Industry, Transport, and Construction

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...


Kazakhstan Recovers Over $2 Billion in State Assets in 2025

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...


What AI Really Changes in Kazakh Labor Market

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...


Kazakhstan Selects Curator for National Pavilion at 2026 Venice Biennale

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,...


Kazakhstan Strengthens Fishery Sector with Record Production, Rising Exports

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...


Kazakhstan Sets Record in Grain Exports in 2025

ASTANA — In 2025, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) transported a record 11 million tons of grain for export, the highest in the past decade, contributing to a...


Alexander Bublik Reaches ATP Top 10 After Hong Kong Open Victory

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik claimed a landmark victory at the 2026 Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Jan. 11. The 28-year-old defeated Italy’s world...


IRENA Assembly Signals Why Renewables Now Define Power, Security, and Growth

ABU DHABI — The global energy system is shifting away from a centralized, fossil-fuel-based model toward a more decentralized system built on renewable energy, Director-General of the...


From Rules to Rulers: How Personalist Power Politics Is Squeezing Middle Powers

For three decades after the Cold War, many governments behaved as if the “rules-based order” were a durable infrastructure: imperfect, selective, often hypocritical – but still an...


We Raise Generation That Can Answer But Can’t Think

Talk to any teacher in Astana and they will tell you that they started to see essays that are weirdly similar. They are tidy, fluent and well-structured...


Historians Reassess Alleged Conflict Between Genghis Khan and His Eldest Son

ASTANA – Whether a real conflict existed between Genghis Khan and his eldest son Jochi remains one of the most debated questions in early Mongol history, historian...


Lunar Landscapes of Silk Road: Mangystau Draws Spotlight from The Washington Post

ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region is again in the international spotlight after The Washington Post published a feature on Jan. 8, describing the area’s dramatic natural scenery...


President Tokayev Highlights Strategic Partnership with US, Receives New Ambassador

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the credentials of the newly appointed ambassadors of the United States and Bulgaria during a Jan. 9 ceremony at Akorda. Speaking about Kazakh-American...


Caspian Sea’s Decline Hits Economy, Infrastructure and Health

ASTANA – The shrinking of the Caspian Sea is no longer just an environmental issue but an economic one. While sea levels have fluctuated for over a...


City of Nomads Near Almaty to Undergo Modernization After New Access Road Opens

ASTANA — The City of Nomads tourist attraction, located on the banks of the Ili River, 90 kilometers from Almaty, is set for modernization following the completion...


Kazakhstan’s Young Cyber Player Breaks Into Top Ranking After Breakout Year

ALMATY — Kazakh Counter-Strike prodigy Daniil Golubenko, known by his in-game alias molodoy, has earned his first-ever place in HLTV Top 20 Players of the Year, finishing...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Modernization, Industrial Growth, Migration Policy and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights the country’s emergence as a regional industrial...


Azerbaijan Launches Largest Wind Power Plant in Caucasus

ALMATY — Azerbaijan has officially commissioned the Khizi-Absheron Wind Power Plant, the largest wind energy facility in the Caucasus region, on Jan. 8, marking a major milestone...


Kazakhstan, China Discuss $15 Billion Industrial Park Project

ALMATY — Kazakhstan is considering the creation of a large-scale industrial park valued at $15 billion, as First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar met on Jan. 8...


Ticket Sales Open for Kairat vs. Club Brugge UEFA Champions League Match

ALMATY — Tickets are now on sale for the UEFA Champions League match between FC Kairat and Belgium’s Club Brugge, which will take place on Jan. 20...


Automotive Industry Posts Strongest Results on Record

ASTANA – Kazakhstan produced 171,144 motor vehicles of all types, including passenger cars, buses and trucks, in 2025, with total output valued at more than 2.3 trillion...


Kazakhstan Strengthens Trade and Economic Cooperation With Turkic States

ALMATY — Kazakhstan is stepping up trade, investment, and industrial cooperation with member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), as officials and business leaders gathered...


Kazakhstan Shifts Aid From Relief to Development, Says KazAID Chairman

ASTANA —  Five years after the establishment of the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID), the country has shifted from ad hoc humanitarian assistance toward a structured...


Kazakhstan’s Industrial Emissions Top 2 Million Tons in 2024 

ALMATY — More than 232,800 stationary sources of pollution were operating nationwide in 2024, releasing 2.27 million tons of harmful substances, a 0.6% increase compared to 2023,...


Your January Weekend Culture Guide to Astana and Almaty

ASTANA – Cold winter days feel warmer when filled with culture, shared moments, and quiet escapes. The Astana Times editorial team has curated a line-up of events...


US Introduces Visa Bond Requirements of Up to $15,000 for Citizens of Central Asia

ASTANA — The United States has introduced visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 for citizens of several Central Asian countries applying for tourist and business visas....


Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva Rises to Third in FIDE World Blitz Rankings

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva rose to third place in the latest FIDE women’s world blitz rankings following her triumph at the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Blitz...


Kazakh Athletes Gear Up for 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy

ASTANA – With one month remaining until the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, scheduled for Feb. 6-22, Kazakhstan’s athletes are finalizing preparations and...


Chinese Tourist Flow to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Doubles During New Year Holidays

ASTANA – Chinese tourism to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan surged, with flight bookings doubling compared to last year over the New Year period, according to leading online travel...


Kazakhstan Recovers Over $30 Million in Anti-Corruption Efforts in 2025

ASTANA – The National Security Committee of Kazakhstan has reported the results of its anti-corruption activities for 2025, highlighting the recovery of 16.1 billion tenge (US$31.5 million)...


Kazakhstan Expands Renewable Energy Capacity as Clean Generation Reaches 7% in 2025

ASTANA – Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its transition to sustainable energy, with the share of clean electricity generation rising to 7% in 2025, up from 6.43% in...


How Artificial Intelligence Transforms Education in Kazakhstan

Artificial intelligence technology is transforming education across the globe. Educational institutions now use AI-based systems which deliver customized learning experiences while enhancing student involvement and streamlining educational...


Kazakhstan Sees Steady Rise in Pension Literacy, Survey Finds

ASTANA – Financial literacy in Kazakhstan’s pension system continued to improve in 2025, according to a nationwide survey of 3,000 adults conducted across all regions of the...


Kazakhstan to Strengthen Sustainable Energy Base to Support Digital and Industrial Growth 

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will accelerate the development of a reliable and sustainable energy base to support digital infrastructure, data centers, and automated industrial production, Prime Minister Olzhas...


Kazakhstan to Provide High-Speed Internet to 99% of Population by 2027

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is accelerating its nationwide digital transformation, with plans to ensure high-speed internet access for 99% of the population by the end of 2027, said...


Kazakhstan’s Inflation Tops 12% in 2025, Almaty Among Lowest Rate Regions

ASTANA — Inflation in Kazakhstan reached 12.3% in 2025, reflecting sustained price pressures across food products, non-food goods, and paid services. At the same time, monthly inflation...


Kazakhstan’s Population Exceeds 20.4 Million as Urbanization Continues to Rise

ASTANA — The population of Kazakhstan reached 20,478,879 people as of Dec. 1, 2025, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Since the beginning of 2025, the...


KazMunayGaz Refineries Reach Record Production of Light Petroleum Products in 2025

ASTANA — Refineries operated by KazMunayGaz (KMG), Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company, reached a historic high in production in 2025, producing 13.6 million tons of light...


Heriot-Watt Sees Kazakhstan as Strategic Partner in Higher Education

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s clearly defined higher education strategy makes it a compelling partner for international universities, Heriot-Watt University Vice-Chancellor Richard A. Williams said in an interview with...


How Social Media is Shaping Kazakhstan’s New Generation

ASTANA – Social media has surpassed traditional platforms as the country’s primary source of information, driven by the rapid expansion of mobile internet and the increasing popularity...


What to Watch in 2026: Biggest Sports Events for Kazakhstan

ALMATY — The 2026 year is shaping up to be a landmark one for Kazakh sports, with major international competitions, long-awaited athlete comebacks, and high-profile global events...


Tokayev Outlines Foreign Policy, Reform Agenda for 2026 in Interview

ASTANA – In the second half of 2025, Kazakhstan’s foreign policy gained particular momentum, marked by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s intensive schedule of high-level international engagements across Asia,...


EBRD Supports Expansion of Renewable Energy and Logistics Infrastructure in Kazakhstan

ALMATY — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a loan of up to 25 million euros (approximately US$27 million) to support the expansion...


Kazakhstan Finalizes Funding, Equipment for 2026 Winter Games

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has allocated 13.3 billion tenge (US$26.16 million) to prepare its national teams for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, said Kazakh Minister of...


OPEC+ Prolongs Production Pause Into Early 2026

ASTANA – Eight leading OPEC+ producers agreed to maintain current oil output levels through February and March 2026, extending a pause on production increases due to seasonal...


Tokayev Says 2026 Will Be Decisive for Kazakhstan’s Modernization in Interview

ASTANA — In a Jan. 5 interview with the Turkistan newspaper, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the key outcomes of 2025 and set priorities for the year ahead, stressing...


Kazakhstan Expands Access to Bond Market Data for Global Investors

ALMATY — Kazakhstan has launched a new information platform to improve transparency and access to its bond market for both international and local investors, as foreign interest...


What 2026 Holds for Kazakhstan’s Economy

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is projected to maintain economic growth in 2026, but at a slower and more balanced pace amid inflationary pressure and tighter financial conditions. According...


Kazakhstan Shines on Global Stage: Landmark Sport Achievements in 2025

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s athletes delivered another successful year in the country’s sporting history in 2025, achieving breakthroughs across football, boxing, tennis and winter sports. From historic firsts...


From Global Pop to Heritage, Kazakhstan’s Cultural 2025

ASTANA — From global pop concerts and major film productions to historical anniversaries and new cultural institutions, 2025 saw Kazakhstan’s cultural life unfold across stages, screens, museums...


Headlines in 2025: Key National Events That Shaped Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan in 2025 was marked by major political, economic, technological and cultural developments that directly affected daily life. The Astana Times rounds up some of...


Kazakhstan’s Diplomacy in 2025: Year of Strategic Recalibration

ASTANA — In 2025, Kazakhstan’s foreign policy moved beyond tactical engagement and incremental cooperation toward a broader strategic recalibration. The year was marked not only by a...


UN ESCAP: Kazakhstan Leads North and Central Asia in New Investment Projects in 2025

ASTANA — Kazakhstan emerged as the leading destination for new investment projects in North and Central Asia in 2025, attracting nearly $19 billion in greenfield investment and...


Kazakhstan Wraps Up 2025: Key International Engagements and Global Initiatives

ASTANA — Throughout 2025, Kazakhstan was actively involved in international diplomacy, multilateral initiatives, and domestic political processes. The year was marked by high-level summits, participation in UN...


Kazakhstan Sees Strong Health and Environmental Results in 2025

ASTANA — Kazakhstan made significant progress in healthcare and environmental protection this year, with government reforms and national programs delivering precise results that improved public health, expanded...


Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Third World Blitz Title at 2025 FIDE Championship

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva, 21, won her third world blitz title at the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Blitz Chess Championship on Dec. 30 in Qatar....


Kazakhstan Names Flag Bearers for Milan 2026 Winter Olympics

ASTANA — Short-track speed skaters Denis Nikisha and Yana Khan will carry Kazakhstan’s flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, said...


Japan to Provide $7 Million Grant to Boost Healthcare Infrastructure in Kazakhstan

ALMATY — Japan will provide more than 1.087 billion yen (approximately US$7 million) in grant assistance to support the development of healthcare infrastructure in Kazakhstan’s Abai Region,...


Kazakhstan’s IT Exports Reach $1 Billion as Government Reviews Digital Progress in 2025

ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s IT exports reached $1 billion in 2025, reflecting rapid growth in the country’s digital economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and...


Kazakhstan Ends 2025 Stronger at Home and More Visible Abroad

ALMATY — Kazakhstan expanded its international engagement and achieved its strongest economic growth in a decade in 2025, President’s Press Secretary Ruslan Zheldibay wrote in a year-end...


Astana to Celebrate New Year with Citywide Concerts and Fireworks

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a series of festive concerts featuring Kazakh pop stars and bands across ten locations in six...


Institutional Change and Digitalization Defined Kazakhstan’s 2025, Says State Counselor Karin

ASTANA — State Counselor Erlan Karin said 2025 became a year of institutional consolidation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s reforms in Kazakhstan, summarizing the year in a Dec....


Kazakh Experts Talk Investment Strategy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attracted $10.55 billion in investment in the first six months of the year, underscoring the country’s continued investment appeal despite ongoing geopolitical instability. In...


KazNU Scientist Proves Chicory’s Powerful Antidiabetic Potential

ASTANA — A young scientist from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty has scientifically proven the antidiabetic properties of chicory, opening new prospects for plant-based health...


Kazakh Parliament Adopts 100 Laws in 2025, Introduces AI Regulation

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis has adopted 100 laws this year, including landmark legislation on artificial intelligence, Mazhilis Chairman Yerlan Koshanov said while summarizing the year’s results on...


Astana Signs Memorandum to Develop Autonomous Taxi Service

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital plans to launch an autonomous taxi service. A memorandum of cooperation on the development of autonomous taxi services was signed in the...


AZAL Crash Near Aktau: One Year On, Investigators Cite Possible External Damage

ASTANA — Damage to an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) that crashed near Aktau on Dec. 25 last year was likely caused by damaging...


AIFC Wraps Up 2025 with Strong Investment Growth, Market Expansion

ASTANA — The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) wrapped up 2025 with strong investment growth and expanding market activity, raising $6 billion through the center during the...


Kazakh FM Reaffirms Commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals During Visit to Almaty Center

ASTANA — Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev visited the United Nations Regional Center for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan on Dec. 26 during...


Kazakhstan’s Aviation Sector Soars on Safety, Traffic and Global Links

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector recorded steady growth in 2025, driven by improvements in safety, passenger traffic and international cooperation, said Chair of the Civil Aviation...


Kazakh Cinema Captures Central Asian Audience

ASTANA – Kazakh films are gaining a growing audience across Central Asia, as the country’s film industry builds on a preserved production base and a new generation...


Kazakh Citizens Choose Beach Getaways and Domestic Resorts for New Year Break

ALMATY — As New Year holidays approach, citizens of Kazakhstan are increasingly choosing a mix of warm seaside destinations abroad and winter resorts at home to celebrate...


Support Women After Maternity Leave in Kazakhstan’s Public Sector

Imagine you are working for a government agency, undergoing training, improving your qualifications, and building a career. Then comes maternity leave — six months, maybe three years....


DNA Research Secures Future of Kazakh Dog Breeds

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has created its first DNA bank for the national dog breeds Tazy and Tobet, following several years of nationwide genetic research aimed at preserving...


Kazakhstan Digitizes Cultural Heritage Through New E-Museum Platform

ASTANA – Kazakhstan unveiled the E-museum digital portal at the National Museum of Kazakhstan on Dec. 24, marking a step toward creating a unified online space for...