Kazakhstan’s Football Team Begins European Season with Sensational Win Over Swiss Basel 

BASEL – Kazakhstan’s football team Tobol defeated FC Basel (3:1) in the first leg of the second qualifying round as part of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)...


Kazakh Aviation Administration Addresses Security, Passenger Facilitation in International Air Transportation

ASTANA – The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK) held a regular meeting of the interdepartmental commission on July 26 to address the facilitation of formalities in international air transportation...


Kazakh Financial Monitoring Agency Returns Over $211 Million in Illegally Obtained Assets

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency has returned nearly 94 billion tenge ($211.3 million) in illegally obtained assets and damages since the beginning of the year, said Zhanat Elimanov,...


Kazakh Scientist Develops Projects Based on Quantum Realm 

ASTANA – Kazakh doctor and scientist, Mukhit Kulmaganbetov, who joined the Discrimination of Quantum States team through the Human Eye research project at the Centre for Eye and Vision...


Kazakh Government Signs Investment Contracts Worth $4.9 Billion in 18 Years

ASTANA – The Kazakh Investment Committee signed 1,438 investment contracts worth 2.2 trillion tenge ($4.9 billion) between 2005 and June this year, including 216 with the provision of a...


Kazakhstan’s Ruslan Kurbanov Wins Bronze Medal at Fencing World Championships, First for Nation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ruslan Kurbanov, 31, won a bronze medal at the Fencing World Championships, which takes place on July 22-30 in Milan, reported Kazakh National Olympic Committee on...


Digitalization, Modernization of Kazakh Border Checkpoints Increases Capacity 

ASTANA – An electronic queue system, introduced at the Kazakh border checkpoints, is streamlining and ensuring transparency in the movement of goods and transports, said Yeldos Saudabayev, director of...


World Bank Predicts Climate-Related Impact on Socio-Economic Development of Central Asia 

ASTANA – Central Asia is facing significant challenges due to climate change, including melting glaciers, precipitation variability, water scarcity, energy safety issues, and climate-related migration. This will have a...


Kazakhstan Reiterates Willingness to Cooperate with BRICS on Security Matters

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready for dialogue and cooperation with the BRICS countries in cybersecurity matters, said Kazakh Ambassador to South Africa Yerkin Akhinzhanov at a July 24 expanded...


Renowned Kazakh, Foreign Musicians to Perform at Alem Saz Music Festival This Fall

ASTANA – The Alem Saz International Music Festival, which will take place on Sept. 27- Oct. 3 in Astana, will bring together musicians from eight countries, reported the Kazakhconcert...


Kazakh Athletes Win Ten Medals at ISSF World Shooting Championship

ASTANA – Kazakh athletes secured four gold, four silver, and two bronze medals at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Shooting Championship Juniors held from July 14 to...


Kazakh Defense Minister Briefs President Tokayev on Strengthening National Defense

ASTANA – Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov briefed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the outcomes of the work in the first half of 2023 and the steps taken to strengthen...


Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company Reveals Cause of Emergency Shutdown

ASTANA – Excessive wear and tear of the generation equipment caused an emergency shutdown at a large unit of the Mangystau Atomic Energy Complex (MAEC) on July 3, Kazakhstan...


Kazakh President Condemns Quran Burnings as Unacceptable Provocations

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev considers the acts of burning the Quran in several countries of Northern Europe as unacceptable provocations aimed at escalating tension in the...


Kazakhstan Increases Rail Freight Transportation to China by 37% This Year

ASTANA – Kazakhstan shipped 8.3 million tons of cargo to China by rail in the first six months of 2023, 37% more than in the same period last year,...


National Museum of Kazakhstan Sees Record-Breaking Visitor Numbers Since Start of 2023

ASTANA – Some 310,000 people have visited the National Museum of Kazakhstan since the beginning of this year, a record number considering 330,000 visitors recorded for the entire 2022,...


CPC to Increase Oil Pumping Volume Up to 81.5 Million Tons Yearly

ASTANA – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is set to increase the volume of oil pumping up to 81.5 million tons per year within the CPC Debottlenecking Program (DBNP),...


Kazakh Government Approves Action Plan to Combat Shadow Economy

ASTANA – Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov signed a decree on approval of the comprehensive action plan to combat the shadow economy for 2023-2025, the Prime Minister’s press service reported...


Turkic World Media Platform Opens Office in Baku

ASTANA – Turkic World, the first joint media platform of the Turkic countries, has opened its office in Baku on July 24, reported the Turkic World. In his introductory remarks,...


Central Asia’s Transport Revolution: Role of EU in Shaping Future

Central Asia, strategically located between Europe and Asia, holds immense potential for trade and economic development. However, the region faces significant challenges in transport infrastructure and connectivity.  A groundbreaking...


Kazakhstan’s New Vehicle Sales See 60% Growth in January-June

ASTANA – The Kazakh car industry witnessed a 60.2% increase in new car sales in the first half of the year, reported the Association of Kazakhstan Auto Business on...


CICA Flag Raised at 4,317 Meters Above Sea Level

ASTANA — Kazakh and foreign activists set a flag of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) on July 23 at the Kanysh Satpayev Peak,...


Kazakh Athletes to Take Part in World Summer Universiade in China

ASTANA — Approximately 90 Kazakh athletes will take part in the 31st Summer World University Games (Summer Universiade/ FISU Games), which will be held from July 28 to Aug....


Kazakh Citizens Can Travel Visa-Free to 29 Countries

ASTANA – Kazakh passport holders can travel to 29 countries without visa, the Foreign Ministry reported in response to a request from Kazinform on July 24. “Besides, Kazakhstan agreed...


Kazakhstan Films Animated Almanac Illustrating Folklore of Turkic People

ASTANA — The Kazakh Animation Сreative Association has started producing ten pilot animation projects about ancient legends of the Turkic-speaking people, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports...


Katon-Karagai National Park Upgrades UNDP-Sponsored Tourist Route

ASTANA – The Katon-Karagai State National Natural Park, one of the largest in Kazakhstan, opened an upgraded tourist route Orman Zholdary (Forest Route), in the East Kazakhstan Region on...


Kazakhstan Moves Up in 2023 Henley Passport Index

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s passport ranked 67th, with 77 visa-free destinations, in the Henley Passport Index 2023, released on July 19. Last year, Kazakhstan ranked 73rd, with visa-free access to...


Kazakhstan Identifies Prospects for Cooperation with World Bank, IMF

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of National Economy identified the priorities of partnerships with the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on potential future projects during the...


Kazakhstan, UNICEF Address Improving Quality of Children’s Lives

ASTANA – Improving the quality of children’s lives was discussed at a July 23 meeting between Tamara Duisenova, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Protection,...


Kazakhstan to Participate in International Cheese Competition in France This September

ASTANA – Kazakh entrepreneurs from the Mangystau Region will participate in the Le Mondial du Fromage international cheese competition for the first time, wrote the region akimat’s (administration) press service...


Kazakhstan Emerges as Uzbekistan’s Third Largest Trade Partner

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranks as Uzbekistan’s third leading foreign trade partner with a turnover of $ 2.19 billion (7.5%) among 183 countries worldwide during the first half of the...


Azerbaijan Hosts Shusha Global Media Forum

ASTANA – The Azerbaijani city of Shusha hosted the Global Media Forum under the theme New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution from July 21 to...


Swiss Initiative Promotes Water Cooperation in Central Asia

BERN – The awareness of the need for regional cross-border water cooperation in Central Asia has substantially increased in recent years. Its complexity requires smart solutions and policies both...


Snow Leopard Released into the Wild After Rehabilitation at Almaty Zoo

ASTANA — A snow leopard has been released into the wild from the Almaty Zoo, the zoo informed. The leopard was initially found near the village of Sarybastau in...


Short Guide to Visit Bozzhyra Gorge in Mangystau Region

ALMATY – The Bozzhyra gorge in the Mangystau region is one of Kazakhstan’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its unique, extraterrestrial landscape. The gorge is located in the...


Kazakh Cultural Center in Argentina Bridges Two Cultures

ASTANA – Irina Vagner, the founder of Centro Kazajo, a Kazakh cultural center in Rosario, Argentina, shared the inspiring story behind its creation and discussed successful past and future...


Kazakh Folklore Characters Come to Life in Beine Art Project

ASTANA – Beine, translated from the Kazakh language as an archetype image, is an art project that combines the stories and mythologies of the Turkic people in a costume...


Kazakhstan Ranks 31 Out of 100 Nations in Coursera Global Skills Report

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 31st in the recent Coursera Global Skills Report 2023, analyzing how over 124 million registered learners from 100 countries worldwide are strengthening business, technology, and...


Diverse Parliament Increases Transparency of Legislative Work, Says Mazhilis Speaker

ASTANA – Yerlan Koshanov, Speaker of the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, reported on the work of the deputies (MPs) during the first session of the...


Kazakhstan Seeks to Raise Over $24 Billion in Investments This Year

ASTANA – Kazakhstan intends to attract $24 billion in foreign investments by the end of the year, said Chair of the Investment Committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...


GCC – Central Asian Summit Sets Unprecedented Regional Cooperation Model, Says KazISS Expert

ASTANA – The first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Central Asian countries summit provides a promising model of region-to-region cooperation, which will give a new impetus to partnership, said...


News Digest: Foreign Media on GCC-Central Asia Summit, Kazakhstan’s Oil Exports to Europe and More

The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media across the world. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles on the Gulf Cooperation...


Kazakhstan, US to Bolster Trade, Investment Ties

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United States (U.S.) seek to enhance economic and commercial partnership, as Kazakh Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov took part in a roundtable with...


Kazakh Government’s Tree Planting Efforts to Create More Green Space in Astana

ASTANA – Kazakh officials intend to plant more trees and construct a sewage treatment plant (STP-2) in the Kazakh capital this year, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on...


Cargo Transshipment in Aktau Port Grows 23% in 2023

ASTANA – The volume of cargo transshipment in the Aktau port grew 23% to over two million tons so far this year, the Atameken Business reported on July 19....


Kazakhstan, Switzerland Deepen Trade, Investment Cooperation in Emerging Sectors

GENEVA – Bridging East and West, Kazakhstan is now strengthening its position in political, economic and trade partnership with Switzerland. The willingness to expand bilateral cooperation and develop economic...


US Investments in Kazakhstan’s Economy Exceed $60 Billion

ASTANA – The United States, one of the largest foreign investors in Kazakhstan’s economy, has invested $62.7 billion since 1993, announced Ardak Zebeshev, chairman of the Investment Committee of...


Kazakhstan Establishes Organizing Committee for Fifth World Nomad Games

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov signed a decree dated July 13 on establishing the organizing committee to prepare for hosting the fifth World Nomad Games on Sep....


Best Chess Players Share $90,000 Prize Fund at International Chess Festival

ASTANA – The strongest chess players shared a record prize fund of 40 million tenge ($90,094) at the Astana Zhuldyzdary (Stars of Astana) International Chess Festival, the tournament’s press...


ADB Upgrades Kazakhstan’s Economic Forecast Amid Moderate Regional Growth

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy is projected to grow by 3.9% in 2023, according to the latest Asian Development Outlook report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), an upward revision...