Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will open its spring tourism season in March with two flagship events showcasing the country’s cultural and culinary heritage, attracting both residents and visitors. The cultural festival Amal Keldi – Zhyl Keldi, which conveys the idea of welcoming the new year with hope, unity, and renewal, will be held on March 13…

ASTANA – Kazakh Energy Ministry and Shell Kazakhstan have signed a contract for geological exploration at the Zhanaturmys field in the Aktobe Region, aiming to strengthen the country’s hydrocarbon resource base and support long-term energy security. The agreement, signed by Deputy Energy Minister Yerlan Akbarov and Shell Senior Vice President Suzanne Coogan, covers seismic exploration,…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan detailed its humanitarian contributions to the Board of Peace, an international initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to support stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yerlan Zhetybayev confirmed during a March 4 press briefing that Kazakhstan joined the Board without any financial obligation. “The voluntary contribution of $1…

ASTANA — Another group of Kazakh citizens has returned home from the Middle East. On the night of March 4-5, Air Astana and FlyDubai operated five flights to Kazakhstan, transporting 851 passengers. In addition, 34 Kazakh employees of the Zar Kuh company were evacuated from Iran via the Armenian checkpoint at Agarak with assistance from…

ASTANA — The Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development conducted a sociological survey on citizens’ awareness of the upcoming referendum on the draft of the new Constitution and their attitudes toward it, Kazinform reported on Mar. 4. According to the results of a telephone survey, 81.8% of respondents are aware of the planned referendum. Of these,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan does not take sides in the escalating Middle East conflict and calls for disputes to be resolved exclusively through diplomatic means, Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev said at a March 3 government briefing. “Kazakhstan advocates resolving any military conflict at the negotiating table, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter,”…

ASTANA – Central Asian countries convened in Almaty on Feb. 25-27,  for a preliminary preparatory meeting ahead of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation on biodiversity conservation, forest restoration, and transboundary environmental challenges. Organized by the Committee on forestry and wildlife of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources with…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry is operating in an enhanced mode amid escalating military and political tensions across the Middle East, prioritizing the safety of citizens abroad and preparing evacuation routes where necessary. Kazakh diplomatic missions in the region are closely monitoring developments, maintaining constant contact with local authorities and citizens, and providing consular and…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Nikolai Podguzov, chair of the Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), on Feb. 27 to discuss ongoing and upcoming investment projects in Kazakhstan and prospects for expansion of cooperation in key economic sectors. The discussion highlighted the EDB’s extensive portfolio in Kazakhstan, which includes…

ASTANA — Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Aleksandar Vučić reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Kazakhstan-Serbia strategic partnership during high-level talks on Feb. 27. The negotiations, held in both narrow and expanded formats, focused on expanding trade and investment, as well as cooperation in high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, information technology, energy and the defense industry.…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected a roundup of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media this week. Today’s foreign media digest highlights the launch of the Central Asia-UK partnership in London, a critical minerals deal with the United Kingdom, new U.S.-linked investments, tourism recognition, expanding regional air links and World Bank-backed rail development.…

ASTANA — In the International Year of Volunteers, UNICEF is launching a new digital platform for volunteers in Kazakhstan. Targeting youth aged 16 to 35, the platform aims to simplify engagement in children’s rights and sustainable development nationwide. The UNICEF Zhastary platform unites youth training, social participation, and leadership development in a single online space,…

ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan has allocated 1.1 billion tenge (US$2.2 million) from its reserve fund to strengthen scientific research and environmental monitoring of the Caspian Sea. The funds will be directed to the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of the Caspian Sea to enhance its scientific capacity. The corresponding resolution was signed by Prime…

ASTANA – Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov received a ceremonial welcome at Astana airport on Feb. 25, greeted by fans, sports officials, and fellow athletes. “I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who came to meet me at such a late hour. I am truly grateful. I was bursting with pride for…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has begun developing a Civil Aviation Master Plan (CAMP) for the period through 2050 in cooperation with experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Kazakh Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev met on Feb. 24 with ICAO project coordinator Louise Stols to formally launch work on the strategic document. According to Lastayev,…

ASTANA — The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has announced the ninth Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2026: Delivering Impact. Capital in Action forum will take place on Sept. 9-10 in Astana. The event will bring together professional market participants – bankers, brokers and investors – alongside representatives of the financial and technology sectors, government bodies…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is moving beyond a traditional feedstock-based petrochemical model, accelerating investment in deep processing and large-scale polymer production projects aimed at reducing imports and building a full-fledged petrochemical cluster by 2030. Kazakhstan has intensified development of its petrochemical industry, prioritizing higher value-added production and strategic investment projects across the country, reported the Energy…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s digest highlights President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s reflections on global stability, a historic Olympic triumph by Mikhail Shaidorov, Almaty’s selection to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, deepening UK-Kazakhstan economic ties, and more. Reliability is the new power The National Interest…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry announced on Feb. 18 the opening of accreditation for foreign media representatives wishing to cover the nationwide referendum on the adoption of a new Constitution, scheduled for March 15. “In accordance with the legislation of Kazakhstan, foreign journalists may carry out their professional activities in the country only if…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has confirmed its leading position in scientific research among Central Asian countries, taking first place in the region in the SCImago Research Group’s international scientific activity ranking (SCImago Country Rank). Based on cumulative data for the 1996-2024 period, Kazakhstan ranks 69th globally. By the end of 2024, the country improved its performance…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China are deepening cooperation in renewable energy through the construction of three major projects worth over $2 billion, aimed at advancing green energy and supporting the country’s carbon-neutrality goals. The Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, recently approved the draft law ratifying the agreement, originally signed at the COP-29…

ASTANA – The global political system is undergoing a profound transformation, calling for a shift from ideological globalism to a more pragmatic, sovereignty-based international order, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev writes in an article published on The National Interest on Feb. 18, ahead of his visit to the United States. He noted the international system is…

ASTANA – The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN), in partnership with governments across Central Asia, have officially launched an EU-funded UN Multi-Country Program (MCP) to strengthen efforts to prevent gender-based violence and advance gender equality across the region. The program, titled Challenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality (CHANGE), will be…

ASTANA – Last year, Kazakhstan’s gas sector achieved historic production levels, reaching 68.1 billion cubic meters, but rising imports and accelerating domestic tariffs highlight structural challenges in meeting internal demand. Kazakhstan’s natural gas production, including associated petroleum gas, surged 15% in 2025 compared with 2024, reaching 1.5 times the level a decade earlier. In monetary…

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev met with President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan on Feb. 16 to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation, as part of his official visit to Dushanbe. During the meetings, the officials reaffirmed the strategic nature of Kazakh-Tajik relations, emphasizing friendship, mutual trust, and alliance under the…