Public Awareness of Water Scarcity is Growing, Survey Finds
ASTANA — Nearly half of Kazakh people consider water scarcity a serious issue, and a large majority say they are prepared to change everyday habits to conserve water, according to a national survey conducted by the DEMOSCOPE public opinion monitoring bureau on Feb. 5-15. The survey, conducted among 1,100 adults across Kazakhstan’s regions and the…
Kazakhstan to Link Western Regions to National Grid in Major Network Upgrade by 2027
ASTANA — Kazakhstan will connect the power system of its western regions to the country’s main electricity grid and build thousands of kilometers of new transmission lines as part of a major modernization of the national power network, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry on March 3. The plan includes the construction of 6,600 kilometers of…
Central Asian Businesses Adapt to Global Sanctions Shift
ASTANA — As global sanctions enforcement tightens, businesses in Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic are adapting to stricter compliance standards affecting payments, logistics and trade with the support of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)’s regional initiative launched in June 2025. Across Central Asia, what may appear to be routine delays – a postponed…
Tengiz Expansion Shapes Kazakhstan’s Oil Market Balance
ASTANA — Kazakhstan produced 99.6 million tons of crude oil and gas condensate in 2025, up 12% from the previous year, according to figures released by the Kazakhstan Association of Oil and Gas and Energy Sector Organizations on Feb.17. The increase was driven largely by expansion at the Tengiz oil field in western Kazakhstan, as…
Global Demand Reshapes Kazakhstan’s Copper Exports
ASTANA — Kazakhstan produced 471,000 tons of refined copper in 2025, according to the Bureau of National Statistics, as rising global demand for copper reinforces its strategic importance for energy and industrial development and reshapes the country’s priorities. Refined copper, a high-purity metal processed through smelting and electrochemical refining, is widely used in electricity transmission,…
World Bank Country Manager on New Partnership Framework, Kambarata-1 and Economic Resilience
ASTANA — The World Bank Group is preparing to launch its 2026-2031 partnership strategy with Kazakhstan as the country completes a previous phase of cooperation that delivered 14 projects worth $4.2 billion. The new framework aims to support Kazakhstan’s transition beyond a state-dominated, resource-driven growth model, said World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan…
How Central Asia Accelerates AI Adoption in Finance
ASTANA — Financial institutions across Central Asia are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence, with 36% already using AI technologies and 56% planning implementation within a year, according to a report released Feb. 13 by the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Based on a survey of 232 financial organizations in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan,…
Week Two at Winter Olympics Brings Records and Finals for Kazakhstan
ROME — The second week of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina saw Kazakhstan add historic results in ski jumping, top-10 finishes in speed skating, and figure skating finals appearances as competition intensified across disciplines. The momentum followed a landmark opening week, when Mikhail Shaidorov secured Kazakhstan’s first Olympic title in figure skating and the…
Winter Migration Drives Saigas to Aral Region
ASTANA — Large groups of saiga antelopes have migrated into the Aral district of the Kyzylorda Region since late December, drawing public attention. Wildlife officials say the movement is a natural winter migration driven by snow depth and food availability. Inspectors of the Kyzylorda regional branch of the state enterprise Okhotzooprom confirmed that since Dec.…
Kazakhstan’s Shaidorov Wins Historic Olympic Gold in Figure Skating
ROME — Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov won gold in men’s figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, delivering a decisive free skate to secure the country’s second Winter Olympic title as an independent nation and first Olympic gold in figure skating. His victory also marked Kazakhstan’s first Olympic gold in figure skating. Shaidorov,…
Week One at Milano-Cortina: Kazakhstan’s Olympic Opening
ROME — The 2026 Winter Olympics opened Feb. 6 in Milan-Cortina, where Kazakhstan’s 36 athletes began competition across multiple disciplines. In the first week, the team secured several top-10 finishes and advanced through key qualification rounds as competition unfolded across Italy. The first highlight of the games was the grand opening ceremony, built around the…
Poet With Child’s Soul: Kazakhstan Marks Mukagali Makatayev’s 95th Anniversary
ASTANA — Kazakhstan marks the 95th anniversary of poet, writer and translator Mukagali Makatayev on Feb. 9, commemorating one of the most influential voices in Kazakh literature. His poetry, centered on homeland, grief and dignity, gained broader recognition only after his death. Makatayev wrote his first poem at 17. His first book appeared when he…
Floods, Fault Lines and Heat: UNDP Flags Urban Risks in Central Asia
ASTANA — Central Asian cities are exposed to recurrent flooding, earthquakes, mudflows and increasing temperature extremes that affect infrastructure and economic stability. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) study released in November 2025, integrating disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation into urban planning is becoming critical for long-term stability. The publication, titled Urban…
American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan Maps 2026 Priorities
ASTANA — The American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, also known as AmCham, outlined how business leaders assess the country’s reform agenda, fiscal trajectory and geopolitical environment in the Investors’ Voice 2026 edition report published on Jan.5. 2026 is seen as a defining moment for diversification, regulatory clarity and expanded Kazakhstan-U.S. economic engagement. Founded in…
How Water Policy Could Shape Kazakhstan’s Food Future
ASTANA — Experts and officials gathered for an online conference on Jan. 29 to discuss how water availability and potential deficits could affect Kazakhstan’s food security, particularly across irrigated crops and livestock. With inflation at 12.3% in 2025, experts said water efficiency will be necessary to stabilize the domestic food supply and contain price pressures.…
Five Ancient Underground Mosques in Mangystau Advance Toward UNESCO Recognition
ASTANA — Five underground mosques in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage sites, according to Kamar Bimagambetova, a specialist at the Mangystau State Historical and Cultural Reserve. The sites include the underground mosques of Karaman Ata, Shakpak Ata, Sultan Epe, Beket Ata and Shopan Ata, all part of…
Who Really Takes Childcare Leave in Kazakhstan? Law and Practice
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s social protection system formally promotes equal parental responsibility, including access to childcare leave and state benefits for both mothers and fathers. Despite laws allowing both parents to take childcare leave, women made up more than 99.8% of benefit recipients in 2024 and 2025, while men represented fewer than 0.2%, according to the…
Constitutional Reform Commission Starts Work on Proposed Reforms
ASTANA — Kazakhstan held the first meeting of its Constitutional Reform Commission on Jan. 24 in Astana, launching work on proposed amendments that would reshape the country’s political system. The proposals include transitioning to a unicameral parliament to be known as the Kurultai, establishing a vice presidency, creating the Halyk Kenesi (People’s Council) with legislative…
Kazakhstan’s Kasteev Art Museum Reopens After Major Renovation
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Abilkhan Kasteev National Museum of Arts reopened to the public after a major modernization, unveiling renovated galleries and updated exhibitions, reported the Ministry of Culture and Information on Jan. 17. The reopening coincides with two milestones: the museum’s 90th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of its current building, which has housed the…
How Eight Medals Shaped Kazakhstan’s Winter Olympic Legacy
ASTANA — With less than a month remaining before the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, it is time to turn to Kazakhstan’s Olympic legacy. Since its debut in the Olympics as an independent nation in 1994, the country has earned eight Winter Olympic medals across five sports. Debut on the Olympic…
Kazakh Cinema Breaks Into Berlinale Forum Special
ASTANA — Kazakhstan enters the Berlin International Film Festival on Feb. 12 with two films in the Forum Special program: the world premiere of “River Dreams,” directed by Kristina Mikhailova, the country’s first feature-length documentary selected at the Berlinale, and “Qantar 2022,” an animated short by artist Almagul Menlibayeva. “River Dreams” will premiere in Berlinale’s…
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 competition, said Adlet Kobenov, the head of the International Air Transport Regulation Department at the Civil Aviation Committee, in an interview with Kazinform. Over the first 11 months…
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 and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek at a government meeting on Jan. 6. Experts say that AI’s main impact will be the redistribution of tasks rather than mass job…
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 system of official development assistance (ODA) aligned with international standards, said KazAID chairman Arken Arystanov in an interview with The Astana Times. Since its creation in 2020, Kazakhstan…
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 Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov at a government meeting on Dec. 30, 2025. The funding is aimed at ensuring full readiness of athletes, coaches, and support systems ahead…
