Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

All-Female Orchestra Empowers Kazakh Women to Pursue Their Dreams Through Music

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first all-female orchestra founders are convinced that music and solidarity can help Kazakh women follow their passion for art and defy the conventions of women’s traditional roles in society. Four talented women, cellist Botagoz Kaliyeva, violinist Madina Bekmadiyeva, composer Shyryn Bazarkulova, and singer Jordan Arakelyan united with the idea to start a…

Kazakh Historian’s Books on Turkic Heritage Reach New Audiences with Multilingual Translations

ASTANA – Kazakh statesman and scholar Darkhan Kydyrali presented a collection of his books on common Turkic history, “Daşa Yazılan Tarix” (History Written on Stone), translated into Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz, Russian, and Turkish languages in Astana on Feb. 6. “One of the books is dedicated to the Kazakh public and political figure Mustafa Shokai. The themes…

Experts See Strong Growth Potential as Kazakhstan Sends First Kashagan Oil via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first shipment of crude oil from the Kashagan field via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline signals a growing partnership between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, with the potential to expand volumes. At the end of January, Kazakhstan shipped its first batch of Kashagan oil, a volume of around 6,000 tons, through BTC. Experts from Azerbaijan…

Kazakh Expert Highlights Education as Catalyst for Economic Growth

ASTANA – Investment in education could be a powerful catalyst for economic growth, said Dossym Besbay, an entrepreneur in education and medicine and founder of the EPG Human Capital Development Fund. The expanded government meeting on Jan. 28, chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, outlined economic diversification and attracting investments as key government priorities. Improving education…

Kazakh Singer Dimash Qudaibergen Announces New Song

ASTANA – Renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen announced the date of his new song “Love’s Not Over Yet,” which will be released on March 7, he said on his official YouTube channel. The song was specifically written to complement Qudaibergen’s unique voice by an international team led by two-time Grammy-winning producer and composer Walter Afanasieff.…

Investors Turn to Processing Industries as Kazakhstan Moves Beyond Raw Materials

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign direct investment (FDI) is undergoing a major shift, moving from solely raw material extraction to projects focused on domestic processing, said Yernar Serik, an expert on trade and investment policy and the author of Tradereport.kz analytical Telegram channel. During the expanded government meeting on Jan. 28, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the…

Kazakhstan Ships First Kashagan Oil Through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline

ASTANA – Kazakhstan shipped the first crude oil produced at the Kashagan field to Baku to deliver through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline on Jan. 27, reported KazMunayGas’s (KMG) press service.   The first batch of Kashagan oil, in the volume of around 6,000 tons, was loaded on the Taraz oil tanker at the Aktau port on…

Burabai National Park Offers Perfect Winter Escape

ASTANA – The Burabai national park might not top everybody’s winter holiday list, but with fewer crowds and crisp air, it offers a great place to continue the outdoor season, with just a short trip from Astana. Do not be put off by freezing temperatures. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as…

Traditions Reimagined: What it Takes for Modern Families to Balance Heritage and Independence?

What is the key to a happy marriage? Love for one another might be the most common answer. But a recent study by the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development (KIPD) reveals that parents still play a big role in many important marriage decisions, from wedding preparations to financial allocation—all reliant on Kazakh traditions of honoring…

Kazakhstan’s Updated Red Book to Feature 217 Endangered Species

ASTANA—The new edition of Kazakhstan’s Red Book (the book of endangered species) will include 217 species, reported the Khabar news agency. The updated list excludes 19 species, including two species of mollusks and 17 species of insects. Meanwhile, 11 rare species, including the jungle cat, black vulture, and three scorpion species, have been added. The…

Central Asia’s Growing Population and Youthful Workforce are Signs of Economic Vitality, Says Latest Study

ASTANA – The population growth alongside the expanding young workforce reflects the strength of the Central Asian economy, studies show. Central Asian region’s population stands at 81 million, with growth at 3.7% annually from 2021. Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia, accounting for 45% of the region’s total population, according to the…

Kazakhstan Records 23% Growth in Gold and FX Reserves

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s gold and foreign exchange reserves reached $44.2 billion as of November, marking an increase of $8.3 billion, or 23.1%, compared to 2023, according to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, reported Kazinform news agency. Gold assets account for 57.2% or $25.3 billion. According to the World Gold Council, as of Jan. 6, Kazakhstan…

Kazakh Families Uphold Marriage Traditions as Costly Weddings Lose Appeal, Survey Finds

ASTANA – Recent social survey results highlight that while Kazakh families continue to cherish marriage-related traditions, support for costly weddings and outdated practices, such as bride kidnapping, has significantly declined, reported Ranking.kz monitoring website. The survey was conducted by the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development (KIPD), a leading research and analytical center in social studies.…

How Transboundary River Management in Central Asia Affects Kazakhstan’s Water Crisis

ASTANA – With vast agricultural lands but inefficient irrigation systems, Kazakhstan might face major challenges when it comes to water scarcity. This article explores the use of transboundary rivers in Central Asia.  According to the World Meteorological Organization, up to five billion people may face water shortages by 2025, with Kazakhstan predicted to be among…

Central Asian Designers Unveil 2025 Fashion Trends and Colors to Watch

ASTANA – Central Asian designers reveal the next season’s trends and colors to fit best into the new 2025 year. According to Kazakh designer Yerlan Zholdasbek, world fashion trends are most often set by American and European designers, but Kazakh fashion has greater influence from Asian trends, particularly from Japan and South Korea. “They have…

AI Could Enhance Kazakhstan’s Global Competitiveness, Yet Challenges Remain

ASTANA – Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to boost Kazakhstan’s efficiency, drive innovation, and enhance its global competitiveness but challenges remain from limited access to microchip technology and ambiguous regulatory framework, experts say. The road to AI prosperity might not be completely smooth, the article’s authors Vladimir Kuryatov warn, especially with limited access to…

Tokayev Addresses Talks on Kazakhstan’s Parliamentary System Reform and Early Elections

ASTANA – In an interview with Ana Tili newspaper on Jan. 3, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed circulating opinions about a potential fundamental reform for Kazakhstan’s transition to a parliamentary system and early parliamentary elections, clarifying that such claims were not accurate. “A parliamentary system undoubtedly has its merits and historical roots in many European and…

Kazakhstan to Determine Nuclear Power Plant Consortium in 2025, Tokayev Reveals

ASTANA – The participants of the international consortium for the nuclear power plant construction in Kazakhstan will be determined in 2025, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in an Ana Tili interview on Jan. 3. During the national referendum on constructing a nuclear power plant in October 2024, Tokayev suggested that an international consortium of leading global…

Kazakh Culture Reaches Global Audiences with Exhibitions and Tours in 2024

ASTANA – Foreign exhibitions, festivals and theater tours that embrace the diversity and richness of Kazakh cultural heritage have strengthened cultural ties with other countries and promoted Kazakh culture abroad, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information, wrapping up the 2024 events. Exhibitions in Venice and Paris This year Kazakh art was presented for…

President Tokayev Reflects on 2024 Outcomes in Ana Tili Interview

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev shared the key outcomes of 2024 in an interview with Ana Tili (Mother Tongue) newspaper on Jan. 3. Exactly one year ago, on Jan. 3, Tokayev gave an interview to Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper, where he outlined an ambitious economic course aimed at achieving a Just and Fair Kazakhstan and…

Betashar Ceremony: Insights From Kazakh Wedding

ASTANA – Betashar, a centuries-old custom of unveiling the bride, provides insight into Kazakh weddings, uniting families and communities. Like any significant celebration, Kazakh weddings are filled with traditions and nuances that might seem like something of a mystery for a foreign eye. One such tradition is betashar, the unveiling of a bride’s face, a…

Kazakhstan Marks 85 Years of Poetess Fariza Ongarsynova – Voice of Feminine Strength in Poetry

ASTANA – Dec. 25 marked the 85th anniversary of Kazakh poetess Fariza Ongarsynova, who had a vital presence in Kazakh poetry known for her deep exploration of the female heart and soul.  Her collections of poetry such as “Troubled Times” (1972), “Wild Waves” (1973), and “I Am in Your Heart” (1975), laid out new poetic…

Kazakh Youth Drives Change Across Science, Art, Sports, and Humanitarian Efforts

ASTANA – The Kazakh youth is driving change in the country and represents it across different sectors regionally and globally. As the year draws to a close, The Astana Times is highlighting young Kazakh change makers in science, art, music, sport and humanitarian activities, who stand up for what is right, work to make a…

Gardeners Lead Efforts to Bring Aport Apple Back to Kazakhstan’s Tables

ASTANA – Private gardeners and associations are making efforts to revive the aport apple—a national treasure with its rich red color and vibrant flavor—bringing it to tables across Kazakhstan and beyond. These legendary apples once blanketed the mountainous regions near Almaty, but with urbanization, only a few orchards remain, putting the once-abundant fruit at risk.…

Ninety Million Hectares at Risk: Kazakhstan’s Land Degradation Crisis Demands Action

ASTANA – In Kazakhstan, 90 million hectares of land are affected by degradation, demanding urgent action, according to experts at an international conference organized by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Kazakhstan and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the support of the Kazakh Ministries of Agriculture and Ecology and Natural Resources…