Articles by Aida Haidar

ASTANA – International observers reported an increase in first-time voters and broader participation by civil society in Kazakhstan’s constitutional referendum, calling the voting process well-organized and noting strong public engagement at polling stations during a press briefing on March 15. The Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 359 observers from 11 international organizations and 38 foreign…

ASTANA — More than 7,300 Kazakh citizens have been evacuated from the Middle East since the start of the latest regional escalation, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported on March 9, as authorities continue coordinated efforts to bring citizens home. According to the ministry, the evacuation operation is being carried out jointly with relevant state agencies…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s position has remained consistent in its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its advocacy for a diplomatic, not military, resolution, said Victor Mayko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, during a press briefing on Feb. 25 at his residence. At the event, Mayko outlined Kyiv’s stance on the Ukraine–Russia conflict and highlighted Kazakhstan’s humanitarian…

ASTANA —S&P Global Ratings affirmed Kazakhstan’s long-term sovereign credit rating at ‘BBB-’ and short-term rating at ‘A-3’, maintaining a positive outlook on the long-term ratings on Feb. 20. The transfer and convertibility assessment remains at ‘BBB’, while the national scale rating was affirmed at ‘kzAAA’. According to the S&P press release, the positive outlook reflects…

ASTANA — The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, widely known as the Middle Corridor, made its official debut at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC 2026), as policymakers and experts gathered for the first-ever side event dedicated to its strategic and economic potential, the Caspian Policy Center (CPC) press service reported on Feb. 15. The discussion,…

ASTANA — Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held bilateral talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi on Feb. 19 during his working visit to New Delhi, discussing the further development of trade and investment cooperation on the sidelines of the international India AI Impact Summit 2026. Bektenov conveyed warm greetings on behalf…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is seeking to reposition its beef industry from a commodity-based supplier to a value-added premium exporter, as industry leaders unveiled a comprehensive export ecosystem and market consolidation strategy at the Dala.Camp Forum 2026 in Burabai on Feb. 14. Opening the forum, Chairman of the Board of the Turan Association of Livestock Breeders…

ASTANA — Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie M. Stufft, during her first press briefing on Feb. 13, sent a clear message: Washington sees Astana not as a peripheral partner, but as a country with long-term strategic weight and as a “partner of choice.” “I am glad to be here in Kazakhstan. For me,…

ASTANA — New regulations reshaped Kazakhstan’s housing market in 2025, pushing demand beyond major cities toward regional centers as prices rose faster than inflation, according to experts.  Prices per square meter increased 15.7% year-on-year in the primary market and 14.6% in the secondary market, driven by tighter rules for developers, anticipated tax changes, rising pension…

ASTANA — An international expert discussion titled Central Asia 2030: Strategic Horizons and Regional Choices was held at Astana International University (AIU) on Feb. 2, bringing together regional and international policymakers and analysts to assess Central Asia’s strategic trajectory through the end of the decade. The forum marked the first public discussion and official launch…

ASTANA — The final decision on the new Constitution will be made by the country’s citizens at a national referendum said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a Jan. 30 meeting dedicated to the Constitutional Commission’s work. The Chair of the Constitutional Commission and Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Elvira Azimova; Deputy Chair of the Commission…

ASTANA — Oil production has resumed at the Tengiz oil field, with the first well successfully brought back online early on Jan. 31, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan reported. According to the operational headquarters, the first well, Group Metering Unit GSU-52, was restarted at 3:35 a.m. local time. Process facilities at the Pressure Boosting…

ASTANA — Over the course of 2025, Tajikistan’s gross domestic product reached a growth rate of 8.4%, which was revealed during an expanded meeting of the Government of Tajikistan, chaired by President Emomali Rahmon on Jan. 23. According to Kazinform, Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda noted that despite the complex global challenges and their negative impact…

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 dense calendar of high-level visits and signed agreements, but also by the elevation of relations with key partners to new strategic frameworks, signalling longer-term political alignment and economic…

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. 29 post on his Telegram channel. According to Karin, work continued to systematize domestic policy and shape a unified set of value guidelines. The adoption of a separate…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has signed more than $70 billion in commercial agreements following international meetings this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a Dec. 25 visit to the Zhambyl Region, where he met with members of the public. “These agreements are enabling the launch of modern enterprises and the creation of high-quality jobs,” Tokayev said. …

ASTANA — While global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell 11% in 2024, Chinese investment in Eurasia continued to rise, reaching record levels in Central Asia, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s report under its flagship Monitoring of Mutual Investments project released on Dec. 25. Kazakhstan remains the top recipient in Central Asia, with China’s total…

ALMATY — Analysts at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) expect Kazakhstan’s economy to maintain steady and resilient growth of nearly 5.5% in 2026, while Central Asia as a whole is set to demonstrate the fastest growth rates of the past decade, according to the bank’s Macroeconomic Forecast for 2026–2028, presented at the bank’s year-end press…

ALMATY — Over the past four years, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has solidified its position as the regional leader in non-sovereign financing, with $8.8 billion in investments, representing 41% of all non-sovereign development bank investments in the EDB region. Speaking at the bank’s year-end press conference on Dec. 19, Nikolai Podguzov, chairman of the…

ASTANA — From venture capital and green startups to critical minerals, education, and cultural diplomacy, the United Kingdom (UK) is recalibrating its engagement with Kazakhstan. In an interview with The Astana Times, UK Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sally Axworthy outlined how London sees Kazakhstan’s evolving economic structure and its role in the global green transition. She…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Iran not only maintain a constructive political dialogue but are also seeing growing trade and economic ties, with trade up 40% in just ten months. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the momentum must continue during a Dec. 11 meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, who arrived…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the Chief Justice of Palestine and Presidential Advisor on Religious Affairs Mahmoud al-Habbash on Dec. 2 in a meeting that highlighted the deepening cooperation between the two nations, reported Akorda.  Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Kazakhstan and Palestine have fostered a partnership grounded in friendship, mutual support, and…

ASTANA — There’s something deeply poetic about the way certain lives seem to echo the land they come from. Malik Gabdullin’s story begins on Nov. 15, 1915. He was a soldier, a scholar, a folklorist, and, above all, a humanist. The kind of man whose story doesn’t just belong to history books, it belongs to…

ASTANA — Freedom Bank Kazakhstan has unveiled a new digital service to make business management easier for local entrepreneurs. The voice-based Freedom AI Assistant, now available in the bank’s application, was officially presented to journalists on Nov. 11. The AI assistant can perform 119 commands in both Kazakh and Russian, helping users with tasks such…

ASTANA — This year marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Yevgeny Brusilovsky, the composer behind Kazakhstan’s first operas and orchestral works.  His legacy includes nine operas, four ballets, nine symphonies, and around 500 songs and romances. Brusilovsky also co-authored the music of the national anthem of Kazakhstan, used from 1945 to 1992 and…