UNESCO-Listed Almaty Reserve Protects Kazakhstan’s Natural Heritage
ASTANA – The Almaty State Nature Reserve, one of Kazakhstan’s oldest protected areas, has safeguarded the unique ecosystems of the Northern Tien Shan for nearly a century. It preserves a remarkable diversity of landscapes, wildlife and ecosystems. The reserve was first established in 1931 in the Small Almaty Gorge and has undergone several territorial changes…
How Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum Teaches Faith, Knowledge and Self-Discovery
ASTANA – The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is widely regarded as one of the most important architectural monuments of the Turkic world and a spiritual treasure of Islamic civilization. Built in the late 14th century by order of Amir Temir, the complex has served for centuries as a center of Sufi teaching, spiritual education…
Central Asian Countries Outline Critical Minerals Strategies at C5+1 Dialogue
ASTANA – Central Asian countries presented their strategies for developing critical minerals and expanding regional cooperation during the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue with the United States on June 10 in Astana. The discussions focused on geological exploration, data transparency, investment incentives, workforce development and regional supply chain integration. Geological data key to investment David L.…
Critical Minerals Open New Chapter in US-Central Asia Relations
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue on June 10, bringing together senior officials from Central Asian countries and the United States to strengthen cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, investment and technological development. Opening the dialogue, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev said critical minerals are becoming the…
Singing in Kazakh, Winning Hearts Worldwide
ASTANA – Once largely confined to domestic audiences, Kazakh-language music is increasingly finding listeners around the world. Driven by streaming platforms and social media, a new generation of artists is transforming local hits into global phenomena. Much of that attention is fueled by a new generation of Kazakh artists whose songs go viral on TikTok,…
Why World is Falling in Love with Kazakh Honey
ASTANA – From the flowering meadows of the Altai Mountains to the vast southern steppes, beekeeping has long been woven into Kazakhstan’s agricultural heritage. Today, as global demand for natural and organic products grows, Kazakh honey is attracting increasing attention from international consumers and helping the country strengthen its position in the market. Beekeeping is…
Kazakhstan’s Exporters Race to Adapt to Europe’s Carbon Border Tax
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s aluminum, iron and steel sectors are expected to be the most affected by the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), according to Fabiana Fong, component lead at the International Trade Centre (ITC). Speaking at the presentation of a CBAM impact assessment report in Astana on June 3, Fong said the study…
Kazakhstan Establishes Central Asia’s First Brain Institute
ASTANA – Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) launched the Brain Institute, the first specialized scientific and educational center of its kind in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, on June 1, reported the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The institute was established on the basis of KazNU’s Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, founded in 2018, and is…
Kazakhstan Ranks Among World’s Top Rising Tech Hubs
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has entered the top 10 of the Rising Stars category in The Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2026 by analytical platform Dealroom.co. The ranking underscored the country’s rapid emergence as a regional technology hub and an increasingly attractive destination for investment, reported the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development’s press service on…
Kazakhstan and Hong Kong Open New Chapter in Bilateral Relations
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, marking the first-ever visit by a Hong Kong Chief Executive to Kazakhstan, reported Akorda on June 1. Welcoming the guest, Tokayev noted that the visit would provide fresh momentum for…
EAEU Leaders Endorse AI Development and New Trade Initiatives
ASTANA – Leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) approved new trade initiatives and adopted a joint statement on the responsible development of artificial intelligence during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on May 29, chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The meeting brought together Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov,…
How Kazakh Nomads Helped Shape Georgian Statehood
ASTANA – Centuries before modern borders took shape across Eurasia, Kipchak nomads from the Kazakh steppe played a role in the rise of medieval Georgia, a little-known chapter of shared history explored by Kazakh writer Madi Raimov and historian Zhaksylyk Sabitov during a recent event organized by QazaqGeography. The event coincided with Georgia’s Independence Day…
President Tokayev Calls for AI-Driven Integration at Eurasian Economic Forum
ASTANA – The role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies took center stage in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s remarks at the plenary session of the fifth Eurasian Economic Forum on May 28 in Astana. Addressing the forum, Tokayev said Kazakhstan, as chair of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) this year, has proposed using AI to ensure…
Kazakhstan Restores Endangered Bukhara Deer Population
ASTANA – The Syrdarya-Turkistan State Regional Natural Park in southern Kazakhstan has become the country’s only site for restoring the endangered Bukhara deer population. Reintroduction efforts began in 1999 with just six animals. Since then, the population has grown to 319 deer, according to the park officials. The Bukhara deer, endemic to Central Asia, historically…
Kazakhstan Pushes Islamic Finance Into New Growth Phase
ASTANA – The Islamic Finance and Business Forum took place in the Kazakh capital on May 21, bringing together international regulators, investors, business leaders, Shariah advisers and financial market experts to discuss the future of Islamic finance. Held for the second consecutive year in partnership with the Association of Islamic Finance and Business, Tidam Strategic…
Chinese Investment in Eurasia Hits Record $66 Billion, with Central Asia Leading Growth
ASTANA – China’s accumulated foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Eurasian region has reached a record $66 billion, marking a 13% increase over 2024-2025, according to a report by the Eurasian Development Bank. Experts say investment patterns are shifting markedly, away from raw materials and toward manufacturing and energy. Alexander Zaboеv, head of the bank’s…
Kazakhstan Showcases Contemporary Steppe Identity at Venice Biennale
ASTANA – Kazakhstan presented its national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia on May 9 with the exhibition project “Qoñyr: Archive of Silence,” exploring themes of memory, silence, cultural continuity and the inner sound of history through contemporary art. The country is participating in the official program of the…
Kazakhstan Emerges as Global Investment Hub at Berne Union Forum
ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosts the Spring Meeting of the Berne Union, the world’s largest association of export credit and investment insurers, for the first time in the CIS region on May 11-14. The forum has brought global financial institutions, insurers, and export credit agencies to Astana amid growing international interest in Central Asia’s trade routes,…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 130 Years of Theater Icon Seraly Kozhamkulov
ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks the 130th anniversary of Seraly Kozhamkulov, one of the founders of the Kazakh national theater and a towering figure in the country’s cultural history, on May 5. Kozhamkulov was born in 1896 in a village in the Kostanai Region. From 1913 to 1916, he studied at the Uazifa school in Troitsk,…
Can Kazakhstan Succeed On Path to Eurasian Aviation Hub?
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has set an ambitious goal of becoming an international aviation hub, with several of its major airports transforming to compete on the global stage. Yerlan Ospanov, owner of the Saryarka Airport in Karagandy, spoke with Astana Times about what it takes to build a true aviation hub, where Kazakhstan stands today, and…
Kazakhstan, FCI Strengthen Cooperation as Kazakh Tazy Moves Toward Global Recognition
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Tamás Jakkel, president of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) on April 30, to discuss prospects for cooperation in developing domestic dog breeding and preserving a sustainable breed gene pool. Jakkel described the meeting as “constructive and positive,” saying the talks also focused on responsible dog breeding and…
Kazakhstan Launches Nationwide Livestock Expedition in Reality Show Format
ASTANA – A national livestock expedition kicked off from Astana on May to mark the Unity Day of the People of Kazakhstan on May 1, launching a 16-day journey across 10 agricultural regions aimed at documenting the lives of the country’s livestock industry and laying the groundwork for its development. The project, called Dala.Camp, is…
Partnership Project to Expand Affordable Housing Access in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan launched a new housing initiative on April 29 aimed at improving access to safe, affordable housing for vulnerable groups and advancing broader housing policy reforms. The three-year project, called Shanyraq: Partnerships for Stronger Communities and the Right to Accessible Housing for All, is supported by the European Union and implemented by the…
Central Asia Steps Up Air Quality Efforts Amid Rising Pollution
ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 29th globally for air pollution in 2025, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels nearly five times above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, highlighting persistent environmental and public health challenges. PM2.5 refers to microscopic airborne particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular…
How Kazakh Khanate Estimated Population Before Modern Statistics
ASTANA – Although nomadic society lacked formal statistical systems, Kazakhs developed their own methods to estimate population size. Instead of precise figures, they relied on social and administrative units such as ulus (state), ru (clan) and shanyrak (household), forming a system adapted to the realities of steppe life. According to Berikbai Karibayev, the Doctor of…
