Articles by Alina Zhalmaganbetova

ASTANA — The number of people using tourism services in the Kyrgyz Republic reached 5.3 million in 2025, a 45.2% increase from the previous year, as the sector recorded growth in revenue, business activity and investment, according to an analysis by Finprom published Oct. 19. The figure includes visitors who used organized tourism services, such…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s startup ecosystem is moving from a period of rapid expansion toward a more demanding stage focused on revenue, international customers and global growth, according to the first national study of the country’s startup landscape. The Kazakhstan Startup Landscape 2026 report was presented Oct. 3 at the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum.…

ASTANA – Central Asia is expected to remain one of the fastest-growing regions in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) economies in 2026 and 2027, although rising energy costs, water scarcity and tighter financing conditions could weigh on the outlook, according to the bank’s latest Regional Economic Prospects report. The EBRD forecasts economic…

ASTANA – The first Przewalski’s horse foals born in Kazakhstan have been named Botai and Tumar, marking a new stage in the country’s efforts to restore the endangered species to its historical habitat. The foals were born this summer at the Alibi Reintroduction Center in the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve in the Kostanai Region,…

ASTANA – Archaeologists excavating ancient burial sites in southern Kazakhstan have uncovered the remains of a woman with a fatal skull injury, among findings dating to the Late Bronze Age and the Kangju period.  Researchers are now examining whether the injury was linked to violence or to a burial practice previously undocumented in the region,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has continued to build its medal haul at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the national team adding medals across athletics, fencing, shooting and canoeing after the opening days of competition.  Kazakhstan is represented by 558 athletes competing in 35 of the 43 sports on the programme. The Games run…

ASTANA — Economic growth across developing Asia and the Pacific is expected to moderate to 5% in 2026 from 5.5% in 2025 before rising slightly to 5.1% in 2027, according to the Asian Development Bank’s latest outlook. The ADB’s September 2026 outlook revised its 2026 regional growth forecast upward by 0.1 percentage points compared with…

ASTANA – A group of kulans has been released into the wild in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve as part of Kazakhstan’s efforts to restore the species’ population and return it to its historical range. The animals were transferred from Altyn Emel National Park and released into their natural habitat, reported the Ministry of Ecology…

ASTANA – Astana will host the UEFA Super Cup in 2028, marking the first time the prestigious European club football match will be held in Kazakhstan. The decision was approved by the UEFA Executive Committee on Sept. 15. The match will take place at Astana Arena, which will become the venue for the annual meeting…

ASTANA — From Bronze Age settlements to medieval cities, archaeological research across Kazakhstan continues to reveal new details about the societies that once inhabited the Eurasian steppe. Recent excavations have brought new findings from the ancient settlement of Zhankent in the Kyzylorda Region and a Bronze Age site near Imantau in northern Kazakhstan, while authorities…

ASTANA – Foreign digital companies have paid Kazakhstan 178.8 billion tenge ($390.2 million) in value-added tax since 2022, with annual collections rising more than fivefold over three years under the country’s so-called Google tax. The figures show the growing fiscal contribution of international platforms serving consumers in Kazakhstan. They do not, however, directly measure the…

ASTANA – The Almaty Museum of Arts has opened a major exhibition exploring the development of Kazakh sculpture over seven decades. The exhibition, titled “Müsinder: Sculpture in Kazakhstan from the 1950s to the Present Day,” opened on Sept. 8 in the museum’s Saryarka Hall and brings together more than 50 works by several generations of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has announced its national teams for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, which will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16-27. The women’s team will be led by Grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva, currently ranked fifth in the FIDE women’s world rankings. She will be joined by Alua Nurman, Meruert Kamalidenova, Elnaz Kaliakhmet and…

ASTANA – A second Przewalski’s horse foal has been born in Kazakhstan as part of an international program to restore the endangered species to its historical habitat, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported. The foal was born to a mare named Umbra at the Alibi Wild Ungulates Reintroduction Center, located in the Altyn…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s film industry is strengthening its international presence as local filmmakers expand cooperation abroad while the country attracts major international productions. Two projects this summer highlight both sides of this trend: the Kazakh feature “Jamilya in Paris” is being filmed in the French capital, while Jackie Chan’s “Armour of God: Ultimatum” is bringing…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has received the least restrictive travel advisory level from the United States, adding to a series of developments leading to strengthening the country’s position as an international tourism destination. On Aug. 18, the U.S. Department of State placed Kazakhstan at Level 1, the lowest (safest) of its four travel advisory levels. The…

ASTANA — Archaeologists from across the Turkic world are moving towards a new model of cooperation that could make the region’s archaeological heritage easier to study as a single interconnected historical space. At the third meeting of the Association of Research Institutes and Centers of Archaeology of the Turkic World (ARICA) in Bugac, Hungary on…

ASTANA – A series of recent archaeological discoveries across Kazakhstan is offering new insights into the history, culture and everyday life of communities that lived on the Great Steppe centuries ago. Findings from archaeological sites in the Zhambyl, Turkistan and Pavlodar regions include medieval buildings, a mosque and paved streets, valuable artefacts and a remarkably…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s first temporary rehabilitation center for injured birds of prey and endangered wild birds has opened in the Mangystau Region, providing veterinary treatment and rehabilitation before the animals are released back into their natural habitat. The facility focuses on rescuing birds that have been injured or weakened, including eagles, falcons, hawks and other…

ASTANA – Nestled in the heart of Kazakhstan’s vast Saryarka steppe, Karkaraly State National Nature Park offers visitors a unique combination of rugged granite mountains, pristine lakes, dense pine forests and rich biodiversity. Established in 1998, the protected area plays a vital role in preserving the natural heritage of the Karkaraly region for future generations.…

ASTANA — Archaeologists working at the Kultobe settlement in southern Kazakhstan have uncovered new inscriptions and rare artifacts linked to the ancient Kangju state, offering fresh insights into one of Central Asia’s earliest political entities. The discoveries were made during the 2026 excavation season by researchers from the Archaeology Center of South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University…

ASTANA – Balkhash Airport in Kazakhstan’s Karagandy Region has resumed operations following the completion of reconstruction works, according to the regional akimat (local administration) press service.  The airport received its first flights from Astana and Almaty on June 1 after the reopening. The reconstruction project included upgrades to key airfield infrastructure, including the apron and…

ASTANA –  The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest monthly report warns that global oil markets are entering a period of sharp volatility, with demand expected to decline and supply disruptions continuing to reshape trade flows. For Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest oil producer, the report is particularly relevant as the country works to restore output after…