Tokayev, EU’s Costa Set New Kazakhstan – EU Priorities as Ties Turn 10
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with President of the European Council António Costa, who arrived in Kazakhstan for his first official visit on Dec. 4, underscoring the deepening strategic ties between Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) as the two sides mark the tenth anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA).…
Kazakhstan Tightens Public Safety Rules With Face-Covering Clothing Ban
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will formally introduce administrative liability for wearing face-covering clothing in public places under a new unified law on the Prevention of Offenses, adopted by the Mazhilis (Parliament’s lower chamber) in its second reading on Dec. 3. The legislation also strengthens responsibility for posting and distributing illegal content, as well as for non-compliance…
OPEC Fund to Provide Up to $400 Million for Kazakh Private Sector Projects by 2030
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis (Parliament’s lower chamber) has approved a landmark framework agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development, paving the way for expanded financing of private-sector investment projects across key sectors of the national economy. The agreement was ratified during a plenary session chaired by Mazhilis Chairman Yerlan Koshanov. Presenting the document to…
Earthquake Shakes Almaty, Residents Spill Into Streets After Sudden Tremor
ALMATY — An earthquake rattled Almaty on Dec. 4, briefly sending residents out of their apartments and into courtyards as buildings swayed for several seconds. According to the Ministry for Emergency Situations, the tremor originated in China, around 277 kilometers southeast of Almaty. The shaking registered at a magnitude of 2–3 across Almaty — enough…
Kazakh FM Kosherbayev and IAEA’s Grossi Expand Nuclear Cooperation Roadmap
ALMATY – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev met with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Dec. 3 during his working visit to Vienna to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Kosherbayev discussed with the IAEA chief Kazakhstan’s plans to develop its national nuclear…
Kazakhstan Expands Cooperation With Asia-Pacific Partners at UNESCAP Forum
ALMATY — Kazakhstan has strengthened its international development cooperation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region as a national delegation led by Chairman of the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) Arken Arystanov participated in the seventh Asia-Pacific Regional Directors Forum held on Dec. 2-4 in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum, organized by the United Nations Economic and…
Kazakhstan Plans Major Air Cargo Upgrade to Win Transit Race
ASTANA — By 2040, 20% of all global air cargo will pass along routes between Asia and Europe, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a Dec. 3 meeting, calling for urgent steps to accelerate the development of regional air cargo hubs and strengthen the country’s role in the rapidly expanding air logistics market. Tokayev emphasized that…
Kazakhstan, EU Launch Formal Negotiations on Visa Facilitation Agreement
ALMATY — Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) officially opened negotiations on a visa facilitation and readmission agreements on Dec. 2 in Brussels, Belgium, marking a historic step in bilateral relations and strengthening mobility between Kazakhstan and EU member states. The inaugural round of talks was co-chaired by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alibek…
Astana to Become First Central Asian City to Host Berne Union Conference in 2026
ALMATY — Kazakhstan will host a major international gathering of export finance experts for the first time, following the decision by the Berne Union to hold its upcoming Spring Meeting in Astana. The announcement was made during the organization’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025, held from Oct. 21-24 in Ottawa, Canada. The Kazakh delegation, representing…
Kazakhstan Accelerates Industrial Transformation With Focus on Manufacturing, Digitalization, and Energy Modernization
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is accelerating efforts to expand its manufacturing base, advance digital transformation, and strengthen economic diversification, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during a government meeting on Dec. 2. The discussion also covered progress in oil refining, agricultural processing, and workforce development, reflecting a comprehensive national effort to increase economic resilience and diversify growth…
Kazakhstan’s E-Commerce Market Expands Sevenfold as Digital Trade Accelerates
ALMATY – E-commerce is undergoing transformation worldwide, with digital platforms reshaping how consumers shop and how businesses operate, said Director of the Department for Domestic Trade Development at the Ministry of Trade and Integration Ansar Orazaliev at a Dec. 1 Central Communications Service (CCS) press briefing. Orazaliyev highlighted that around 30% of the world’s population…
Kazakhstan, EU to Launch Visa Facilitation Talks
ALMATY — Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) announced plans to begin negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements at the 22nd Kazakhstan–EU Cooperation Council meeting held in Brussels on Dec. 1, co-chaired by Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermeк Kosherbayev and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. The meeting took place…
Kazakhstan Expands High-Tech Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing in East Kazakhstan
ALMATY — Kazakhstan has significantly upgraded its nuclear fuel production capabilities as the Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMP) in Ust-Kamenogorsk, East Kazakhstan, launches a new automated inspection line for uranium fuel pellets and expands output of fuel assemblies for nuclear power plants (NPPs). The upgraded system now inspects three fuel pellets per second, using micrometer-level precision…
Survey: Kazakh Citizens Most Often Use Digital Tools for Learning and Self-Development
ALMATY – More than half of Kazakhstan’s population uses artificial intelligence technologies such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Midjourney, according to a nationwide sociological survey conducted by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS). The findings reveal significant age-related differences: AI adoption reaches 76.2% among people aged 18–29, while it declines to 57.1% among those…
Turkistan Region Farmers Report Increased Wolf Attacks on Livestock
ALMATY – Turkistan Region’s Baidibek district has seen a surge in wolf attacks on livestock in recent months, causing significant losses for local farmers. Residents of the villages say the number of attacks has increased sharply since August. Farmers note that wolves have been targeting both small livestock and large animals. Despite reinforced night patrols…
Kazakhstan, Switzerland to Boost Investment and Trade Ties
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Vice President of Switzerland Guy Parmelin on Nov. 28, emphasizing the strong potential for expanding bilateral cooperation and describing the visit as an opportunity to give new momentum to the Kazakhstan–Switzerland partnership. Tokayev highlighted Switzerland’s role as one of Kazakhstan’s most important political and economic partners in…
Kazakh National Bank Keeps Base Rate at 18% Amid Persistent Inflation Pressures
ALMATY – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided to keep the base rate unchanged at 18%, citing updated macroeconomic forecasts and a continued balance of inflationary risks. Annual inflation eased slightly to 12.6% in October, but price pressures remain elevated across most components, reported the regulator’s press service…
Kazakhstan, Global Development Banks Outline New Priorities
ALMATY — Kazakhstan is entering a new stage of partnership with global development banks, said Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov at a Nov. 27 meeting of the Coordination Council on Cooperation with International Financial Institutions (IFIs), calling their support essential for advancing structural reforms and accelerating economic growth. The session brought together senior representatives of the…
World Bank: Boosting Productivity Could Add Two Million Jobs and Raise GDP Across Europe and Central Asia
ALMATY — Strengthening productivity could accelerate economic growth and generate nearly two million new jobs across Europe and Central Asia, according to a new World Bank report released on Nov. 24. The study urges countries in the region to focus on using existing economic assets more efficiently and investing in the capabilities of their firms…
UNICEF: Kazakhstan Could Boost GDP by 14% Through Investments in Children
ALMATY — Kazakhstan could boost its GDP by up to 14% by 2050 through stronger investment in children’s education, health, and social well-being, according to a new UNICEF regional report Generation 2050: Central Asia, presented in Almaty on Nov. 26. The analysis highlights that Kazakhstan’s favorable demographic structure with a dependency ratio of 62 non-working…
Kyrgyz National Bank Raises Key Rate to 11% Amid Persistent Inflation Pressures
ALMATY — The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has raised its key policy rate by 100 basis points to 11%, citing continued external inflationary pressures and rising costs of imported goods. Inflation reached 7.3% since the beginning of 2025 and stood at 8.9%, reported the regulator’s press service on Nov. 25. The central bank…
Kazakh Streaming Platform Scores Dual Wins at Prestigious GEMA Asia Awards 2025
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s first streaming service Unico Play secured two major wins at the prestigious GEMA Asia Awards 2025, earning both gold and silver for its marketing campaign promoting the original series “Qara Bekire” (Black Caviar). The international awards ceremony, considered one of the entertainment industry’s most respected competitions in the Asia–Pacific region, recognized the…
US Investment Company to Launch Major Tungsten Exploration Project in Karagandy Region
ALMATY – A Severny Katpar deposit in Kazakhstan’s Karagandy region will now be developed jointly with the United States company Cove Capital, following an agreement signed during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to the United States for the C5+1 Summit. The move marks a significant shift in the long-discussed project, which previously attracted interest from China’s…
Kazakh Cultural Center Opens in Belgium
ALMATY — A new Kazakh Cultural Center has opened in Brussels, Belgium, creating a permanent space for Kazakhs living in Europe to learn the Kazakh language, reconnect with national traditions, and strengthen cultural ties. The initiative marks a significant step in supporting the diaspora and expanding Kazakhstan’s cultural presence abroad, reported the embassy’s press service…
Kazakhstan Places Fourth at Global Team Chess Championship, Earns Three Individual Medals
ALMATY — Kazakh national chess team finished among the world’s top four at the 2025 FIDE World Women’s Team Championship, held from Nov. 18–23 in Linares, Spain. The strong performance placed Kazakhstan firmly among the leading nations, while several team members delivered standout individual results. Twelve teams competed in the 10th edition of the global…
