Dimash Qudaibergen Celebrates Premiere of Voice Beyond Horizon in Almaty
ALMATY – Thousands of fans gathered at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty on Feb. 5 to celebrate the global premiere of the first episode of Voice Beyond Horizon, a new musical reality show initiated and headlined by Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen. The evening began with a video message compilation featuring international stars, including…
President Tokayev Holds Working Meeting With Constitutional Commission Leadership
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a working meeting with Kazakhstan’s Constitutional commission on Feb. 6 to review progress on drafting the country’s new Constitution. The meeting was attended by Chair of the Constitutional commission and Head of the Constitutional Court Elvira Azimova, Deputy Chair of the commission and State Counselor Erlan Karin, and commission…
KazTransOil Announces Tariff Changes for Oil Transportation Starting March
ALMATY – KazTransOil has announced changes to its tariffs for oil transportation through Kazakhstan’s main pipeline system, effective from March 1, reported the company’s press service on Feb. 2. Unloading oil from rail tank cars at the T. Kasymov pumping station will now cost 1,715.05 tenge (US$3.65) per ton, reflecting an increase of 969 tenge…
Almaty to Host 2029 Winter Asian Games
ALMATY – Almaty has officially been selected to host the 2029 Winter Asian Games, marking the return of one of Asia’s multi-sport winter events to Kazakhstan, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service on Feb. 5. The hosting agreement was signed in Milan, Italy, by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan Gennady…
Tokayev Says Connectivity and Trade Are Central to Kazakhstan–Pakistan Partnership
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined connectivity and economic cooperation as the main pillars of Kazakhstan–Pakistan relations in a Feb. 5 interview with The News Pakistan, emphasizing trade expansion, transport corridors and regional stability. According to Tokayev, the partnership between the two countries is increasingly focused on delivering practical economic results. “Connectivity has indeed become…
Kazakhstan at 2026 Winter Olympics: Who Could Bring Home Medals
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics with a highly competitive team, and several athletes are positioned to deliver medal-winning performances, Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov said during a government meeting on Dec. 30, 2025. Selected in collaboration with national sports federations, the team includes athletes who have already…
Astana, Islamabad Cement Strategic Partnership
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Pakistan signed a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership and a package of intergovernmental agreements following talks between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during Tokayev’s state visit on Feb. 4, marking a major step forward in bilateral political, economic and investment cooperation. “This step elevates…
Kazakhstan, Pakistan Strengthen Dialogue on Regional and Economic Cooperation
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in both narrow and expanded formats on Feb. 4 as part of his state visit to Pakistan, underscoring a shared commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. “This is my first state visit as President of Kazakhstan, and I…
Alatau City to Be Built Mainly Through Private Investment Under Charter Model
ALMATY – The development of Alatau City will be driven primarily by private investment under a new governance model designed to ensure long-term predictability for businesses, said Bolat Zhamishev, a member of the Alatau City Development Council, at a Feb. 4 meeting. According to Zhamishev, the model aims to create exceptional conditions for investors by…
Kazakhstan and Pakistan Aim to Raise Bilateral Trade to $1 Billion
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Pakistan are expanding their trade relationship, aiming to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion in the medium term, following a Feb. 4 meeting between Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev and Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Kazakhstan-Pakistan Business Forum,…
US Delegation to Visit Kazakhstan in March to Boost Bilateral Ties
ALMATY – Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev discussed the upcoming visit of the United States’ congressional delegation to Kazakhstan in March during his Feb. 3 meeting with Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Brian Mast and Senator Steve Daines in Washington, as part of his official visit to the U.S. The parties…
Kazakhstan’s Grain Exports to Afghanistan Nearly Double
ALMATY – Grain exports from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan nearly doubled between September 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026, underscoring the country’s growing role as a key grain supplier in Central and South Asia. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company, 5.8 million tons of grain were exported, an increase of 1 million tons compared…
Kazakhstan Boosts January Oil Exports to Germany
ALMATY – Kazakhstan increased its oil exports to Germany in January 2026, sending 310,000 tons to the European market, according to KazTransOil. Of these shipments, 106,000 tons were transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, reported Reuters on Feb. 3. The rise represents a sharp increase of 183,000 tons compared to January 2025, highlighting Kazakhstan’s growing…
From Politics to Profits: Why Geopolitics Now Matters for Business in Kazakhstan
ALMATY – Geopolitics is no longer an abstract field reserved for governments and military strategists as it has become a practical necessity for businesses navigating sanctions, supply chain disruptions and a rapidly shifting global order, experts said during a Feb. 2 session at Narxoz University. Addressing the audience, Executive Director of HeartLand Expert and Analytical…
Kazakhstan to Introduce AI in Water Sector by May, PM Bektenov Says
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will launch an artificial intelligence–based project to manage water resources by May 1, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced during a Feb. 2 meeting on science and innovation, positioning digital solutions as a key tool for the country’s sustainable development. The decision was made after Bektenov met with members of the National Academy…
President Tokayev to Pay State Visit to Pakistan This Week
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Pakistan on Feb. 3–4, reported the Akorda press service. During the visit, the Kazakh leader will hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. The negotiations will focus on prospects for strengthening political dialogue as well as expanding trade, economic,…
Kazakhstan Takes Chair of Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone for 2026
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia for 2026, following the annual consultative meeting of the treaty’s member states. Representatives of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the meeting, where participating countries reviewed activities carried out in 2025 and outlined plans…
Kasteev Museum That Raised Generations Reopens with Spirit Intact
ALMATY – The Abilkhan Kasteev National Museum of Arts was never just a museum for Almaty’s public. It was a second home and for many children, the place where a lifelong love for art first began. Now reopened after a major renovation, the museum returns with restored walls and modernized systems, but also with something…
Why Foreign University Branches Matter for Kazakhstan’s Future
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is shifting from one-off initiatives in international higher education to a systemic state strategy. Integration into the global education space is now viewed not as an image-building exercise but as a tool for economic growth, demographic resilience, and labor market development. Education as a driver of national development Science and education featured…
Kazakhstan Launches New Investment Drive as PM Demands Faster Project Delivery
ALMATY – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a Jan. 28 meeting, discussing the launch of a new investment cycle to increase the volume of high-quality investments. “We need to work together to create a favorable investment climate, promote productive work, protect investors’ rights, and support important projects for the country at all stages of implementation,”…
Kazakhstan Launches Interagency Group to Boost Afghan Trade, Education and Infrastructure Ties
ALMATY – The Kazakh government held the first meeting of the interagency working group on development of cooperation with Afghanistan on Jan. 28 under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. Zhumangarin emphasized that the working group aims to streamline interdepartmental efforts, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and maximize the country’s…
Arsenal Edges Kairat 3:2 as Kazakh Side Finishes Champions League Clash with Pride
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat Almaty delivered a spirited performance but fell just short in a dramatic 3:2 defeat to Arsenal in their final match of the UEFA Champions League league stage on Jan. 28 in London. Despite sitting at opposite ends of the standings as Arsenal entered the round, top of the table, while…
Kazakhstan Proposes Constitutional Reform Affecting 84% of Basic Law
ALMATY – A sweeping package of constitutional amendments affecting 77 articles, which amounts to 84% of Kazakhstan’s Constitution, was presented to members of the Constitutional Reform commission on Jan. 28, marking an extensive legal transformation. The draft was introduced by Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court Bakyt Nurmukhanov, who said the document was developed after…
Kazakhstan and Israel Sign Cooperation Memoranda, Pledge to Deepen Bilateral Ties
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Israel signed a series of cooperation documents and agreed to expand bilateral engagement as Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who paid an official visit to Astana on Jan. 27. Following the 12th round of political consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries, the…
Kazakhstan’s Tourism Investments Surge 32% to Over $2 Billion
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s tourism sector is experiencing significant growth, with investments rising by 32% in 2025 to exceed 1.2 trillion tenge (approximately US$2.39 billion), the Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov said at a Jan. 27 government meeting. The minister highlighted that the number of tourists in accommodation facilities increased by 12%, surpassing 10…
