Articles by Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a landmark lecture at the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo on Dec. 19, becoming the first head of state from Central Asia to speak at the institution.  Addressing scholars, diplomats, and students, he outlined Kazakhstan’s vision for restoring global strategic trust amid rising geopolitical turbulence and proposed new…

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official trip to Japan continued with a series of meetings with senior executives of leading Japanese corporations, resulting in new momentum for cooperation in critical minerals, industrial manufacturing, smart technologies, and workforce development.  As part of his official visit, President Tokayev met with Ichiro Takahara, Chairman of the Japan Organization…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Japan elevated their cooperation in digital innovation, smart city development, and high-tech investment during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to on Dec. 18–19, which resulted in a new capital-to-capital partnership agreement and progress on joint projects in biotechnology, AI, and nuclear medicine.  During his visit, Tokayev met on Dec. 18 with…

ASTANA — As the holiday season approaches, residents of Astana and Almaty can enjoy a festive weekend full of concerts, children’s shows, theatrical premieres, and winter-themed activities. The Astana Times editorial team has curated a selection of events taking place across both cities. Astana Enchanting spectacle “New Year Symphony of Wonders”, Dec. 20–21 This interactive…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat has been recognized as one of the 500 best football clubs in the world, according to the global ranking of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) published on Dec. 11. The Almaty club became the only representative of Kazakhstan on the list, securing 240th place with 90.75…

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined a comprehensive set of priorities aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s energy sector, emphasizing large-scale infrastructure projects, energy independence, environmental modernization, and the development of nuclear and renewable power. The goals were presented as part of the country’s long-term strategy to eliminate electricity shortages and enhance national security, reported the…

ALMATY – Tajikistan has entered a new stage of stability and regional confidence, President Emomali Rahmon said in his annual address to the parliament, emphasizing that 2025 marked one of the most historic years in the country’s modern era. According to Rahmon, the full settlement of border issues with the Kyrgyz Republic has created a…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s grain exporters are encouraged to begin shipping new-season wheat before the end of 2025 to qualify for transport reimbursement payments scheduled for early 2026. More than 30 billion tenge (approximately US$60.6 million) will be allocated next year to support grain exporters through the state program aimed at offsetting rising logistics costs. According…

ALMATY — Kazakhstan continues to broaden its international flight network, as the Ministry of Transport announced the launch of new air routes to Thailand and Georgia, alongside plans to operate 100 additional domestic flights during the upcoming holiday season. Kazakh airline SCAT will begin operating a new direct route between Shymkent and Bangkok from Dec.…

ALMATY — Capital investments in Kazakhstan increased by 13.3% year-on-year to reach 18.5 trillion tenge (approximately US$40.7 billion) in January–November 2025 period, driven primarily by private-sector activity, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said at a Dec. 17 government meeting. According to Zhumangarin, private investments rose by 9.8%, underscoring growing business…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan became one of TikTok’s standout phenomena in 2025, inspiring creators from Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, the United States and beyond. Users worldwide launched a dedicated trend celebrating Kazakhstan, followed by performances of Kazakh songs. Creators chose an eclectic mix of music from pop hits by Kairat Nurtas, Sadraddin, Kairat Baekenov, and Format,…

ALMATY – Taraz will host a new high-tech plant for smart water management and irrigation systems, established under a cooperation agreement between the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and a consortium of Chinese companies, signed by Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Director and Chief Economist of Yellow River Engineering Consulting Yin Dewen, reported the…

ALMATY – Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov outlined Kazakhstan’s major achievements in the energy sector in 2025 and detailed upcoming reforms across oil and gas, electricity generation, and digitalization at a Dec. 15 briefing held at Astana Hub.  The minister emphasized that the government continued to implement large-scale transformations, reshaping the fuel market, oil refining,…

ALMATY – The Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) marks its fifth anniversary, underscoring the country’s evolution from a recipient of foreign aid to an emerging donor shaping global sustainable development.  Established on Dec. 15, 2020, as Kazakhstan’s national operator for official development assistance (ODA), the agency works under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and…

ALMATY – Almaty’s FC Kairat’s goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov has reached a new milestone in his breakout season, taking the number one spot in the UEFA Champions League player rankings compiled by statistics platform SofaScore. According to the latest data, Anarbekov leads the tournament with an impressive average rating of 8.90, placing him ahead of some…

ALMATY – Budapest will host a landmark musical event on April 18, 2026 at MVM Dome as Dimash Qudaibergen, Placido Domingo, and Hauser, will share a stage for the first time, marking a world premiere that organizers describe as a rare moment in contemporary music. The concert will feature exclusive new arrangements and specially created…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s national oil transporter KazTransOil, a subsidiary of national company KazMunayGas, announced an expansion of export routes with increased supplies to the Kyrgyz Republic and the resumption of oil transit to Uzbekistan in December 2025. According to the company, oil shipments to the Kyrgyz Republic restarted in November, marking the first deliveries since…

ALMATY – Supporting small and medium-sized businesses remains one of Kazakhstan’s top priorities. As a result of sustained policy measures, Kazakhstan has seen consistent growth in the SME sector and its role in the national economy. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, one in five Kazakh citizens now works in business, and the share…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan delivered a powerful performance at the 2025 IBA Boxing World Championships in Dubai on Dec. 4-13, securing second place in the overall medal standings with a total of six medals. The national team finished the tournament with three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, demonstrating strong depth and consistent performance across…

ALMATY – The Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID), in partnership with Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU), has released the country’s first comprehensive textbook dedicated to Official Development Assistance (ODA) and its role in promoting Kazakhstan’s soft power abroad. The publication marks an important milestone, reflecting Kazakhstan’s transformation from a recipient of international aid to…

ALMATY – The Ministry of Culture and Information Committee has approved an updated list of historical and cultural monuments scheduled for scientific restoration in 2026. The national plan includes 39 sites, ranging from medieval mausoleums and ancient settlements to architectural landmarks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. According to the order issued by…

ALMATY – The Astana International Airport has introduced a new Automated Border Control System (ABCS), designed to significantly reduce processing times and improve the overall travel experience for passengers. The entire procedure takes 15–20 seconds, allowing for faster and more efficient border control, reported the airport’s press service on Dec. 10.  The system scans the…

ALMATY – Scientists at the food safety research laboratory of the Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University have developed innovative dairy products, including ice cream and yogurt made from camel milk, marking a promising advancement in Kazakhstan’s food science sector. According to laboratory head and PhD in Engineering Sciences Ayan Orazov, the idea…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s gross international reserves rose to $62.1 billion in November, driven by a sharp increase in the National Bank’s (NBK) gold holdings, even as the tenge continued to weaken amid seasonal and external pressures. Trading volumes increased significantly to $335.6 million, indicating strong demand for foreign currency. Analysts attribute the tenge’s weakening to…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) Chairperson Maulen Ashimbayev led a parliamentary delegation to the Vatican on Dec. 11, where he personally delivered President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official invitation to undertake an apostolic visit to Kazakhstan to Pope Leo XIV.  The visit also included participation in an international roundtable on Kazakhstan’s interfaith initiatives and the…