Articles by Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY  — Archaeologists have begun a new excavation season at the medieval settlement of Zhankent in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region, continuing efforts to uncover the history of one of the most significant cities of the Oghuz state and a key site along the Silk Road, reported Kazinform.  The archaeological works, supported by the regional administration, are…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is expected to experience another warm summer in 2026, with temperatures reaching up to 45 degrees Celsius in some regions, according to a seasonal forecast released by the national weather service, Kazhydromet, on May 15. The outlook comes just months after 2025 was officially recognized as the hottest year in Kazakhstan since…

ALMATY — A two-year-old Kazakh tazy dog named Akbaqai became one of the stars of the eighth International Ethnosport Culture Festival in Istanbul, drawing attention from thousands of visitors and even attracting purchase offers from admirers of the ancient hunting breed. Kazakhstan was represented by breeders of the national tazy dog breed, as well as…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s AI-powered Crime Threat Forecasting Center has issued 192 risk assessments to state agencies and helped block 38 fraudulent websites as authorities expand the use of digital technologies in law enforcement, reported the Kazakhstan Prosecutor General’s Office.  The center, established under the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General’s…

ALMATY – Oil production at Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil field was temporarily reduced after an operational disruption at one of the facilities operated by Tengizchevroil (TCO) on May 28, the company and Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry confirmed. According to Chevron, Tengizchevroil experienced a “minor operational disruption” at one of its production facilities. The company said oil output…

ALMATY – Luxembourg-based cargo carrier Cargolux, one of the world’s largest freight airlines, will resume operations in Kazakhstan on June 1, with plans to operate up to 14 flights per week through Astana International Airport, reported the Kazakh Embassy to Belgium.  The return of the European cargo giant is a significant step in the country’s…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates are accelerating economic cooperation after Kazakh exports to the Gulf nation jumped 42.1% in the first quarter of 2026 and Emirati investment reached $1.6 billion last year. The growing partnership was highlighted during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev and UAE Minister…

ALMATY – On May 28, Kazakhstan commemorates the birthday of Yestai Berkimbayev — the legendary akyn (improvisational poet), singer and composer whose music became an enduring part of Kazakh cultural heritage and whose song “Korlan” transformed his name into a symbol of lyrical folk music. Born in 1868 in the Akkol area of the current…

ALMATY – Kazakh government has approved the construction of a 32.5 billion tenge (US$71 million) full-cycle biopharmaceutical plant in the Alatau Special Economic Zone as part of broader efforts to expand domestic pharmaceutical production and reduce reliance on imports. The investment agreement between Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry and Steppe Pharmaceuticals was approved by Prime Minister Olzhas…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is accelerating preparations for its Data Center Valley project aimed at attracting global AI companies, hyperscalers and cloud computing leaders, with the industrial city of Ekibastuz selected as the project’s main site. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting reviewing the implementation status of the project on May 25. Kazakh Minister of…

ALMATY – Nearly 85% of all overland cargo traffic between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan, and now Astana is looking further south toward Africa. During the Kazakhstan–Kenya Business Forum on May 20 in Astana, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed linking the Middle Corridor with East Africa’s major maritime routes through Kenya’s ports of Mombasa and…

ALMATY – Central Asian countries recorded a notable growth in renewable energy capacity in 2025, as global installations surged by a record 692 gigawatts (GW), according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. The report, titled Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026, shows that global renewable capacity reached 5,149 GW, marking a 15.5% annual…

ALMATY – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) announced the release of a new 2,000-tenge (US$4.25) collectible coin titled ALTYN ORDA, dedicated to the historical legacy of the Golden Horde, one of the largest states in Eurasia during the 13th–15th centuries. The coin is part of the NBK’s Outstanding Events and People series. Information about…

ALMATY – Jackie Chan said the upcoming film “Armor of God: Ultimatum” will mark the beginning of broader creative cooperation with Kazakhstan as production prepares to launch simultaneously in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan this summer, reported the Kazinform news agency.  Filming for the latest installment of the iconic action-adventure franchise is scheduled to begin on July…

ALMATY – The 16th Astana Mining & Metallurgy (AMM) Congress and Exhibition will take place on June 11–12 in the Hilton Astana, bringing together global industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss the future of Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical sector. The event is expected to bring together representatives from key mining countries, international organizations, and…

ALMATY – A global shift in artificial intelligence (AI) from model training to real-world deployment is reshaping the semiconductor industry and accelerating demand for faster, more efficient computing – a trend that is also putting countries like Kazakhstan on the radar of international tech companies. “A few years ago, the focus was on training models.…

ALMATY – Kazakh investors will gain direct access to stock markets across six Middle Eastern countries following the opening of a new custody account by the Central Securities Depository (KCSD) with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), one of the region’s major financial institutions.  The move, announced on April 30, marks a significant step toward integrating…

ALMATY – Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov entered Kazakhstan’s history in 1980 as the first ethnic Kazakh to win an Olympic gold medal. Born in a small village in the Zhambyl Region, he went on to become a world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling and one of the country’s most admired sports figures, known not only for his achievements…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Austria outlined new areas of cooperation during talks in Astana, highlighting progress on visa facilitation and a decision by the Austrian side to supply 25 passport readers to Astana International Airport, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. It was revealed as Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev met with Austrian…

ALMATY – More than 5,300 visitors explored Kazakh traditions, music and cuisine as the Embassy of Kazakhstan took part in the annual Passport DC Festival on May 2 in Washington DC, the United States, presenting the country’s cultural heritage to the American public. The event brought together over 70 embassies in the U.S. capital, offering…

ALMATY – American traveler Connor, known to his followers as Connor Camperghini, has stopped in Kazakhstan as part of a nearly three-year global road journey, bringing his unconventional lifestyle to the country’s roads and landscapes. Driving and living in a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus, the Colorado native is documenting his route across continents, with Kazakhstan becoming…

ALMATY – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) presented new cross-border financing opportunities, including the expansion of yuan-denominated panda bonds, at a business forum in Shanghai on April 28 aimed at strengthening economic ties between Kazakhstan and China. The event, AIFC Connect: Shanghai 2026, held in partnership with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, brought together more…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with leading global agricultural machinery manufacturers from Europe, Canada and the United States on April 27, resulting in new agreements to localize production in Kazakhstan, as the government steps up efforts to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence. The talks focused on expanding industrial cooperation, transferring…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan does not plan to change its format of participation in the OPEC+ alliance, the country’s Energy Ministry said on April 29, reaffirming its commitment to existing cooperation mechanisms. “At present, the question of changing the country’s participation format in the alliance is not on the agenda,” reads the ministry’s statement. The clarification…

ALMATY – Bank lending in Kazakhstan has more than doubled since 2022, surpassing 43.4 trillion tenge (US$92 billion) as of April 2026, according to data from the National Bank of Kazakhstan. The report shows that a sharp increase reflects strong growth in both business and consumer lending, with household loans expanding at the fastest pace.…