Kazakhstan Hosts First FIDE World University Team Chess Championship
ALMATY – The inaugural FIDE World University Team Chess Championship opened in Almaty on Aug. 4 with teams from Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Beijing University and 12 other leading universities. While the event crowns the world’s strongest university chess team, it also reflects Kazakhstan’s broader effort to position itself as an international center for intellectual competition.…
Almaty Airport’s Next Takeoff: Can Kazakhstan Build Central Asia’s Leading Aviation Hub?
ALMATY – As Central Asian countries accelerate airport expansion to capture growing passenger and cargo flows between Europe and Asia, Kazakhstan is entering a new phase of competition. While Uzbekistan has launched construction of what is expected to become the region’s largest airport, Almaty is pursuing a different strategy: expanding capacity while investing in operational…
Kazakhstan Advances Regional AI Ambitions Through New Technology Hub
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to establish another international technology hub dedicated to artificial intelligence and startup development, expanding its network of innovation platforms as the country seeks to position itself as a regional AI hub through global partnerships, talent development and private investment. The initiative was discussed during Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s July 27 meeting…
Can Kazakhstan’s Non-Oil Economy Sustain the Country’s Growth Momentum?
ALMATY – As oil production temporarily softens, Kazakhstan is increasingly relying on construction, manufacturing, transport, trade and agriculture to maintain economic momentum. Government officials argue that strengthening these sectors will not only offset weaker hydrocarbon output in the short term but also lay the foundation for more diversified and resilient long-term growth. The strategy was…
Kazakhstan’s Rail Freight Growth Puts Infrastructure Expansion in Focus
ALMATY – Freight volumes on Kazakhstan’s rail network continued to grow in the first half of 2026, underscoring the country’s expanding role in regional trade. But as cargo flows accelerate, the focus is shifting from record volumes to whether rail infrastructure can keep pace with demand. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) transported 157.1 million tons of…
Why Almaty’s Fountains Are More Than Just Decoration
ALMATY – For generations of Almaty residents, fountains have marked the rhythm of summer. They are meeting places, playgrounds, works of art and fragments of history hidden among the city’s trees. Today, Almaty operates more than 120 fountains and fountain complexes, making it the undisputed fountain capital of Kazakhstan. Sixty-three belong to the municipality, while…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Expand Strategic Partnership Through Trade, Transport and Regional Agreements
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed regional and commercial agreements worth more than 80 billion tenge (US$146 million) on July 24 as the two countries advanced cooperation in trade, transport, industry and cross-border development during a series of meetings in Aktau. The agreements were concluded following the 23rd meeting of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Joint Intergovernmental Commission…
Four Parties Complete Candidate Registration for Kurultai Elections as Kazakhstan Advances Preparations
ALMATY – Four of the seven political parties approved to contest Kazakhstan’s Aug. 23 Kurultai elections have officially registered their candidate lists with the Central Election Commission (CEC), while the remaining parties continue submitting documents for registration. The CEC also announced that 76 international observers have been accredited to monitor the vote. The parties that…
Tokayev Holds Talks With China’s Top Tech Companies on AI, EVs and Digital Infrastructure
ALMATY – Kazakhstan could become home to Central Asia’s first electric vehicle battery plant as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed the project with Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) during a round of investment-focused meetings with China’s leading technology and infrastructure companies in Shanghai on July 16. Meeting with Pan Jian, co-chairman of the board of CATL, the…
Kazakhstan’s Zoos Welcome 2.6 Million Visitors, Generate Record $5 Million
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s zoos generated a record 2.6 billion tenge (US$5 million) in revenue in 2025 as visitor spending continued to rise despite a slight decline in attendance. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the country’s eight zoos and sole oceanarium welcomed 2.6 million visitors last year, down modestly from the record 2.8 million…
Kazakhstan, NASA Agree to Develop Roadmap for Space Cooperation
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and NASA have agreed to develop a practical roadmap for expanding cooperation in space science, satellite technologies and research following July 13 talks at the Baikonur Cosmodrome between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev and Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)…
Jackie Chan Arrives in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region to Begin Filming ‘Armour of God: Ultimatum’
ALMATY – Martial arts icon and international film star Jackie Chan arrived in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region on July 13 to begin filming “Armour of God: Ultimatum,” the latest installment in the action franchise, regional authorities announced. Mangystau Governor Nurdaulet Kilybai welcomed Chan, who is visiting the region as part of the production of the international…
Kazakhstan’s IT Services Market Hits Record $5.6 Billion in 2025
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s IT services market reached a historic high in 2025, with the total value of services exceeding 2.9 trillion tenge (US$5.6 billion), according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The figure represents a 70% increase compared to 2024 and marks a 4.6-fold expansion since official statistics on the sector began being published in…
Kazakhstan Creates Fast-Track Committee to Speed Up Alatau City Development
ALMATY – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has established an Operational Committee to enable faster decision-making on the development of Alatau City, as the government moves to implement Kazakhstan’s new special legal regime for the country’s newest city. The announcement came during a July 10 meeting of the Alatau City council, where officials reviewed the implementation…
Rybakina Among World’s Top 10 Highest-Paid Tennis Players
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player Elena Rybakina has been named one of the world’s 10 highest-paid tennis players in 2026, according to the latest annual rankings compiled by the sports business publication Sportico. Rybakina ranked 10th with $16.3 million in total earnings over the 12 months from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.…
Kazakhstan’s Trade Turnover Nears $45 Billion as Exports Continue to Grow
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover reached $44.9 billion in the first four months of 2026, up 7.9% from the same period last year, according to data released by the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics on June 15. Between January and April, the country’s exports rose by 5% to $24 billion, while imports increased by…
Kazakhstan, Japan Move Forward on $3.7 Billion Deal Pipeline
ALMATY – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with a delegation from the Japan Business Federation Keidanren led by Takeshi Hashimoto, chairman of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, on July 9 to discuss expanding trade, investment and technological cooperation between Kazakhstan and Japan. The talks focused on implementing agreements reached during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Japan…
Jackie Chan Kicks Off Filming of ‘Armour of God: Ultimatum’ in Kazakhstan
ALMATY – International film star Jackie Chan attended the official launch ceremony of the international feature film “Armour of God: Ultimatum” in Almaty on July 9, marking the start of a major Kazakhstan-China cinematic collaboration, according to the Ministry of Culture and Information’s press service. The ceremony brought together Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of…
Kazakh AI Minister Joins World Leaders Shaping AI Governance
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev has joined the newly established AI for Good Global Commission, a high-level international body created by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to shape practical approaches to the development and governance of artificial intelligence. Madiyev joined the commission at the…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Cooperation With ICAO on Air Accident Investigations
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has strengthened its cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to enhance the country’s capacity to investigate aviation accidents and incidents following the signing of a new cooperation agreement in Montreal, reported the Ministry of transport on July 8. The agreement was signed during a meeting between the Kazakh delegation and…
Karagandy Zoo Names Newborn Amur Tiger Cubs After Lion King Characters
ALMATY – The Karagandy Zoo has welcomed two new additions to its Amur tiger family. Born on April 30, the cubs have now been officially named Kiara and Mufasa, following a public naming contest that attracted nearly 500 participants. The names, inspired by the beloved characters from The Lion King, were selected by the zoo’s…
Kazakhstan Showcases National AI Pavilion at UN Summit in Geneva
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has unveiled its national pavilion at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026, taking place July 7–10 in Geneva, Switzerland, presenting the country as an emerging Eurasian hub for artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Operating under the slogan Kazakhstan – AI and Digital Hub of Eurasia, the pavilion is located at the…
China Becomes Official Partner of Astana AI Film Festival Ahead of October Debut
ALMATY – China has become the official partner of the Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF 2026), marking a new stage in cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in AI-powered filmmaking and digital creative industries. The partnership was announced recently during the festival’s official launch in Beijing at Shougang Park alongside the Kazakhstan-China Forum on Innovation in…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Investment Partnerships with Global Energy Firms and Financial Institutions
ALMATY – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a series of bilateral meetings with executives of leading international energy companies and financial institutions on the sidelines of the 38th plenary session of the Foreign Investors’ Council, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s commitment to expanding investment cooperation and advancing major infrastructure and energy projects. During the meetings, Bektenov noted…
Kazakhstan Expands Excavations at UNESCO-Nominated Silk Road Site
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…
