Kazakhstan Calls for Stronger Implementation of Humanitarian Law at Geneva Dialogue
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has called for stronger national mechanisms to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL), stressing that efforts to protect civilians must begin long before armed conflicts break out. The position was presented by Kazakhstan’s delegation at the Global Dialogue on International Humanitarian Law, held in Geneva and organized by the Swiss Federal…
Kazakhstan Plans National Laboratory for Critical Materials as Manufacturing Sector Expands
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to establish a National Laboratory for Critical Materials in Astana as part of efforts to develop its mineral resources, strengthen geological exploration and reduce reliance on imports, First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlan Nalybayev said at a Nov. 4 government press conference. According to him, the laboratory will help identify priority areas…
Tokayev Meets Network School Founder, Welcomes Launch of Kazakhstan Branch
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Balaji Srinivasan, founder of Network School, to discuss cooperation in technology, education and innovation, reported the presidential press service on Nov. 4. Tokayev praised Network School’s contribution to the development of Kazakhstan’s technology ecosystem and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with the organization. He said Kazakhstan is investing…
Kazakhstan Eyes 2035 Completion for First Two Nuclear Power Plants
ASTANA – Kazakhstan expects its first two nuclear power plants to be completed by 2035, with construction of the Balkhash plant involving a Russian-led consortium headed by Rosatom and negotiations underway with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) over the second plant, known as Moyinkum, Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov said at a Nov. 4 government…
Kazakhstan to Complete Construction of Three New Airports by End of 2026
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to complete construction of three new airports in Zaisan, Katon-Karagai and Kenderli by the end of 2026 as part of efforts to expand the country’s aviation infrastructure and strengthen its transit potential, First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlan Nalybayev said at a Nov. 4 government press conference. Nalybayev also added that the…
Kazakhstan Signs New Uranium Supply Contracts With India and China
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has signed new contracts to supply natural uranium to major energy companies in India and China in 2026, as the country seeks to expand its international partnerships and diversify uranium sales markets, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was informed during a Nov. 4 meeting with Kazatomprom CEO Meirzhan Yusupov. According to the presidential…
Kazakhstan Retains Central Asia’s Top University Rankings as Nazarbayev University Climbs 62 Places
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has retained its position as Central Asia’s leading higher education system in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027, with three universities placing among the region’s top 100. Nazarbayev University recorded the country’s most significant improvement, rising 62 places to 139th. The rankings, released on Nov. 3 by international higher education analysts…
Kazakhstan’s Samodelkina Finishes Fifth at Skate Canada Grand Prix
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Sofya Samodelkina finished fifth at the Skate Canada Grand Prix, scoring a total of 206.89 points across the short and free programs. Samodelkina earned 71.84 points for her short program and 135.05 for her free skate, securing a place in the top five among 12 competitors. Japan’s Mao Shimada won the event…
Kazakhstan Attracts 93% of EAEU Greenfield Investment Value in 2025, UNCTAD Says
ASTANA – Kazakhstan accounted for nearly 93% of the Eurasian Economic Union’s (EAEU) announced greenfield investment project value in 2025, with projects worth around $24 billion, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). UNCTAD presented the findings in its Eurasian Economic Union Investment Report 2026, published on Oct. 25 at the…
Air Astana Launches First Flight With High-Speed Satellite Internet in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Air Astana operated Kazakhstan’s first flight equipped with high-speed satellite internet on Oct. 29, connecting Almaty and Tashkent, the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development reported. The Wi-Fi system was installed on an Airbus A321LR aircraft registered as EI-KGB. The project is being implemented in cooperation with SES, an international satellite communications…
Turkic Leaders Open Avenue in Ankara Celebrating Common History and Traditions
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev joined leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) member states to open the Avenue of the Turkic World in Ankara on Oct. 29, ahead of the organization’s 13th summit. The opening ceremony featured national pavilions representing Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, showcasing the cultural diversity, spiritual…
Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Wages but Records Decline in Purchasing Power
ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranks third among six Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries with available data for monthly employer labor costs, behind Belarus and Moldova, according to the CIS Statistical Committee. In 2024, labor costs in Kazakhstan reached 878 euros (US$1,015) per employee per month, significantly exceeding the figures recorded in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The…
Kazakhstan Records Sharp Increase in Transit Freight as Volumes Reach 36.3 Million Tons
ASTANA – Transit freight volumes through Kazakhstan increased 5.6-fold over the past decade, rising from 6.5 million tons in 2015 to 36.3 million tons in 2025, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The growth underscores Kazakhstan’s expanding role in transport links connecting China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe. The increase accelerated in recent years,…
Prince William Praises Kazakhstan’s Success in Restoring Saiga Population
ASTANA – Prince William has praised Kazakhstan’s efforts to restore its saiga population, highlighting the country’s conservation achievements during an appearance on the BBC’s The Graham Norton Show on Oct. 23. The Prince of Wales noted that saigas, which were once on the brink of extinction, have made a significant recovery, emphasizing the role of…
Air Astana Expands Winter Flights as Vietjet Offers Promotional Fares to Hanoi and Prague
ASTANA – Air Astana has introduced its winter flight schedule, adding new international destinations and increasing frequencies on popular holiday routes, while Vietnamese carrier Vietjet is expanding its network and offering promotional fares from $135 on flights from Almaty to Hanoi and Prague. Air Astana’s winter schedule, effective from Oct. 25 through March 27, 2027,…
Global Breast Cancer Awareness Drive Puts Early Detection in Focus in Kazakhstan
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is holding free breast cancer consultations and diagnostic examinations throughout October as part of an annual Pink October awareness campaign, encouraging women to undergo regular screening and seek medical attention if they notice changes in their breasts. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Kazakhstan. In 2025, the country…
Denis Ten Memorial Challenge: How Tournament Keeps Olympic Champion’s Legacy Alive
ALMATY – When Denis Ten became Kazakhstan’s first Olympic medalist in figure skating, winning bronze at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, he showed a generation of young athletes that they could compete with the world’s best. More than a decade later, a tournament established in his memory is helping turn that ambition into opportunity,…
Kazakhstan Cuts Base Rate to 15.75% as Annual Inflation Falls to 9.3%
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Bank has lowered its base rate to 15.75% from its previous level, citing a continued decline in annual inflation and easing inflation expectations. The Monetary Policy Committee announced the decision on Oct. 23, setting the rate corridor at plus or minus one percentage point around the base rate. “Annual inflation fell…
Kazakhstan, Switzerland Sign $46 Million in Business Memorandums as New Cultural Center Opens
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Switzerland have signed memorandums of cooperation worth an estimated $46 million following a bilateral business forum in Zurich, while a new Swiss-Kazakh cultural and business center has opened in Schaffhausen to strengthen trade and cultural ties between the two countries. The agreements were reached during a working visit to Switzerland by…
Kazakhstan and Singapore Launch New Air Link via China
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Singapore have launched a new air connection, with flights from Shymkent operating twice a week via the Chinese city of Sanya, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Singapore reported. The new route officially opened on Oct. 20, marking a milestone in bilateral connectivity. The service will carry passengers along the full Shymkent–Sanya–Singapore…
Tokayev Meets Atletico Madrid CEO as Kazakhstan Seeks to Expand Football Cooperation
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Atletico Madrid Chief Executive Officer Miguel Ángel Gil Marín to discuss expanding cooperation in football development, infrastructure and youth training in Kazakhstan, according to the presidential press service. Tokayev praised the existing partnership with the Spanish football club, expressing confidence that Gil Marín’s visit would help take cooperation…
Kazakhstan, China Plan Pilot Autonomous Trucking Route Between Countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China plan to launch a pilot project for autonomous freight transportation along an international route between the two countries, following an agreement to establish a joint center for intelligent transport systems and unmanned technologies. The agreement was signed on Oct. 16 in Astana by Kazakhstan’s Road Research Institute and China TransInfo…
Kazakhstan Signs $4.8 Billion in Investment Documents at KGIR 2026 in Shymkent
ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed 22 investment agreements and memorandums worth $4.8 billion at the ninth Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR 2026), which brought together more than 500 investors and business representatives from over 40 countries in Shymkent, reported the prime minister’s press service on Oct. 22. Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted…
Kazakhstan Begins $1.8 Billion Copper Smelter Project in Abai Region
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched construction of a $1.8 billion copper smelter in Aktogai, the Abai Region, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 tons of cathode copper, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on Oct. 20. Speaking at the launch ceremony via video link, Tokayev described the project as a major industrial initiative expected to strengthen…
Japan Eyes Middle Corridor to Expand Trade With Central Asia and Caucasus
ASTANA – Japan is exploring opportunities to strengthen transport and trade links with Central Asia and the Caucasus through Kazakhstan’s Middle Corridor, with planned direct flights between Tokyo and Almaty and a proposed 719 million yen (US$4.7 million) project to modernize customs inspections at the Port of Aktau, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ press…
