Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy continues to grow faster than its sustainable potential, with domestic demand exceeding the economy’s capacity, Roberto Cardarelli, assistant director of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Middle East and Central Asia Department, said at a presentation of the Fund’s regional economic outlook. Cardarelli said signs of economic overheating persisted not only in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to transform the village of Ulken on the shore of Lake Balkhash into a modern settlement for up to 33,000 residents as part of preparations for the country’s nuclear power plant projects. The development will include housing, schools, healthcare facilities, vocational training centers and business infrastructure, Chairman of the Atomic Energy…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has taken its first practical step toward introducing tokenized securities into its capital market, with the National Bank placing 10 billion tenge (US$21.5 million) worth of digital short-term notes on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE). The issuance marks a transition from establishing the legal framework for digital financial assets to testing how…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has invited U.S. businesses to develop long-term industrial and technology partnerships in critical minerals, highlighting its resource base, infrastructure, regulatory framework and skilled workforce. Kanat Sharlapayev, chairman of the Presidium of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, outlined these advantages at a B20 Summit panel on Central Asia-U.S. public-private partnerships in Washington…

ASTANA – The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has criticized the demanding tennis calendar following Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal from the WTA Finals due to a viral illness. In a statement released on Nov. 10, the PTPA said the world No. 1 had already withdrawn from the Tokyo tournament the previous week due to a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has officially launched its Just Energy Transition Investment Platform (QaJET) at COP31 in Antalya, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) offering up to $100 million in concessional financing and grants, alongside up to $1 billion in potential direct financing on a non-committal basis. “From ambition to partnership. From partnership…

ASTANA – Global warming will lead to sharper changes in daily and seasonal temperatures, more extreme weather events, shifts in climate zones and agricultural epidemics caused by invasive fungi, bacteria, viruses and insects. These changes will negatively affect Central Asia’s ability to grow its own food, according to the Central Asian Climate Fund (CACF). Temur…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attracted more than $200 million in additional non-sovereign financing in the third quarter this year, as new international lenders entered the market. Existing partners backed major infrastructure and business projects, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) report, New Players and Major Projects: International Financial Institutions’ Investments in Q3 (third quarter) 2026,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is preparing to sign around 28 cooperation documents, including 19 memorandums of understanding, at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), which opens Nov. 9 in Antalya, Türkiye. The preliminary package covers meteorology, energy transition, climate investment, clean technologies, environmental protection and healthcare. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources will determine…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev plans to deliver his annual state-of-the-nation address on Oct. 28 in the first half of the day. Tokayev announced the plans in a post on his X account on Oct. 20, saying he was working on the text of the address. “I plan to deliver my annual state-of-the-nation address on…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exports rose 19.5% year on year to $60.4 billion in January-August, outpacing import growth by more than four times and expanding the country’s trade surplus to $17.8 billion. The country’s foreign trade turnover reached $103 billion, up 12.8% from the same period in 2025. Imports rose 4.5% to $42.6 billion, while the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan won two gold medals at the fifth Asian Para Games in Japan, with Yerkin Gabbasov and David Degtyarev taking gold in para shooting and para powerlifting. Gabbasov secured Kazakhstan’s first gold in the men’s 10-meter air rifle standing event (R1), scoring 249.1 points in the final, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press…

ASTANA – Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issagaliyev called for resolving conflicts through political and diplomatic means during the 52nd Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad on Oct. 18. Baghdad Amreyev was elected OIC assistant secretary-general for administration and finance. Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to resolving international conflicts…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Cambodia are looking to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, energy, agriculture and trade, while exploring direct air links, as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet held talks on Oct. 17. The discussions marked the first visit to Kazakhstan by a Cambodian prime minister and came as the two…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has become the first country in Central Asia to join the World Bank Group’s Metals and Minerals Compact, a partnership aimed at attracting around $20 billion in investment by 2031 and expanding the country’s mineral resource base and processing capacity. The official accession ceremony took place on Oct. 16 on the sidelines…

ASTANA – As artificial intelligence reshapes news production and digital platforms fragment audiences, media organizations must strengthen editorial accountability, provide context and build trust to remain relevant, international media representatives said at the 10th Astana Media Week, which opened in the Kazakh capital on Oct. 14. The three-day forum brings together government officials, journalists, technology…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Greco-Roman wrestlers have secured two gold medals at the U23 World Wrestling Championships on Oct. 14 in Las Vegas, with Aibek Aitbekov and Yusuf Ashrapov winning their finals and Temirlan Turdakyn advancing to the title bout. Aitbekov claimed the title in the 60-kilogram category, defeating Azerbaijan’s Elmir Aliyev, the reigning U23 world…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Belgium agreed to expand academic mobility, joint research and artificial intelligence cooperation as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde attended a bilateral Rectors’ Forum on Oct. 13, bringing together leaders of 29 universities and research organizations. Held at the Alem.ai International Center during the Belgian royal couple’s state visit,…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the upcoming Belgian royal visit, Kazakhstan’s newly recognized UNESCO heritage sites, Japan-funded Caspian Sea monitoring and more. King Philippe’s state visit to Kazakhstan to open new chapter in bilateral ties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for stronger economic integration, transport connectivity, water cooperation and artificial intelligence partnerships among Central Asian states and Azerbaijan at the eighth Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in Avaza on Oct. 8. Held in the year marking 35 years of independence of the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received UK Minister of State for Trade Lord Anas Sarwar on Oct. 7 to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties and expanding cooperation in energy, transport, digitalization and artificial intelligence. Strong trade and investment ties Tokayev highlighted the importance Kazakhstan attaches to developing relations with the United Kingdom, noting…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman outlined new opportunities to expand investment, financial cooperation, energy, logistics and agricultural ties at a Kazakh-Omani business forum held during Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said’s state visit to Kazakhstan on Oct. 6. Investment cooperation Addressing the forum, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the high-level talks during the visit had…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is moving its cross-border trade hubs from planning to implementation, with new production facilities, logistics infrastructure and cargo flows emerging along the country’s borders and Caspian coast.  The five priority hubs are designed to strengthen trade with the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Russia, China and the Caspian region, attract investment and support the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman agreed to deepen strategic partnership across energy, transport, logistics, agriculture and digitalization on Oct. 6, as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said made his first visit to Central Asia.  During the talks in Astana, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described Oman as a “time-tested and reliable partner” of Kazakhstan in the Arab…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and international partners are stepping up efforts to address falling Caspian Sea levels, biodiversity loss and pollution, as Aktau hosted a high-level dialogue on Oct. 5 that also launched a Japan-funded monitoring and water management project. The Caspian Sea has been shrinking for decades, raising concerns over biodiversity, coastal communities, infrastructure and…