Kazakhstan to Acquire Two Mooring Systems for CPC Pipeline in Novorossiysk
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is purchasing two new single-point moorings (SPMs) from the United Arab Emirates for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) at a cost of 106 million euros (US$124.2 million). This was announced by Yerbolat Mendybayev, director of the Department of Transportation and Logistics at KazMunayGas, on the sidelines of the Mazhilis, reported Kazinform on…
Kazakhstan Assigns Prosecutors to Oversee Each Major Investment Project
ASTANA – Each significant investment project will be accompanied by a specific prosecutor from initial application through implementation, ensuring direct oversight and faster resolution of questions, Prosecutor General Berik Assylov announced during an Investment Protection Forum on April 9. Currently, more than 2,800 projects worth 96 trillion tenge (US$201.6 billion) are under enhanced legal protection.…
Kazakhstan Expands Grain Exports as Shipments Grow Across Central Asia
ASTANA – Grain and flour exports in grain equivalent totaled 9.9 million tons from September 2025 to March, up from 8.7 million tons during the same period a year earlier, indicating a positive trend in external supplies. Significant growth was recorded across several key destinations. Grain exports to Uzbekistan increased by 15%, rising from 7.3…
Tokayev Announces Kurultai Elections in August
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, while congratulating scientists on their professional holiday on April 10, announced that elections to the Kurultai (Congress in Kazakh) will take place in August and highlighted the role of science in strengthening responsibility and social values. Tokayev underlined the importance of providing advance notice of nationally significant events. He noted…
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Pledge to Strengthen Allied Partnership and Expand Strategic Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their allied partnership and expanding bilateral cooperation during a meeting in Baku between Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on April 8. Kosherbayev emphasized that the strong cooperation between the two countries has been built through a trusting dialogue at the…
Tokayev to Visit South Korea for Key Regional Summit in September
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted an invitation to visit Seoul during an April 8 meeting with South Korean Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who conveyed a message from Lee Jae Myung to attend the first Central Asia-South Korea summit in September. Tokayev expressed confidence that the planned visit and high-level talks would…
TikTok Deletes Millions of Videos in Kazakhstan Over Harmful, Misleading Content
ASTANA – TikTok, a short-form video hosting service, removed more than 5.5 million videos in Kazakhstan in 2025 for violating its rules. Globally, more than 780 million videos were removed during the year. The platform also stepped up protections for young users, deleting nearly 93.5 million accounts worldwide belonging to users under 13. In addition,…
Kazakhstan Discovers Six New Oil Fields with 127 Million Tons in Reserves
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has added six newly discovered oil fields with total reserves exceeding 127 million tons to its national balance sheet in 2025, said Deputy Energy Minister Yerlan Akbarov on the sidelines of the Mazhilis. According to Akbarov, the fields are located primarily in the western regions, notably in the Mangystau and Atyrau Regions,…
Tokayev Welcomes Two-Week Middle East Ceasefire Mediated by Pakistan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed a newly reached agreement on a full ceasefire in the Middle East, highlighting the role of international mediation and expressing hope that the truce will support global stability, trade, and economic growth. Tokayev praised an agreement aimed at a full cessation of hostilities in the Middle East,…
Spanish Fans Produce Documentary on Dimash Qudaibergen’s Global Influence
ASTANA – A documentary about Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen and his global fan community, created by Spanish fans, will premiere on May 30 in Madrid. The project was created in collaboration with a Spanish fan club and the Gran Voz Kazaja association. Work on the film began in October 2024 and took nearly two years.…
Kazakhstan Briefs Diplomats on Regional Environmental Summit in Astana
ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry briefed members of the diplomatic corps on preparations for the Regional Environmental Summit to be held on April 22-24. First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev said the summit aims to strengthen regional cooperation, advance sustainable development, and promote practical solutions on environmental and climate matters. Kazakhstan also presented key…
Kazakhstan Monitors Novorossiysk Incident, Exports Continue as Planned
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Energy is monitoring the situation following an incident at the port of Novorossiysk on April 5. According to Assel Serikpayeva, the ministry’s official representative, the events have not affected Kazakh oil export volumes. The receipt and transportation of Kazakh crude through the main oil pipeline system are proceeding normally,…
OPEC+ Eight Agree on Output Adjustment to Support Market Stability
ASTANA – Eight members of OPEC+ agreed to implement a production adjustment of 206,000 barrels per day in May, in addition to the 1.65 million barrels per day of voluntary cuts announced in April 2023, reaffirming the importance of a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility. Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Global Opportunities, Digital Leadership, Sports Talent and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s digest highlights Kazakhstan’s growing appeal for international professionals, its digital transformation, strategic role in Eurasian trade, youth arts festivals, and rising sports stars. Why international professionals are choosing to build careers in this country Euronews published an article on…
Kazakhstan Calls for Deeper Economic and Digital Integration in Turkic States
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov attended meetings with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the heads of government of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on April 2 in Baku, highlighting efforts to strengthen trade, economic, and digital cooperation across the region. During the talks, Bektenov emphasized Kazakhstan’s commitment to expanding collaboration…
National Bank Sells $400 Million as Oil Prices Lift Tenge
ASTANA – In March, the National Bank of Kazakhstan sold $400 million from the National Fund to support transfers to the national budget, while the tenge strengthened to 478 per dollar. According to the bank, further exchange rate dynamics will depend on external factors and global market conditions. These transactions accounted for around 6% of…
Air Astana’s Dubai Flight Suspensions To Continue Through April
ASTANA — Air Astana has extended the suspension of flights to Dubai until the end of April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Regular flights from Almaty and Astana will remain canceled from April 1 through April 30 inclusive. Passengers affected by the cancellations are offered a full refund without penalties, free…
China’s SPIC Launches $1.2 Billion Wind Farm Project in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) has begun a strategic project to build a one-gigawatt (GW) wind farm near Ekibastuz in the Pavlodar Region. The project is being developed in partnership with Pavlodar Green Energy under agreements signed with Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry on Jan. 29. Foreign direct investment in the construction will total…
Kazakhstan’s Regional Ecological Summit to Deliver Concrete Sustainability Actions
ASTANA – The 2026 Regional Ecological Summit (RES), to be held in the Kazakh capital from April 22-24, will focus on turning dialogue into concrete results for Central Asia’s sustainable development, said Kazakh Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mansur Oshurbayev at a March 31 press conference at the Central Communications Service. Initiated by…
Japan Considers Rerouting Caspian Oil Amid Strait of Hormuz Concerns
ASTANA – Japan is exploring the possibility of rerouting oil from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to its domestic market amid growing concerns about supply stability due to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. More than 90% of Japan’s oil imports come from the Middle East, so the country is seeking to diversify its…
Archaeologists Discover 250 Golden Horde Artifacts at Saraishyk Site
ASTANA – Archaeologists at the Saraishyk state historical and cultural museum-reserve have uncovered around 250 artifacts at the medieval Saraishyk complex in the Atyrau Region. The discoveries were made across five excavation sites and include remains of residential buildings, a citadel, and a caravanserai dating back to the early 14th century. The artifacts, attributed to…
Ricky Martin to Bring World Tour to Almaty in July
ASTANA – Global pop star Ricky Martin will perform in Almaty on July 18 at Spartak Stadium, marking his first concert in Kazakhstan. The performance is part of the artist’s ongoing international tour. Ticket pre-sales will begin on March 19 at 11:00 a.m., with general sales opening on March 21. According to organizers, the program…
Drones Distribute Baursaks at Digital Nauryz Celebration in Karagandy
ASTANA – Residents of Karagandy experienced an unconventional Nauryz celebration as drones distributed baursaks in the city’s central park. The initiative was part of Digital Nauryz 2026, a concept introduced by the organizers to combine traditional festivities with modern technology — a format designed to present national customs in a contemporary and engaging way. Residents…
Kazakhstan Begins Work on Second Airport Project in Astana
ASTANA — The development of a second airport in Kazakhstan’s capital has entered its initial phase, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev. Speaking on the sidelines of a Senate briefing on March 18, Lastayev confirmed that preparatory work on the project is already underway. “A working group has been established under the leadership…
Tokayev Establishes Office of Commissioner for Family Affairs
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree establishing the office of the Commissioner for Family Affairs on March 18. The new body is intended to strengthen the protection of family rights and interests, reinforce the institution of the family and traditional values, and improve state family and demographic policy, reported Akorda. According to…
