Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched its largest domestically built ship, marking a new milestone in the development of national shipbuilding capabilities and the strengthening of naval logistics for the Caspian Sea fleet. A major naval supply vessel constructed at the Zenit Shipyard in Uralsk was officially launched and sent toward the Caspian Sea to mark…

ASTANA — A pilot low-emission zone (LEZ) was launched in Almaty on April 28 to test digital infrastructure and assess how traffic affects air quality, without introducing restrictions for drivers, the city’s akimat (administration) reported.  The test area covers a central block bordered by Bogenbay Batyr Street, Abai Avenue, Zheltoksan Street, and Dostyk Avenue, with…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan must rapidly shift to a fully integrated, data-driven economy powered by artificial intelligence, as failure to do so could leave the country behind in the global technological race, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the second meeting of the Council for the Development of Artificial Intelligence on May 4 in Almaty.  Addressing government…

ASTANA — According to the Bureau of National Statistics, Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 6.5% in real terms in 2025. The result was shaped by changes in consumption, investment, and external trade indicators. GDP for January-December 2025 was estimated at 159.5 trillion tenge (US$344.3 billion) using the production method and 155.2 trillion tenge…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is moving to modernize its migration policy with a focus on openness, efficiency, and attracting talent.  Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva described the reform as a coordinated, system-wide effort to replace a complex, restrictive model with a more flexible and accessible one. The key goal is to create a transparent…

ASTANA — Seven OPEC+ countries will implement a combined 188,000 barrels per day production adjustment in June to support market stability, with Kazakhstan’s output set at 1.599 million barrels per day, up by 10,000 barrels per day. Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, and Saudi Arabia met virtually on May 3 to review global market…

ASTANA — The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference opened amid rising global tensions on April 27 at United Nations Headquarters, with Kazakhstan emphasizing practical steps to strengthen nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The Review Conference of the States Parties to the NPT began in a complex international environment marked by regional…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched construction of the first phase of the Astana Energy Ecopark, a large-scale investment project for municipal solid waste processing and electricity generation, with a total investment of $180 million. During the first phase, the facility will process at least 1,500 tons of waste per day and generate 50 megawatts (MW)…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged fair, practical, and implementation-focused climate cooperation, stressing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility and a strategic priority for global stability, as Central Asian and regional leaders gathered in Astana for the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026. Opening the plenary session on Earth Day, Tokayev said Central Asia…

ASTANA – The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES) officially kicked off in Kazakhstan’s capital on April 22, bringing together global and regional leaders to address urgent environmental challenges.  Organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations and other international organizations, the summit marks the first large-scale platform dedicated…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade in 2025 remained a key driver of economic growth, but emerging imbalances point to rising structural risks. While overall turnover continued to expand and trade partnerships remained stable, declining export revenues and accelerating import growth narrowed the trade surplus, increasing pressure on the external sector. Key indicators According to the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) has presented its large-scale geological exploration program for 2026-2030 at an expanded meeting with leading geologists and industry veterans, with a focus on replenishing the country’s oil and gas resource base. Participants reviewed plans to expand exploration into new regions and deeper geological formations amid…

ASTANA – Rail freight traffic between Kazakhstan and China continued to grow in early 2026, with volumes rising 9.3% since the start of the year, supported by expanding infrastructure capacity. Kazakhstan’s freight exports increased by 17%, driven by higher shipments of iron ore, agricultural products, ferrous metals, and petroleum goods. The country’s role as a…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights the country’s efforts to attract U.S. investment, new steps to digitize the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, expanding energy cooperation with South Korea, and more. No longer a startup market: Kazakhstan makes its case to US…

ASTANA – FlyArystan has canceled flights on the Aktau-Dubai-Aktau route through Aug. 29 due to the unstable situation in the Middle East. Passengers affected by the cancellations are eligible for a full refund without penalties. Those who purchased tickets via the airline’s official website or mobile app can process refunds online, while passengers who booked…

ASTANA – South Korea is turning to Kazakhstan and other suppliers while shifting to alternative transport routes to secure energy supplies and reduce risks related to instability in the Middle East, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced. South Korea has agreed to purchase 18 million barrels of oil from Kazakhstan as part of a…

ASTANA — Gold wedding ring prices in Kazakhstan rose 5.5% in March, surging 45% year-on-year. By region, the smallest annual price increases were recorded in the Mangystau Region (14.5%), Shymkent (29%), and Astana (29.9%). In contrast, the Ulytau Region saw the largest increase, with prices soaring by 71%, reported the Bureau of National Statistics on…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has strengthened its position as a destination for clean energy investment, climbing from 54th place in 2017 to 24th in 2025 in the Climatescope international ranking of emerging markets. Climatescope evaluates countries based on key indicators such as investment levels, infrastructure, policy support, and market opportunities, reported the Energy Ministry’s press service…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy recorded 3% real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in January-March, supported by expansion in non-resource sectors and increased investment activity, said Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov at an April 14 government meeting. Ensuring high-quality and sustainable economic growth remains a key priority. Its achievement is linked to the development of the manufacturing…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency, in coordination with the Prosecutor General’s Office and with the participation of cybersecurity specialists from TELE2, has dismantled a criminal group that used specialized equipment to send mass phishing messages and steal citizens’ data and funds. This marks the first time such a scheme has been uncovered in the…

ASTANA – As of March 1, Kazakhstan’s population reached 20,532,240, an increase of over 32,000 since the start of the year. At the beginning of 2026, the population was 20,499,822. The urban population as of March 1 was 13,120,922, while the rural population totaled 7,411,318. This marks an increase in urban residents compared to January…

ASTANA — Air Astana has switched to its summer schedule, which will be in effect from March 29 to October 24. During this period, flight frequencies on existing routes will be increased, seasonal flights will resume, and new routes will be launched. On March 29, the first flight on the new Almaty-Shanghai route was operated.…

ASTANA — Astana Hub exported IT services worth 328 billion tenge (US$681 million) in 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev said during a March 31 government meeting. Madiyev highlighted that the industry’s growth is built around four key areas: stimulating productive innovation, implementing solutions in the subsoil…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is preparing a major overhaul of its innovation development model, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek said at a March 31 government meeting, emphasizing the need for stronger coordination and a more applied, economically driven approach to innovation. Nurbek stressed that innovation is inherently cross-sectoral and cannot be managed by…

ASTANA — A Kazakh delegation led by First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev participated in the 43rd meeting of UN-Water, held at the headquarters of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome. The delegation presented the upcoming Regional Ecological Summit in Astana and outlined plans for international consultations to establish an International Water Organization…