New York Photographer Wins International Award for Capturing Falconry in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Karolina Wojtasik, a photographer from the United States, visited Kazakhstan in February for the first time and documented the ancient art of kusbegilik (the art of hunting with birds of prey). Her photographs won the prestigious Communication Arts Awards of Excellence in documentary photography, she wrote in an Instagram post on April 4.…
Kazakhstan, WHO Sign Cooperation Strategy to Achieve SDGs by 2030
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Health Akmaral Alnazarova, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge and Representative of WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan Skender Sola signed the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) until 2030 on April 7. The document is supposed to support the health policy and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals…
Kazakhstan to Enhance E-Gov with AI, Strengthen Cybersecurity
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has instructed the swift advancement of digital public services in Kazakhstan, emphasizing proactive service delivery, enhanced collaboration with the banking sector, and heightened data security measures at an April 1 government meeting. Bektenov highlighted the critical role of public services in the interaction between the state and its…
Slovenian President Highlights Promising Areas of Cooperation with Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, who is currently on an official visit to Kazakhstan, outlined several key areas of potential partnership between Slovenia and Kazakhstan after meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a comment for the Jibek Joly TV channel on March 31. “We think that the AI is one of the fields…
Kazakh Tourists in Thailand Unaffected by Myanmar’s Earthquake
ASTANA – Tourism Rights Protection System administrator has reported no tremors at popular Thai resorts and no evacuation requests from Kazakh tourists following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28. According to the report, popular resort areas in Thailand, including those along the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi) and the Gulf of Thailand…
Eight More Przewalski’s Horses to Arrive in Kostanai Region This Year
ASTANA — Eight more Przewalski’s horses are supposed to arrive in the Kostanai Region in May-June, said Kazakh Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Sharbiyev at a Regional Communications Service briefing on March 27. He noted that Przewalski’s horses, also known by the ancient Kazakh names Kerkulan and Kertagy, survived the winter well,…
Kazakhstan’s Life Expectancy Hits 75.4 Years, With Women Living 8 Years Longer Than Men
ASTANA — According to the Bureau of National Statistics, life expectancy in Kazakhstan has risen to 75.4 years in 2024, up from 75.09 years the previous year. There are gender differences in life expectancy, with men expected to live an average of 71.33 years, while women’s life expectancy is higher at 79.42 years. In urban…
Preparations for Central Asia-European Union Summit Discussed at Ashgabat Meeting
ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko took part at the Central Asia-European Union 20th Ministerial Meeting on March 27 in Ashgabat. The leadership of the foreign ministries of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Vice-President of European Commission Kaja…
Kazakh Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka to Highlight Culture, Innovation, and Sustainability
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will showcase its rich heritage and modern achievements at Expo 2025, which will take place between April 13 and Oct. 13 in Osaka, Japan. Located alongside pavilions from countries like South Korea, Germany, and Türkiye, the 75-square-meter Kazakhstan pavilion will feature an interactive exhibition reflecting the country’s history, cultural diversity, and progress…
From East to West: Over 140 Collectible Dolls on Display at Almaty Exhibition
ASTANA — The Central State Museum of Kazakhstan in Almaty opened an exhibition on March 19 showcasing over 140 collectible dolls. The exhibition features unique creations by 21 artists from Almaty, Astana, Ridder, and Zharkent, all members of the Art Dolls Collection_KZ creative association. Timed to coincide with the Nauryz national holiday, which celebrates spring…
Kazakh Officials Propose Tax Incentives and Funding to Strengthen Creative Industry
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s creative industry continues to grow, employing some 143,600 people across various sectors, Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva said during a March 18 government meeting. During the event, Balayeva outlined the creative industries’ ongoing development, presented initiatives to further stimulate its growth, and reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The creative…
Kazakhstan Establishes Nuclear Energy Agency to Strengthen Nuclear Safety
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree establishing the Nuclear Energy Agency under the President and appointed Almasadam Satkaliyev as its Chair on March 18 to oversee the country’s nuclear industry and enhance nuclear safety. The new agency will assume key responsibilities from the Energy Ministry, including uranium mining, the use…
National Kurultai: Tourism, Sports and Conservation for Regional Dev’t in Spotlight
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key initiatives aimed at bolstering regional development, with a strong focus on tourism, sports infrastructure and environmental conservation during the fourth meeting of the National Kurultai (Congress) on March 14 in Burabai. Tourism and regional development According to Tokayev, tourism should be a significant driver of growth for Kazakhstan’s…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Neo Nomad Visa and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has curated a selection of articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes topics such as the Middle Corridor, the Neo Nomad Visa, uranium reserves and more. QazaqGaz and SLB to collaborate on AI solutions for Kazakhstan’s gas industry Aidyn Akan, deputy chairman of QazaqGaz,…
Kazakhstan Reports Strong Growth in Subsoil Use Revenues, Foreign Investment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s subsoil use auctions in 2024 generated more than 5.7 billion tenge (US$11.7 million) in budget revenues, the Ministry of Industry and Construction reported in response to a request from Kazinform on March 11. Wide ranges of global investors, including Rio Tinto, FMG International, Barrick, and other companies have entered Kazakhstan. In total,…
Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Plans 2.5 Million Tons of Cargo for 2025
ASTANA — The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) international association outlined its plans to transport 2.5 million tons of goods this year, including 96,000 containers in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during a meeting in Baku on March 4, reported Kazinform. In 2024, cargo transportation through the seaports of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan reached 3.3 million tons,…
Kazakh Climbers Reach Mount Kilimanjaro Summit
ASTANA – A team of Kazakh climbers, led by Maxut Zhumayev, reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 meters. Zhumayev, renowned for summiting all 14 of the world’s eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen, shared the accomplishment as a testament to strength, reported Kazinform. “This expedition is more than just an ascent. This…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Measures Against Torture, Human Rights Protection
ASTANA – A meeting of the consultative and advisory body’s subgroup, the dialogue platform on the human dimension, was held on Feb. 27 to discuss measures for preventing torture and improving protections against cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Under the leadership of Ambassador-at-Large Alua Nadirkulova, the discussions covered several key areas of reform in criminal…
Kazakhstan Opens 61 New Schools, More Planned for 2025 Using Confiscated Funds
ASTANA — Kazakhstan will construct 28 new schools, using the Education Infrastructure Support Fund funds, to provide space for 22,000 students. This fund, which was established following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions, is funded by assets confiscated from corrupt individuals. The fund’s primary goal is to address school overcrowding and replace outdated or unsafe buildings by…
Shymbulak Prepares for FIS Freestyle World Cup: What Fans Need to Know
ASTANA — Shymbulak Mountain Resort in Almaty will host a stage of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Freestyle World Cup from Feb. 28 to March 2. Athletes from 18 countries will compete. According to an Informburo news article on Feb. 25, the resort has made extensive preparations to ensure the event meets international…
Tokayev Welcomes Omani Minister, Discusses Future Economic and Cultural Cooperation
ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi on Feb. 25, marking a significant step in advancing bilateral ties between the two countries. During the meeting, Tokayev described Oman as a reliable and longstanding partner of Kazakhstan and expressed his commitment to enhancing collaboration across various sectors, according to…
Kazakh, Kyrgyz Officials Explore Collaboration in Space and Digital Industries
ASTANA — Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Adylbek Kasymaliev, the chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers and head of the Presidential Administration, visited the Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary Space Center and the Digital Government office on Feb. 25 to discuss potential partnerships in the space and digital sectors. During the visit, the Kazakh…
Astana Mayor Highlights Efforts to Strengthen Food Security, Support Investment Projects
ASTANA — The Kazakh capital plans to launch 55 investment projects this year, according to Akim (Mayor) Zhenis Kassymbek. On his Instagram page, Kassymbek discussed ongoing initiatives to boost the city’s food security through new enterprises on Feb. 23. He outlined several key projects, including RnR Group LLP’s bakery and vegetable storage facility in the…
Kazakhstan, Nigeria Explore Opportunities to Expand Bilateral Cooperation
ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Nigeria held a business conference in Abuja, aiming to strengthen trade, economic ties and explore strategic partnerships across sectors such as agriculture, digitalization, and natural resource utilization. The Kazakh delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov, engaged with Nigerian officials, including Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari and…
Hungarian Minister Unveils Nuclear, Oil, and Agricultural Projects with Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó outlined plans for deepening economic ties with Kazakhstan in a Feb. 17 interview with Kazinform news agency, focusing on major oil projects, cutting-edge nuclear technology, and agricultural investments. “This cooperation is very stable because it has always been based on mutual respect. We never…
