Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Elena Rybakina’s U.S. Open victory, strengthened Kazakhstan-South Korea cooperation, Astana Arena’s selection to host the 2028 UEFA Super Cup, and Kazakhstan’s efforts to diversify its oil export routes. S. Korea, Kazakhstan sign MOU on preservation…

ASTANA – Astana’s eight-place rise in the Global Financial Centers Index 40 (GFCI 40) should ultimately be measured by whether growing international confidence translates into more investment, deeper capital markets and greater cross-border financial activity, Bakhtiyar Tleubekov, chairman of the Management Board of Astana International Financial Centre, told The Astana Times on Sept. 18. In…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s proposal to expand exports to Canada across 45 product categories worth approximately $255 million comes as global trade relationships are being reshaped by growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Financial analyst Andrei Chebotaryov told The Astana Times that while the proposed figure is relatively modest, Kazakhstan’s initiative could lay the groundwork for a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is restructuring its investment policy to increase private and foreign capital, strengthen domestic production and infrastructure, and shift state support toward mobilizing additional business investment. The Investment Policy Concept until 2030 was adopted in December 2025, while Baiterek Holding was transformed into a national investment holding. Through its instruments, the government plans…

ASTANA – Turkic states discussed ways to strengthen cooperation on digital security, including developing artificial intelligence capabilities and coordinating more closely among relevant agencies. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Chairperson of the Security Council Aida Balayeva highlighted the importance of closer cooperation among Turkic states amid growing geopolitical instability and emerging international security challenges during the fifth meeting…

ASTANA – The Investment Headquarters is an important mechanism for resolving investors’ problems, but its continued role also shows where Kazakhstan’s investment infrastructure still has “rough edges,” financial analyst Rassul Rysmambetov told The Astana Times. He described the Investment Headquarters as a useful “diagnostic” tool, saying that its cases could provide insight into which regions…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s continued reliance on coal is creating challenges that extend beyond decarbonization, affecting the flexibility of the power system, public health and the way households consume energy, experts said at a panel session titled The Role of Coal in Kazakhstan’s Decarbonization during the third Regional Central Asian and European Decarbonization Forum on Sept.…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has urged citizens traveling abroad to check visa, migration, transit and customs requirements before departure. Kazakh citizens can continue to enter Georgia visa-free for up to 365 days. However, visa-free status does not permit employment. Since Sept. 1, working without the required legal authorization may constitute grounds for expulsion, with…

ASTANA – The Middle Corridor is gaining strategic importance as countries across Central Asia and the South Caucasus seek to strengthen trade connectivity and diversify transport routes between Asia and Europe, experts said during a Sept. 15 British-Kazakh Society (BKS) Trade Group webinar on Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan-Middle Corridor Investments, Operations & Trade. The webinar brought…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s energy security is increasingly tied to diversified supply routes, modern electricity infrastructure and deeper regional connectivity, while green hydrogen could open a new industrial opportunity if the country can turn its resource potential into commercially viable projects, experts said at the third Regional Central Asian and European Decarbonization Forum on Sept. 16.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is entering a new stage of nuclear sector development, focusing on nuclear energy, science, medicine and high-tech industry, Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Atomic Energy Gumar Sergazin said at the 70th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference on Sept. 15. “Atom, placed at the service of peace,…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sept. 14 presented the Order of Dostyk (Friendship), second degree, to five prominent South Korean state and public figures for their contribution to strengthening Kazakhstan-Korea relations, as cooperation between the two countries continues to expand into practical areas including employment, trade, investment and technology. The awards ceremony was held…

ASTANA – Elena Rybakina has officially become the new World No. 1 in women’s singles, making history as the first Kazakh tennis player to top the WTA rankings, and has crowned the milestone with victory at the U.S. Open. Rybakina defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the U.S. Open final on Sept. 13…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13, focusing on expanding Kazakhstan’s cooperation with India, the United States, the UAE and Ethiopia. Kazakhstan-India relations During a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tokayev congratulated him on successfully…

ASTANA – Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank plans to triple project financing in Kazakhstan over the next 18 months, from the current 2.5 trillion tenge (US$5.5 billion), as the bank expands its role in supporting the country’s real economy and infrastructure development. The plans were discussed during a Sept. 9 meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first government meeting in its updated composition after the Kurultai elections focused on a topic that could determine the success of its economic transformation: whether the country will have enough skilled workers to support planned growth. At the Sept. 8 meeting, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov called for an accelerated pace of work…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan residents are largely positive about improvements in their towns and villages, but their expectations are shifting toward further development of everyday infrastructure and services, according to a nationwide survey presented on Sept. 7.  National Analytical Center expert Roza Tleukhan said the findings show that people continue to expect the development course to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s resilient economic growth, moderate public debt and strong external buffers are strengthening its ability to access global capital markets despite tighter borrowing conditions worldwide, according to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) September Macroeconomic Outlook. The EDB experts said the economy continued to expand this year, with GDP growing 4.1% year-on-year in January-July,…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s vision for deeper Kazakhstan-China cooperation, the Middle Corridor, and more. Tokayev links Kazakhstan-China partnership to wider vision for a more connected and cooperative Eurasia Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has used the Shanghai…

ASTANA – ChatGPT’s growing development in the Kazakh language highlights a broader challenge for artificial intelligence: understanding a language also requires understanding the cultural context behind it, futurist and author Ron Immink told The Astana Times. Kazakhstan’s efforts to build Kazakh-language datasets and culturally specific AI benchmarks show why AI systems need to reflect the…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan cut its base rate by 50 basis points to 16.25% on Sept. 4, as annual inflation fell below 10% after 11 consecutive months of disinflation. The regulator, however, warned that persistent inflation risks limit room for further easing. “The balance of risks remains tilted towards inflation. Therefore, we…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to join the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) as a new Member State, opening opportunities for greater cooperation in digital technologies, AI, innovation and digital trade.  The DCO, the world’s first standalone international organization dedicated to accelerating the inclusive and sustainable growth of the digital economy, announced on Aug. 28 that…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s ambition to increase oil refining capacity to 40 million tons a year will require more than expanding existing plants and building a new refinery. The country will also need to address the economic incentives that currently make crude exports more attractive than supplying some oil to domestic refineries, Executive Director of Energy…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan claimed its first two gold medals at the sixth World Nomad Games in the Kyrgyz Republic, with Nurtalap Kerim and Sailau Mukhamedzhan winning titles in audaryspak, a traditional Kazakh horseback wrestling sport. In the up to 60-kilogram category, Kerim defeated a Kyrgyz representative in the final to become champion. In the up…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a key land corridor between China, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe while seeking to deepen cooperation with Beijing in trade, technology and investment, Kazakh political scientist and historian Daniyar Ashimbayev wrote in his Telegram channel, commenting on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Sept.1 interview with Xinhua. Ashimbayev noted that…