Kazakhstan Begins Construction of First Container Ship to Boost Middle Corridor Capacity
ASTANA – Construction of Kazakhstan’s first specialized 780 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) container ship has officially begun at the Baku Shipyard, a significant step in expanding the country’s maritime transport capacity and strengthening the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. The keel-laying ceremony was attended by Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport…
Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Norway Chess 2026 Title
ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the Norway Chess Women 2026 title ahead of the final round after a strong showing at one of the world’s most prestigious chess tournaments, held in Oslo from May 25 to June 5. The 22-year-old entered the ninth and penultimate round as the tournament leader and needed…
Kazakh National Bank Lowers Base Rate to 17%
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of Kazakhstan’s National Bank decided on June 5 to set the base rate at 17% per year, with a ±1 percentage-point corridor, citing updated macroeconomic forecasts and easing inflationary pressures. Annual inflation continued to slow, reaching 10.4% in May, down from a peak of 12.9% in September last year.…
Air Astana Resumes Dubai Flights with Gradual Schedule Restoration
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship airline, Air Astana, will gradually restore scheduled flights to Dubai from Almaty and Astana starting in June and July, following route adjustments caused by the closure of Iranian airspace. Almaty-Dubai-Almaty flights are set to resume on June 20, while Astana-Dubai-Astana services will restart on July 10. All flights will be rerouted…
OpenAI Highlights Strong AI Growth and Adoption in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has joined the group of countries with a high level of artificial intelligence adoption, according to analytical insights presented by OpenAI during a visit to the country. The findings highlight strong public readiness for the practical use of AI technologies. Kazakhstan significantly outperforms other Central Asian states in per-capita consumer use of…
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Capacity Boosted to 5 Million Tons, Strengthening Middle Corridor
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Zhanbiek Taizhanov attended the official opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway on June 2 at Akhalkalaki railway station in Georgia. Among those present was Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Following reconstruction, the railway’s annual freight capacity increased from 1 million to 5 million tons, reported the ministry’s…
Four Przewalski’s Horses Arrive in Kazakhstan for Reintroduction in Altyn Dala Reserve
ASTANA – Four Przewalski’s horses arrived in Kostanai on June 1 as part of the third group of endangered Przewalski’s horses brought from European breeding centers to the Altyn Dala Reserve, with four more expected on June 5. Following earlier transports in 2024 and 2025 that brought 14 horses back after 200 years of local…
Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and Mainland China Sign 42 Agreements to Expand Trade and Investment Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and mainland China signed 42 commercial agreements and four intergovernmental memorandums, paving the way for closer cooperation in aviation, finance, technology, logistics, and sustainable development. The documents were signed during a visit by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, who held talks with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Deputy Prime…
Kazakhstan-Iran Agricultural Trade Surges 56%
ASTANA — Agricultural trade between Kazakhstan and Iran increased by 55.8% to $342 million, accounting for 79% of total bilateral trade. The figures were announced during a June 1 meeting between Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Atabak. The officials discussed expanding agricultural cooperation, boosting trade, and…
Cirque du Soleil to Offer Exclusive Media Preview Ahead of OVO Premiere in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – One day before the official premiere of OVO in Kazakhstan, the Cirque du Soleil team will give media representatives an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most celebrated productions. Two special events will take place in Astana: a private rehearsal tour on June 3 and the official premiere on June 4.…
LOT Polish Airlines Launches Direct Almaty-Warsaw Flights
ASTANA – A direct air route between Almaty and Warsaw was launched on May 31, operated by LOT Polish Airlines, the national carrier of Poland. Flights on the Almaty-Warsaw-Almaty route will operate four times a week using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, improving air connectivity between Kazakhstan’s largest city and the Polish capital. An official…
Children Make Up More Than Third of Kazakhstan’s Population
ASTANA – Children account for more than one-third of Kazakhstan’s population, with 6.9 million people aged 0-17 living in the country as of the beginning of this year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Children represent 33.6% of Kazakhstan’s total population. Of them, 62.3% live in cities, while 37.7% reside in rural areas. Boys…
Kazakhstan Celebrates International Children’s Day with Clown Festival
ASTANA – The beginning of summer marks the International Children’s Day, and Kazakhstan, home to 6.9 million children, is celebrating with a wide range of family-friendly events nationwide. The Kazakh capital is hosting the third International Clown Festival to create a festive atmosphere for children, promote family-oriented cultural recreation, and foster an open and creative…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Growing Global Role
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global and regional media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan’s international partnerships, the rising importance of the Middle Corridor, digital initiatives within the Eurasian Economic Union, and more. Kazakhstan and Luxembourg expand co-operation in technology, aviation and logistics EU Reporter published an…
Kazakhstan and Russia Adopt Joint Statement Outlining Seven Pillars of Friendship and Cooperation
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin adopted a joint statement on May 28 outlining seven key pillars of bilateral friendship and cooperation amid growing global instability and geopolitical challenges, Akorda reported. The leaders described the shared border between the two countries as a symbol of trust and economic…
Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant Project Estimated at $16.5 Billion
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Russia have signed an agreement outlining the main terms of cooperation and financing for the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, a major energy project estimated at around $16.5 billion. According to Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency, approximately $2 billion of the total cost will be allocated…
Tokayev, Putin Sign Seven Principles of Friendship Declaration, Expand Kazakhstan-Russia Cooperation
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Vladimir Putin signed a joint declaration titled On the Seven Principles of Friendship and Good Neighborliness Between Kazakhstan and Russia on May 28. The Presidents reaffirmed bilateral ties as the two countries moved to deepen cooperation in energy, industry, transport, education, and regional coordination. Putin’s state visit to…
Dimash’s Birthday Marked by Charity Campaign in Times Square
ASTANA – Fans of Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen gathered in Times Square to celebrate the artist’s 32nd birthday, lighting up iconic LED screens in the heart of Manhattan and combining the tribute with a charitable initiative. For several years, Qudaibergen’s international fan community, known as Dears, has organized birthday celebrations for the artist in New…
Kazakhstan Expands Gas Partnership With Russia to Boost Eurasian Energy Hub Role
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is strengthening its position as a key energy and transit hub in Eurasia through expanded gas cooperation with Russia, focusing on infrastructure modernization, regional transit, and industrial integration. Energy cooperation between the two countries has evolved beyond political declarations to practical coordination to ensure regional energy supply security and expand export and…
Tokayev, IAEA Chief Deepen Nuclear Cooperation Amid Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Push
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to nuclear safety, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of atomic energy during talks on May 26, highlighted by the signing of a long-term cooperation roadmap through 2036. The meeting focused on expanding strategic cooperation between Kazakhstan…
Media Accreditation Opens for AI & Digital Bridge 2026 in Kazakh Capital
ASTANA – Media accreditation is now open for the International IT Forum AI & Digital Bridge 2026, to be held on Oct. 1-3. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15. The forum, formerly known as Digital Bridge, will be held in an updated format focused on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and advanced technologies. AI &…
Vinokurov Rides 2026 Vuelta Opening Stage Course in Monaco Preview Event
ASTANA – Kazakh cycling legend Alexander Vinokurov took part in a ceremonial ride of the opening stage course of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Monaco, joining former champions and Prince Albert II of Monaco ahead of the Grand Tour’s start. The 2026 Vuelta will begin in Monaco on Aug. 21-22, with the first two…
Bloomberg: Middle East Tensions Drive China-Europe Trade Through Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national railway operator is expanding rail lines, ports and cargo capacity as companies seek more reliable land routes between China and Europe amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to Bloomberg. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) said instability around the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran war are increasing demand for overland…
Kazakhstan Launches $100 Million Green Copper Plant Project in Aktobe
ASTANA – Construction has officially begun on the Eurasian Integrated Green Copper Industry Plant in the Aktobe Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on May 25, a $100 million Kazakhstan-China investment project that will produce copper rod and cable products for domestic and export markets. The plant is expected to create 250 permanent jobs and strengthen Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Caspian Emergency Response Infrastructure
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is strengthening its maritime emergency response and environmental safety infrastructure in the Caspian Sea as falling water levels increase pressure on regional navigation and rescue operations. During a working visit to the Atyrau Region, Emergency Situations Minister Chingis Arinov inspected the North Caspian Environmental Response Base, where he reviewed specialized vessels and…
