Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the upcoming Belgian royal visit, Kazakhstan’s newly recognized UNESCO heritage sites, Japan-funded Caspian Sea monitoring and more. King Philippe’s state visit to Kazakhstan to open new chapter in bilateral ties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for stronger economic integration, transport connectivity, water cooperation and artificial intelligence partnerships among Central Asian states and Azerbaijan at the eighth Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in Avaza on Oct. 8. Held in the year marking 35 years of independence of the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received UK Minister of State for Trade Lord Anas Sarwar on Oct. 7 to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties and expanding cooperation in energy, transport, digitalization and artificial intelligence. Strong trade and investment ties Tokayev highlighted the importance Kazakhstan attaches to developing relations with the United Kingdom, noting…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman outlined new opportunities to expand investment, financial cooperation, energy, logistics and agricultural ties at a Kazakh-Omani business forum held during Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said’s state visit to Kazakhstan on Oct. 6. Investment cooperation Addressing the forum, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the high-level talks during the visit had…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is moving its cross-border trade hubs from planning to implementation, with new production facilities, logistics infrastructure and cargo flows emerging along the country’s borders and Caspian coast.  The five priority hubs are designed to strengthen trade with the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Russia, China and the Caspian region, attract investment and support the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman agreed to deepen strategic partnership across energy, transport, logistics, agriculture and digitalization on Oct. 6, as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said made his first visit to Central Asia.  During the talks in Astana, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described Oman as a “time-tested and reliable partner” of Kazakhstan in the Arab…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and international partners are stepping up efforts to address falling Caspian Sea levels, biodiversity loss and pollution, as Aktau hosted a high-level dialogue on Oct. 5 that also launched a Japan-funded monitoring and water management project. The Caspian Sea has been shrinking for decades, raising concerns over biodiversity, coastal communities, infrastructure and…

ASTANA – Officials discussed implementing Kazakhstan’s Digital Qazaqstan Strategy at a government meeting on Oct. 6, outlining plans to expand AI-powered public services, develop large-scale computing infrastructure, and accelerate digital transformation across the economy. The strategy, approved through 2029, covers digital government, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, telecommunications, IT, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies, the Prime Minister’s…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in cinema and the creative industries, while stressing the importance of responsible AI development and safety. He made the remarks at the opening of the first international Astana AI Film Festival on Oct. 2. Addressing the festival, Tokayev described it as a…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. This week’s foreign media digest covers new investment in Kazakhstan’s manufacturing sector, growing Kazakhstan-Germany cooperation on raw materials and trade routes, the country’s call for stronger multilateral cooperation, and more. Carlsberg Kazakhstan opens $344 million beverage plant, positioning…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Vice President and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Erlan Karin met with Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, on Oct. 2 to discuss interfaith cooperation and joint humanitarian initiatives. During the meeting, the officials discussed cooperation…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for a comprehensive AI-driven transformation of Kazakhstan’s industrial sector, urging the government and businesses to focus on measurable gains in productivity, technological modernization and high-value production. Chairing the third meeting of the Council for the Development of Artificial Intelligence on Oct. 2, Tokayev said AI was becoming a…

ASTANA – Carlsberg Kazakhstan has opened a new $344 million beverage production plant in Boraldai, the Almaty Region, expanding local production for Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic and strengthening the country’s position as a regional manufacturing hub. The opening ceremony on Oct. 1 was attended by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, Akim…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Denmark are moving to deepen economic cooperation through new institutional mechanisms, investment projects and expanded collaboration on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Oct. 2. The talks focused on strengthening political dialoguе, trade and economic ties, as well as…

ASTANA – Chelsea forward Dastan Satpayev, currently on loan at Burnley, has regained the top spot among Kazakhstan’s most valuable footballers, with his market value rising to a record €5 million (US$5.6 million), according to Transfermarkt. The 18-year-old surpassed Kazakhstan national team teammate Maksim Samorodov, whose market value is €4 million (US$4.5 million). Satpayev’s valuation…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of meetings with global technology and investment leaders during AI & Digital Bridge 2026 on Oct. 1, focusing on artificial intelligence, data center infrastructure, investment and Kazakhstan’s emerging technology ecosystem. AI and digital infrastructure During the international IT forum, Tokayev reviewed projects in artificial intelligence, digital technologies…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for responsible artificial intelligence development, stronger international technology cooperation and greater support for innovation as Kazakhstan advances its transition to a digital economy. Speaking at the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 international forum on Oct. 1, Tokayev said AI is rapidly transforming industry, finance, education, science and public…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev began the second day of his official visit to Germany in Munich on Sept. 30 with a series of meetings with senior executives of Siemens AG, Linde and Aurubis AG, focusing on industrial modernization, technological cooperation and new investment projects. During a meeting with Bernd Ulbricht, vice president for commercial…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s women’s chess team won silver at the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, finishing the 11-round tournament undefeated with 18 points. China won gold, while India took bronze. Undefeated run Held from Sept. 16 to 27, the Olympiad brought together nearly 400 teams. Kazakhstan finished second among 189 women’s teams, recording seven…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for a radical reform of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces, saying the safety and lives of service officers must be an unconditional priority for commanders at all levels, following the deaths of 14 military personnel during exercises in the Mangystau Region. Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Aidos Myrzakhmetov as the Minister of Defense on Sept. 27. Myrzakhmetov was relieved of his previous position as part of his appointment as Defense Minister, Akorda reported.  He graduated from the Military Academy of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan in 2002. Since January 2024, he has served as…

ASTANA – India and Kazakhstan should translate their strong political partnership into deeper trade, investment, digital and energy cooperation, participants said at the India-Kazakhstan Strategic Dialogue on Sept. 24. During the India-Kazakhstan: Anchoring Regional Stability and Economic Integration in a Multilateral World session, speakers highlighted the gap between close political ties and relatively modest bilateral…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has expressed his condolences to the families and relatives of service members who died in a tragic incident during military exercises in the Mangystau Region on Sept. 24. Tokayev instructed the Government Commission to take all necessary measures to establish the circumstances of the incident and provide assistance to the…

ASTANA — Apple TV has officially launched in Kazakhstan, giving users direct access to Apple Original films and series for the first time. The streaming service is included in all iCloud+ plans alongside Apple Arcade, with no separate Apple TV subscription required. The basic iCloud+ plan costs 499 tenge (US$1) per month and includes 50…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan reviewed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation with China, the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia during separate meetings between Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and the countries’ ambassadors on Sept. 17. With Kyrgyz Ambassador Kudaibergen Bazarbaev, Tileuberdi discussed political, trade and economic, water and energy, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The officials…