Articles by Dana omirgazy

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…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan may face new oil infrastructure requirements in the next decade if plans to increase production at the Kashagan field significantly move forward, even as the country seeks to more than double domestic refining capacity by 2040. Experts say the timing of production growth, refinery projects and export infrastructure will be crucial. The…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan transported 13.121 million tons of oil through the Kazakhstan-China Pipeline in January-August, up 2% year-on-year, underscoring the route’s role in Kazakhstan’s oil transportation network and exports to China. Oil freight turnover along the route reached 11.879 billion ton-kilometers, increasing 3% compared with the same period last year, according to KazTransOil. The Kazakhstan-China…

ASTANA – People seeking kandas (ethnic Kazakhs returning to their historical homeland) status or permanent residence in Kazakhstan must take an online KAZTEST as part of a new pilot system assessing applicants’ potential for integration and permanent residence. The pilot project came into effect on Feb. 16, introducing a new procedure that combines a Kazakh…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan highlighted the rapid growth of the Middle Corridor and the need to accelerate its digitalization at the Georgian International Maritime Forum in Batumi on Sept. 7-8. Kazakhstan Deputy Minister of Transport Zhanibek Taizhanov said freight volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) rose 22% in January-August, while East-West transit increased 55%.…

ASTANA – Trade between China and the five Central Asian states has surpassed $100 billion, highlighting the region’s growing economic importance, as the South China Morning Post (SCMP) convened policymakers, business leaders, investors and innovators in Astana on Sept. 7 for its China Conference: Central Asia 2026. Co-hosted by SCMP and the Astana International Financial…

ASTANA – Kazakh businesses implementing environmental projects will be able to trade carbon units on the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) exchange under a planned agreement with the international carbon standard Verra, AIFC Product Director Zhanbolat Kakishev said at Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2026. “We will sign an agreement with the Verra standard. This will…

ASTANA – The Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2026: Delivering Impact. Capital in Action concluded with a series of agreements and new financial instruments to strengthen regional financial cooperation, sustainable finance, digital assets, aviation finance and access to capital. Held on Sept. 9-10, the forum brought together 8,000 participants from 90 countries, including representatives of major…

ASTANA – Oil loading operations at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal have resumed in normal mode after a Sept. 8 drone incident near the facility, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy said. Following the incident, loading operations at Single Point Moorings (SPM) 2 and 3 were temporarily suspended. The ministry said inspections of CPC’s cargo…