Kazakhstan Plans Allocating $42 Million for Constitutional Referendum
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will hold a nationwide referendum on a new Constitution on March 15, with more than 12.4 million citizens eligible to vote and 20.8 billion tenge (US$42 million) earmarked for organizing the process. Preparation and conduct of the referendum have been entrusted to the Central Election Commission (CEC), which will function as the…
Astana to Host 51st UEFA Congress in 2027
ASTANA – The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced that the 51st UEFA Congress will take place on March 4, 2027, in the Kazakh capital. The decision was made during the 50th UEFA Congress on Feb. 12 in Brussels, attended by David Loria, Secretary General of the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF). The UEFA…
Tokayev Honors Muslim Council Leader, Reaffirms Kazakhstan’s Commitment to Interfaith Dialogue
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met on Feb. 12 with Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Elders and the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s strong support for interreligious dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Tokayev welcomed the opening of its representative office in Kazakhstan, the first in Central Asia. He stressed that promoting…
Air Astana Expands China Network with New Astana-Guangzhou Route
ASTANA – Air Astana will launch a new route between Astana and Guangzhou starting June 2. Flights on this route will operate twice weekly using Airbus A321LR aircraft. The new service is expected to strengthen trade, economic, business, and tourism cooperation between the two countries, reported the Transport Ministry on Feb. 10. Starting March 29,…
Kazakhstan Sees Positive Net Migration in 2025, Most Arrivals from CIS Countries
ASTANA – Kazakhstan saw a net migration of 16,153 people in January-December last year, with 23,761 arrivals and 7,608 departures. Compared to 2024, arrivals decreased by 20.7% while departures fell by 40.5%. The majority of migration involved CIS countries, accounting for 81.8% of arrivals and 71.8% of departures, the Bureau of National Statistics reported on…
Kazakhstan to Vote on New Constitution in March 15 Referendum
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on Feb. 11 to hold a national referendum on March 15 for the adoption of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution. The final draft of the new Constitution was presented to President Tokayev by Chairperson of the Constitutional Commission and Constitutional Court Elvira Azimova, Deputy Chairperson of the Constitutional Commission…
ERG Africa and EGC Sign MoU to Formalise Responsible Artisanal Cobalt Mining in DRC
ASTANA – Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) in Africa and Enterprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba on Feb. 10 in Cape Town. This memorandum forms part of a public-private partnership intended to enhance the formalization, professionalization and accountability of artisanal and small-scale mining…
Kazakhstan’s Anti-Fraud Center Logs Over 90,000 Fraud Cases Since Launch
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Anti-Fraud Center has recorded more than 111,000 incidents since its launch in July 2024, with over 90,000 cases classified as fraud, officials said at a recent briefing. The data was presented by Ainura Izmaylova, director of the Anti-Fraud Department at the National Payment Corporation. The platform facilitates prompt coordination between financial institutions…
Elena Rybakina Marks 400th Career Win
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, ranked third in the WTA, recorded the 400th match win of her professional career in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha, Qatar. She defeated China’s Wang Xinyu, 6-2, 6-4. The win advances Rybakina to the round of 16, reported the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation’s press service on…
Kazakhstan’s Figure Skater Mikhail Shaidorov Places Fifth in Short Program at 2026 Winter Olympics
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov finished fifth in the men’s short program at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy, earning 92.94 points on Feb. 10. Ilia Malinin of the United States leads the standings with 108.16 points, followed by Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama with 103.07 and France’s Adam Siao Him Fa with 102.55. After his…
Almaty Wins Best Urban Tourism Promotion at OTM Mumbai 2026
ASTANA – Almaty was awarded the Best Urban Tourism Promotion prize at OTM Mumbai 2026, one of Asia’s largest international tourism exhibitions, highlighting the city’s effective international promotion strategy and strong global appeal. The event brought together leading players in the tourism industry, including tour operators, airlines, hotel brands, and national tourism offices, the Almaty…
Kazakhstan Advances Plans to Modernize Coal-Fired Power Sector
ASTANA – The Government, through the Energy Ministry, is developing a national project for coal-fired power generation to address long-term energy shortages and modernize aging power capacity. The draft National Plan for the Development of Coal-Fired Power Generation through 2030, presented to experts at a roundtable discussion, has a preliminary estimated cost of over 8…
Kazakhstan to Issue Commemorative Olympic Games 2026 Coin
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan will release a new collectible coin, OLYMPIC GAMES 2026. SHORT TRACK, as part of its Sports series. The 1,000-tenge coin is made of 925 sterling silver, produced using color printing technology, and is issued in proof quality. It weighs 20 grams, has a diameter of 37 millimeters, and…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan–EU Ties, Energy Policy, B5+1 Business Forum, and Economic Cooperation
ASTANA – The Astana Times has made a selection of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s relations with the European Union, multivector foreign policy, nuclear energy development, regional business cooperation in Central Asia, and the elevation of ties with Pakistan to a strategic partnership. Thirty-three…
Kazakh Referees Selected for Figure Skating and Moguls at 2026 Winter Olympics
ASTANA – Two representatives from Kazakhstan have been appointed as referees for the 2026 Winter Olympics, officiating in figure skating and freestyle moguls, according to the International Olympic Committee. Official documents show that Kazakhstan will be represented among referees in two of the 16 medal sports on the Olympic program. In figure skating, Nadezhda Paretskaya…
Kazakhstan to Launch First Full-Cycle Aluminum Wheel Plant with US and Korean Partners
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to establish its first modern aluminum wheel manufacturing plant after signing a trilateral memorandum with U.S.-based Open Element and South Korea’s Hands Corporation on Feb. 4. Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar met with Open Element CEO Mustapha Akkari and Hands Corporation Chairman Seung-Hyun Chang to discuss investment cooperation…
Kazakhstan’s Nurlanuly Breaks Into ITF Juniors Top 10 After Australian Open Semifinal
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Zangar Nurlanuly has climbed in the ITF Juniors world rankings, moving from 12th to 9th, following his performance at the 2026 Australian Open. The 17-year-old made history as the first Kazakhstan’s tennis player to reach the Australian Open junior singles semifinals. Last fall, he also reached the US Open Juniors semifinals, becoming…
Kazakh Defense Ministry Inspects Peacekeeping Contingent Serving with UNDOF
ASTANA – A delegation from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense, led by Major General Mereke Kuchekbayev, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, conducted an inspection visit to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mission area on the Golan Heights. During the visit, the delegation met with the UNDOF command to discuss the implementation of the mission’s…
Kazakhstan’s Population Reaches Almost 20.5 Million as of January
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s population reached 20,495,975 as of Jan. 1, marking an increase of 212,576 people compared to the beginning of 2025, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. According to official data published on Feb. 2, two regions now have populations exceeding two million. Almaty leads with 2,347,924 residents, followed by the Turkistan Region…
Kazakhstan, Vietnam Seek to Double Trade, Expand Logistics and Launch New Flights
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh on Feb. 3 to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation, with a focus on doubling trade turnover, strengthening transport connectivity, and expanding investment partnerships. Kazakhstan and Vietnam have steadily developed political dialogue and intergovernmental and…
Kazakhstan, Türkiye Deepen Strategic Partnership at Planning Group Meeting in Ankara
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan reaffirmed their countries’ enhanced strategic partnership during the eighth meeting of the Kazakhstan–Türkiye joint strategic planning group, held on Feb. 2 in Ankara, focusing on expanding trade, investment, and coordination within the Turkic world. The talks covered a wide range of bilateral…
Kazakhstan Approves Construction of Second Nuclear Power Plant in Almaty Region
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s second nuclear power plant will be constructed in the Zhambyl District of the Almaty Region, following a decision adopted by the government on Jan. 26. The decision was formalized by a government resolution No. 40, signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The first nuclear power plant is planned for construction in the…
Tokayev Hails Rising Civic Engagement Across Kazakhstan at Volunteers Forum
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the growing civic engagement of citizens, the vital role of youth and human capital, and the public’s central role in constitutional reform, describing these pillars as essential to building a just, safe, and forward-looking Kazakhstan amid global uncertainty during the Jan. 30 Volunteers Forum. “Kazakhstan supports the desire of…
Rybakina Climbs to World No. 3 After Reaching Australian Open Final, Nurlanuly Makes History in Juniors
ASTANA – Elena Rybakina rose to third in the WTA world rankings after advancing to the final of the 2026 Australian Open, marking the third Grand Slam final of her career. In the semifinals on Jan. 29, the 26-year-old defeated American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), securing her place in the championship…
EDB Moves Deeper Into Gulf Markets With UAE Dirham Bond on ADX
ASTANA — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has appointed BHM Capital as lead manager for its upcoming UAE Dirham-denominated bond issuance, which will be listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). The bond aims to expand local-currency funding options, offer investors exposure to the multilateral development bank, and finance high-impact projects across Central Asia,…
