Articles by Nagima Abuova

ASTANA — Central Asian founders are gaining significant traction in the United States, where more than 350 regional startups now operate through the Silkroad Innovation Hub in Silicon Valley, said the hub’s founder Asset Abdualiyev in an interview with Digital Business on Nov. 26. He discussed market dynamics, investment trends and the expanding presence of…

ASTANA – International youth voices brought fresh urgency to a Nov. 27 roundtable in Vienna on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear testing, underscoring the lived legacy of Semipalatinsk and the need for inclusive disarmament. They joined community leaders, researchers and practitioners to examine what the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) can deliver…

ASTANA — Community leaders, researchers and practitioners gathered for a roundtable on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear testing in Vienna on Nov. 27, examining what the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) can deliver today and what steps are required to secure justice for affected communities.  The event, hosted by Dialogbüro Vienna, Steppe…

ASTANA — The final session of the FELICITY II energy consultant training program recently convened engineers, architects and policymakers in Astana to build expertise in reducing energy use in buildings. The program supports sustainable urban infrastructure development in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and helps cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  It provides technical and analytical…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan marks the 90th anniversary of poet Zhumeken Nazhimedenov on Nov. 28, honoring the writer whose verse shaped generations and whose lyrics formed the foundation of the national anthem. Commemorations across the country and enduring memoirs from his family reflect why his life, character and creativity continue to resonate four decades after his…

ASTANA — Theaters often carry history across generations, and for Koreans living in Kazakhstan, that story has been living onstage since the 2022 premiere of “Life – History of Unity.” As the production tours the country this year for the 30th anniversary of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK), its creators spoke to…

ASTANA — Uzbekistan’s manufacturing output has doubled to nearly $60 billion as the sector shifts from raw materials to finished goods. According to experts, this growth opens the door to closer cooperation with Kazakhstan. It also underscores the urgency to deepen industrial cooperation and joint production to advance diversification and create higher-quality jobs, Halyk Finance…

ROME — Kazakhstan presented its second national trade-facilitation report on Nov. 11, outlining reforms for 2023-2025 to digitize foreign trade and modernize the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. The report, prepared by the Ministry of Trade and Integration and QazTrade, details the country’s progress in digitalization, customs automation and…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s delegation concluded its participation in the 43rd session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference on Oct. 30 – Nov. 13 in Samarkand, advancing initiatives on AI ethics, cultural diplomacy and national commissions.  The session gathered more than 4,500 representatives from nearly 180 member states, making it…

ASTANA — The eighth Polish Film Festival Wisła is lighting up Astana with powerful stories and artistry, offering Kazakh audiences a closer look at contemporary Polish cinema on Nov. 2-5. The festival aims to foster dialogue and cultural understanding, and has long served as a bridge between Poland and Central Asia, said Małgorzata Ślagowska, a…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan signed 49 new investment agreements worth $7.5 billion at the eighth Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR) on Oct. 31 in Astana. The forum gathered more than 1,000 participants from over 50 countries, including senior executives from international and domestic companies across the energy, agriculture, finance, pharmaceuticals, and consulting sectors. Thirteen commercial agreements…

ASTANA — Young generation from Central Asia should no longer wait for change but lead it, said youth delegates from Central Asia, reflecting on their participation in the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum on Oct. 27-28 in Samarkand ahead of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference. “Participating in the UNESCO Youth Forum has been…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has become an indispensable part of Europe’s energy security, said Kazakh Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov in an interview with The Astana Times, marking a decade of transformation from commercial ties to a strategic alliance built on trust and shared priorities. In December 2015, Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) signed the…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan should strengthen international marketing to attract more foreign tourists, said acting chairman of Kazakh Tourism Daniyel Serzhanuly in an interview with Jibek Joly TV. He emphasized the need for targeted campaigns to draw higher-spending travelers. “We have been tasked to revise Kazakh Tourism’s work through stronger international marketing. To make tourism in…

ASTANA — Almaty hosted the first United Nations Tourism Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Europe on Oct. 22-23, providing a platform for nearly 400 participants from international organizations, government, business, and the expert community. The conference, organized by the Almaty Tourism Bureau, Kazakh Tourism, UN Tourism, and the Kazakh Ministry…

ASTANA – Astana Art Fair, an international contemporary art exhibition, opened on Oct. 24 at the Congress Center in Astana, presenting more than 200 works under the Future Roots theme. The three-day fair will run through Oct. 26 and feature artists and galleries from Central Asia, Russia, and China. This year’s theme explores cultural origins…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan solidified their economic partnership with 16 agreements signed at a business forum in Astana on Oct. 21, advancing cooperation in artificial intelligence, industry, logistics, and regional connectivity. The forum brought together officials and businesses to chart long-term trade and investment priorities. During the forum, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed agreements and…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan joined more than 150 countries at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 9-15, where over 10,000 participants explored global conservation and sustainable development solutions.  The congress is held once every four years. This year’s program cut across five key topics: scaling up…

ASTANA — Strengthening trade and investment across priority sectors with Kazakhstan is among the United Kingdom’s main objectives in the region, said Lord John Alderdice, U.K. Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia and Member of the House of Lords, in an interview with The Astana Times. His visit to Almaty and Astana on Oct.10-13…

OSKEMEN — The sacred land of the East Kazakhstan Region’s Ulan district hosted the Shygys Salburyny international festival on Oct. 8-11, bringing together 148 participants from seven countries. The event, which marked its fifth anniversary this year, celebrates falconry as a living national tradition and growing symbol of Kazakhstan’s cultural identity. Over three days, hunters…

ASTANA — Beyond their stone walls and ancient carvings, Kazakhstan’s heritage sites tell stories of trade, faith, conquest, and resilience, offering travelers more than just destinations to visit – narratives that connect the country’s nomadic past with its evolving identity today. The Astana Times highlights some of the country’s most remarkable and relatively easy to…

ASTANA – International humanitarian law (IHL) should be reinforced to protect civilians and ensure accountability in war, said government officials, humanitarian organizations, and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives at a conference titled the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL in Astana on Oct. 7. “As the 21st century enters its…

ASTANA —  Seven startups from Central Eurasia secured $25,000 prizes each at the Astana Hub Battle, the region’s largest startup competition, held during the Digital Bridge 2025 technology forum in Astana on Oct. 2-4. The contest gathered 180 information technology (IT) companies competing for recognition and funding. The competition drew applications from across Central Eurasia,…

ASTANA — Once the world’s fourth-largest inland sea, the Aral Sea has become a global symbol of ecological disaster, said Dr. Sarah Cameron, associate professor of history at the University of Maryland, speaking at Nazarbayev University on Sept. 24.  Visiting Astana to exchange views and engage with students, she said that the sea’s collapse left…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an award ceremony in Astana on Oct. 2 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media contest. The competition recognized international journalists whose work promotes the country’s culture, economy, and modern development to global audiences. The winners were Muhammad Ali Pasha…