Articles by STAFF REPORT

ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry on Nov. 30 expressed its protest over yet another deliberate attack on the critical infrastructure of the international Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the waters of the Port of Novorossiysk, which occurred on Nov. 29. This incident marks the third act of aggression against an exclusively civilian facility whose operation…

ASTANA – This November marks the 190th anniversary of Shokan Ualikhanov’s birth — a Kazakh scholar, ethnographer, intelligence officer, and trailblazer in the study of Central Asia. In the mid-19th century, Central Asia became a stage for rivalry between Russia and the British Empire. Kashgar was closed to Europeans, yet Ualikhanov, without guards or diplomatic…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia. The declaration was signed with the direct participation of United States President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has made a significant leap in the global postal industry, with Qazpost advancing to 39th place in the Universal Postal Union (UPU) ranking among more than 180 countries. This achievement reflects the company’s strong commitment to sustainable development and operational excellence. A key driver behind this improvement was the notable reduction in…

ASTANA – The INMerge Innovation Summit, organized by PASHA Holding, will return for its fifth edition on Sept. 29-30 in Baku, bringing together global industry leaders and innovators to strengthen Azerbaijan’s innovation ecosystem and foster international collaboration. The summit will welcome globally renowned figures, including Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva denied reports about the alleged detention of the  Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and several high-ranking officials of the Kazakh National Security Committee (NSC) in a Sept. 4 Facebook post. She stressed that some official media and anonymous channels spread unconfirmed…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Kairat Umarov and Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ingrid Jackson agreed on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports. The agreement provides a visa-free entry of up to 30 days for diplomats and officials of both countries. It seeks to foster closer bilateral ties…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan recorded a 38.3% increase in agri-food exports in January–June, reaching $3.2 billion and 9.64 million tons. Agriculture’s share in the country’s total exports rose to 8.2%, confirming its growing role in economic diversification. Overall foreign trade turnover in the first half of the year reached $66 billion, with exports amounting to $36.82…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic on Aug. 22, underscoring the growing partnership between the two countries. During the upcoming visit, Tokayev and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov are expected to discuss enhancing trade, improving transportation and energy infrastructure, expanding agricultural and industrial cooperation, and signing new…

ASTANA — This year marks the 10th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Over the past decade, the country has established itself as an active and responsible participant in the global trading system. Kazakhstan’s foreign trade volume increased from $76.5 billion in 2015 to $134.7 billion in 2024. Exports increased from…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines will launch direct flights from Astana to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, starting from Nov. 3. Tickets are already on sale. The flights will be operated on Mondays and Thursdays, reported the airline’s press service on Aug. 13.   Earlier this month, SCAT has officially launched a new direct air route…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has simplified conditions of stay for foreign citizens and introduced new services for tourists, representatives of the migration service of the East Kazakhstan Region’s police department announced at a recent briefing. Under the new rules, temporary registration is no longer required if a foreigner stays in the country for up to 30…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital is set to host the Kazakhstan Open 2025, a G-1 category international taekwondo tournament, from Aug. 14 to 16 at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace. More than 750 athletes from 23 countries, including Olympic champions and world stars, will compete across cadet, junior and adult categories. The event, part…

ALMATY – Alternativa Film Days, supported by inDrive, will run from Aug. 14 to 21 at ARTiSHOK Theater and Almaty Creative Hub, bringing 27 films from Asia and Latin America alongside public discussions on pressing social topics. The program opens Aug. 14 with “White Crow” (India), winner of the 2024 Alternativa Film Festival Grand Prix,…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed the Kazakh people’s deep respect for the Ukrainian nation, its history, culture, and language, and underscored Kazakhstan’s steadfast commitment to achieving a lasting peace based on the principles of international law during an Aug. 10 telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The presidents discussed prospects for resolving…

ASTANA – Seven projects in Kazakhstan involving the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have been granted the status of special significance, according to a government decree dated July 31 published on Adilet.zan.kz. In partnership with ADB, Kazakhstan is building and operating five…

ASTANA – For the second time, the qualification stage of Roland Garros Junior Series by Renault for West and Central Asia is being held at Gorky Tennis Park in Almaty, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation reported. The tournament, which runs through Aug. 9, brings together 16 of the top under-16 tennis players from Central and Western…

ASTANA – Assel Satubaldina, a managing editor at The Astana Times, has been selected for the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship (RAF), a prominent international journalism program run under the auspices of the United Nations (UN). The program brings together top reporters from developing countries to deepen understanding in international affairs and the UN’s work. …

ASTANA – Partners in Kazakhstan’s largest Kashagan oil field have won a case in a local court over a potential environmental fine that could have exceeded $4 billion, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 1, citing the venture’s operator. Kazakhstan previously sought to fine the venture partners 2.3 trillion tenge (approximately US$4.2 billion at current exchange rates).…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Dunga oilfield has reached a milestone with total oil production surpassing 9 million tons since the start of operations, KazMunayGas (KMG) national oil and gas company reported on Aug. 1. The field is operated by Dunga Operating GmbH, in which KMG holds a 60% stake. Located in the Tupkaragan district of the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will take part in the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries on Aug. 5 in Awaza, Turkmenistan, reported Akorda. The conference, which will run until Aug. 8, provides an opportunity to explore solutions and forge partnerships, addressing challenges and unlocking their full potential for a more equitable and prosperous…

ASTANA – Electric vehicles (EVs) make up less than 1% of Kazakhstan’s car fleet. However, the number is slowly rising as more drivers show interest in eco-friendly transport, according to Anar Makasheva, president of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union. “In 2019, Kazakhstan imported fewer than 1,000 electric vehicles a year. Today, EVs account for less than…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic reached an agreement on additional supply of water volumes lost due to drought and low inflow during a July 28 meeting between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev and Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev. According to the Prime Minister’s press service, the parties discussed…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to open logistics complexes, including multimodal centers and dry ports, in Almaty, Astana, and the Kostanai Region by 2027, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said in a response to a parliamentary inquiry. According to Bektenov, efforts are underway to boost the country’s logistics infrastructure. “Kazakhstan is strengthening its role as a key…

ASTANA – Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Nurlan Yermekbayev met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on July 25 during a credential presentation ceremony for newly appointed ambassadors to China, reported the organization’s press service. At the meeting, Yermekbayev expressed his gratitude to the president and the leaders of other SCO member states…