Khorgos Expands with Trade and Investment, but Bottlenecks Persist
ASTANA – The Khorgos International Center for Cross-Border Cooperation is becoming a growth driver of the Zhetisu Region in Kazakhstan’s south-eastern part. The visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to the region on Aug. 8 underscores the importance of Khorgos. Trade remains strong, large-scale infrastructure is being built, and employment is…
Astana to Host Digital Bridge 2025 in October
ASTANA – The Digital Bridge 2025 international forum, the largest event in Central Asia in digital technologies, startups, and artificial intelligence (AI), will take place in Astana on Oct. 2-4, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry. This year’s theme, Generative Nation, reflects Kazakhstan’s strategic shift from technology consumption to creation…
Mangystau Region to Host First Festival Celebrating Camel’s Milk and Kazakh Traditions
ASTANA – The Ak Maya Fest, a large-scale cultural celebration combining music, traditions, farming, and nature, and dedicated to shubat (camel’s milk), will be held for the first time on Aug. 16 at the scenic Mount Airakty in the Mangystau Region, the regional culture department reported. According to Kazinform, the event will feature three main…
Kazakh Startup Makes Historic Entry into Bond Market
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital market has seen a new milestone as FinTech startup Prosper Pay successfully placed bonds worth over US$5 million, TengriNews reported on Aug. 7. According to investment company Alatau City Invest, which organized the deal, this marks the first time a venture company in Kazakhstan has issued bonds. The bond market has…
Kazakhstan Launches Preliminary Works at First Nuclear Power Plant
ASTANA – Kazakhstan held the ceremonial start of preliminary activities for the planned high-capacity nuclear power plant (NPP) in the village of Ulken, Zhambyl district, Almaty Region, on Aug. 8. Engineering surveys began to determine the optimal site and prepare design documentation, reported the Atomic Energy Agency. The event was attended by Atomic Energy Agency…
Kazakhstan to Attract $24 Billion for Energy and Utility Development
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to attract more than 13 trillion tenge (US$24 billion) in investments to repair and build 86,000 kilometers of utility networks and add 7.3 GW of new generation capacity, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said at an Aug. 7 press conference, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The National Project for the…
Turkistan to Host International Crafts Exhibition With Over 140 Artisans
ASTANA – Turkistan will host an international crafts exhibition titled “Turkistan – City of Craftspeople” this month, bringing together more than 140 masters of decorative and applied arts from Kazakhstan and abroad, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The exhibition will be the first major event held at Turkistan’s newly built crafts center,…
Kazakhstan Launches First Professional Women’s eSports League
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first professional women’s eSports league, the Female Pro League (FPL), was officially presented on July 23 in Almaty, according to ELLE Kazakhstan magazine. The league aims to create a safe and competitive environment for female gamers to develop their skills, gain global rankings, and compete for prize money. The first FPL tournament…
Kazakh Investments in Kyrgyz Republic Triple
ASTANA – The volume of foreign direct investment from Kazakhstan into the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic reached a record high of $113.5 million in 2024, the Kyrgyz National Investments Agency reported on Aug. 5. This record value indicates the growing confidence of Kazakhstan’s businesses in the Kyrgyz investment climate. Since 2021, Kazakh investment inflows…
New US Tariffs Will Not Impact 95% of Kazakh Exports, Says Trade Minister
ASTANA – New U.S. tariffs will not affect 95% of Kazakhstan’s exports, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said during an Aug. 5 briefing in the government, reported Kazinform. He emphasized that Kazakhstan is fully compliant with its international obligations and is not subject to any secondary sanctions. Shakkaliyev clarified that while certain products…
Shanghai SpaceSail Satellite Internet Tested in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has tested satellite internet provided by Chinese company Shanghai SpaceSail, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry reported on Aug. 5. The test launch took place in the Almaty Region with participation from the company’s specialists, who arrived in Kazakhstan to demonstrate the technology. The system showed a connection speed…
Eight OPEC+ Countries to Boost Oil Production in September
ASTANA – Eight OPEC+ countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, will increase oil production by a combined 547,000 barrels per day in September, citing stable global economic conditions and healthy market fundamentals. According to OPEC’s press service, the increase corresponds to four monthly increments, as outlined…
Kazakhstan to Host ATP 250 Almaty Open in October
ASTANA – The ATP 250 Almaty Open will take place at Almaty Arena on Oct. 11-19. Tickets for the tournament are already on sale, reported the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation press service. ATP 250 series tournament is a category of professional tennis tournaments among men held in 30 countries. It includes 40 tournaments, where the victory…
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic Deepen Strategic Partnership
ASTANA – President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov welcomed the pace of deepening the allied relations and strategic partnership with Kazakhstan during an Aug. 1 meeting with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, who arrived on an official visit in Cholpon-Ata. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, Japarov also…
UN Regional SDG Center in Almaty Aims to Strengthen Regional Resilience and Cooperation
ASTANA – The newly launched UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty will serve as a catalyst for coordinated action in making economies resilient and vibrant, enhancing regional innovation, and fostering deeper cooperation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a visit to the center with UN Secretary-General António…
UN Secretary-General Pays Working Visit to Kazakhstan as Part of Tour to Central Asia
ASTANA – UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Kazakhstan on Aug. 3 as part of his tour to Central Asia, reported the press service of the UN in Kazakhstan. The visit marked the launch of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almaty. It was established following a decision by the UN…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Foreign Policy, Youth Power and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan’s dynamic foreign policy, renewed cooperation with Türkiye and China, oil exports via the Black Sea and youth engagement. Kazakhstan: A prime example of a multivector foreign policy Kazakhstan is becoming a vital pillar of…
Kazakhstan Prosecutors Freeze 98,000 Drug Accounts Worth $4.2 Million
ASTANA – As of July 31, more than 98,000 drug accounts, valued at over 2.3 billion tenge (approximately US$4.2 million), have been blocked in Kazakhstan, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office. Financial investigations have been launched to trace illicit funds, identify key organizers, and locate citizens who provide their bank accounts for dropper transfers and…
Kazakhstan Reports Industrial Growth, 47 Projects Already Implemented
ASTANA – Of 190 projects worth nearly 1.5 trillion tenge (US$2.7 billion) planned for this year, Kazakhstan has implemented 47 valued at 196 billion tenge (US$360.4 million), creating over 3,000 jobs, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said at a July 31 media briefing, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. In the industrial sector, production…
Middle Corridor Declaration Time Reduced from 8 Hours to 30 Minutes
ASTANA – The time required to file declarations on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been reduced from eight hours to 30 minutes, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Chairman Talgat Aldybergenov reported during a July 31 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to the Akorda press service, Aldybergenov also noted an 8.6% increase in operational cargo turnover…
Nation Leads Central Asia in Reducing Premature NCD Deaths
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian country to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 target of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by 25%, WHO reported on July 28. The report highlights Kazakhstan’s progress in addressing cardiovascular disease and cancer through prevention, early detection, improved treatment, and higher survival rates.…
Kazakh National Bank Intervenes as Tenge Faces Speculative Pressure
ASTANA – The Kazakh tenge reached 550 per US dollar during trading on July 30, weakening by 5.8% since the beginning of the month or by 4.7% since the start of the year, the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) reported. In conditions of extremely low liquidity in the foreign exchange market and signs of increased…
New Deals Boost Kazakhstan-Türkiye Economic Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed an investment agreement worth 160 billion tenge (US$294.3 million) with Tiryaki Holding, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of grain, oilseeds, and feed, during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Türkiye on July 29, reported Akorda. Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov noted that the investment will be…
Kazakhstan Secures Exemption to Continue Coal Exports to Europe
ASTANA – Kazakhstan reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) on July 29 to allow the continued transit of its coal exports to Europe, despite the EU’s ongoing sanctions against Russia, the Trade and Integration Ministry reported. This was achieved following months of negotiations caused by the 16th EU sanctions package adopted in February,…
Dimash’s Song Airs on World Famous Radio Disney in Mexico for First Time
ASTANA – Dimash Qudaibergen’s song “Love’s Not Over Yet” has entered regular rotation on all Radio Disney stations in Mexico, one of the world’s leading music radio brands, DimashNews reported on July 28. The initiative was driven by a devoted fan inspired by Qudaibergen’s 2023 concert in Budapest. Her dream of hearing his voice on…
