Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air Launches Direct Nukus-Aktau Flights
ASTANA – Uzbek airline Centrum Air began operating a new regular flight on the Nukus-Aktau route on July 3, reported the Dunyo agency of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry. The flights will be operated twice a week. To mark the first flight, a welcoming ceremony was held at Aktau International Airport, organized with the Consulate General of…
Backstreet Boys to Perform in Kazakhstan This September
ASTANA – The legendary American band Backstreet Boys will give concerts in Kazakhstan this fall, performing in Almaty on Sept. 19 and in Astana on Sept. 21, according to the band’s official website. The band will take the stage at the Central Stadium in Almaty and the Astana Arena in the capital. The concerts are…
First China-Europe Train Departs on Trans-Caspian Corridor
ASTANA – The first Trans-Caspian train set off from Beijing’s Fangshan district on June 30, carrying 104 standard containers filled with auto parts and mechanical equipment valued at more than 15 million yuan (over US$2 million), Xinhua reported. The train will travel through the Khorgos checkpoint on the border with Kazakhstan before arriving at the…
Kazakhstan Calls for Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement as Middle East Conflict Escalates
ASTANA — The Kazakh Foreign Ministry released an official statement on June 22 regarding the escalated situation in the Middle East and calls for a swift international agreement to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan expresses concern that the U.S. military actions against Iran will deteriorate the international situation and pose serious consequences for…
World’s Largest Kazakh Headdress Unveiled in Pavlodar
ASTANA – The world’s largest traditional Kazakh women’s headdress, known as the alyp kimeshek, was unveiled on June 17 on the central embankment in Pavlodar, setting a new fashion record, according to the city administration’s press service. The impressive headdress, symbolizing the cultural heritage of Kazakh women, was officially registered by representatives of the Global…
Kazakhstan’s Bublik Stuns World No. 1 Sinner to Advance to Halle Quarterfinals
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, world’s No.45, defeated top-ranked Italy’s Jannik Sinner with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in the second round of the Halle grass-court tournament on June 19 in Germany. Sinner, the Halle defending champion, was playing in his first tournament since losing a five-set thriller to Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland-Garros final.…
Chinese Leader to Pay Official Visit to Kazakhstan Next Week
ASTANA – President of China Xi Jinping will make an official visit to Kazakhstan on June 16-17 at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda press service. During the visit, the two leaders will hold a bilateral high-level meeting to discuss further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China. On June…
Kazakhstan Joins Top 20 Countries by Gold Reserves
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has more than doubled its refined gold production over the past decade, placing the country among the world’s top 20 nations by gold reserves, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Iran Sharkhan said during the 15th International Mining and Metallurgical Congress, reported Kazinform. According to Sharkhan, the extraction of gold-bearing ores increased…
President of Bulgaria to Visit Kazakhstan Next Week
ASTANA – At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on June 8-9, reported the Akorda press service. During the high-level talks, the two sides will discuss prospects for developing bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Bulgaria.
International Union for Conservation of Nature to Promote Water Diplomacy in Central Asia
ASTANA — The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change officially inaugurated IUCN’s new Central Asia Office in Tashkent on June 2, according to the IUCN press service. The high-level event brought together representatives from Central Asian governments, development partners, civil society, and IUCN leadership.…
President Tokayev Meets Prime Minister of Italy
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, who arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit during the Astana International Forum (AIF) on May 29, reported Akorda. Tokayev emphasized Italy’s role as one of Kazakhstan’s leading trade partners in Europe and mentioned a business forum on May 28-29 involving Italian…
Kazakhstan, North Macedonia Aim to Strengthen Bilateral Relations
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova agreed to boost the full range of bilateral cooperation during a meeting on May 28, reported Akorda. Siljanovska-Davkova arrived in Kazakhstan on a working visit to participate in the Astana International Forum. Her visit, Tokayev noted, comes ahead of the 30th anniversary of…
Air Astana Launches Direct Atyrau-Tbilisi Flights
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship airline Air Astana launched direct flights on the Atyrau-Tbilisi route on May 27, reported the airline’s press service. The first passengers were welcomed at Tbilisi airport with traditional hospitality, including music and refreshments. Flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Kazakh citizens can travel to Georgia…
Almaty Named Best City in Central Asia in Global Cities Index 2025
ASTANA – Almaty has been ranked the top city in Central Asia in the newly released Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2025, placing 258th out of 1,000 cities worldwide. Astana followed as the second-best city in the region, coming in at 276th, while Shymkent ranked 534th globally. Almaty performed well in the human capital category,…
EU Reporter: Kazakhstan Makes Significant Contribution To Development of Gender Equality
ASTANA – EU Reporter published an article on May 22 about the adoption of a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) declaration on April 10, which supports Kazakhstan’s gender and humanitarian initiatives, marking a major diplomatic achievement and highlighting international backing for the establishment of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals…
Direct Astana-Belgrade Flights to Launch by Year-End
ASTANA – Direct flights between the capitals of Kazakhstan and Serbia will open by the end of 2025, the Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Transport Ministry reported on May 20. The decision follows negotiations between Kazakh Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev and Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Aleksandra Sofronijević. The talks…
FlyArystan Launches Almaty-Yining Charter Flights
ASTANA – Kazakh low-cost carrier FlyArystan has officially launched a direct charter passenger flight between Almaty and Yining, with the first flight carrying 160 passengers landing at Ili Yining International Airport on May 18, reported Xinhua. The route connects Kazakhstan with Yining, a Chinese city in the Ili-Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous…
Ecotourism in Kazakhstan Grows 40% Over Three Years
ASTANA – The number of ecotourists in Kazakhstan reached 2.8 million last year, 40% more than the two million registered in 2022, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported on May 13. In 2023, there were 2.4 million ecotourists. The most popular national parks they chose are those located near Almaty, including Ile-Alatau, Sharyn, Altyn-Emel,…
Royal Jordanian Airlines to Launch Flights to Kazakhstan in June Next Year
ASTANA – Royal Jordanian Airlines plans to begin direct flights to Kazakhstan starting June 2026, with a frequency of two flights per week, Jordanian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Hamzeh Al Omari said during a meeting with Kazakh Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev on May 14, reported the ministry’s press service. Kazakhstan, in turn, announced its…
Kazakhstan, UAE Strengthen Strategic Partnership in Logistics and Food Security
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company, dispatched the first train carrying a shipment of Kazakh wheat to the port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates. The delivery, facilitated by cargo trader IK Trading, marks a key step in strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries. The route runs…
Kazakhstan Launches Door-to-Door Delivery to Belgium
ASTANA – A subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company, KTZ Express, has launched a new international delivery service from the first to the last mile on the Kazakhstan-Belgium route, KTZ reported on May 5. Since February, KTZ Express has provided full-cycle transportation, including internal logistics in Kazakhstan, rail transit, road delivery in…
Vietnam’s Leader to Visit Kazakhstan Next Week
ASTANA – At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Tô Lâm will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan on May 5-7, reported Akorda. During the high-level talks, the two sides will discuss prospects for developing Kazakh-Vietnamese trade, economic, investment, and humanitarian cooperation. On May 7,…
Hong Kong Plans to Launch Flights to Almaty and Astana
ASTANA – Hong Kong airlines plans to open passenger flights to Almaty and Astana, as was announced during a visit of Kazakh Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev to Hong Kong International Airport on April 29, reported the ministry’s press service. The plans were discussed during meetings with Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Transport…
Foreign Tourists Spend Over $2.6 Billion in Kazakhstan in 2024
ASTANA – Foreign tourists spent more than $2.6 billion in Kazakhstan in 2024, according to the Tourism Industry Committee of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The highest spending came from visitors from China ($307 million), Germany ($56 million), Türkiye ($53 million), and the United States ($47 million). The National Bank reports that average spending…
Kazakhstan Enhances Cooperation with Türkiye in Agro-Industrial and Food Industries
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with the leadership of two Turkish companies to discuss investment projects aimed at the development of Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial and food industries on April 17 in Istanbul, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. With Orzax CEO Yunus Emre Alimoğlu, Nurtleu focused on the company’s…
