EU’s António Costa to Visit Kazakhstan for 10th EPCA Anniversary This Week
ASTANA — European Council President António Costa will visit Kazakhstan on Dec. 4 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). On Dec. 4, he is scheduled to meet with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Last week, Tokayev met with the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan to Build Major Dry Port and Logistics Hub on Chinese Border
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to construct a large-scale transport and logistics center, the Kolzhat Dry Port, on its border with China, LS.com reported on Sept. 15. The Almaty Region akimat (administration) told LS.com in a written response that the project will be developed alongside the modernization of the Kolzhat border checkpoint in Uighur District. Covering…
Astana to Host Olympic Council of Asia Forum
ASTANA — The Kazakh capital will host the sixth Continental Athletes’ Forum of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) as part of the Olympic Solidarity program between Sept. 2–3, according to the National Olympic Committee’s press service. This forum is a key platform for dialogue among athletes across the continent, focusing on sports development, the…
SCO Summit in Tianjin: Kyrgyzstan Assumes Rotating Chairmanship
ASTANA — At the conclusion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Kyrgyzstan will assume the organization’s rotating chairmanship for 2025–2026, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement. The next SCO summit is scheduled to take place in 2026 in Bishkek. In addition, the lakeside city of Cholpon-Ata, situated on the shores of…
Dimash to Become First Kazakh Artist to Headline Madison Square Garden
ASTANA – World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen will perform a solo concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on Oct. 5, becoming the first artist from Kazakhstan and near abroad to headline the iconic venue. Qudaibergen announced the news on his Instagram, revealing that the performance will be part of his world tour, Stranger,…
Kazakhstan Monetizes Returned Assets With Growing Auction Sales in 2025
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Returned Asset Management Company has raised 198.5 million tenge (US$365,885) through auctions since the beginning of 2025, selling confiscated jewelry, luxury watches, collectible coins, and real estate. The proceeds are part of a broader effort to return illegally obtained assets to the state, with all funds transferred to the Special State Fund.…
French-Kazakh Telescope Joins Global Asteroid Defense Effort
ASTANA – A new telescope designed to track potentially dangerous space objects has been installed at the Assy-Turgen Observatory in the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountains, Khabar TV channel reported on June 12. The instrument is capable of detecting and monitoring hazardous celestial bodies of natural origin, such as asteroids whose orbits intersect with Earth. Its second…
Slovak Prime Minister to Pay Official Visit to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on June 10-11, reported the Akorda press service. During the visit, the two sides are expected to discuss prospects for expanding the Kazakh-Slovak partnership.
Kazakhstan and India Reinforce Partnership, Eye Economic Growth and Cooperation
ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with India’s Minister of External Affairs Subramanyam Jaishankar on June 5 during his official visit to India, where they discussed the current status and prospects of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and India. Both sides emphasized the need to bolster trade and economic…
Fly Arystan Launches Direct Flights from Almaty to Bahrain
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is opening the skies to Bahrain as Fly Arystan begins direct seasonal flights from Almaty to Manama starting June 5, the Civil Aviation Committee’s press service reported. Fly Arystan, Kazakhstan’s low-cost carrier, will operate the Almaty–Manama route once a week, offering passengers a direct link between Kazakhstan and the Gulf region. The…
Vietnam–Kazakhstan Air Travel Expands with New Almaty–Da Nang Route
ASTANA — Air Astana has launched direct flights between Almaty and Da Nang, Vietnam, starting June 4, according to Kazinform. The service operates twice a week—on Wednesdays and Saturdays—using Airbus A321LR aircraft. “With the addition of this new route, the total number of weekly passenger flights between Kazakhstan and Vietnam has increased to 29, covering…
Tokayev Chairs Meeting of Turkic States’ Central Banks Council
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the inaugural meeting of the Council of Central (National) Banks of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on May 27 in Astana, reported Akorda. Opening the meeting, President Tokayev emphasized the importance of strengthening ties among OTS member states, especially amid ongoing transformations in the global economy driven by…
ADB Deploys Almost $40 Billion for Development Across Asia and Pacific in 2024
ASTANA — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $24.3 billion from its own resources in 2024, coupled with $14.9 billion in co-financing in collaboration with its partners, to help Asia and the Pacific solve a range of complex development challenges. ADB’s financial and operational results were published on April 24 in its Annual Report 2024.…
Dimash Fan Club’s Nauryz Celebration: Unique Board Game and Kazakh Feast
ASTANA – The Polish fan club of Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen marked Nauryz on March 22 with a series of festive activities, with the highlight being the unveiling of a unique board game titled Traveling Through Kazakhstan with Dimash. This strategic game takes players on an exciting journey through Qudaibergen’s homeland. Participants explore famous landmarks,…
Tokayev Meets with US Congresswoman Miller to Discuss Strategic Partnership
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasizes the strong and reliable partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States (U.S.) since the country’s independence during a March 20 meeting with U.S. Congresswoman Carol Miller, according to Akorda’s X account. Tokayev highlighted the successes yielded under the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two nations, particularly in…
Kazakhstan Participates in Mother Language Day at UNESCO
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s permanent delegation to UNESCO participated in events dedicated to the International Mother Language Day at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, annually commemorated worldwide on Feb. 21. The celebration featured panel sessions attended by speakers and representatives from the academic community, international and non-governmental organizations, and the diplomatic corps. The discussions addressed the protection…
‘New Oil Market’: Assessing Kazakhstan’s Rare Earth Potential
ASTANA – As the world enters a new phase in the struggle for resources, discussions on the green transition and rare earth metals take center stage. Kazinform news agency examines the industry’s development prospects and Kazakhstan’s investment attractiveness. Key facts Rare earth metals, also known as rare earth elements (REEs), are now referred to as…
Record-Breaking Kazakhstan: Guinness World Records Highlighting the Nation’s Remarkable Feats
ASTANA — Kazakhstan is a country of extraordinary achievements, where vast landscapes, rich culture, and remarkable talents come together to create history. From its natural wonders to its sporting triumphs and unique traditions, the nation has secured over 100 recognized records by Guinness World Records, showcasing its diverse and awe-inspiring identity. Here are some of…
Brazza Monkeys and Rare Albino Wallabies Find New Home at Karagandy Zoo
ASTANA — The Karagandy Zoo has welcomed two remarkable new additions: a family of rare Brazza monkeys and a pair of albino wallabies. The monkeys, a gift from the zoological park in Chleby, Czech Republic, have already adapted to their new environment and diet, enjoying Kazakh national foods such as airan (a traditional dairy drink)…
Kazakhstan’s Lamb Exports to Qatar Soar by 75%
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s lamb exports to Qatar have surged 75% this year, underscoring the growing demand for Kazakh agricultural products in the Qatari market. This was highlighted during the Kazakh exporters’ business mission in Doha on Nov. 29, organized by the QazTrade Trade Policy Development Center, the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration and Kazakhstan’s…
Smart Centers Index Ranks Astana Second in Eastern Europe & Central Asia
ASTANA – Astana is ranked second in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the 10th edition of the Smart Centers Index (SCI 10), published by independent experts Z/Yen. Cyprus and Tallinn take the first and third spots, respectively. Astana ranks 52nd out of 77 in the overall global ranking, reported the Astana International Financial Centre’s…
Kazakhstan to Compensate Oil Overproduction Under OPEC+ Deal Until 2025
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will address its accumulated overproduction of oil under the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreement by September 2025 as part of a comprehensive compensation plan, reported Kazinform on Nov.22. The Kazakh Ministry of Energy confirmed that the country met its OPEC+ obligations in October. Any excess production from earlier in…
Kazakhstan, UN Discuss Strengthening Central Asian Peace and Security
ASTANA — Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu met with Kakha Imnadze, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) on Aug. 7. Imnadze visited Kazakhstan to participate in the sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of…
Kazakh Embassy Highlights Tourism Potential at 3rd Outbound Tourism Summit in India
ASTANA — The Embassy of Kazakhstan in India actively participated in the 3rd Outbound Tourism Summit, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on July 31. The summit promoted multilateral tourism and facilitated cultural cooperation among participating countries. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press service, during the event,…
Kazakhstan’s Population Surpasses 20 Million: Fastest Growth in Major Cities
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s population reached 20,159,707 people as of July 1, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Of this total, 12,573,637 reside in urban areas, while 7,586,070 live in rural regions. The population increased by 125,867 individuals in the first half of 2024. Natural growth accounted for 118,579 of this increase, and migration contributed…
