News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Turkic States and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakh-Chinese cultural ties, Turkic states, the Middle Corridor, and more. Interview: Cultural exchanges inject new momentum into Kazakhstan-China ties, says Kazakh minister Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are nurturing the friendship between Kazakhstan and China and…
Cleaner Technologies to Reduce Kazakhstan’s Emissions by Over 300,000 Tons by 2035
ASTANA – Continued adoption of clean technologies could help Kazakhstan reduce harmful emissions by over 300,000 tons by 2035, said Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev at a June 25 meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The meeting of the Council for the Transition to a Green Economy, held with the participation…
Kazakhstan’s Industry Grows 6.4%, Fueled by Oil and Manufacturing
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s industrial sector demonstrated growth of 6.4% year-on-year in Jan. –May, largely driven by the mining and manufacturing sectors. The mining sector, a key contributor to GDP (approximately 12%), expanded by 7.8% year-over-year, primarily due to increased oil production at the Tengiz field. This not only boosted related outputs such as diesel, gas,…
Kazakhstan Sees Rapid Expansion in E-Commerce Sector
ASTANA – The volume of e-commerce in Kazakhstan has surged to 3.2 trillion tenge (US$6.2 billion), accounting for 14.1% of the country’s total trade, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin during a June 26 meeting in Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament. This marks a sevenfold increase compared…
Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva Invited to Prestigious Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas
ASTANA – Kazakh chess star Bibisara Assaubayeva has become the third woman in history to receive a rare invitation to compete in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, a top-tier closed tournament traditionally dominated by male players. The event will take place from July 16 to 20 in Las Vegas. Assaubayeva shared the news on…
Kazakhstan Reaffirms Its Role as Reliable and Reform-Oriented Investment Destination
ASTANA — President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev reiterated Kazakhstan’s commitment to being a reliable and reform‑oriented investment destination, while emphasizing growing opportunities across strategic economic sectors and ongoing efforts to build a future‑ready, digitally driven, and sustainable economy during the 37th plenary session of the Foreign Investors’ Council on June 24. Economic resilience amid global challenges Tokayev…
Kazakhstan Expands Hydrogen Energy Plans with Support from China and Germany
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is actively developing its hydrogen energy sector with the support of international partners, including China and Germany, and is exploring the potential to export hydrogen to the European Union. Deputy Minister of Energy Ilyas Bakytzhan outlined the country’s hydrogen roadmap during a June 23 session in the Mazhilis, highlighting progress on infrastructure,…
Comic Con Astana 2025 to Host TEKKEN World Tour and Celebrate Pop Culture
ASTANA – Comic Con Astana 2025 will host an official stage of the TEKKEN World Tour 2025 (Dojo Series), featuring over 90 players from Kazakhstan and neighboring countries competing in Tekken 8 for ranking points and a 400,000 tenge (US$770) prize pool on July 9–12. The event is supported by Qazaqstan Tekken Fighters (QTF), the…
Kazakhstan Moves Forward on Nuclear Power with International Partners
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency Deputy Chairs Asset Makhambetov and Vassily Lavrenov held a meeting with Vakis Ramany, senior vice president for new nuclear projects and engineering at Électricité de France (EDF), to explore the potential for EDF’s participation in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan as part of an international…
New Report Explores Economic Potential of Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan Partnership
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and the Institute for Development and Diplomacy (IDD) at ADA University have released a joint analytical report outlining prospects for deeper economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, positioning both countries as strategic Silk Road hubs advancing a coordinated geoeconomic strategy focused on diversification, expanded trade, and stronger…
Kazakhstan to Donate 1,500 Saiga Antelopes to China for Species Restoration Effort
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the decision to donate 1,500 saiga antelopes to China for resettlement in the country’s western regions, supporting efforts to restore the population of this unique ancient species. President of China Xi Jinping expressed his gratitude to Tokayev during his visit to Kazakhstan, reported Akorda on June 17.…
Kazakhstan to Build Central Asia’s First Tier IV Data Center
ASTANA – Construction has begun in the Kazakh capital on Central Asia’s first Tier IV data center, led by AKASHI DATA CENTER and set for completion in early 2026. The facility will host 4,000 server racks, more than doubling Kazakhstan’s current capacity of 3,800 racks. The center is supposed to address the country’s shortage of…
Kazakhstan’s Tompiyeva Secures Key Role at Global ICAO Meeting
ASTANA – Saltanat Tompiyeva, chair of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, has been elected vice-chair of the 2025 ICAO EUR/NAT Meeting of Directors General of Civil Aviation, marking a significant step in Kazakhstan’s growing leadership role in global and regional aviation. The DGCA ICAO EUR/NAT 2025 meeting, which opened on June 17 in Paris, focused on…
Kazakhstan Rises to 34th in IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025
ASTANA – The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) released its annual World Competitiveness Ranking 2025 on June 1, where Kazakhstan climbed one spot to 34th out of 69 countries, outperforming Japan (35th), Kuwait (36th), and Portugal (37th). Switzerland topped the list, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, Denmark, the UAE, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden, Qatar, and…
Kazakhstan, China Launch Silk Way Star Cultural Music Project
ASTANA — The Presidential TV and Radio Broadcasting Complex and China Media Group (CMG) have signed an agreement on June 16 to launch Silk Way Star, an international musical project featuring performers from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and China. The agreement was signed during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan, reported…
Kazakhstan, China Deepen Strategic Partnership, Sign 24 Agreements
ASTANA — China never sets any political conditions in its cooperation with Kazakhstan, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived on an official visit to Kazakhstan on June 16. According to Tokayev, the President of China is always a highly respected guest in Kazakhstan, and his visit is…
UNESCO Opens Exhibition in Paris Honoring 100th Anniversary of Kazakh Composer Nurgisa Tlendiyev
ASTANA — The UNESCO Headquarters in Paris hosted the official opening of an exhibition honoring the legacy of Nurgisa Tlendiyev, the outstanding Kazakh composer and conductor, on June 13, as part of the celebrations marking his 100th anniversary. UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference included the jubilee in its 2024–2025 anniversaries, recognizing Tlendiyev’s outstanding contribution to global…
Kazakhstan Receives Regional Help in Evacuating Citizens from Middle East Conflict Zone
ASTANA – Amid escalating military conflict in the Middle East, neighboring countries, such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, assist Kazakhstan in evacuating its citizens from high-risk zones, offering transit routes and humanitarian aid. On June 13, Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport imposed a full ban on flights over and near the airspace…
Kazakhstan, EU Discuss Economy Collaboration, Green Deal Implementation
ASTANA — Kazakhstan and the European Union announced plans to expand partnership during a June 10 Kazakhstan-EU cooperation committee meeting, reported the Trade and Integration Ministry. The EU remains Kazakhstan’s largest economic partner. In 2024, trade turnover reached $48.8 billion, including $38.1 billion in exports from Kazakhstan. Since 2005, the volume of investments from the…
Kazakhstan, Starlink to Launch Satellite Internet Access Nationwide
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry and Starlink (a subsidiary of SpaceX) signed an agreement on Starlink’s compliance with the requirements of Kazakhstan’s legislation when providing satellite internet in the country. The document provides for the official launch of sales of Starlink satellite terminals for the local population –…
Kazakhstan’s GDP Grows by 6% in January-May
ASTANA – According to preliminary data from the Bureau of National Statistics, Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) for January-May increased by 6% compared to the same period last year. The growth was driven by strong performance in key sectors, including industry, construction, trade, transport, and communications. Kazakhstan’s industrial production rose by 6.4% in the first…
Kazakhstan, Slovakia Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Strategic Partnership
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who arrived on his first official visit to Kazakhstan on June 11, to discuss prospects for trade and economic cooperation. Bektenov outlined that Slovakia is a reliable partner of Kazakhstan in the European Union. Both countries have much in…
Social Facility Funded by Returned Assets Opens in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – A new medical outpatient clinic, the first social facility in Kazakhstan built with returned assets, was officially opened in Arnasai village, Arshaly district of the Akmola Region, reported the Kazakh General Prosecutor’s Office on June 11. Local officials and guests congratulated the residents. They highlighted the importance of the new medical institution in…
Kazakhstan to Provide 99% of Rural Areas With Internet by 2027
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will provide 99% of the country’s rural settlements with high-speed internet by the end of 2027, as the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry and Kazakhtelecom signed an investment agreement to connect more than 3,000 villages to the internet. Thanks to the agreements reached, the implementation of the project to…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Ties With Finland, OSCE
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, on June 10, expressing support for her efforts amidst extremely difficult situations in regional and global security. “This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Half a century later, this document remains the foundation of European…
