Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is launching a new investment cycle to accelerate economic growth and modernize key industries.  At a Nov. 19 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, officials reviewed the draft Joint Action Program of the Government, National Bank, and the Agency for Regional Development and Financial Markets (ARDFM) for 2026–2028, which aims…

ASTANA — Construction has started on a new 50 megawatt (MW) combined-cycle power plant in Auliekol village of the Zhambyl Region, boosting southern Kazakhstan’s energy infrastructure and investment potential. The project, implemented by GES Myrzatai LLP with a total investment of $60 million, will be developed in two phases. The first phase includes the construction…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan outlined steps to implement the Green Corridor system and strengthen its role as a key Eurasian transit hub during a Nov. 18 meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin. Kazakhstan is moving forward with a comprehensive package of measures to streamline customs, modernize border infrastructure, and digitalize logistics processes. The Green…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Estonia are strengthening cooperation in transit logistics to increase the flow of Kazakh grain and other agricultural products through Baltic ports, enhancing access to European and North African markets. During the state visit of Estonia’s President to Kazakhstan, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov met with the heads of the Sillamäe and Muuga…

ASTANA — Kazakh Foreign Ministry welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 2803 (2025) on the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict in a Nov. 18 statement. “We commend the efforts of the United States and President Donald Trump, as well as other states that made a key contribution to achieving the…

ASTANA — Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government Council meetings in Moscow, where member states discussed strengthening economic cooperation, developing transport connectivity, and advancing digital and industrial collaboration across the region. Discussions focused on boosting trade and economic ties within the SCO. The organization’s contribution to…

ASTANA — At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan on Nov. 20–21. The visit will include high-level meetings between the delegations of Kazakhstan and Armenia, during which officials are expected to discuss prospects for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation across a range of sectors,…

ASTANA — The Caspian Sea has lost 36,000 square kilometers of its surface area over the past 18 years, as water levels along Kazakhstan’s coast continue to fall, posing serious ecological and economic challenges for the region. As of September, the average water level of the Caspian Sea along Kazakhstan’s shores was recorded at minus…

ASTANA — The Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport has served nearly 7.8 million passengers in January-October, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Growth was observed across both domestic and international routes. Domestic traffic rose 13% as airlines increased frequency and accessibility of flights. International passenger numbers showed the same growth, supported by…

ASTANA — Halyk Group has officially opened a new Tenge Bank office in Tashkent on Nov. 15, symbolically on Kazakhstan’s National Currency Day. The ceremony was attended online by the Presidents of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Since 2019, Tenge Bank has provided $1.5 billion in loans to businesses and individuals, serving as…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed Central Asia’s first artificial intelligence law, establishing a sweeping regulatory framework aimed at ensuring the safe, transparent and ethical use of AI across the economy and public sector. As AI is rapidly becoming embedded in daily life, supporting doctors, improving government services, and offering new tools for…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is fully committed to ensuring a politically stable, economically resilient, and secure Central Asia, Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev said at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Central Asian states, on Nov. 15 in Tashkent. During the gathering, the foreign ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, a deputy foreign minister of Turkmenistan,…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that Central Asia has entered a period of profound transformation, calling for deeper regional integration at the seventh consultative meeting of heads of state on Nov. 16 in Tashkent. He thanked Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for hosting the summit and welcomed Azerbaijan as a full member, describing the…

ASTANA — Astana Opera hosted “Rigoletto” on Nov. 5-6, the famous opera by Giuseppe Verdi, filled with complex characters – the old hunchback, the cynical Duke, and innocent Gilda. Remarkable artists Medet Chotabayev and Sayan Issin made their debuts as the Duke of Mantua. While audiences admire the brilliance on stage, much of what they…

ASTANA – A major Swiss tourism company, Bartholet, is set to develop premier alpine skiing destinations in East Kazakhstan, with projects in Ridder and Katon-Karagay, promising to elevate the region to a global skiing hotspot. Nurymbet Saktaganov, akim (mayor) of the East Kazakhstan Region, discussed the initiative on the Jibek Joly TV program on Nov.…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reaffirmed the rapidly expanding Kazakh-Uzbek partnership during the second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council on Nov. 15 in Tashkent. The Presidents identified new priorities for deepening cooperation across trade, industry, transport, water and energy management, digital development, and cultural exchange, underscoring the elevated…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held comprehensive negotiations on Nov. 15 in Tashkent, reaffirming the strong partnership and strategic alliance between the two neighboring nations. During the meeting, President Tokayev expressed gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for the warm welcome and Uzbekistan’s traditional hospitality. The Presidents discussed future cooperation across…

ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan has approved a comprehensive set of measures aimed at reducing the risks of money laundering, terrorist financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The resolution will enter into force on Nov. 20, requiring regular reporting by government agencies and subordinate organizations to ensure effective implementation. Key areas…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has sent 18 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to assist those affected by the recent devastating earthquake, reaffirming the country’s commitment to humanism and regional solidarity. The aid package, totaling 18 tons and comprising 34 categories of essential goods, includes medicines, medical instruments, bedding, tents, and other critical supplies allocated from…

ASTANA – Artificial intelligence is gradually transforming Kazakhstan’s labor market. While office and administrative roles face higher automation risks, blue-collar professions are increasingly attractive to Generation Z for their stability and resilience against AI disruption. AI impact and employment trends According to the country’s center for human resource development, approximately 13% of work tasks in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has officially launched a unified interbank QR payment system, allowing consumers to pay with a single QR code regardless of their bank. The system, developed by the National Payment Corporation in collaboration with banks’ technical teams, aims to simplify transactions and strengthen the country’s position as a fintech leader in Central Asia.…

ASTANA – Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium Roman Vassilenko presented Belgian journalist Derya Soysal with the honorary title of Kazakhstan’s Tourism Ambassador on behalf of the Kazakh Tourism national company. Soysal, who collaborates with international publications, has been introducing European audiences to Kazakhstan. “Kazakhstan made a deep impression on me – with its nature, hospitality,…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov called on European businesses to launch new joint projects, localize production, and expand their presence in Kazakhstan during the 18th Kazakhstan-EU Dialogue Platform on Nov. 12. The meeting gathered heads of diplomatic missions, chambers of commerce, and business representatives from EU countries. The European Union remains Kazakhstan’s largest…

ASTANA – Asman Airlines will begin regular direct flights between Almaty and Karakol International Airport on Dec. 5, marking the first stable service on this route since the 1970s. The flights are aimed primarily at active travelers from Kazakhstan, with Karakol remaining one of the region’s most popular ski and mountain destinations. Flights will run…

ASTANA — Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen spoke about his mission of peace and love during his live appearance on CNN’s “What We Know with Max Foster,” ahead of his performance at OVO Arena Wembley on Nov. 12. On Nov. 10, Qudaibergen arrived in London from Barcelona, where he continued his Stranger world tour. At the…