Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

ASTANA – “What’s in a name?” Juliet asks Romeo, suggesting that names are just labels and do not define who someone truly is. Yet, across cultures, there seems to be a perpetual interest in where the names come from – whether they belong to individuals or entire groups. This article explores the meanings and origins…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s third Voluntary National Review (VNR) was presented at the UN high-level political forum on sustainable development on July 24 in New York, reported the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy’s press service. Vice Minister of National Economy Assan Darbayev presented the review, which was positively received by partners. They noted its analytical completeness,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national  fund contributions from the oil sector in 2024 amounted to 3.8 trillion tenge (US$7 billion), according to the report on the formation and use of the national fund’s resources for 2024. In 2024, contributions to Kazakhstan’s National Fund from oil sector organizations declined by 16% compared to 2023. Despite only a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to simplify and expand its visa-free regime under a draft resolution on amending the rules for entry and stay of immigrants proposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on July 23. According to the draft, citizens of 56 countries can enter and exit Kazakhstan without visas, provided that their stay in…

ASTANA – Despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies, the problem of drug addiction persists, especially among the youth, said Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov at the meeting of the interdepartmental commission for the prevention of offenses on July 24. The meeting discussed measures to combat drug-related crime and alcoholism, as well as the effectiveness…

ASTANA – The launch of the first flight operated by the national cargo airline is scheduled for early 2026, said Nurlan Zhakupov, chairman of the management board of the Samruk-Kazyna national welfare fund, at the meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on July 23. Three aircraft will be leased at the initial phase, with…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan leads Central Asia in cybersecurity with a relatively advanced institutional and legal framework, according to the Central Asia Cybersecurity Baseline Study: Executive Summary, published on July 8. The study, prepared by the e-Governance Academy (eGA), with support from the European Union and in partnership with Expertise France, is the result of six…

ASTANA – More than 7.5 million foreigners visited Kazakhstan over the first half of 2025, said Baurzhan Alenov, first deputy minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, during a government meeting on July 22. This represents a 600,000 increase compared to the same period last year. The majority of arrivals (90%) were citizens of the Commonwealth…

ASTANA – Metallurgical ore production in Kazakhstan grew by 7.8%, while metal production increased by 6.9%, said Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Olzhas Saparbekov, during the government meeting on July 22. By 2025, the country aims to double copper processing, increase aluminum processing by 50%, increase zinc production by 11%, and more than double…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili on July 21, exploring ways to expand the transport and logistics links along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). In the first half of 2025, the volume of rail freight traffic between the countries surpassed 159,500 tons,…

ASTANA – More than 50 kymyz producers from all over Kazakhstan took part in the two-day BaiQymyz festival on July 19-20 in Astana, which aims to preserve Kazakh traditions and promote the national drink. Kymyz is a fermented mare’s milk cherished across Central Asia not only for its health benefits but also for its cultural…

ASTANA – “La Tregua” (The Truce), an upcoming Kazakh-Spanish film, seeks to bring out the light within people during times of war and conflict, the film’s director Miguel Ángel Vivas told The Astana Times.  The story of “La Tregua” unfolds during 1937-1945 in Karlag, one of the largest Soviet labor camps in Kazakhstan, part of…

ASTANA – Like all great sports, chess attracts many people for its brilliance, building pressure, and unexpected outcomes. As the global chess community celebrates International Chess Day on July 20, The Astana Times reflects on some of Kazakhstan’s most remarkable chess achievements led by prodigy women. International Chess Day commemorates the founding of the International…

ASTANA – Animal welfare requires effective enforcement of existing laws, experts said at a July 15 roundtable that examined gaps in the country’s animal protection policies. The roundtable was hosted by the Almaty Initiative, a permanent dialogue platform for addressing animal welfare concerns and proposing policies. The law on the responsible treatment of animals came…

ASTANA – Comic Con Astana, Central Asia’s largest pop culture festival, concluded on July 13 with a grand cosplay competition final. A cosplayer from Astana, known by the nickname Grafomanka, won the grand prix of the competition and the title of the champion of the Comic Con Astana 2025 for her portrayal of Naga Siren…

ASTANA – This year, Kazakhstan commemorates 210 years since the birth of Tattimbet Kazangapuly and 205 years since the birth of Dauletkerey Shygaiuly – the leading figures of two separate kui (musical compositions on dombra) genres performed on dombra: tokpe kui and shertpe kui. Tattimbet was a master of the shertpe kui style, known for…

ASTANA – Comic Con Astana 2025 is in full swing, with 29,000 people visiting the event in the first two days. On the third day, headliner actor Esai Morales shared his impressions of the capital, calling it an ideal setting for a romantic spy comedy. The five-day event features Q&A sessions with actors and pop…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s retail e-commerce market reached a new historical high of 3.4 billion tenge (US$6 billion) in 2024, a 42% increase over 2023, according to a new study by Strategy&, part of the PwC global network of firms, released on July 10. Kazakhstan’s e-commerce growth is the result of simultaneous development in infrastructure, technology,…

ASTANA – The Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) presented a new illustrated book for children, “Steppe Eagle Kiyeh,” on July 8 in Astana, in an effort to help sustain the species. The steppes of Kazakhstan, covering the central part of the country, are a key region for migrating birds and the…

ASTANA – Comic Con Astana 2025 launched in the capital of Kazakhstan on July 9, promising to be the biggest edition by welcoming 75,000 guests, including 10,000 international pop culture enthusiasts. The event will run through July 13. The hall and stages are set for one of Central Asia’s most anticipated cosplaying events of the…

ASTANA – Astana hosted a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) forum on July 1, which explored challenges and opportunities around digital diplomacy. The event discussed key areas of digital cooperation among SCO countries and explored ways to build a sustainable model of regional integration based on modern technologies. Titled SCO in the Age of Digital Diplomacy:…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will address multilateralism, financial relations, and artificial intelligence (AI) at the upcoming BRICS Summit on July 6–7 in Rio de Janeiro, said Aibek Smadiyarov, a spokesperson for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, during a press briefing on June 30 in Astana. Kazakhstan will participate in the event following its attainment of BRICS partner…

ASTANA – Religious reasons were found to be relatively weakly linked to vaccine refusal in Kazakhstan. Public distrust in the healthcare system plays a much larger role, according to the preliminary results of a new World Health Organization (WHO) research presented on June 26 in Astana. The study of attitudes towards vaccines among religious communities…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has attracted $151 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows since gaining independence in 1991, making it a leader in Central Asia, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) 2025 World Investment Report, released on June 19.  The report’s main finding is that global FDI flows have decreased…

ASTANA –  Teach for Qazaqstan, a part of global Teach for All educational movement, celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of 22 teachers on June 21, who completed a two-year teaching placement in rural schools of the Karagandy Region. The initiative addresses educational disadvantages and the gap between rural and urban education. Building on…