Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national currency strengthened in 2025. But analysts warn that structural pressures could lead to gradual weakening in 2026. The tenge gained 1.3% in December, closing at 505.73 per U.S. dollar, according to the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Average daily trading volume on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange rose to $359 million, up from…

ASTANA – Kazakh musicians, including a symphony orchestra, a chamber choir, and a ballet troupe, will perform at the 35th Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF) 2026, one of the longest-running international music festivals, scheduled for Jan. 16-25 in India. The festival tour will cover five major cities, including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore,…

ASTANA – Whether a real conflict existed between Genghis Khan and his eldest son Jochi remains one of the most debated questions in early Mongol history, historian Artem Porsin said in an interview with Kazinform.  According to Porsin, a PhD historian and chief research fellow at the Research Institute for the Study of the Ulus…

ASTANA – Social media has surpassed traditional platforms as the country’s primary source of information, driven by the rapid expansion of mobile internet and the increasing popularity of short-form content. For many young Kazakh citizens, social networks are no longer just communication tools – they have become central to daily life, shaping how people learn,…

ASTANA – Eight leading OPEC+ producers agreed to maintain current oil output levels through February and March 2026, extending a pause on production increases due to seasonal factors, according to a statement released after the group’s meeting on Jan. 4. Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also reiterated…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan in 2025 was marked by major political, economic, technological and cultural developments that directly affected daily life. The Astana Times rounds up some of the most widely read domestic stories of the year. Digital transformation at the forefront Digitalization dominated Kazakhstan’s domestic policy agenda in 2025, as the country accelerated its ambition…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attracted $10.55 billion in investment in the first six months of the year, underscoring the country’s continued investment appeal despite ongoing geopolitical instability. In an interview with Kazinform, the experts outlined key trends, challenges and prospects shaping Kazakhstan’s investment landscape. Top investing countries and sectoral trends According to the National Bank of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector recorded steady growth in 2025, driven by improvements in safety, passenger traffic and international cooperation, said Chair of the Civil Aviation Committee Saltanat Tompiyeva in an interview with The Astana Times. In September, Kazakhstan passed an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation security audit, achieving a 95.7% compliance rate…

ASTANA – Kazakh films are gaining a growing audience across Central Asia, as the country’s film industry builds on a preserved production base and a new generation of trained professionals to secure a place on the global cinematic map. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information, domestic films earned more than 22 billion tenge…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan unveiled the E-museum digital portal at the National Museum of Kazakhstan on Dec. 24, marking a step toward creating a unified online space for museums nationwide, reported the Ministry of Culture and Information. The E-museum portal consolidates museum collections nationwide into a single digital platform, providing scholarly descriptions of cultural artifacts and…

ASTANA – Fourteen-year-old Kazakh tennis player Ahmadi Makhanov has been named Overseas Player of the Year (non-European category) by the Tennis Europe Tour, reported the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation (KTF) on Dec. 24. Makhanov posted consistently strong results throughout 2025, finishing the year 24th in the Tennis Europe under-16 rankings. He won one singles title at…

ASTANA – The Kyrgyz Republic commissioned its first solar power plant in the Kemin district of the Chui Region on Dec. 24, with President Sadyr Japarov attending the launch ceremony, according to the president’s press service. The 100-megawatt facility is expected to generate around 210 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually and reduce carbon dioxide…

ASTANA – Exports of Georgian goods to Kazakhstan reached $849.9 million in January-November, up 6.8% from the same period in 2024, placing Kazakhstan among Georgia’s top three export destinations, according to preliminary data from Georgia’s National Statistics Office (Geostat), reported Kazinform on Dec.24. Kazakhstan accounted for 12.8% of Georgia’s total exports, making it the country’s…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan established three new special economic zones, including Korkyt Ata, Aktobe and Atyrau in 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen investment attraction, announced QazIndustry, the national operator for special economic and industrial zones on Dec. 25. The country also expanded the territories of several existing special economic zones, such as Turan, Aktau…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has ranked among the top ten countries worldwide in reducing mortality from noncommunicable diseases. According to the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe, the rate fell by 25% by 2025, reported 24.kz news agency on Dec.22. The Ministry of Health attributed the progress to expanded prevention programs, earlier diagnosis and improved…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has established a State Debt Management Council to improve coordination of public borrowing and develop the government securities market, the Ministry of Finance reported on Dec. 22. The consultative body was created jointly by the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of National Economy. The council will…

ASTANA – The Light Rail Transit (LRT) system is expected to complete its testing phase and enter full operation within the next few months, Astana mayor (governor) Zhenis Kassymbek said at a briefing at the Central Communications Service on Dec. 22.  The LRT has been operating in test mode since September. Kassymbek said all rail…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will become the world’s second-largest producer of gallium after Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) signed a long-term supply agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation RtM Japan Ltd. during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Japan, reported the ERG’s press service on Dec. 20. The project is one of ERG’s key initiatives focused on critical minerals.…

ASTANA – Kazakh ornament has always been more than decoration. For centuries, the swirling motifs etched into leather, stitched onto felt, or woven into textiles carried the stories, beliefs, and identity of a nomadic people. Among the traditional crafts, keste, a type of ornamental embroidery, holds a special place as one of the most distinctive…

ASTANA – The cost of a standard festive grocery basket in Kazakhstan will amount to  roughly 70,000 tenge (US$136) by the end of 2025. This is an increase of around 2,000 tenge (US$4) compared to last year, according to an analysis by the Ministry of Trade and Integration. The figures were announced during a government…

ASTANA – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) marked IOFS Day and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Food Security Day with a high-level roundtable on Dec.17 in Astana, where participants reaffirmed their commitment to addressing food insecurity through multilateral cooperation. Ambassador and IOFS Director General Berik Aryn thanked the Kazakh government and people…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Dec. 18 at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev thanked Takaichi for the warm reception extended to the Kazakh delegation and described the visit as an important milestone in relations between the…

ASTANA – Tajikistan’s population increased by 26% over the past decade, reaching 10.7 million people, said Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in his annual address to parliament on Dec. 16, according to Kazinform news agency. Rahmon outlined the results of two short-term national programs implemented over the past 10 years as part of the country’s National…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will light more than 40 New Year’s trees simultaneously across six districts on Dec. 19 as part of citywide celebrations held under the unified fairy-tale theme Ertegi Fest, reported the city’s akimat (administration) press service. Concert programs will begin at major locations at 5:30 p.m., followed by the official tree-lighting…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Emperor Naruhito of Japan on Dec. 18 during his first official visit to the country, reported the Akorda press service. During the meeting, Tokayev expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Japanese side and noted that Japan has long inspired the people of Kazakhstan with its…