Kazakhstan’s Citizens to Receive Free Short-Term Visas to India
ALMATY – India will begin offering free visas to Kazakh citizens, Indian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sailas Tangal announced at an official reception in Astana commemorating India’s 77th Republic Day. According to the ambassador, the Indian government has decided to grant Kazakh citizens free visa entry for up to 30 days for tourism, medical treatment, and…
Kyrgyz Republic’s GDP Nears $23 Billion as Economy Grows Over 11% in 2025
ALMATY – The Kyrgyz Republic’s gross domestic product (GDP) nearly reached 2 trillion soms (approximately US$22.8 billion) in 2025, as the country recorded real economic growth of more than 11%, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev said at a Jan. 26 government meeting. According to preliminary figures, GDP totaled 1.976 trillion soms (US$22.8 billion) by the end…
President Tokayev Urges Unified Digital System for Kazakhstan’s Law Enforcement
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed the importance of strengthening the rule of law and enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies through digitalization amid large-scale political reforms underway in Kazakhstan, during a Jan. 26 meeting at the Prosecutor General’s Office. Tokayev emphasized that the country is undergoing major transformations, including constitutional reform and a…
Kazakhstan to Seek UNESCO Status for Key Religious and Historical Sites
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will intensify efforts to promote its historical and cultural heritage at the international level, including through new nominations to UNESCO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva said at a Jan. 21 government meeting. One of the key areas highlighted was the promotion of Kazakhstan’s historical and cultural…
Kazakhstan Joins First Global Cohort of OpenAI Edu Initiative
ALMATY – OpenAI has launched the first international cohort of its Edu for Countries initiative under the global OpenAI for Countries program, with Kazakhstan selected among the initial participating nations alongside Estonia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Greece. Kazakhstan’s inclusion marks a major milestone in the country’s education and digital transformation agenda, making…
Kazakhstan Attracts $150 Million Investment for Greenhouse Project in Shymkent
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov and Fabe Polska CEO Fatih Budan have signed an investment agreement to implement a large-scale greenhouse project worth 69 billion tenge (approximately US$150 million) aimed at boosting domestic vegetable production and export capacity. The project involves the construction of a modern greenhouse complex in Shymkent with an…
National Bank Holds Base Rate at 18% as Inflation Pressures Persist
ALMATY – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided to keep its base interest rate at 18%, citing persistent inflationary pressures and elevated uncertainty in both domestic and external conditions, reported the bank’s press service on Jan. 23. According to the NBK’s Monetary Policy Committee, inflation reached 12.3% in 2025, fully in line with…
Kazakhstan Presents National Education Pavilion at Bett UK 2026 in London
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has presented its national pavilion at Bett UK 2026, one of the world’s largest international platforms dedicated to educational technology, digital transformation, and innovation in learning from Jan. 21 to 23. The Kazakh delegation is led by Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, who is attending the exhibition and holding…
Kazakhstan Approves $370 Million in Investments to Localize Pharmaceutical Production
ALMATY – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has signed government resolutions approving investment agreements between the Ministry of Healthcare and four pharmaceutical companies, including AltINFARM, MSP-ROMPHARM, Abdi Ibrahim Global Pharm, and Nobel Almaty Pharmaceutical Factory. The total investment volume across the projects amounts to 173 billion tenge (approximately US$370 million). The approved projects envisage the…
Kazakh Sappers Destroy Over 1,200 Explosives During UN Mission in Golan Heights
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s engineering and sapper unit deployed to the Golan Heights has destroyed more than 1,200 explosive devices while carrying out tasks under the mandate of the United Nations, the Defense Ministry reported on Jan. 21. Since April 11, 2025, the personnel of the engineering-sapper group within Kazakhstan’s national contingent have conducted 44 operations,…
Kazakhstan to Channel $17B Into Real Sector as Government Unveils Broad Reform Agenda
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will allocate around 8 trillion tenge (approximately US$17 billion) to support the real sector of the economy and ensure GDP growth of at least 5%, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said at a Jan. 21 government meeting, following the fifth session of the National Kurultai. According to…
FC Kairat Suffers Defeat Against Club Brugge in Champions League Home Match
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat suffered a heavy 4:1 defeat to Belgium’s Club Brugge in a UEFA Champions League group-stage match played at Astana Arena on Jan. 20. The visitors dominated from the opening minutes, applying high pressure and controlling possession. Club Brugge came close early on when Mamadou Diakhon struck the post, signaling the…
Kazakhstan’s Tengiz Field Remains Offline After Fire, CPC Shipments Canceled
ALMATY – Oil production at Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oilfield could remain suspended for 7-10 days, following an emergency shutdown over the weekend, potentially further tightening crude exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), industry sources told Reuters on Jan. 20. Operations at the Tengiz and Korolevskoye fields, operated by Tengizchevroil (TCO), were halted on Jan. 19…
Tokayev to Sign Gaza Peace Council Charter in Davos at Trump’s Invitation
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will visit Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22 at the invitation of the United States President Donald Trump to attend the signing ceremony of the Charter of the Board of Peace, according to the statement published by Akorda on the X social media page. The event will formalize the creation of…
Kazakhstan Develops Central Asia’s Largest AI Model for Turkic Speech Recognition
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has developed the largest artificial intelligence model for automatic speech recognition (ASR) of Turkic languages, marking a major milestone for the region’s digital transformation and technological sovereignty. The model was unveiled by Cybernet AI, a Kazakh startup specializing in secure corporate AI solutions. It is the first large-scale ASR system in Central…
Kazakhstan’s Diplomas to Be Recognized Across Asia-Pacific Region
ASTANA — Kazakhstan has taken a significant step toward integrating its higher education system into the global academic space, as the Senate (upper chamber of Parliament) ratified the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education at a Jan. 15 plenary session. The convention aims to strengthen international trust in Kazakh university…
KMG International Showcases Record Financial Results in 2025
ALMATY – KMG International (KMG) reported strong financial and operational performance in 2025, posting record profitability and solid growth across its refining and retail operations, according to preliminary results for the year. Operationally, the group continued to strengthen its core assets. The Petromidia refinery processed a total of 5.88 million tons of crude oil in…
Almaty Opens American Space & Makerspace Cultural and Education Center
ALMATY – A cultural and educational center, American Space & Makerspace, officially opened in Almaty on Jan. 16, marking an expansion of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States in education, innovation and cultural exchange. The center was launched at the Zhambyl Youth Library with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan and the…
Kazakhstan’s Parliamentary Reform Could Lead to New Constitution, Tokayev Says
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s ongoing parliamentary reform could lead to consideration of a new Constitution, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a Jan. 19 meeting with the working group on the upcoming reform. “The implementation of parliamentary reform will require revising several sections of the Constitution. Therefore, taking into account the amendments introduced earlier, the draft proposed…
Trump Invites Kazakhstan to Join Gaza Peace Council
ALMATY — Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has received an official invitation from the United States President Donald Trump to join the newly established Gaza Peace Council, with Kazakhstan proposed as one of the body’s founding member states, Presidential Press Secretary Ruslan Zheldibay told Tengrinews agency on Jan. 19. According to Zheldibay, Tokayev was among the first world…
International Logistics Player Expands Rail Footprint Along Trans-Caspian Route
ALMATY — The Rhenus Group has strengthened its presence in Central Asia with the acquisition of its first rail-connected intermodal terminal in Kazakhstan, marking a strategic step in the company’s long-term development of integrated logistics infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Located at the Bayserke railway station in the Almaty region, the new…
Kazakhstan, Germany to Establish Regional Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Central Asia
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Germany will establish a Regional Center for Sustainable Agriculture for Central Asia and Germany at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing, following discussions held during the 18th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in Berlin. The idea of creating a Regional Center for Sustainable Agriculture was discussed…
Kazakhstan Boosts Oil Output in 2025 as Western Regions Drive Growth
ALMATY — Kazakhstan significantly strengthened its position in the oil sector in 2025, recording robust growth in hydrocarbon production, according to data released by the Bureau of National Statistics under the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms on Jan. 16. Oil and gas condensate production reached 99.4 million tons, representing 113.3% of the 2024 level,…
Bibisara Assaubayeva to Make Historic Debut at Norway Chess Women 2026
ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s chess star Bibisara Assaubayeva will make her long-awaited debut at Norway Chess Women 2026 from May 25 to June 5 at Deichman Bjørvika in Oslo, marking a new milestone in the career of one of the world’s most accomplished young players. The reigning Women’s World Blitz Champion, Assaubayeva arrives at the elite…
Astana Joins European Network for Accessible Tourism
ALMATY – Astana has officially joined the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), becoming the first city from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to be admitted to the European platform, the city administration’s press service reported on Jan. 14. The inclusion marks international recognition of Astana’s efforts to build an inclusive urban environment for…
