Articles by Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – Oil loading operations at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal were suspended after two tankers carrying Kazakh crude came under a drone attack on July 19, prompting authorities to assess the damage before exports can resume. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Energy, the tankers ASIA and NISSOS IOS were loading oil…

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the countries’ “eternal comprehensive strategic partnership” during talks in Shanghai on July 16, signing a new roadmap for trade and economic cooperation for 2027-2030 and pledging to deepen collaboration in trade, investment, artificial intelligence and regional security. The meeting took place ahead of the…

ALMATY – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has launched Creative Pitch Day 2026 this July, a pilot initiative designed to connect investors with creative businesses and help transform intellectual property into investable assets. The program is open to companies working in movie, music, game development and digital content creation. Applicants must hold registered intellectual…

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited Chinese technology companies to expand their presence in Kazakhstan during a roundtable with Chinese business leaders in Shanghai on July 16, presenting the country as an emerging hub for artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, smart logistics and high-tech manufacturing. Speaking ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), Tokayev said…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan ranked 61st out of 171 assessed countries in the 2026 Global Social Progress Index, scoring 70.85 points in an assessment that measures quality of life and social development independently of economic performance. Published annually by the Social Progress Imperative, the index evaluates countries using 57 indicators across three broad dimensions: Basic Human…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan will officially put the digital tenge into circulation on July 18, marking the next stage in the country’s central bank digital currency project that has been under development since 2021. The launch is provided by amendments to Kazakhstan’s legislation on financial market regulation, communications and bankruptcy, which recognize the digital tenge as…

ALMATY – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev praised Kazakhstan’s growing strategic role in regional transport, energy and digital connectivity projects, saying close cooperation between the two countries is essential to developing the Caspian region. Speaking at the third Shusha Global Media Forum, Aliyev said relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan continue to deepen across a wide range…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev traveled to Doha to personally offer his condolences to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the ruling Al Thani family following the death of the Emir’s father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. During the meeting on July 13, Tokayev paid tribute to Sheikh Hamad’s legacy, describing…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan formally joined the newly established International Organization for Mediation after Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev signed the organization’s convention during his official visit to China on July 13, where he also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on expanding bilateral trade, artificial intelligence cooperation and the countries’ permanent comprehensive strategic…

ALMATY – East Kazakhstan will host the gala concert of the international festival Altai – The Golden Cradle of the Turkic World on July 11, bringing together acclaimed performers from across the Turkic world and beyond for a celebration of shared cultural heritage. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Altai mountains, the concert will…

ALMATY – As Michelle Yerkin prepares to conclude her tenure as the United States Consul General in Almaty, she leaves Kazakhstan at a moment of deepening engagement between the two countries. For Yerkin, who first served in Almaty two decades ago in 2003, the posting has been both a professional milestone and a personal journey…

ASTANA – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of meetings with the heads of major international financial institutions and global companies on the sidelines of the 38th plenary session of the Foreign Investors’ Council on July 2, discussing investment, infrastructure, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and strategic industrial cooperation. During talks with President of the European Bank…

ASTANA — Astana attracted a record 438.3 billion tenge (US$840 million) in tourism investment in 2025, the highest figure among Kazakhstan’s regions, as the capital continues to expand its tourism infrastructure and international promotion efforts, city officials said. Speaking at a July 1 briefing at the Central Communications Service, Maksat Zhanabayev, deputy head of Astana’s…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan’s new investment agenda centered on artificial intelligence, digitalization, critical minerals and value-added manufacturing at the 38th plenary session of the Foreign Investors’ Council on July 2, reaffirming the country’s commitment to maintaining its position as Central Asia’s leading investment destination. Addressing international investors, Tokayev said Kazakhstan has continued…

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said trade between Kazakhstan and China reached a record $49 billion as he met with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji in Astana on May 26 to discuss expanding the countries’ strategic partnership, reported the Akorda.  During the talks, Tokayev noted that cumulative Chinese…

ALMATY – Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan rescuers have arrived in Tajikistan to participate in multinational emergency response exercises focused on earthquake response and climate-related risks, reported the ministry’s press service. The Kazakh delegation includes specialists from the National Rescue Service Barys, the Almaty Emergency Rescue Service, emergency departments from the Karagandy Region and…

ALMATY – United World Wrestling (UWW) has officially confirmed Astana as the host city for the 2026 Wrestling World Championships, reported the Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee on May 22. The decision was approved by the UWW Executive Committee following a review of current geopolitical factors and ongoing challenges affecting international travel and event logistics. The…

ALMATY – Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan from May 27 to 29 at the invitation of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Akorda. During bilateral talks, the two presidents are expected to discuss the current state and future prospects of Kazakhstan–Russia relations, with a focus on strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership and…

ALMATY – More than 60 countries have officially confirmed their participation in the sixth World Nomad Games, which will take place in the Kyrgyz Republic from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, according to Kyrgyz Culture Minister Mirbek Mambetaliev. Organizers expect athletes and delegations from more than 90 countries to ultimately take part in the international…

ALMATY – As interest in mountain tourism around Almaty continues to grow, rescuers, tourism officials and mountaineers are raising concerns about the increasing number of unprepared hikers venturing into dangerous terrain, particularly teenagers and amateur tourist groups influenced by social media. Authorities are now considering introducing mandatory registration for tourists before entering mountain routes in…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan could launch passenger and cargo air taxi services between Alatau, Almaty and Konayev as early as 2027, as the country moves forward with testing a new generation of electric vertical takeoff aircraft, reported the Kazinform news agency. The announcement follows Kazakhstan’s first-ever demonstration flight of an air taxi on May 19 at…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan aims to increase domestic participation in its future nuclear power industry to 30% before construction begins on the country’s planned nuclear power plants, a move expected to generate up to $4.5 billion in local production and contracts. The target is outlined in a new government-approved comprehensive plan for the Development of Localization…

ALMATY – As part of the international symposium on Golden Horde, held in Astana on May 19–20 under the auspices of UNESCO, Kazakhstan advanced new UNESCO bids for ancient Silk Road cities and sacred underground mosques. At a meeting with acting UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture and Director of the World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is preparing for a busy summer tourism season with upgraded airports, new transport links, expanded beach infrastructure and increased safety measures across the country’s main resort areas, officials said during a government briefing on May 20. The preparations come as Kazakhstan continues to invest in domestic tourism infrastructure and seeks to attract…

ALMATY – Rivers in Kazakhstan became both witnesses and storytellers in “When the River Speaks,” a multimedia exhibition that ran from May 9 to 18 in Almaty, bringing together artists, architects, journalists and researchers to reflect on the devastating floods in the country in 2024 and the growing impact of climate change. The spring 2024…