Tokayev Pledges $14 Billion for Infrastructure, Sets 2029 Energy Surplus Target
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will allocate 6.5 trillion tenge (US$14.3 billion) from the National Fund by the end of 2029 to modernize infrastructure nationwide, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in his annual state-of-the-nation address on Oct. 28. Tokayev outlined a People’s Construction program to develop social, transport and engineering infrastructure, create jobs and stimulate economic growth. He…
Kazakhstan, UN Discuss Steps to Strengthen Cooperation Among Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United Nations have discussed practical measures to strengthen cooperation among nuclear-weapon-free zones and advance the implementation of recommendations from a new UN comprehensive study on the subject. The forum was hosted by Kazakhstan’s Permanent Mission to the UN in cooperation with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) on Oct.…
Kazakhstan, Belgium Look to Expand Cooperation Following Royal State Visit, Kazakh Ambassador Says
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Belgium are looking to expand cooperation in trade, transport, critical minerals, education and advanced technologies, following the recent state visit of Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of Mission to the European Union Roman Vassilenko said at a briefing in Brussels.…
Kazakhstan, Brazil Explore Aviation Security Cooperation During ICAO Week
ASTANA – Representatives of Brazil’s key aviation institutions took part in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Security Week 2026, held in Astana from Oct. 20 to 22, as Kazakhstan hosted the international event for the first time. The forum brought together more than 1,000 participants from 62 countries, including government officials, aviation regulators, representatives…
Kazakhstan Eyes Direct Flights to New York in 2027 as Air Astana’s Dreamliner Undergoes Testing
ASTANA – Kazakhstan could launch direct flights between Astana and New York in 2027, following the expected completion of a United States’ aviation safety assessment and the planned introduction of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev said. Speaking on the sidelines of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) security week event,…
NVIDIA CEO Proposes Kazakhstan as Global Hub for Physical AI
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with NVIDIA co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang in Astana on Oct. 23 to discuss cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, highlighting Kazakhstan’s ambition to become an AI-driven nation. During the meeting at Akorda, Tokayev emphasized the importance of Huang’s visit in strengthening bilateral cooperation and expressed gratitude…
World Wrestling Championships 2026: Entries Announced for Astana
ASTANA – A total of 320 wrestlers are set to compete in wrestling at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships, which will take place at Barys Arena in Astana from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. The entry list features athletes from around on the world across 10 weight categories, ranging from 57 kilograms to 125 kilograms.…
Tokayev: Republic Day Marks Kazakhstan’s Progress as New Priorities Set for Next Week’s Address
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan’s priority tasks and development plans would be outlined in his state-of-the-nation-address next week, speaking at an Oct. 23 ceremony marking Republic Day celebrated on Oct. 25. Addressing the ceremony, Tokayev said Kazakhstan could not afford to rest on its achievements amid growing global challenges and intensifying competition. “Amid…
Kazakhstan Secures Easier Entry for Tourists to Egypt During Foreign Minister’s Visit
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has secured an agreement to ease entry requirements for its citizens traveling to Egypt for tourism, following talks between Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty in Cairo on Oct. 22. Under the agreement, Kazakhstan will be removed from the list of Central Asian countries whose citizens face additional…
Kazakhstan Backs UAE Nominee Lana Nusseibeh for UN Secretary-General
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has expressed support for the United Arab Emirates’ nomination of diplomat Lana Zaki Nusseibeh for the post of United Nations secretary-general, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. The UAE formally nominated Nusseibeh, its minister of state for foreign affairs and former permanent representative to the UN, on Oct. 21. The nomination was…
Kazakhstan, ICAO Pledge to Strengthen Civil Aviation Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar in Astana on Oct. 21 to discuss strengthening cooperation on aviation safety, infrastructure development and the country’s transit potential. During the meeting, Bektenov highlighted the strategic importance of cooperation with ICAO as Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen…
Kazakhstan Approves Military Reform Plan to Modernize Armed Forces
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Security Council has approved a military reform plan aimed at modernizing the Armed Forces, restructuring military management and training, and establishing a new Unmanned Forces branch, according to the presidential press service. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired an Oct. 21 Security Council meeting, where he called for the creation of a modern, mobile…
Stories We Inherit: Almaty Exhibition Explores Women’s Memory and Ancestral Knowledge
ALMATY – An international exhibition exploring women’s heritage, ancestral knowledge and cultural memory through contemporary art opened at the Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture in Almaty on Oct. 15, bringing together 21 artists and thinkers from Central Asia and other parts of the world. Titled “Himoya: Matrilineal Energies, Oracular Kin,” the exhibition is curated by…
Central Asia is Shaping Terms of Cooperation With China, Experts Say
ALMATY – Central Asian countries are increasingly shaping how China invests, builds infrastructure and develops technological partnerships in the region, challenging the perception that Beijing follows a single model of global engagement, experts said at an Oct. 20 discussion in Almaty. Organized by the Almaty-based CAPS Unlock think tank and the Carnegie Endowment for International…
What Are Most Popular Flight Destinations From Astana in 2026
ASTANA – Almaty, Shymkent, Atyrau, Istanbul, Moscow and Beijing are among the most popular flight destinations for passengers departing from Astana in 2026, according to Astana International Airport. Domestic routes to Almaty, Shymkent and Atyrau lead in passenger traffic, reflecting strong demand for travel between Kazakhstan’s major cities. Pavlodar has also recorded a noticeable increase…
Kazakhstan Tops World Fencing Rankings for First Time in History
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s men’s fencing team has topped the International Fencing Federation (FIE) world rankings for the first time in the country’s history, following a gold-medal victory at the World Cup stage in Casablanca, Morocco, the Kazakhstan Fencing Federation announced. The team opened the 2026-2027 season with the victory, building on a series of major…
EFSD Raises Kazakhstan’s 2027 Growth Forecast to 5%, Expects Inflation to Ease
ASTANA – The Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD) has raised its forecast for Kazakhstan’s economic growth in 2027 to 5%, up from 4.6% in its previous outlook, while projecting a gradual decline in inflation through 2029. The fund expects Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 5% in 2026, following 6.5% growth…
IMF Expects Kazakhstan’s Inflation to Ease and Economic Growth to Accelerate in 2027
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s inflation is projected to decline to 8.2% in 2027, while economic growth is expected to accelerate to 4.9%, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest World Economic Outlook, released Oct. 13 at the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok. The IMF forecasts inflation to fall from 11.4% in 2025…
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Launch 380-Kilometer Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have launched a 380-kilometer fiber-optic communication line across the Caspian Sea, creating a new digital link intended to connect Central Asia and China with Europe and strengthen the region’s telecommunications infrastructure. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took part in the launch ceremony on Oct. 15. The…
Kazakhstan Puts Forward New Initiatives on Security, Energy and Digital Cooperation at CICA Summit in Baku
ASTANA — Kazakhstan proposes expanding the agenda of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to include artificial intelligence (AI), preventive diplomacy, water cooperation and regional transport connectivity, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the seventh CICA summit in Baku on Oct. 15. Speaking at the summit, Tokayev also called for transforming…
What Kazakhstan Expects to Earn From Oil in 2027
ASTANA – Kazakhstan expects to receive nearly 3.78 trillion tenge (US$7.9 billion) from oil-sector organizations for its National Fund in 2027, according to a draft national budget for 2027-2029. The draft budget was approved in the first reading by deputies of the Kurultai on Oct. 14. The forecast is based on expected oil production of…
Kazakhstan Targets 100 Million Tons in Annual Transit Cargo by 2035
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to increase annual transit cargo volumes to 100 million tons by 2035 as it expands transport infrastructure and strengthens connections between major Eurasian trade corridors, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at Kazakhstan Transport Week in Astana on Oct. 15. The forum brought together transport experts from around 40 countries to discuss…
Kazakhstan, Belgium Seek Deeper Trade and Investment Ties at Business Council
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Belgium are seeking to deepen cooperation in transport and logistics, critical minerals, energy, advanced technologies and manufacturing, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and King Philippe said at the Oct. 13 fourth meeting of the Kazakh-Belgian Business Council during the Belgian monarch’s state visit to Kazakhstan. Belgium ranks among the 10 largest investors in…
Kazakhstan to Hold Early Maslikhat Elections This November
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will hold early elections for local representative bodies, known as maslikhats, on Nov. 29, the Central Election Commission announced at an Oct. 13 meeting. The elections will fill 3,447 seats across 228 maslikhats at the regional, city and district levels, Deputy Chair of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman said. Of the…
Kazakhstan’s Business Tourism Market Expands: Which Region Attracts Most Visitors?
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s resort areas received 510,800 visitors traveling for business and professional purposes in the first half of 2026, with the Almaty Mountain Cluster accounting for 77.3% of the total, according to an analysis by Ranking.kz. The figures highlight the growing role of business tourism in the country’s tourism industry, as companies increasingly combine…
