Kazakhstan and Czech Republic Scale Up Economic Ties: $705 Million and Counting
ALMATY— Trade between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic reached $705 million in 2025, marking a 13% increase year-on-year, as the two countries moved to deepen economic and investment cooperation during high-level talks in Astana on April 28. Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with his Czech counterpart Andrej Babiš, who arrived in the capital on…
UAE Investment in Kazakhstan Hits $1.6 Billion as Renewables Take Focus
ALMATY – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked among the top five largest investors in Kazakhstan in 2025, with investment reaching nearly $1.64 billion, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev said during talks in Abu Dhabi on April 27. As part of his official visit to the UAE, Kosherbayev met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign…
Middle Corridor Targets 600 China–Kazakhstan Container Trains
ALMATY – Countries participating in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, plan to increase container traffic, including up to 600 container trains from China through Kazakhstan in 2026, following agreements reached at a meeting in Astana on April 24. The decisions were adopted during sessions of the International Association…
76-Year-Old Kazakh Traveler Reaches Paris After Multi-Year Journey on Foot
ALMATY – A 76-year-old Kazakh traveler, Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, was officially welcomed at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris on April 24, marking a milestone in his multi-year journey across Eurasia on foot. Kotyrashov, a resident of the Ulytau Region, has spent the past three years traveling across Kazakhstan and beyond, covering countries including Mongolia, China, Russia, Georgia,…
TotalEnergies Approves $1.2 Billion Wind and Storage Project in Kazakhstan
ALMATY – TotalEnergies, a global integrated energy company, has taken a final investment decision on a $1.2 billion wind and battery energy storage project in Kazakhstan, marking one of the country’s largest renewable energy initiatives to date. The Mirny project, located in the Zhambyl Region, will combine 1 gigawatt (GW) of wind capacity with a…
Kazakhstan, Türkiye Open Airspace for Military Transit Cooperation
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Türkiye will allow the transit of military cargo and personnel through each other’s airspace following the ratification of a bilateral agreement by Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) on April 23. The agreement establishes a legal framework for the mutual use of airspace to transport military personnel, equipment, and cargo and aims…
What Kazakh Ornaments Reveal About Nomadic Life and Nature
ALMATY – Long before written language became widespread, the nomadic world spoke through patterns. In Kazakh culture, ornaments were more than decoration: they carried identity, beliefs, and a way of seeing the world shaped by life in the steppe. Ethnographer and craftswoman Bulbul Kapkyzy says traditional oyu-örnek (ornament) should be understood not as a single…
Almaty to Host IMF Regional Capacity Development Center for Central Asia, Caucasus and Mongolia
ALMATY – Almaty will host a Regional Capacity Development Center of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) serving the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia, as Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) ratified the agreement on April 23. The center will support countries in the region in strengthening public institutions and enhancing the skills of government officials, senate…
Transit Along Trans-Caspian Route Triples Over Five Years as Kazakhstan Expands Port Infrastructure
ALMATY – Transit volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) have tripled over the past five years, as Kazakhstan continues to invest in port infrastructure and logistics capacity, officials said during a working visit to the Mangystau Region. Nurzhan Kelbuganov, chairman of the railway and water transport committee under the Transport Ministry, reviewed progress…
Kazakhstan Celebrates April 23 as National Book Day and Librarians’ Day
ALMATY – Kazakhstan marks National Book Day and Librarians’ Day on April 23, highlighting the growing role of reading culture and the modernization of library services across the country. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the nation, emphasizing the importance of preserving a strong reading culture in the digital age, reported the Akorda. “A culture of reading,…
Air Astana Expands International Network, Boosts Transit Traffic by 65%
ALMATY – Air Astana Group is accelerating its international expansion in 2026, boosting transit passenger traffic by 65% in the first quarter and launching new routes across Asia and Europe. The number of international transit passengers traveling via Kazakhstan rose sharply compared with the same period last year, driven by network expansion and capacity adjustments,…
Kazakhstan Reaches Record 33rd Place in World Happiness Report 2026
ALMATY – Kazakhstan ranked 33rd in the World Happiness Report 2026, marking its highest position to date and climbing 10 places compared to last year. Kazakhstan’s average life satisfaction score reached 6.633 points, reflecting a notable increase from the previous year. The country not only improved its ranking but also outperformed several developed economies, including…
Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Expand Railway Cooperation as Freight Volumes Surge
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Afghanistan are continuing to strengthen cooperation in the railway sector, as freight volumes between the two countries showed significant growth in early 2026, reported the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy’s (KTZ) press service on April 21. This was discussed during a meeting on the sidelines of the Organization for Cooperation Between Railways (OSJD)…
Progress Isn’t Perfect, And That’s What Makes It Human
There is a certain expectation we carry when we think about technological progress. It is often imagined as a straight line that dispenses with all inaccuracies along its path. People may imagine a future where systems work seamlessly with automation, replacing friction. Someone may think that this future world might make life easier, faster, and…
Kazakhstan Targets Major Oil Find with 20 Billion Ton Potential
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) is advancing exploration of a major hydrocarbon prospect on the Zhylyoi carbonate platform, with potential resources comparable to the giant Kashagan oil field. The project, still at an early stage, could hold up to 20 billion tons of oil equivalent, according to preliminary estimates, reported…
Kazakhstan Enters Global Top 20 in Aviation Security
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has ranked among the top 20 countries worldwide in aviation security, with its safety compliance indicator reaching 95.7%, officials said during the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Implementation Support Symposium 2026 (GISS 2026) in Marrakech, Morocco, where Kazakhstan’s aviation progress was presented to global partners. The meeting brought together the President…
Kazakhstan Aims to Boost Trade with Afghanistan to $3 Billion Amid Transit Push
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to increase trade with Afghanistan to $3 billion in the coming years, up from the current level of around $500 million annually, as it expands cooperation in logistics and infrastructure, said Special Representative of the Kazakh President for Afghanistan – Ambassador-at-Large Yerkin Tukumov in an interview with Jibek Joly radio. According…
Kazakhstan Expands UK Partnership with Visa Talks and Growing $1.6 Billion Trade
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is set to host branches of British universities and expand cooperation in energy, trade, and technology under a new agreement with the United Kingdom, as both sides look to surpass last year’s $1.6 billion trade turnover in 2025. The plans were outlined as Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) ratified a strategic partnership…
Uzbekistan Joins World Bank-Led Initiative to Boost Water Security for 1 Billion People
ALMATY – Uzbekistan has joined a global initiative led by the World Bank Group to improve water security for one billion people by 2030, officials announced on April 15 during the Spring Meetings in Washington. The initiative, known as Water Forward, was launched with the participation of World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and UN…
Tokayev to Attend Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Erdoğan to Visit Kazakhstan in May
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will take part in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 17–19, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan on May 14. The upcoming visit by Erdoğan is expected to include a meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and the signing…
Tashkent’s Center of Islamic Civilization Enters Guinness World Records
ALMATY – The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan has been officially recognized as the world’s largest museum of Islamic civilization, earning a prestigious title from Guinness World Records on April 13, reported the museum’s press service. The award ceremony took place in Tashkent with the participation of official Guinness adjudicator Sheyda Subasi, who confirmed that…
Kazakhstan Shows Resilience as IMF Cuts Global Growth Forecast to 3.1%
ALMATY – Despite a downgrade in global economic prospects, Kazakhstan is expected to maintain solid growth momentum, according to the latest April 14 report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While the IMF has lowered its global GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 3.1%, the outlook for Kazakhstan remains comparatively strong, highlighting the country’s resilience…
Kazakhstan Climbs in Global Passport Ranking, Expands Travel Access
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has improved its standing in the global passport ranking, securing 57th place in the 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index. According to the latest data, Kazakh citizens can now travel to 78 destinations worldwide either visa-free or with simplified entry procedures. The index, widely regarded as a key benchmark of global…
Dimash Qudaibergen Receives First Award as Producer at Weibo Gala in Macau
ALMATY – Kazakh singer and global artist Dimash Qudaibergen received the Weibo Macau China Award for Annual Contribution to International Cultural Exchange, his first international award as a producer on April 11, marking a new milestone in his career, at the 2026 Weibo Gala in Macau. The award ceremony took place at the Venetian Macao…
Almaty Tourism Revenues Top $240 Million as Visitor Numbers Grow
ALMATY – Tourism revenues in Almaty exceeded 110.9 billion tenge (US$240 million) in 2025, as the city saw steady growth in visitor numbers, investment and international recognition, reported the city’s administration. According to the city administration, the volume of tourism services increased by 15.2% year-on-year, reflecting a broader recovery and expansion of the sector. At…
