Kazakhstan’s Rybakina Extends Lead at Top of WTA Rankings
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina continues to lead the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings, holding a lead of more than 1,600 points over her closest rival, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, while Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva has climbed 13 places to 66th, according to the latest rankings. Rybakina has 9,196 points, ahead of Sabalenka with 7,550.…
KMG International Posts Higher Profits as EBITDA Climbs to $469 Million
ASTANA – KMG International, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas, reported a 73% year-on-year increase in consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to $469 million in the first nine months of 2026, the company announced. Net profit reached $269 million, up 219% compared with the same period last…
Kazakhstan Pledges $25 Million to Extend Partnership With IMF Regional Center
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has pledged $25 million to extend its partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia Regional Capacity Development Center, based in Almaty, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva announced on LinkedIn. “With the new pledge of $25 million, Kazakhstan shows its leadership and commitment to supporting stronger…
Kazakhstan Wins Five Medals, Finishes Second at U23 World Wrestling Championships
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Greco-Roman wrestling team won five medals, including two golds, at the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, the United States, finishing second in the team standings. Kazakhstan collected 114 points, behind Iran with 119 points and ahead of Russia, which finished third with 105 points. Aibek Aitbekov won gold in the…
Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 4.2% as Manufacturing and Private Investment Drive Expansion
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy grew 4.2% in the first nine months of 2026, supported by non-oil sectors, rising private investment and expanding industrial production, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said at a government meeting on Oct. 13. The non-resource sector grew 5.4%, while construction, manufacturing, transport services and trade accounted…
Aktau Port Dredging Project Aims to Cut Shipping Costs and Boost Cargo Capacity
ASTANA – Dredging works at the Port of Aktau on the Caspian Sea are expected to increase cargo volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) by up to 30% and reduce maritime shipping costs by 10-15%, according to the port administration. The main phase of the project began in October, with completion scheduled for…
Almaty Expands International Air Links With New Routes to Dubai, Hanoi and Prague
ASTANA – Flydubai has launched regular cargo flights between Dubai and Almaty, establishing a direct air freight connection between two major logistics hubs in the Middle East and Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport reported on Oct. 12. Almaty International Airport welcomed the airline’s first cargo flight from Dubai on Oct. 12. The arrival was…
Kazakh Foreign Ministry Condemns Attacks in Saudi Arabia, Issues Advisory for Kazakh Citizens
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged citizens in Saudi Arabia to exercise heightened caution following attacks on the country’s civilian infrastructure that caused casualties, according to the ministry’s spokesperson Zhanbolat Ussenov. The ministry advised Kazakh citizens to follow instructions from local authorities, avoid airports unless necessary and check flight statuses with airlines…
Caspian Sea’s Shrinking Shoreline Puts Regional Economies at Risk, Tokayev Says
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for coordinated regional action to address the Caspian Sea’s shrinking water levels, proposing a shared digital monitoring platform and an international biodiversity fund. The environmental crisis also poses growing risks to regional economies and communities, he said, speaking at the Caspian Ecological Summit on Oct. 9 in Avaza.…
Tokayev Urges CIS to Rethink Cooperation as Global Trade Ties Shift
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a new development strategy for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) through 2035, calling for closer industrial and technological cooperation as traditional trade relationships come under strain. Tokayev suggested creating a portfolio of joint industrial and technological projects until 2030 during his remarks to the Oct. 9 meeting of…
Kazakhstan, Green Climate Fund Launch Climate Investment Platform
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have signed an agreement to establish the Qazaqstan Climate Investment Platform (QCIP), a national mechanism designed to prepare climate projects for financing from international and domestic financial institutions. The agreement was signed under the GCF Readiness 3 program during the fund’s Regional Dialogue with countries of…
OTS Advances Space Cooperation With Joint Satellite Launch Planned for 2027
ASTANA – Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have signed a framework agreement to expand cooperation in the space industry, with Kazakhstan completing the assembly of the engineering model of the OTS-SAT satellite and planning its launch in 2027. The agreement was signed in Antalya on the sidelines of the 77th International Astronautical Congress, which runs…
Tokayev Meets Newly Elected FIDE President Timur Turlov
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with newly elected International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Timur Turlov on Oct. 7, congratulating him on his election and highlighting the growing international profile of Kazakhstan’s chess community. Turlov was elected FIDE president on Sept. 26 in Samarkand during the organization’s General Assembly, held alongside the 46th World Chess…
Kazakhstan to Send 150 Athletes to Asian Para Games in Japan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will send 150 athletes to the fifth Asian Para Games, which will take place on Oct. 18-24 in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, with the national team set to compete in 12 sports. The Kazakh team will compete in one team sport and 11 individual disciplines. The largest groups…
Kazakhstan Sets Wheat Export Record as Grain Rail Shipments Rise
ASTANA – Kazakhstan exported a record 8.87 million tons of wheat from September 2025 to August 2026, as strong demand from Central Asian markets and Afghanistan helped drive shipments to the highest level on record, according to the Grain Union of Kazakhstan. The figure represents a 16.2% increase from the same period last year, said…
Turkmenistan Launches E-Visas and Online Registration for Foreigners
ALMATY – Turkmenistan has launched an electronic visa system and an online registration portal for foreign nationals, moving parts of the country’s migration procedures to digital platforms. The State Migration Service of Turkmenistan presented the new services with representatives of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in the country attending the event. Turkmen ambassadors abroad also joined…
Tokayev Orders Defense Reforms After Inspection Finds Systemic Failures
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered reforms in Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces after a commission investigating a military incident in the Mangystau Region revealed serious shortcomings in planning, oversight and personal safety, reported the presidential press service on Oct. 5. Tokayev held a meeting with members of the commission on Oct. 5, where its chair Aida…
Kazakhstan’s Population Tops 20.6 Million as Astana Passes 1.7 Million
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s population reached 20.62 million as of Sept. 1, while Astana surpassed 1.7 million residents, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The capital’s population increased by 9,780 people in August alone and has grown by 61,209 people since the start of the year. Kazakhstan’s total population stood at 20,618,796 people as of…
Tokayev Says Teachers Matter More Than Ever in AI Era
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said teachers are more important than ever as artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape education, urging Kazakhstan to strengthen human capital and adapting its schools to a rapidly changing world. “A teacher is a key figure in every person’s life. I believe everyone would agree with this. Deep respect for…
US Report Sees Progress in Kazakhstan’s Investment Climate, Flags Tax and Regulatory Risks
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has made significant progress in developing a market economy and attracting foreign investment, but regulatory uncertainty, localization policies and concerns over the rule of law continue to pose challenges for international businesses, according to the United States Department of State’s 2026 Investment Climate Statement for Kazakhstan. The report, released in September, said…
Central Asia’s Air Cargo Volumes More Than Double Since 2019, IATA Report Shows
ASTANA – Central Asia is emerging as an increasingly important intercontinental bridge for global air cargo, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan recording particularly strong growth, according to a new report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The report, Central Asia’s Growing Role in Global Air Cargo Flows, published Sept. 30, highlights the region’s growing importance…
Kazakhstan Wins 84 Medals at Asian Games, Finishes Eighth in Overall Standings
ASTANA – Kazakhstan finished the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with 84 medals, 12 gold, 24 silver and 48 bronze, placing eighth in the overall medal standings, as the continental competition concluded Oct. 4. The result marks an improvement from the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, where Kazakhstan finished 11th with 80 medals, including…
Kazakhstan Ranks 55th in Global Index Measuring AI and Human Skills
ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 55th out of 98 countries in the 2026 AI-Human Skills Synergy Index, presented as part of Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026, reported the Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s press service. The new index measures how actively learners develop artificial intelligence skills alongside human competencies needed to apply them effectively, including…
Nazarbayev University Moves Into Top 400 in World University Rankings
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University has moved into the 376–400 group in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, improving its position by another 100 places and retaining its top ranking among universities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The university has risen by 200 positions over the past two years. It was ranked in…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and UAE to Explore New CASA Rail Route to Pakistani Ports
ASTANA — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to jointly study a new railway route connecting Central Asia with Pakistan’s seaports, the Prime Minister’s press service reported on Sept. 30. The transport ministries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed a memorandum of understanding on…
