US Delegation to Visit Kazakhstan in March to Boost Bilateral Ties
ALMATY – Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev discussed the upcoming visit of the United States’ congressional delegation to Kazakhstan in March during his Feb. 3 meeting with Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Brian Mast and Senator Steve Daines in Washington, as part of his official visit to the U.S. The parties…
Kazakhstan’s Grain Exports to Afghanistan Nearly Double
ALMATY – Grain exports from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan nearly doubled between September 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026, underscoring the country’s growing role as a key grain supplier in Central and South Asia. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company, 5.8 million tons of grain were exported, an increase of 1 million tons compared…
Kazakhstan Boosts January Oil Exports to Germany
ALMATY – Kazakhstan increased its oil exports to Germany in January 2026, sending 310,000 tons to the European market, according to KazTransOil. Of these shipments, 106,000 tons were transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, reported Reuters on Feb. 3. The rise represents a sharp increase of 183,000 tons compared to January 2025, highlighting Kazakhstan’s growing…
From Politics to Profits: Why Geopolitics Now Matters for Business in Kazakhstan
ALMATY – Geopolitics is no longer an abstract field reserved for governments and military strategists as it has become a practical necessity for businesses navigating sanctions, supply chain disruptions and a rapidly shifting global order, experts said during a Feb. 2 session at Narxoz University. Addressing the audience, Executive Director of HeartLand Expert and Analytical…
Kazakhstan to Introduce AI in Water Sector by May, PM Bektenov Says
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will launch an artificial intelligence–based project to manage water resources by May 1, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced during a Feb. 2 meeting on science and innovation, positioning digital solutions as a key tool for the country’s sustainable development. The decision was made after Bektenov met with members of the National Academy…
President Tokayev to Pay State Visit to Pakistan This Week
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a state visit to Pakistan on Feb. 3–4, reported the Akorda press service. During the visit, the Kazakh leader will hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. The negotiations will focus on prospects for strengthening political dialogue as well as expanding trade, economic,…
Kazakhstan Takes Chair of Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone for 2026
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia for 2026, following the annual consultative meeting of the treaty’s member states. Representatives of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the meeting, where participating countries reviewed activities carried out in 2025 and outlined plans…
Kasteev Museum That Raised Generations Reopens with Spirit Intact
ALMATY – The Abilkhan Kasteev National Museum of Arts was never just a museum for Almaty’s public. It was a second home and for many children, the place where a lifelong love for art first began. Now reopened after a major renovation, the museum returns with restored walls and modernized systems, but also with something…
Why Foreign University Branches Matter for Kazakhstan’s Future
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is shifting from one-off initiatives in international higher education to a systemic state strategy. Integration into the global education space is now viewed not as an image-building exercise but as a tool for economic growth, demographic resilience, and labor market development. Education as a driver of national development Science and education featured…
Kazakhstan Launches New Investment Drive as PM Demands Faster Project Delivery
ALMATY – Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a Jan. 28 meeting, discussing the launch of a new investment cycle to increase the volume of high-quality investments. “We need to work together to create a favorable investment climate, promote productive work, protect investors’ rights, and support important projects for the country at all stages of implementation,”…
Kazakhstan Launches Interagency Group to Boost Afghan Trade, Education and Infrastructure Ties
ALMATY – The Kazakh government held the first meeting of the interagency working group on development of cooperation with Afghanistan on Jan. 28 under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. Zhumangarin emphasized that the working group aims to streamline interdepartmental efforts, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and maximize the country’s…
Arsenal Edges Kairat 3:2 as Kazakh Side Finishes Champions League Clash with Pride
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat Almaty delivered a spirited performance but fell just short in a dramatic 3:2 defeat to Arsenal in their final match of the UEFA Champions League league stage on Jan. 28 in London. Despite sitting at opposite ends of the standings as Arsenal entered the round, top of the table, while…
Kazakhstan Proposes Constitutional Reform Affecting 84% of Basic Law
ALMATY – A sweeping package of constitutional amendments affecting 77 articles, which amounts to 84% of Kazakhstan’s Constitution, was presented to members of the Constitutional Reform commission on Jan. 28, marking an extensive legal transformation. The draft was introduced by Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court Bakyt Nurmukhanov, who said the document was developed after…
Kazakhstan and Israel Sign Cooperation Memoranda, Pledge to Deepen Bilateral Ties
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Israel signed a series of cooperation documents and agreed to expand bilateral engagement as Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who paid an official visit to Astana on Jan. 27. Following the 12th round of political consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries, the…
Kazakhstan’s Tourism Investments Surge 32% to Over $2 Billion
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s tourism sector is experiencing significant growth, with investments rising by 32% in 2025 to exceed 1.2 trillion tenge (approximately US$2.39 billion), the Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov said at a Jan. 27 government meeting. The minister highlighted that the number of tourists in accommodation facilities increased by 12%, surpassing 10…
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,…
