CIS Foreign Ministers Gather in Almaty to Deepen Ties and Launch New Initiatives
ASTANA – The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Foreign Ministers convened in Almaty on April 11 to discuss the international agenda and the current state and future of cooperation within the organization. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration and strengthening the CIS’s multifaceted potential. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister…
National Bank to Keep Base Rate at 16.5 Percent
ASTANA – The monetary policy committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has decided on April 11 to keep the base rate at 16.5%, according to the bank’s press service. The decision was made based on current inflation trends and the overall risk balance. While annual inflation continued to rise in March, monthly figures…
Airports in Astana, Almaty Win Top Honors at 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards
ASTANA – Skytrax World Airport Awards 2025 recognized Kazakhstan airports in Astana and Almaty as leaders in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Asia. Almaty International Airport received two prestigious awards as the World’s Best New Airport Terminal and Best Regional Airport in Central Asia & CIS. Astana’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport has…
Kazakhstan Completes Selection Process for Technology Providers for First Nuclear Power Plant
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has completed the competitive dialogue process with potential technology suppliers for the construction of its first nuclear power plant (NPP). According to the Atomic Energy Agency, a shortlist of reactor technology providers has been formed as part of the selection process. It includes the Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom, Korea Hydro…
“Lilo & Stitch” to Be Released in Kazakh
ASTANA – The animated film “Lilo & Stitch” will be released in Kazakh starting in May. The Walt Disney Company will present a new part of the film in all cinemas across Kazakhstan. In December, the third part of “Avatar” will be available with Kazakh dubbing. This announcement was made by Rauan Kenzhekhanuly, president of…
Kazakhstan’s National Bank to Start Sale of Collectible Football Coins on April 11
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has announced that starting April 11, collectible coins from the Football Clubs of Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan Football Federation collections, part of the Sport coin series, will be available for purchase through the NBK online store. Thirteen collectible coins feature the logos of the Premier League clubs of…
Kazakhstan, EU Move Closer to Signing Visa Facilitation Agreement
ASTANA – The European Union (EU) member states have approved the mandate for the European Commission to negotiate an agreement on the facilitation of visa requirements with Kazakhstan. The discussions will focus on a range of measures to ease visa procedures between the two parties. These include reducing processing times for visa applications, streamlining the…
Kazakhstan Advances Green Energy Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to deepening regional and international energy cooperation, developing diversified and environmentally friendly energy supply routes, including green energy initiatives, at the third Green Energy Advisory Council ministerial meeting held on April 4 in Baku. Chaired by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, the meeting focused on the Green Energy Corridor. Kazakhstan…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Healthcare Ties with Turkic States and WHO
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting on April 8 with the Ministers of Health from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and Hans Kluge, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe. Akmaral Alnazarova, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health, delivered a report on the outcomes of the fifth meeting of OTS Health…
Kazakhstan, Israel Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Ties, Trade, and Water Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Speaker of Knesset of State of Israel Amir Ohana on April 8 to discuss economic cooperation, investment opportunities and joint projects. Tokayev said the visit of the Israeli parliamentary leader to Kazakhstan reaffirms the shared commitment to strengthening Kazakh-Israeli relations. He highlighted the importance of the visit…
Kazakhstan to Hold Grand Parade to Mark 80th Anniversary of WW II Victory
ASTANA — May 9 will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Astana will host a military parade on May 7 to commemorate this significant milestone. It will be the first Victory Parade in the country since 2019, reported the Defense Ministry’s press service. Kazakhstan’s Minister…
Aktau – Cultural Capital of Turkic World in 2025: Celebration of Unity and Heritage
ASTANA – Aktau, Kazakhstan’s city on the shores of the Caspian Sea, officially became the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2025 on April 5. The event featured a grand opening ceremony attended by honored guests from Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Hungary, and gathered over 100,000 spectators from Kazakhstan and…
Kazakh President Congratulates Boxer Janibek Alimkhanuly on Defending IBF and WBO Titles
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Janibek Alimkhanuly, who defended IBF and WBO middleweight titles by knocking down France’s Anauel Ngamissengue on April 5 in the Kazakh capital. Tokayev emphasized that the entire nation feels a sense of pride for the athlete, who worthily defended the honor of the country on his native land,…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Central Asia – EU Summit, Rare Earths Deposit Discovery and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has curated a selection of articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes topics such as the Central Asia – EU summit in Samarkand, discovery of vast deposits of rare earths, upcoming Astana International Forum and more. Kazakhstan says it has discovered 20 million ton…
Kazakhstan Advances Digital Tenge Initiative to Enhance Transparency, Efficiency in Budget Fund Monitoring
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting on April 3 discussing the implementation of the digital tenge and mechanisms for monitoring targeted budget fund usage, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The meeting focused on the current state and plans for developing Kazakhstan’s national digital financial infrastructure, enhancing the traceability and efficiency…
Karagandy Geologists Discover Rare Earth Element Deposit
ASTANA – Geologists from Karagandy, working under the state program for geological exploration, have discovered several promising areas at the Kuirektykol site with large resources of rare earth metals, estimated at around one million tons. The site, located 300 kilometers southeast of Astana in the Karkaraly district, lies within an ancient volcanic structure formed by…
Here Are Key Facts About Construction of Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant
ASTANA – Kazakhstan continues working on constructing its first nuclear power plant. The Ministry of Energy shared up-to-date information on the progress of negotiations with potential partners, uranium reserve and personnel training, reported Kazinform news agency on April 2. International consortium for nuclear power plant During the past year, negotiations were held with potential suppliers…
Kazakhstan, EU Discuss Enhanced Cooperation, Economic Growth, and Regional Security
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with EU Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais on March 31 to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation. During the meeting, the officials discussed various aspects of bilateral and regional cooperation, including the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement…
Kazakhstan-Slovenia Business Forum Strengthens Ties, Boosts Cooperation in Logistics, Energy, and IT
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Slovenia have forged strong and equal political and diplomatic ties over the past 30 years, with both Presidents reaffirming their commitment to strengthening economic cooperation for the benefit of their peoples during recent talks, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during an April 1 business forum. “Kazakhstan continues to be the largest…
Recovered Assets Fund New Medical Facilities in Pavlodar Region
ASTANA – The Kazakh government has allocated 228 million tenge (US$452,761) from recovered illegally withdrawn assets to build medical facilities in villages of the Pavlodar Region. The funds will be used to implement projects in the rural areas of Ekibastuz and Aksu, as well as Irtysh, Zhelezinka, Terenkol districts, reported the Prime Minister’s press service…
Central Asian Leaders Sign Landmark Treaty and Khujand Declaration to Strengthen Regional Cooperation
ASTANA – President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan signed the Treaty on the Junction Point of State Borders and the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship on March 31. The documents were signed following a trilateral summit in Khujand, Tajikistan, highlighting the commitment of…
Kazakh, Uzbek Presidents Reinforce Strategic Ties During Informal Talks in Almaty
ASTANA — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan arrived in Almaty on a working visit on March 29 and was greeted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan. The two leaders held informal talks and toured key sites in the city. The two presidents held in-depth discussions on prospects for cooperation in the political, trade and economic,…
Kazakh Government Responses to Earthquake in Zhambyl Region
ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received detailed briefings on March 28 from Zhambyl Region Akim (governor) Yerbol Karashukeyev and Minister of Emergency Situations Chingis Arinov concerning the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the region earlier that day, according to a statement from Akorda. The government is closely monitoring the situation, with Prime Minister…
Kazakhstan, EU Seek to Enhance Bilateral and Regional Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas on March 28 in Almaty to discuss the current state and future prospects of Kazakh-European relations. The officials highlighted the importance of upcoming events, including…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Tourism, Nuclear Energy Agency and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s tourism industry, nuclear energy agency, AI development and more. Portugal and Kazakhstan are getting closer Portugal’s DNOTICIAS.PT published an article on March 23 about Kazakhstan’s tourism industry, which experienced significant growth, marked by a…
