Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Aleksandar Vučić reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Kazakhstan-Serbia strategic partnership during high-level talks on Feb. 27. The negotiations, held in both narrow and expanded formats, focused on expanding trade and investment, as well as cooperation in high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, information technology, energy and the defense industry.…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected a roundup of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media this week. Today’s foreign media digest highlights the launch of the Central Asia-UK partnership in London, a critical minerals deal with the United Kingdom, new U.S.-linked investments, tourism recognition, expanding regional air links and World Bank-backed rail development.…

ASTANA — In the International Year of Volunteers, UNICEF is launching a new digital platform for volunteers in Kazakhstan. Targeting youth aged 16 to 35, the platform aims to simplify engagement in children’s rights and sustainable development nationwide. The UNICEF Zhastary platform unites youth training, social participation, and leadership development in a single online space,…

ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan has allocated 1.1 billion tenge (US$2.2 million) from its reserve fund to strengthen scientific research and environmental monitoring of the Caspian Sea. The funds will be directed to the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of the Caspian Sea to enhance its scientific capacity. The corresponding resolution was signed by Prime…

ASTANA – Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov received a ceremonial welcome at Astana airport on Feb. 25, greeted by fans, sports officials, and fellow athletes. “I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who came to meet me at such a late hour. I am truly grateful. I was bursting with pride for…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has begun developing a Civil Aviation Master Plan (CAMP) for the period through 2050 in cooperation with experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Kazakh Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev met on Feb. 24 with ICAO project coordinator Louise Stols to formally launch work on the strategic document. According to Lastayev,…

ASTANA — The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has announced the ninth Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2026: Delivering Impact. Capital in Action forum will take place on Sept. 9-10 in Astana. The event will bring together professional market participants – bankers, brokers and investors – alongside representatives of the financial and technology sectors, government bodies…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is moving beyond a traditional feedstock-based petrochemical model, accelerating investment in deep processing and large-scale polymer production projects aimed at reducing imports and building a full-fledged petrochemical cluster by 2030. Kazakhstan has intensified development of its petrochemical industry, prioritizing higher value-added production and strategic investment projects across the country, reported the Energy…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s digest highlights President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s reflections on global stability, a historic Olympic triumph by Mikhail Shaidorov, Almaty’s selection to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, deepening UK-Kazakhstan economic ties, and more. Reliability is the new power The National Interest…

ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry announced on Feb. 18 the opening of accreditation for foreign media representatives wishing to cover the nationwide referendum on the adoption of a new Constitution, scheduled for March 15. “In accordance with the legislation of Kazakhstan, foreign journalists may carry out their professional activities in the country only if…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has confirmed its leading position in scientific research among Central Asian countries, taking first place in the region in the SCImago Research Group’s international scientific activity ranking (SCImago Country Rank). Based on cumulative data for the 1996-2024 period, Kazakhstan ranks 69th globally. By the end of 2024, the country improved its performance…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China are deepening cooperation in renewable energy through the construction of three major projects worth over $2 billion, aimed at advancing green energy and supporting the country’s carbon-neutrality goals. The Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, recently approved the draft law ratifying the agreement, originally signed at the COP-29…

ASTANA – The global political system is undergoing a profound transformation, calling for a shift from ideological globalism to a more pragmatic, sovereignty-based international order, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev writes in an article published on The National Interest on Feb. 18, ahead of his visit to the United States. He noted the international system is…

ASTANA – The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN), in partnership with governments across Central Asia, have officially launched an EU-funded UN Multi-Country Program (MCP) to strengthen efforts to prevent gender-based violence and advance gender equality across the region. The program, titled Challenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality (CHANGE), will be…

ASTANA – Last year, Kazakhstan’s gas sector achieved historic production levels, reaching 68.1 billion cubic meters, but rising imports and accelerating domestic tariffs highlight structural challenges in meeting internal demand. Kazakhstan’s natural gas production, including associated petroleum gas, surged 15% in 2025 compared with 2024, reaching 1.5 times the level a decade earlier. In monetary…

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev met with President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan on Feb. 16 to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation, as part of his official visit to Dushanbe. During the meetings, the officials reaffirmed the strategic nature of Kazakh-Tajik relations, emphasizing friendship, mutual trust, and alliance under the…

ASTANA — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), acting as the lead financial institution, and Eurasian Bank have provided $180 million in long-term debt financing to modernize and expand the Ust-Kamenogorsk Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHPP), part of the Kazakhstan Utility Systems Group. The EDB also provided grant financing to support the preparation of the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is undertaking a major expansion of its oil refining, gas processing, and petrochemical industries, aiming to boost oil processing capacity from 18.4 to 40 million tons per year, eliminate domestic fuel shortages by 2033, and increase production of value-added petrochemical products for both domestic use and export, the Deputy Minister of Energy…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s agricultural processing sector continues to show steady growth and rising export potential, said Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov during a Feb. 17 government meeting, reporting on the results of 2025. Last year, food production reached 3.9 trillion tenge (US$7.9 billion), up 8.1% year-on-year. Investments in fixed capital more than doubled to 389.4 billion…

ASTANA – Award-winning Kazakh professional sumo wrestler Ersin Baltagul has announced plans to open a children’s sumo school in Kazakhstan, aiming to develop young talent and promote the sport nationwide. Baltagul, known in Japan as Kinbozan, said the future of Kazakh sumo depends on creating proper conditions for young athletes to train and grow. “We…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev honored the winners of the UAE SWAT Challenge 2026 international tournament on Feb. 16, praising their performance as a testament to Kazakhstan’s growing prestige on the global stage. Congratulating the teams, Tokayev said they had demonstrated the “unwavering spirit of Kazakh warriors” in one of the world’s most demanding law…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will hold a nationwide referendum on a new Constitution on March 15, with more than 12.4 million citizens eligible to vote and 20.8 billion tenge (US$42 million) earmarked for organizing the process. Preparation and conduct of the referendum have been entrusted to the Central Election Commission (CEC), which will function as the…

ASTANA – The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced that the 51st UEFA Congress will take place on March 4, 2027, in the Kazakh capital. The decision was made during the 50th UEFA Congress on Feb. 12 in Brussels, attended by David Loria, Secretary General of the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF). The UEFA…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met on Feb. 12 with Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Elders and the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s strong support for interreligious dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Tokayev welcomed the opening of its representative office in Kazakhstan, the first in Central Asia. He stressed that promoting…

ASTANA – Air Astana will launch a new route between Astana and Guangzhou starting June 2. Flights on this route will operate twice weekly using Airbus A321LR aircraft. The new service is expected to strengthen trade, economic, business, and tourism cooperation between the two countries, reported the Transport Ministry on Feb. 10. Starting March 29,…