Akmola Region Expects Two Million Tourists as Burabay Expands Tourism Infrastructure
ASTANA — The Akmola Region expects to welcome around two million tourists this year, with Burabay remaining its main tourism destination. According to the regional akimat (administration), work is underway to improve ten existing tourist routes and create two new ones near Lake Zhukey and the village of Akylbay. Infrastructure upgrades in Burabay include eight…
Coal Accounts for Over 60% of Kazakhstan’s Electricity as Its Energy Mix Diversifies
ASTANA – Coal remains the dominant source of electricity in Kazakhstan, accounting for 62.1% of total generation, while gas-fired plants, hydropower facilities and renewable energy sources together provide nearly 38% of the country’s power output. According to the Energy Ministry, Kazakhstan continues to modernize its energy sector and diversify generation sources while maintaining reliable electricity…
International Boxing Hall of Fame Inducts Gennady Golovkin
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s boxer Gennady Golovkin has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) on June 14, becoming the country’s first representative to enter the sport’s most prestigious institution. Golovkin was officially inducted during a ceremony in Canastota, New York, joining the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. He entered the IBHOF…
Kazakhstan’s Amanat Party Approves Merger with Adilet
ASTANA – Delegates of the second congress of Kazakhstan’s Adilet Party approved the merger of the Amanat party into Adilet on June 14, in a move aimed at strengthening national unity and advancing the country’s reform agenda. During the meeting, Adilet delegates unanimously endorsed Amanat’s accession to the party and approved the establishment of regional…
Kazakhstan and France Advance Long-Term Plan to Protect Lake Balkhash
ASTANA – Kazakh and French experts have presented interim findings for a master plan to safeguard the Lake Balkhash ecosystem, with the final strategy expected by the end of this year. The project will provide a scientific framework for managing water resources in one of Central Asia’s most important lake basins amid growing climate challenges.…
Kazakhstan Sees No Immediate Tenge Impact from Higher Oil Prices, National Bank Chair Says
ASTANA – Rising oil prices driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East have not had a significant effect on Kazakhstan’s tenge, National Bank Chair Timur Suleimenov said on the sidelines of a Mazhilis on June 10. Suleimenov said changes in oil prices typically affect the economy and currency with a lag of one to…
Kazakhstan, US Discuss Expanded Strategic Cooperation in Key Economic Sectors
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with the U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs and the U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on June 9, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the enhanced strategic partnership. During the meeting, the officials discussed a wide range of topics on the bilateral agenda,…
Citizens of 105 Countries Can Enter Kazakhstan with Electronic Visas
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has introduced simplified entry and stay procedures for foreign visitors to support tourism development, Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov announced at a June 9 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. Citizens of 105 countries can obtain electronic visas without visiting embassies. Kazakhstan has also introduced the Digital Nomad Visa…
Kyrgyz Republic Removed from EU Aviation Blacklist After 20 Years
ASTANA – The Kyrgyz Republic has been officially removed from the European Union’s list of air carriers banned from operating flights to EU member states. According to the press service of the presidential administration, the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission informed the Kyrgyz authorities that all air carriers certified in the…
Kazakhstan, South Korea Deepen Economic Cooperation Ahead of Tokayev’s Seoul Visit
ASTANA — Kazakhstan and South Korea discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, critical minerals, and technology during the 11th meeting of the Kazakh-Korean Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation on June 8. The meeting highlighted the steady growth of bilateral economic ties. Mutual trade reached approximately $3.17 billion in 2025, while…
Cirque du Soleil’s OVO Brings Insect-Inspired Spectacle to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Cirque du Soleil’s acclaimed production OVO captivates audiences in the Kazakh capital from June 4-7 at Barys Arena, delighting both adults and children with its colorful, insect-inspired world. Blending acrobatics, music, and visual storytelling, the show transformed the everyday lives of tiny creatures into a spectacular theatrical experience. Behind-the-scenes preview for media One…
Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Norway Chess 2026 Title
ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the Norway Chess Women 2026 title ahead of the final round after a strong showing at one of the world’s most prestigious chess tournaments, held in Oslo from May 25 to June 5. The 22-year-old entered the ninth and penultimate round as the tournament leader and needed…
Kazakh National Bank Lowers Base Rate to 17%
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of Kazakhstan’s National Bank decided on June 5 to set the base rate at 17% per year, with a ±1 percentage-point corridor, citing updated macroeconomic forecasts and easing inflationary pressures. Annual inflation continued to slow, reaching 10.4% in May, down from a peak of 12.9% in September last year.…
Air Astana Resumes Dubai Flights with Gradual Schedule Restoration
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship airline, Air Astana, will gradually restore scheduled flights to Dubai from Almaty and Astana starting in June and July, following route adjustments caused by the closure of Iranian airspace. Almaty-Dubai-Almaty flights are set to resume on June 20, while Astana-Dubai-Astana services will restart on July 10. All flights will be rerouted…
OpenAI Highlights Strong AI Growth and Adoption in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has joined the group of countries with a high level of artificial intelligence adoption, according to analytical insights presented by OpenAI during a visit to the country. The findings highlight strong public readiness for the practical use of AI technologies. Kazakhstan significantly outperforms other Central Asian states in per-capita consumer use of…
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Capacity Boosted to 5 Million Tons, Strengthening Middle Corridor
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Zhanbiek Taizhanov attended the official opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway on June 2 at Akhalkalaki railway station in Georgia. Among those present was Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Following reconstruction, the railway’s annual freight capacity increased from 1 million to 5 million tons, reported the ministry’s…
Four Przewalski’s Horses Arrive in Kazakhstan for Reintroduction in Altyn Dala Reserve
ASTANA – Four Przewalski’s horses arrived in Kostanai on June 1 as part of the third group of endangered Przewalski’s horses brought from European breeding centers to the Altyn Dala Reserve, with four more expected on June 5. Following earlier transports in 2024 and 2025 that brought 14 horses back after 200 years of local…
Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and Mainland China Sign 42 Agreements to Expand Trade and Investment Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and mainland China signed 42 commercial agreements and four intergovernmental memorandums, paving the way for closer cooperation in aviation, finance, technology, logistics, and sustainable development. The documents were signed during a visit by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, who held talks with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Deputy Prime…
Kazakhstan-Iran Agricultural Trade Surges 56%
ASTANA — Agricultural trade between Kazakhstan and Iran increased by 55.8% to $342 million, accounting for 79% of total bilateral trade. The figures were announced during a June 1 meeting between Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Atabak. The officials discussed expanding agricultural cooperation, boosting trade, and…
Cirque du Soleil to Offer Exclusive Media Preview Ahead of OVO Premiere in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – One day before the official premiere of OVO in Kazakhstan, the Cirque du Soleil team will give media representatives an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most celebrated productions. Two special events will take place in Astana: a private rehearsal tour on June 3 and the official premiere on June 4.…
LOT Polish Airlines Launches Direct Almaty-Warsaw Flights
ASTANA – A direct air route between Almaty and Warsaw was launched on May 31, operated by LOT Polish Airlines, the national carrier of Poland. Flights on the Almaty-Warsaw-Almaty route will operate four times a week using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, improving air connectivity between Kazakhstan’s largest city and the Polish capital. An official…
Children Make Up More Than Third of Kazakhstan’s Population
ASTANA – Children account for more than one-third of Kazakhstan’s population, with 6.9 million people aged 0-17 living in the country as of the beginning of this year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Children represent 33.6% of Kazakhstan’s total population. Of them, 62.3% live in cities, while 37.7% reside in rural areas. Boys…
Kazakhstan Celebrates International Children’s Day with Clown Festival
ASTANA – The beginning of summer marks the International Children’s Day, and Kazakhstan, home to 6.9 million children, is celebrating with a wide range of family-friendly events nationwide. The Kazakh capital is hosting the third International Clown Festival to create a festive atmosphere for children, promote family-oriented cultural recreation, and foster an open and creative…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Growing Global Role
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global and regional media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan’s international partnerships, the rising importance of the Middle Corridor, digital initiatives within the Eurasian Economic Union, and more. Kazakhstan and Luxembourg expand co-operation in technology, aviation and logistics EU Reporter published an…
Kazakhstan and Russia Adopt Joint Statement Outlining Seven Pillars of Friendship and Cooperation
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin adopted a joint statement on May 28 outlining seven key pillars of bilateral friendship and cooperation amid growing global instability and geopolitical challenges, Akorda reported. The leaders described the shared border between the two countries as a symbol of trust and economic…
