Kazakhstan Opens Innovation Hub in Shanghai to Boost Tech Ties with China
ASTANA – Kazakhstan opened the Khan Tengri Innovation Hub on July 28 in Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, known as Asia’s Silicon Valley, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry. The hub is the first specialized platform for integrating the technological potential of Central Eurasian countries with China’s innovation ecosystem. It is…
Kazakhstan Reports 16 Million Air, Rail Travelers in First Half of 2025
ASTANA – More than 16 million people used Kazakhstan’s rail and air transport in the first half of 2025, the Civil Aviation Committee reported on July 28. Railways transported 9.5 million passengers, while air travel accounted for 7.2 million. Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector sees active development of both domestic and international routes. There are currently…
Kazakhstan Provides Free AI Training Programs for All Ages and Professions
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, in partnership with the Astana Hub technopark of IT startups, implements major free educational projects in artificial intelligence (AI), covering schoolchildren, students, adults, and civil servants throughout the country, the ministry’s press service reported on July 23. Starting this October, the TUMO center…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s First NPP, Veil Ban and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the country’s role in addressing Central Asia’s water crisis, financial cooperation with Uzbekistan and its growing cooperation with neighboring countries in defense and trade. Kazakhstan’s role in tackling the Central Asia water crisis Kazakhstan is…
Kazakhstan and China Launch Unmanned Cargo Transport at Border
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China are launching unmanned cargo transportation as part of the innovative Smart Customs pilot project at the Bakhty (Kazakhstan) – Pokitu (China) border checkpoints, the Kazakh Ministry of Finance reported on July 23. The parties signed a cooperation agreement to jointly implement the project, coordinate actions, and exchange experiences in the…
Kazakhstan Emerges as Growing Destination for Medical Tourism
ASTANA – In recent years, foreign nationals have increasingly chosen Kazakhstan as a destination for medical care, TengriNews reported on July 22, citing the Ministry of Health. Medical tourists from neighboring and distant countries, including Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Russia, Mongolia, India, Türkiye, China, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates, come to Kazakhstan for…
New CICA Headquarters in Astana Hosts First Official Talks
ASTANA – The newly inaugurated headquarters of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Astana hosted its first meeting of the Senior Officials Committee (SOC) on July 21, reported the CICA press service. During the meeting chaired by Azerbaijan, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay thanked member states for their…
Kazakhstan Accelerates Industrialization With $26.7 Billion Investment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is undertaking 17 projects focused on high-value-added production, with a total investment of 14.3 trillion tenge (US$26.7 billion), expected to generate over 24,600 jobs, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced on July 20, according to Kazinform. Once fully operational, they are projected to increase exports by six trillion tenge (US$11.2 billion) and reduce…
Online Fraud Surges Despite Overall Decline in Cases
ASTANA – While the total number of fraud cases in Kazakhstan dropped by 0.7% from 22,812 to 22,644 in the first half of 2025, online fraud surged by 25% from 9,936 to 12,390 cases, said Prosecutor General Berik Asylov, Kazinform reported on July 19. “The rise is associated with increased control over the correct classification…
Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan Sign Agreement on Trans-Afghan Railway
ASTANA – Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan signed a tripartite framework agreement on July 17 in Kabul to develop a feasibility study for the Trans-Afghan railway project, a strategic initiative that will benefit all of Eurasia, Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov reported on his Telegram channel. The Termez-Naibabad-Maidanshahr-Logar-Kharlachi route was agreed upon in July 2023 in…
Atyrau Region to Host International Lotus Blossom Festival
ASTANA – One of Kazakhstan’s most anticipated cultural events of the year, Lotus Fest 2025, will take place on July 26 in the village of Tengiz, Atyrau Region, reported the region’s internal policy department. The lotus flower, a unique gift of nature considered sacred since ancient times, attracts tourists not only with its striking beauty…
Kazakhstan Improves Infrastructure, Adds Global Flight Options in 2025
ASTANA – Five new low-cost airlines entered the Kazakh aviation market this year, including Thai Air Asia X from Thailand, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), TWay and Easter Jet from South Korea, and Spice Jet from India, BaigeNews reported on July 19. Negotiations are ongoing to open direct flights to…
Kazakhstan on Track to Become Global Top-3 Rare Earth Holder
ASTANA – Kazakhstan may become one of the world’s leading holders of rare earth metal reserves, Kazinform reported on July 21. Until recently, it was considered that the country’s state-owned reserves mostly consisted of non-critical metals, including tungsten (2.4 million tons), molybdenum (one million tons), lithium (226,900 tons), tantalum (4,600 tons), niobium (27,200 tons), beryllium…
Italy’s Marche Polytechnic University Opens Branch in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – A branch of Italy’s Marche Polytechnic University opened at Zhetisu University named after Ilyas Zhansugurov, in Taldykorgan on July 16, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Joint double-degree programs in agronomy and agricultural science and technology are underway, aimed at addressing a growing demand for skilled professionals in the sector. …
Astana to Host Running Event in August to Support Patients Awaiting Organ Transplants
ASTANA – Thousands of people will gather in Astana on Aug. 10 to take part in a special running event in support of patients awaiting life-saving organ transplants, including kidneys, livers, hearts, and lungs, announced the Heart Center Foundation, the organizer of the event. Despite advancements in medicine, transplantology remains a critical issue in Kazakhstan. …
Rare Bronze Daggers Found in Kazakhstan May Belong to Saka Nomads
ASTANA – Archaeologists and students from Pavlodar-based Margulan University have uncovered two bronze daggers that may belong to Saka nomads, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education reported on July 16. The discovery was made in the Bayanaul district of the Pavlodar Region during a summer field school. The rare artifacts were found at the…
Kazakhstan Criminalizes Stalking and Forced Marriage in New Law
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a new law on July 16 introducing criminal liability for stalking and forced marriage, as part of amendments aimed at optimizing Kazakhstan’s criminal legislation, reported Akorda. The law amends the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Criminal Executive Code, the Code on Marriage (matrimony) and Family, and several other related…
Kazakhstan Begins Construction of Strategic Logistics Hub in Kostanai
ASTANA – Kazakhstan officially launched construction of Tobyl, a new transport and logistics complex in the city of Kostanai on July 16, the Prime Minister’s press service reported. The project is one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in the region. Covering 133.6 hectares, the logistics hub is valued at 64 billion tenge (US$121.4 million) of…
Young Kazakh Geniuses Shine at International Olympiads
ASTANA – Kazakh schoolchildren have made a sensational start to the competition season, winning four medals, two gold and two silver, at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2025), held from July 5 to 14 in the United Arab Emirates, reported the Education Ministry’s press service. More than 360 students from 93 countries took part in…
Kazakhstan Delivers Strongest Half-Year Economic Growth in 14 Years
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 6.2% between January and June, the highest growth in 14 years, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said at a July 15 government meeting. Last year’s growth in the same period was 3.2%. Half-year economic growth was fueled by strong performance in the real sector,…
Kazakhstan Launches Large-Scale Project to Develop Mountain Tourism
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Amanat Party has launched Alatau Amanaty, a large-scale project for developing mountain tourism through a system of national tourist trails covering the country’s key natural landscapes, the party’s press service reported on July 10. The project was officially launched in the Ayusai Gorge within the Ile-Alatau State National Nature Park. It involves…
Ticket Sales for Backstreet Boys Concert in Astana Start Monday
ASTANA – Tickets for the first-ever Backstreet Boys concert in Astana, set for Sept. 21, will go on sale starting July 14 through a pre-sale in the Freedom Bank app, announced Symbat Serik, the international producer at CA Entertainment, during a briefing at the Central Communications Service (CCS). According to the CCS press office, general…
Ethnic Kazakh Children from Abroad Gather at Ethno-Camp in Burabai
ASTANA – The Jas Qazaq summer camp at the IQanat High School in Burabai opened its doors for ethnic Kazakh children from abroad on July 9. According to the Otandastar Foundation, the camp’s organizer, nearly 150 children from the United States, Türkiye, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and China…
Kazakhstan Keeps Base Rate at 16.5%, Likely Until Year-End
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) decided on July 11 to keep the base rate at 16.5%. NBK Governor Timur Suleimenov reported that it will most likely remain at this level until the end of 2025, according to the bank’s press service. Annual inflation stood at 11.8% in…
Kazakhstan Strengthens Ties with Afghanistan
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu paid a working visit to Afghanistan on July 10, where he met with senior Afghan officials to deepen cooperation in trade, transit, agriculture, and infrastructure, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. During a meeting with the Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs…
