Articles by Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will allocate $1.3 billion to support the construction and modernization of infrastructure in Kazakhstan’s special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial zones (IZs), following agreements signed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 26.  The funding was confirmed during a working visit by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to meet projected demand for more than 19 million tons of coal annually for new energy projects by expanding production capacity, Vice Minister of Energy Yerlan Akbarov announced during a March 2 meeting with the country’s largest coal mining companies. Akbarov emphasized that the project will go beyond power generation and…

ALMATY – More than 4,000 organized tourists from Kazakhstan are now in Gulf countries following the closure of airspace due to escalating tensions in the region, said Inna Rey, head of the Turistik Kamkor (Tourist Aid) corporate fund, during a March 2 press briefing.  Rey said the most challenging situation is in the United Arab…

ALMATY – At a time when many views of Turkic civilization are reduced to simplistic narratives, Kazakh researcher and writer Zira Nauryzbai invites a reassessment. At a public lecture on Feb. 18 in Almaty, she explored Turkic mythology, gender roles, and ancient belief systems, challenging conventional views of Turkic civilization and highlighting the deep symbolic…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Austria will establish a legal mechanism for the mutual return of irregular migrants following the ratification of a bilateral readmission agreement by the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, on Feb. 25. The Mazhilis approved the agreement between Kazakh and Austrian governments on the Readmission and Transit of Persons with…

ALMATY – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić arrived in Astana on Feb. 26 for an official visit at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During Vučić’s visit, high-level talks are scheduled to focus on strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and economic ties, and enhancing cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Serbia is considered one of Kazakhstan’s key and…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s aviation industry continues to demonstrate sustainable growth across key performance indicators, officials said at a Feb. 25 meeting of the Ministry of Transport attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and regional authorities. Authorities emphasized the strategic importance of aviation for Kazakhstan’s socio-economic development, regional connectivity, international engagement, and investment attractiveness,…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is moving forward with the large-scale Data Center Valley project in Ekibastuz, the Pavlodar Region, aimed at creating the largest data center campus in Central Asia with an energy capacity of up to 1 gigawatt. The progress of the initiative was reviewed at a Feb. 25 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights as a fundamental basis for freedom, justice, and sustainable peace, First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev said during the 61st session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Feb. 25. The session brought…

ALMATY – Registration has officially opened for the Regional Ecological Summit (RES 2026), with participants and guests now able to register through the event’s official website, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported.  The summit will take place on April 22–24 in Astana, bringing together Central Asian countries to foster coordinated dialogue on key…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover remained broadly stable in 2025, increasing by 1.3% to reach $143.9 billion, according to the analytical report released by the Kazakh Association of Financiers on Feb. 23.  According to analysts, exports decreased by 3.2% over the year, while imports grew by 7.4%. As a result, the country’s trade surplus…

ALMATY – For the first time in the history of Kazakh tennis, four representatives of the country have simultaneously entered the top 10 of the world rankings, highlighting the steady progress of Kazakhstan’s tennis school and the systematic development of the sport, reported the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation on Feb. 23.  Leading the women’s national team,…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Astana Team claimed victory at the 2026 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in Canada, winning the AA Elite division, the second-highest tier of the competition, reported the Kazakhstan Hockey Federation’s press service on Feb. 23.  According to Presidential Press Secretary Aibek Smadiyarov, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the young hockey players on their…

ALMATY – Vehicle production in Kazakhstan is expected to surpass 200,000 units in 2026, marking a 22% increase compared to 2025, according to President of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAO) Anar Makasheva. “Since these production facilities will be reaching higher design capacity in 2026, we expect output to grow by approximately 22%,” Makasheva said. According…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and France are entering the active implementation phase of a major 1 gigawatt wind power project, following a Feb. 23 meeting between Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov and senior executives of French energy company TotalEnergies. The discussions focused on the progress of the company’s key investment initiatives in Kazakhstan, including the construction…

ALMATY – The procedures for voting and tabulating results in Kazakhstan’s upcoming national referendum, scheduled for March 15, were presented during a Feb. 23 meeting of the Central Election Commission as part of ongoing preparations for the nationwide vote. According to the commission, voting will take place at 10,411 polling stations, including 80 stations operating…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan marked the legacy of the great philosopher Al-Farabi at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Rabat, Morocco, on Feb. 19, as part of ongoing cultural cooperation. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Morocco Saulekul Sailaukyzy met with Director General of ICESCO Salim Al Malik, following an art exhibition “The…

ALMATY – Turan University in Astana presented the exhibition “Written Heritage of the Great Steppe” on Feb. 19, organized by the National Center of Manuscripts and Rare Books. The event highlighted the historical development of written culture across the Great Steppe, tracing its evolution from ancient times to the modern era.  The exhibition showcased a…

ALMATY – The Kazakh-Italian Trade House officially opened in Almaty on Feb. 20, marking a new step toward strengthening bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of Trade and Integration reported. The opening ceremony, led by Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, brought together senior officials, including Italian…

ALMATY – The development of Kazakhstan’s oncology services has led to improvements in early cancer detection and patient survival rates, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said during a meeting, reported the ministry’s press service on Feb. 19. According to Alnazarova, over the past year, Kazakhstan has achieved steady progress in key oncology indicators, with the five-year…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan continues to rank among the world’s 50 largest economies, according to the projections released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2025. The IMF estimates that Kazakhstan’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) will reach $320 billion in 2026, keeping the country firmly within the global top 50. Kazakhstan remains the only…

ALMATY – The first meeting of the Board of Peace was held in Washington on Feb. 19, chaired by the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump, bringing together representatives from a range of countries to discuss post-conflict reconstruction and emerging approaches to international peacebuilding. International media coverage of the meeting has outlined differing interpretations of…

ALMATY – As part of his visit to the United States, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of meetings in Washington on Feb. 20 with leaders of major U.S. corporations and international financial institutions, focusing on expanding investment cooperation, infrastructure development, and strategic partnerships. Tokayev met with Executive Director of the U.S. International Development Finance…

ALMATY – The National Bank of Tajikistan plans to install special ATMs that will allow individuals to buy and sell gold bullion directly, the head of the financial regulator Firdavs Tolibzoda, said at a press conference, reported the Kazinform news agency on Feb. 17. The new machines will enable customers to purchase gold bars without…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has expanded its range of domestically produced rare metals, strengthening the sector’s role in economic diversification and the development of high-tech industries, Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev said at a Feb. 17 government meeting. According to the minister, the rare metals sector has significant growth potential and is well-positioned for…