Adlet Kozhanbayev Elected as First Directly Chosen Akim of Semei
ASTANA — Adlet Kozhanbayev has been elected as the new akim (mayor) of Semei following Kazakhstan’s first-ever direct mayoral election held on Oct. 12. According to the territorial election commission, Kozhanbayev, who ran as an independent candidate, received 89,441 votes. His opponents, A.K. Bekzhasarov and K.M. Tuleuov, gained 9,763 and 12,557 votes, respectively. Born in…
Modern Alatau Tennis Center Opens in Almaty
ASTANA – The Alatau Tennis Center, the largest facility of its kind in Almaty, has officially opened its doors. The center is designed to serve both professional athletes and amateurs of all ages, providing optimal conditions for training, skill development, and the organization of tournaments at national and international levels. Highly qualified coaches are engaged…
Tokayev Highlights Trade, Technology, and Transport as Pillars of Central Asia–Russia Partnership
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to strengthening multifaceted cooperation with Russia and Central Asian nations, emphasizing stability, economic integration, and technological partnership as key priorities during the second Central Asia–Russia summit held on Oct. 9 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Addressing the meeting participants, Tokayev outlined several priority areas for cooperation, starting with trade…
Health Minister: Over 80,000 Foreign Patients Choose Kazakhstan for Medical Treatment
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has welcomed over 80,000 foreign citizens seeking medical treatment in the country since the beginning of the year. High-quality cardiac, neurosurgical, dental, and in vitro fertilization services, offered at competitive prices, are drawing patients from abroad, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said at a government briefing on Oct. 7. According to Alnazarova, the…
Kazakh FM Urges Swift Launch of Turkic Investment Fund to Boost Regional Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev called on Turkic states to accelerate the launch of the Turkic Investment Fund, highlighting its potential to become a key driver of economic cooperation across the region. He made the statement during a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held…
Shaidorov Claims Gold at Denis Ten Memorial Challenge in Almaty
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s figure skating team leader Mikhail Shaidorov won the gold medal at the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge in Almaty. Shaidorov won both the short program (95.01) and the free skate (187.21), for a total score of 282.22 points, reported the National Olympic Committee’s press service on Oct. 4. Nika Egadze of Georgia took…
Kazakhstan Boosts Film Ties with Turkic Nations at Korkyt Ata Festival
ASTANA – As part of the Korkyt Ata International Film Festival of the Turkic World in Aktau, the State Center for National Cinema Support of Kazakhstan strengthened cultural and cinematic ties with Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan through the signing of cooperation memorandums. The agreements, developed under the International Organization of Turkic…
OPEC+ Eight to Boost Oil Output by 137,000 Barrels per Day in November
ASTANA – Eight leading OPEC+ countries, Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have agreed to raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day compared to October levels, according to a statement released after the group’s meeting on Oct. 5. According to OPEC data, Kazakhstan is set to increase…
Kazakhstan Launches First Women’s Venture Fund During AI Week 2025
ASTANA – Women in Tech Kazakhstan announced the launch of the country’s first Women’s Venture Fund on Sept. 29. The fund will provide women entrepreneurs with access to capital, mentorship, and international opportunities – and will be open for anyone to invest, regardless of ticket size. The announcement was one of the highlights of AI…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Tokayev’s Visit to NY, Energy Projects and More
ASTANA — The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan that were featured in international media worldwide this week. Today’s foreign media digest includes coverage of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to New York, Kazakhstan’s plans in the oil and gas sector, an AI partnership and new cooperation agreement between securities depositories of Türkiye and Kazakhstan.…
Silk Way Star Brings Together Artists from 12 Countries in Kazakhstan
ASTANA — The Silk Way Star international music competition has united talented singers from 12 countries on a single stage in the Kazakh capital. The project premiered on the Jibek Joly TV channel on Sept. 20, marking the launch of what organizers describe as a new cultural brand of Eurasia. Participating countries include Azerbaijan, Armenia,…
Kazakh FM Holds Series of Bilateral Meetings on UNGA Sidelines
ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu held a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts from Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Cyprus, Oman, Togo and the United States on Sept. 24 within the framework of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The talks reaffirmed mutual trust and…
Kazakhstan Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan
ASTANA — Kazakhstan delivered a large shipment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by rail on Sept. 24. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, with the support of the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID), organized the shipment consisting of 26 railcars carrying 272.7 tons of cargo, including tents, sugar, blankets, canned meat, and flour. In April,…
World Forum of Central Securities Depositories Kicks Off in Almaty
ALMATY – The World Forum of Central Securities Depositories (WFC2025) opened in Almaty on Sept. 24, marking a landmark event for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The forum, hosted by the Kazakhstan Central Securities Depository (KCSD), gathered over 250 experts from more than 50 countries, representing 80 financial institutions, to discuss the future of post-trade infrastructure.…
Tokayev Backs China’s Global Initiatives as Path to Fairer World Order
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev voiced strong support for China’s Global Development and Global Governance Initiatives, calling them timely responses to growing geopolitical and economic challenges during a Sept. 23 high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Tokayev praised President Xi Jinping’s leadership and said the initiatives offer…
Astana Fans Sing in Unison as Backstreet Boys Deliver Timeless Hits
ASTANA – The Backstreet Boys lit up Astana Arena on Sept. 21, performing for around 30,000 fans, including more than 12,000 international visitors from 45 countries. Organized by Astana Concert with a striking Total White dress code, the show was the group’s second stop in Kazakhstan, following their Sept. 19 performance in Almaty that also drew…
Kazakh Company with UK Driving Instructors Association to Modernize Testing
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s IT company TrustExam.ai (operating locally as Oqylyq.kz) has formed a strategic partnership with the UK’s Driving Instructors Association (DIA) to digitally transform the theoretical driving exam system for cars and motorcycles. With support from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the UK and participation at London Tech Week 2025, TrustExam.ai engaged with UK…
Wabtec to Open First Diesel Engine Plant Abroad in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Wabtec, a global leader in locomotive manufacturing, confirmed plans to launch production of new diesel engines at the Astana Diesel Service plant in 2026 – the first engine production outside the United States. For Kazakhstan, this marks a milestone in boosting localization and strengthening the country’s technological independence. The announcement followed a working…
Tokayev Holds High-Level Meetings with Global Business and Educational Leaders in New York
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev began his working visit to New York with a series of high-level meetings on Sept. 21. With Cameco Corporation CEO Tim Gitzel, President Tokayev discussed prospects for cooperation in the uranium sector. Tokayev noted Cameco’s role as a long-standing partner of Kazatomprom national atomic company with over $500 million invested…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Faith Diplomacy, Food Security, Green Education, and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights religion’s role in diplomacy, Kazakhstan’s emerging food diplomacy and more. Faith must reclaim its place in diplomacy Eureporter released an article on Sept. 15 written by Maulen Ashimbayev, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Senate and head of…
Kazakhstan Reaffirms Support for Qatar at Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha
ASTANA — Kazakhstan expressed support for Qatar and its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. Chairman of the Mazhilis Yerlan Koshanov represented the country at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on behalf of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on Sept. 15. Speaking at the plenary session, Koshanov condemned Israel’s recent military actions against Qatar, stressing that such…
Kazakhstan Plans to Expand Protected Areas to 34 Million Hectares by 2035
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to grow its network of protected lands from 30.9 million hectares today to 34 million hectares by 2035, setting a new regional benchmark in biodiversity conservation under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The milestone was highlighted at the final seminar of the SPACES Kazakhstan project, held in cooperation with the Ministry…
Major $1 Billion Aviation Hub Planned for Mangystau Region
ASTANA – The Mangystau Region is set to become a major transport and logistics hub with the launch of a $1 billion aviation and logistics center at Aktau International Airport. The announcement was made during an extended regional meeting chaired by Nurdaulet Kilybay, akim (mayor) of the Mangystau Region, focusing on the implementation of President…
Kazakhstan Gains in Global Competitiveness, Surpasses Japan and Spain
ASTANA — According to the latest report from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Kazakhstan has secured the 34th position in the global competitiveness ranking among 69 countries. Kazakhstan advanced by one position compared to last year and is now ranked ahead of Japan (35th), Kuwait, Portugal, Latvia, Spain, and India. The country’s economy…
Kazakhstan’s Nurlanuly Breaks into ITF Junior Top 25 After US Open Success
ASTANA – Rising Kazakh tennis star Zangar Nurlanuly has made a major breakthrough in the updated International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings, climbing 29 spots to reach 25th place. This year, the 17-year-old Nurlanuly reached the semi-finals of the US Open Junior Championships. Other Kazakhstan’s juniors also showed good results: Amir Omarkhanov retained his 28th…
