Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Turan tigers Bogdan and Kuma, who arrived from the Netherlands in September 2024, have started mating at the Ile-Balkhash Reserve in Kazakhstan.  This marks a significant milestone in their adaptation process, proving they have comfortably adjusted to their new environment. The conditions provided by Kazakh specialists have allowed the tigers to thrive and…

ASTANA — Since July 2023, Kazakhstan has introduced the Ata Zholy (the path of the ancestors in Kazakh) card for ethnic Kazakhs living abroad, providing simplified entry and exit to the country.  A total of 65 Ata Zholy cards have been issued, granting holders the right to live and work in Kazakhstan for 10 years.…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan-Jordan cooperation, the Middle Corridor, Dimash Qudaibergen’s award, and more.  Kazakhstan to supply Swiss nuclear power plants with uranium Kazakhstan, the world’s leading producer of uranium, is for the first time to supply Swiss energy…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is expanding its global transport and transit network by developing new terminals at key international cargo hubs. Projects are underway in countries like Azerbaijan, Russia, Belarus, and Uzbekistan and terminals are planned for Romania, Hungary, and China. The country plans to significantly increase its transit capacity and strengthen its role as a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov convened a meeting on Feb. 20 to assess the progress on boosting investments in the country’s economy.  The meeting’s main objective was to speed up the execution of large investment projects, tackle systemic problems hindering the investment climate, and explore measures to improve investment policies and create favorable…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to increase its aircraft fleet from 104 to 221 by 2030 and expand its international routes from 119 to 200, according to Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev. Kazakh airlines acquire 10-15 new aircraft each year, with two new Airbus A320 NEO airliners added in early 2025 and another 14…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector saw notable growth in 2024, with airlines carrying 14.7 million passengers, an 11% increase from the previous year, said Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev during a Feb. 19 government meeting. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Kazakhstan’s flight safety rating of 82% exceeds the global…

ASTANA – Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb emphasized Kazakhstan’s significant role in advancing global interreligious dialogue and expressed willingness to continue collaboration, notably in theological education and scientific research. He made these remarks during a Feb. 19 meeting with Maulen Ashimbayev, head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World…

ASTANA –  A rock mass collapsed in the Zhomart mine in the Zhanaarka district of Kazakhstan’s Ulytau Region on Feb. 17, killing seven workers, the Emergency Situations Ministry reported.  A government commission, led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, is in the region to oversee the emergency response and assess the situation. “Authorities have recovered…

ASTANA – Almaty is set to introduce new air routes in June to China, including flights to Beijing and Chengdu, following an agreement signed with Air China airline during Akim (Mayor) Yerbolat Dossayev’s recent working visit to China. Dossayev highlighted that 2024 was designated as the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China, and 2025 marks…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government has approved a visa exemption agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco, allowing citizens of both countries to travel freely without a visa for stays of up to 30 days within a 180-day period. The resolution, adopted on Feb. 13, applies to holders of national and general civil passports, with the…

ASTANA – In 2016, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan wore a Kazakh boitumar (traditional jewel and a protective amulet) during the celebration of Jordan’s 70th anniversary of independence, a moment that sparked a surge in global interest in Kazakh jewelry. Berik Alibay, a skilled jeweler and restorer, who created the piece, shared his experience…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Iran have taken significant steps to enhance trade ties, with over $90 million in agreements signed during a recent business forum in Tehran, where Kazakhstan also expressed its readiness to supply $250 million worth of products to the Iranian market, reported the Kazakh ministry’s press service on Feb. 17. The event,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Hungary have reached agreements on oil deliveries and collaborative energy projects, including test shipments of Kazakh oil to Hungary and joint efforts in the nuclear energy sector, following a Feb. 17 meeting between Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. The discussion focused…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó held talks in Astana on Feb. 17, reaffirming their commitment to deepening strategic ties and expanding economic cooperation. The discussions covered a wide range of bilateral topics, including political, economic, energy and cultural-humanitarian cooperation,…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has curated a selection of articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes topics such as the importance of repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, the country’s transition to clean energy in response to climate change and more. How Trump can unlock new strategic economic opportunities in…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the newly completed building of the President’s Archive on Feb. 14, which has been relocated from Almaty to the capital in line with the Head of State’s instructions. This archive is the first of its kind in Central Asia, serving not only as a repository of the nation’s documentary…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s strongman Sergey Tsyrulnikov has set a new Guinness World Record by bursting nine hot water bottles in just one minute using only his breath, surpassing the previous record of five. The feat took place in Milan last week, with official Guinness representatives present to witness it. During his visit, Tsyrulnikov also participated…

ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored the stable and positive growth of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and emphasized the importance of enhancing their strategic partnership during a Feb. 12 meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin. He commended the Treaty on Allied Relations signed the previous year, which…

ASTANA — The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will develop a comprehensive master plan for the growth and modernization of Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector by 2050. Kazakh Ministry of Transport and ICAO signed an agreement for the creation of the strategic master plan at the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2025, taking place in Abu…

ASTANA — In 2024, the number of people leaving Kazakhstan for permanent residence in another country reached its lowest level since the country’s independence, with approximately 12,800 individuals departing, a 20% decrease from the previous year. According to the country’s first credit bureau, the number of individuals arriving for permanent residence in Kazakhstan exceeded 29,900,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting on Feb. 11 to discuss the details of upcoming tax reforms, which include changes to the value-added tax (VAT), exemptions for agricultural producers, and measures to boost competitiveness and raise annual tax revenues by four to five trillion tenge (US$7.9 billion-US$9.9 billion). Bektenov instructed to…

ASTANA – Kazakh Invest national company released a comprehensive report on Feb. 11 detailing its significant achievements in 2024 with a total of $15.7 billion in investments, which accounts for 63% of all investments in North and Central Asia. Among the most notable accomplishments in 2024 was completing 45 major projects, with a total value…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national team had an impressive showing at the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, winning two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal on Feb. 11. According to the National Olympic Committee, the men’s freestyle acrobatics team made history with a gold medal in synchronized jumps, thanks to Sherzod Khashirbayev and Roman…

ASTANA – IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost airline, plans to launch a new Astana-Delhi route starting May 14, with flights operating three times a week on Airbus aircraft. According to the Kazakh Transport Ministry, the flight is expected to enhance cooperation between the countries and boost the development of the nation’s transit potential. Kazakhstan’s flagship airline,…