Articles by Nagima Abuova

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described high inflation as the country’s most pressing challenge in his Sept. 8 address and urged the government and the National Bank to act as one team, a call that underscores the need for balanced coordination, economist Eldar Shamsutdinov told The Astana Times. “Today, the main problem is high inflation,…

ASTANA — Burning Man in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, became the stage for Tengri Camp, Kazakhstan’s first-ever contribution to the radical art festival from Aug. 25 to Sept. 2. The Astana Times spoke with organizers and participants who brought a traditional yurt to the desert, recounting how it endured the fiercest sandstorm in a decade…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will deliver his annual state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 8 during a joint session of the parliament’s chambers, reported the Akorda press service. The event will be attended by members of the senate and mazhilis (lower chamber), heads of central government bodies, members of the national kurultai (congress), as well as…

ASTANA – President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi will visit Kazakhstan on Sept. 9-10, at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The visit will feature high-level talks focused on prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries, reported the Akorda press service.

ASTANA — Kazakhstan launched Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer in July,  marking a milestone in the region’s technological development. The Astana Times examines what this means for the country’s digital landscape, who the key stakeholders are, and how such computing power can impact the economy. What is a supercomputer? Supercomputers are machines capable of processing…

I recently came across the news that Almaty’s akimat (city administration) is planning a new international stadium with a capacity of 35,000. Naturally, I scrolled straight into the comment section. Some said it was a waste of money, others cheered it on. But a few, including me, wondered: isn’t 35,000 already a compromise before the…

ASTANA — Aug. 29, designated as the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, carries special weight in Kazakhstan, where the Soviet Union once detonated more than 450 bombs at the Semipalatinsk test site. Born from Kazakhstan’s initiative at the United Nations, the date stands as both a warning and a call for global nuclear disarmament. On…

ASTANA — S&P Global Ratings revised Kazakhstan’s credit rating outlook from stable to positive, affirming the sovereign rating at BBB-. According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the positive outlook reflects favorable progress in liberalizing and diversifying the economy, improving public administration, and reducing the budget deficit.  The S&P noted moderate external debt and a…

ASTANA — King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein will visit Kazakhstan on Aug. 26-27, at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to Akorda, the Kazakh capital will host high-level talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Jordan in trade, economy, culture and humanitarian affairs. King Abdullah II last visited Kazakhstan…

ASTANA — Nearly 20 years ago, a young biology student stood on the Kazakh steppe at dawn and caught sight of his first wild saiga. For Albert Salemgareyev, a lead specialist at the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), that fleeting moment became the seed of a lifelong journey in wildlife conservation.…

ASTANA — Librarianship is rooted in collaboration and sharing, and by working together, the profession strengthens both its international voice and its role in communities, said International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) leaders in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. IFLA President Vicki McDonald, President-Elect Leslie Weir and Secretary General Sharon Memis…

ASTANA — The 89th World Library and Information Congress of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) commenced in Astana on Aug. 18, marking the first time Central Asia has hosted the world’s largest gathering of library and information professionals. The five-day event brought together nearly 1,700 participants from 114 countries, including directors…

ASTANA — Deep within a restricted-access facility in Astana, where molten metal is forged into 12-kilogram bars of 99.99% purity, known as “four nines” gold, the mission goes far beyond jewelry or display. Each bar plays a vital role in reinforcing Kazakhstan’s national reserves, a process that metallurgists say weighs more than gold itself. One…

ASTANA — Archaeological excavations in Kazakhstan continue to reveal valuable insights into the country’s past, with recent finds including medieval silver coins near Atyrau and the burial of a high-status Saka warrior in the Ulytau Region. Silver coins of the Golden Horde found near Atyrau According to the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education,…

ASTANA — The Digital Government Support Center (DGSC), a subsidiary of the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry, presented major digital transformation projects at a Demo Day in Astana on Aug. 14. The initiative aims to streamline government services, reduce processing times and expand artificial intelligence integration. The center serves as an…

ASTANA — New import tariffs from the United States took effect Aug. 7, imposing a 25% duty on Kazakhstan’s exports. Officials say the measures affect only a small share of goods, but exporters are watching for potential shifts in trade flows and pricing. U.S. President Donald Trump signed the order on July 31, introducing higher…

ASTANA — Air Astana Group, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, reported a $10.7 million net profit in the first half of 2025 and added 20 new international routes, expanding its footprint across Asia and enhancing regional connectivity. The results were announced by senior executives during Issuer Day on Aug. 6, covering the second quarter and the six…

ASTANA — Public spaces are undergoing a transformative shift. No longer just libraries or youth centers, these areas are evolving into vibrant, creative hubs that foster community, culture, and innovation, according to experts, who spoke to The Astana Times. What is a public creative space? Kamila Lukpanova, the founder of the Almaty Tourism Bureau and…

ASTANA — What do a 150-year-old mausoleum, a medieval Golden Horde trade hub, and a Dzungarian-era temple have in common? All three are undergoing restoration in Kazakhstan’s Karagandy, Atyrau, and East Kazakhstan regions. The effort aims to preserve cultural identity, honor national history, and promote heritage tourism, reported Kazinform in a series of articles. Restoring…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan invested 78.8 billion tenge (US$145 million) in environmental protection during the first half of 2025, a 4.6-fold increase compared to the same period last year, reported Finprom on July 31.  According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the increase marks a sharp reversal from 2024, when environmental investments fell 5.2-fold to 52.8…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will increase oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to 1.7 million tons in 2025 and strengthen energy cooperation with Türkiye, said Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov at a press briefing on July 31 in Astana. According to Akkenzhenov, nearly 800,000 tons of Kazakh oil had been shipped via the BTC pipeline…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the strategic role of Kazakhstan’s transport sector on Aug. 1 in Astana, marking Transport Workers’ Day. Addressing industry professionals, he outlined key infrastructure and logistics projects aimed at strengthening the country’s position as a vital Eurasian transit hub. Tokayev emphasized that the country’s vast geography and transit potential place…

ASTANA — United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 31, imposing new tariffs on imports from nearly 70 countries, including Kazakhstan. Under the order, Kazakh goods entering the U.S. will be subject to a 25% tariff. The executive order, posted on the White House website a few hours before its self-imposed…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Investment Committee and Kazakh Invest national company launched a joint front office at the Astana International Financial Centre’s (AIFC) Expat Centre on July 30 to enhance state support for foreign investors and streamline access to government services. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, services available at the office include visa support,…