Articles by Nagima Abuova

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,…

ASTANA — The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Aug. 3 as part of his ongoing engagement in Central Asia. According to the UN’s communications office in Kazakhstan, Guterres will meet with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as well as other senior government officials and UN staff members.  A key highlight…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its Forgotten Cities of the Silk Road series, exploring Kazakhstan’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites. This edition highlights the early Silk Roads corridor in the Zhetisu Region, centered on three necropolises, including Besshatyr, Boraldai, and Esik, where archaeological findings illuminate long-standing cultural exchanges between ancient nomadic civilizations and early…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its Forgotten Cities of the Silk Road series, exploring Kazakhstan’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites. This edition features the Volga-Caspian Corridor and its three key archaeological sites, including Kyzylkala, Saraishyk, and Zhayik, spanning the Atyrau, Mangystau, and West Kazakhstan regions. ASTANA – Once a vital artery of Eurasian trade…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its Forgotten Cities of the Silk Road series, exploring Kazakhstan’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites. This edition features Yassy-Turkistan, an ancient urban settlement beneath modern Turkistan that once served as a key hub on the Silk Road and a spiritual center long before the renowned mausoleum was built.  ASTANA…

ASTANA — Kazakh officials outlined legislative reforms to forest management and protected natural areas aimed at boosting eco-tourism, strengthening climate resilience, and improving emergency response mechanisms. The changes were presented at a July 11 press briefing by the Forestry and Wildlife Committee under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The updated law on amendments…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s strategic position in the Middle Corridor makes it a game-changer for regional logistics and innovation, said Vice president of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Kyriacos Kakouris in an interview with The Astana Times on the sidelines of the Astana International Forum.  He highlighted the country’s pivotal role within the EU’s Global Gateway…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its Forgotten Cities of the Silk Road series, exploring Kazakhstan’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites. This edition highlights three major archaeological sites in the Kyzylorda Region, including the ancient settlements of Zhankala, Zhankent, and the fortified complexes of the Zhetyasar oasis.  ASTANA — Scattered across the southern steppes of…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is ready to invest in Afghanistan’s Turghundi-Herat railway to strengthen regional connectivity, said Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov at the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, on July 4.  The summit focused on strengthening economic ties among ECO member states, particularly in transport and logistics, energy, climate security, and digital transformation.…

ASTANA – New archaeological discoveries across Kazakhstan have revealed centuries-old civilizations, highlighting the region’s pivotal role as a cultural and trade hub between East and West. From Seljuk-era ceramics in the medieval city of Saraishyk to gold jewelry from the Saka and Wusun periods, these findings span vast geographies and eras. Saraishyk: a crossroads of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is becoming a showcase for Alstom’s sustainable and high-tech rail solutions, said Martin Vaujour, the company’s president for Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia (AMECA). He shared Alstom’s long-term vision for the country in an interview with The Astana Times following the Foreign Investors’ Council meeting on June 24. “I’ve been…

ASTANA – Women leaders underscored that sustainability requires both strategic thinking and personal responsibility at the Global Businesswomen Council meeting on June 24 in Astana. They also called for deeper social investment and inclusive cooperation to address global challenges. The council brings together senior executives and policymakers to advance women’s leadership and foster cross-sector solutions.…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its Forgotten Cities of the Silk Road series, exploring Kazakhstan’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites. In this edition, the spotlight falls on Kyshkala—a once-thriving medieval center positioned along the Fergana–Syrdarya Corridor. Known in chronicles as Barshynkent and remembered in legends as the city of Alpamys batyr, Kyshkala stood as…

ASTANA — The Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) unveiled the second edition of its richly illustrated science-popular book, “Steppe Mammals of Kazakhstan,” at a presentation in Astana on June 18. This expanded edition, translated into Russian for the first time, follows the original Kazakh-language version published in 2023. The book explores…

ASTANA — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Kazakhstan and his participation in the Central Asia-China summit mark a new phase of strategic engagement, encompassing a broader Central Asian region. Experts highlight both unprecedented opportunities and growing scrutiny in the region’s evolving partnerships.  In recent years, the Central Asia–China format has emerged as a…

ASTANA — As Kazakhstan and China enter a new golden era of strategic partnership, both countries are focused on real projects that will transform the energy system, said Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov, opening the first Power Central Asia + China Forum in Astana on June 16.  The forum, held as part of the Central…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its Forgotten Cities of the Silk Road series, exploring Kazakhstan’s tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites. In this edition, we turn to Otyrar, once the capital of a flourishing oasis, a center of Islamic scholarship, and a frontier stronghold that witnessed both prosperity and destruction. Mentioned in 9th-12th century Arab…

ASTANA —  In a major step for wildlife conservation, seven Przewalski’s horses, the world’s last truly wild horse species, arrived in Kazakhstan on June 3, marking the second international transport under the Return of the Wild Horses project. The Astana Times was on the ground to witness the second international transport operation bringing these iconic…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Bulgaria identified new opportunities for cooperation in transport, energy, agribusiness, digital technologies, and pharmaceuticals during the Kazakhstan-Bulgaria Business Forum held June 9 in Astana as part of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s official visit. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the forum could serve as a launchpad for expanding bilateral trade and investment,…

ASTANA —  Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Liu Yongxing, the chairman of the board of China’s East Hope Group, on June 9 to discuss prospects for launching a vertically integrated industrial park for non-ferrous metals production in Kazakhstan.  According to the Prime Minister’s press service, the project will follow circular economy principles, which…