Women-Led IT Companies in Kazakhstan Grow 1.6-Fold in Two Years
ASTANA – The number of women-led IT companies at the Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups has surged from 179 in early 2023 to 301 in 2025, the Astana Hub’s press service reported on March 4. Astana Hub Managing Director Daniya Akhmetova noted, however, that despite this growth, women still make up only 30%…
Kazakhstan Builds Gas Chemical Plant to Reduce Fertilizer Import Reliance
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to build a $1.35 billion gas chemical production facility to manufacture 700,000 tonnes of urea and 42,000 tonnes of ammonia annually. This was announced during a March 4 meeting with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and ESTA Construction CEO Mustafa Toprak. According to the prime minister’s office, the plant will be located…
UN Adopts Resolution to Establish SDG Regional Hub in Almaty
ASTANA – The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on the establishment of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty during a March 4 session in New York. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, this initiative was first presented by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev…
New York Film Academy Branch Opens in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The New York Film Academy (NYFA) has launched a branch in Kazakhstan, making it the third NYFA campus outside the United States and the first world-class creative university in the country. The online signing ceremony took place on March 1 at the Energo University site with the participation of Minister of Science and…
AIF 2025 to Host Critical Dialogue on Global Challenges
ASTANA – The Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025 will take place on May 29-30, fostering cross-border dialogues on international diplomacy and cooperation amid global disruption and polarization, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Building on the success of the 2023 forum, which drew over 5,000 international participants, this year’s event will address pressing global challenges and…
EDB Issues Bonds to Fund Almaty Power Plant Modernization
ASTANA – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has placed three-year bonds worth 50 billion tenge (US$100.4 million) on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) to finance the modernization of Almaty combined heat and power plant-3 (CHPP-3), the EDB’s press service reported on Feb. 27. The project involves transitioning CHPP-3 from coal to natural gas, significantly reducing…
Kazakhstan to Launch New Route to Vietnam
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s largest airline Air Astana plans to launch a new Almaty-Da Nang route starting June 4, the Transport Ministry reported. Flights will operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, increasing the total number of weekly flights between Kazakhstan and Vietnam from 32 to 34. Air Astana has also expanded its flight schedule…
Turkistan Granted Special Status to Preserve Cultural Heritage
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a law granting special status to Turkistan, further solidifying its role as Kazakhstan’s spiritual and cultural hub, Akorda reported on March 3. “Turkistan is a cradle of the Kazakh nation, while Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum is one of its sacred legacies. By preserving its uniqueness as a UNESCO…
Kazakhstan Pledges Support for Moroccan Companies
ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said the Kazakh government will support Moroccan businesses in strengthening economic and investment ties with Morocco. Nurtleu made the statement on Feb. 28 in Rabat, during meetings with leading Moroccan companies. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service, Nurtleu discussed potential cooperation in…
Kazakhstan’s 100th Heart Transplant Coincides with Domestic Organ Delivery Innovation
ASTANA — Kazakhstan recently celebrated its 100th heart transplant, coinciding with the completion of a domestically developed device that extends the storage time of donor hearts and other organs beyond 24 hours. Yuriy Pya, renowned cardiac surgeon and CEO of the University Medical Center (UMC), announced this during a Feb. 27 forum dedicated to this…
Kazakhstan’s Neo Nomad Visa Draws Global Attention as First Recipients Share Insights
ASTANA – As soon as the Neo Nomad Visa was launched, enabling holders to live in Kazakhstan for up to a year while working remotely and traveling, foreign professionals took advantage of the opportunity. Among the first recipients are a British expert in finance and energy Sertaç Yener, and Latvian PHP developer Pavel Grigoryev, with…
Caspian Pipeline Shareholders Pledge Support for Repairs After Drone Attack
ASTANA – Shareholders of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) are ready to support repairs at the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, which sustained damage in the Feb. 17 drone attack. The repairs are expected to take approximately two months. According to the CPC’s press service, at a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 25-26, CPC General…
Kazakhstan Integrates AI, Digital Technologies to Modernize Legal System
ASTANA – Minister of Justice Yerlan Sarsenbayev presented initiatives aimed at the digitization and modernization of Kazakhstan’s legal system at a Feb. 26 government meeting, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Key initiatives focus on improving the enforcement system, introducing digital technologies, and automating processes. The Bailiff’s Robot will be upgraded with a higher collection…
Middle Corridor Transports First Cargo Shipment from Japan
ASTANA — Japan completed its first-ever trial shipment through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) to Türkiye, Trend reported on Feb. 25. The cargo departed from Nagoya, traveled through China and Georgia, and was delivered to Türkiye by Danish shipping and logistics company Maersk. Central Asia and Caucasus Region Business Development Head Irakli Danelia…
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic Explore New Cooperation Opportunities
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic aim to explore new opportunities to expand trade, accelerate the launch of the Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex on their border, and enhance transit and transport cooperation. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized these priorities during a Feb. 25 meeting with Adylbek Kasymaliev, the chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of…
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan to Hold First Summit After Border Deal
ASTANA – The first ever trilateral summit of the presidents of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will take place in Khujand on March 31, Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov announced during the high-level segment of the UN Human Rights Council’s 58th session in Geneva, reported the cabinet’s press service.…
Kazakhstan to Launch Three Joint Terminals with China This Year
ASTANA — In 2025, Kazakhstan and China plan to launch a logistics complex in Almaty, a logistics center in the Moscow Region of Russia, and a terminal in the port of Alyat, Azerbaijan. As stated by the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company, these plans were approved during a Feb. 21 meeting between KTZ…
Steve Barakatt to Perform at Astana Opera on International Women’s Day
ASTANA – Steve Barakatt, the world-renowned composer and pianist, will perform at Astana Opera on March 8 in celebration of International Women’s Day, announced the theatre’s press service. He will be the first North American composer and pianist to showcase his work at the Grand Hall of Astana Opera. Barakatt will be joined by 125…
Almaty Unveils Exhibition on Golden Horde’s Legacy
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central State Museum in Almaty unveiled an exhibition on Feb. 20 aimed at promoting the country as the successor of the Golden Horde empire (Ulus of Jochi) and a state that has preserved the rich historical and cultural heritage of that period, both nationally and internationally, reported the museum’s press service. The…
Sanremo Junior Kazakhstan Final to Select Winner for Italy Competition
ASTANA – The final of the Sanremo Junior Kazakhstan children’s competition will take place on Feb. 22 in Aktobe, where a grand prix winner will be chosen to represent the country at the 16th Sanremo Junior international vocal competition in Italy, announced the event organizers on their social media account. The event is organized by…
Kazakh Ministry Submits Tax Code Amendments to Parliament, Proposing 16% VAT
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of National Economy submitted a package of amendments to the draft Tax Code to the Mazhilis, a lower house of Parliament, on Feb. 20. The changes, aimed at improving tax administration, included the increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 12% to 16%. The ministry’s press service clarified that…
Tokayev Orders Stricter Industrial Safety After Fatal Mine Collapse
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev condemned the unacceptable state of labor safety following the Feb. 17 mine collapse at Kazakhmys corporation in the Ulytau Region, reported Akorda. According to Tokayev, gross violations of established requirements, poor equipment of facilities with industrial safety systems, and insufficient investment in worker protection lead to man-made accidents, deaths, and…
Kazakhstan, Jordan Joint Statement: Boosting Trade, Energy, Culture, and Direct Flights
ASTANA – The joint statement adopted on Feb. 19 by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein emphasized the need to deepen trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Jordan in energy, agriculture, infrastructure, IT, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. According to the Akorda, the leaders confirmed their readiness to expand cooperation in the…
Tokayev Visits Jordan to Strengthen Trade and Economic Cooperation
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Amman on Feb. 19 to bolster cooperation, trade, and economic relations between Kazakhstan and Jordan. During his meetings with King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein and Crown Prince Al Hussein, Tokayev extended congratulations on the silver jubilee of King Abdullah II’s reign, emphasizing Jordan’s continued prosperity and global influence…
Kazakhstan Reports No Restrictions on Oil Exports Via Caspian Pipeline
ASTANA – There are currently no restrictions on Kazakh oil from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), and shipments are carried out as scheduled following a massive drone attack on CPC’s Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station on Feb. 17, reported the Kazakh Energy Ministry. According to CPC press service, Kropotkinskaya, the largest oil pumping station in the…
