Kazakh State String Quartet Embarks on 2025 US Tour to Celebrate 30th Anniversary
ASTANA – The Kazakh State String Quartet, named after Gaziza Zhubanova, one of Central Asia’s most acclaimed chamber ensembles, will embark on a major concert tour across the United States this fall as part of its 30th anniversary celebration. Renowned for its emotional depth, technical brilliance, and distinctive blend of Eastern lyricism and European precision,…
Seven Kazakh Boxers Top Inaugural World Boxing Federation Rankings
ASTANA – Seven members of Kazakhstan’s national boxing team have claimed the top spots in the World Boxing Federation’s first-ever global ranking of the best boxers. Leading their respective weight categories are Nazym Kyzaibay (48 kilograms), Aida Abikeyeva (65 kilograms), Natalia Bogdanova (70 kilograms), Sanzhar Tashkenbay (50 kilograms), Makhmud Sabyrkhan (55 kilograms), Torehan Sabyrkhan (70…
Rybakina Captures 10th WTA Title as Kazakhstan Strengthens Global Tennis Standing
ASTANA – World No. 9 Elena Rybakina triumphed over Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova (WTA No. 10) in the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Ningbo, China, capturing her 10th career singles title. With this victory, Rybakina became the first Kazakhstan’s player to reach the milestone of 10 WTA singles titles, including two WTA 1000 trophies…
Astana Hosts National Animation Film Week
ASTANA – Kazakh Animation creative association at the Shaken Aimanov Kazakhfilm Studio will host the National Animation Film Week from Oct. 20 to 24 at the Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall, offering audiences a unique opportunity to explore the heritage and future of Kazakh animation. The weeklong event will present finest works of domestic animation, featuring…
Kazakhstan Advances AI, Digital Ecosystem Development Under Government’s Digital Headquarters
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is accelerating its transition into the artificial intelligence era as the Digital Headquarters, led by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, implements President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions to build a unified digital ecosystem, integrate all government services into a single SuperApp, and expand support for IT startups and creative industries. Decisions have been made aimed…
Kazakhstan Showcases 350 Works at Frankfurt Book Fair
ASTANA – Kazakhstan presented more than 350 books at one of the world’s largest and most prestigious publishing events, the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse), on Oct. 15. Over 30 representatives of leading publishing houses from Kazakhstan are taking part in the exhibition. The national stand highlights modern trends in Kazakh literature and publishing,…
Kazakhstan Unveils Alatau City Project to Korean Investors in Seoul
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev presented the Alatau City project to Korean investors during the Alatau Rise with Kazakhstan international roadshow on Oct. 15 in Seoul, highlighting opportunities for cooperation in technology, energy, and urban innovation. Envisioned as a future hub for technology companies and export-oriented industries, Alatau City spans 88,000 hectares…
Tajikistan Secures $3 Billion in Investment at Dushanbe Invest-2025 Forum
ASTANA – Tajikistan signed 26 agreements worth $3.12 billion on the first day of the Dushanbe Invest-2025 International Investment Forum. According to the State Committee on Investment and State Property Management, the agreements cover key strategic sectors, including energy, industry, and communications. The energy sector accounted for the largest share, totaling $2.4 billion, while nine…
Kazakhstan Hosts First World Inclusion Congress to Advance Global Dialogue on Inclusive Education
ASTANA – The first World Inclusion Congress (WIC 2025) opened in Almaty on Oct. 15, bringing together more than 1,200 experts, educators, and policymakers from 40 countries to discuss innovations, digital transformation, and the role of artificial intelligence in education. Organized by the Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Almaty, the HOPE Foundation…
Kazakhstan, Italy Strengthen Strategic Partnership During Aqaba Process Summit in Rome
ASTANA – On the sidelines of the Aqaba Process Summit on West Africa, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held a series of high-level meetings aimed at deepening Kazakhstan’s strategic cooperation with Italy and Jordan. Kosherbayev was received by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, with whom he discussed joint efforts to combat…
Health Minister: Kazakhstan Among World’s Top 30 Countries in Cardiac Surgery
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is among the world’s top 30 countries for its achievements in cardiac surgery, said Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova during her address at the first international conference titled Development of Medical Tourism in Kazakhstan: Prospects and Opportunities. According to Alnazarova, Kazakhstan continues to make significant progress in high-tech medical care, including cardiac surgery,…
Dimash Qudaibergen Unites Hearts in Mexico: Cultural Bridge Between Kazakhstan and Latin America
ASTANA – Dimash Qudaibergen once again conquered Latin America, performing to a sold-out audience of 15,000 at the Palacio de los Deportes on Oct. 10, following his first solo concert in the region at Mexico City’s iconic Auditorio Nacional on Oct. 8. The packed arena, led by Qudaibergen, resembled a grand orchestra. The audience responded…
Kazakh FM Opens National Room at FAO Headquarters in Rome
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev met with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu on Oct. 13 in Rome during his working visit to Italy, marking the official opening of Kazakhstan’s Room at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters. During the meeting, Kosherbayev congratulated Qu on the FAO’s 80th anniversary, highlighting its vital contribution…
EU Allocates $1 Billion to Kyrgyz Republic for Kambar-Ata-1 Hydropower Project
ASTANA – The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will each provide $500 million to the Kyrgyz Republic for the construction of the Kambar-Ata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP). Energy Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan, together with the heads of international financial institutions, discussed the project’s progress during…
K-pop Group Kandis Performs Kazakh Hit on Silk Way Star Project Stage
ASTANA – Popular K-pop group Kandis delighted audiences by performing the Kazakh hit “Dem Alam” (“I’ll Take a Rest” in Kazakh) during the fourth episode of the Silk Way Star international vocal competition on Oct. 12. In this episode, contestants performed songs from other countries in their original languages. Michelle Joseph from Mongolia and Yazmin…
Diversification of Kazakhstan’s Oil Export Routes: New Opportunities and Challenges
ASTANA — Kazakhstan is seeking to diversify its oil export routes as global energy markets undergo shifts. The Astana Times breaks down the country’s current supply channels and plans for expansion. According to the Energy Ministry, Kazakhstan produced 87.7 million tons of crude oil in 2024, of which 68.6 million tons were exported. The Caspian…
Kazakhstan to Present New Passport Design
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will soon present its new national passport design, which has been under development since February. The updated document reflects the country’s national identity and cultural diversity, combining modern design trends with enhanced security features. According to State Counselor of Kazakhstan Erlan Karin, leading designers from the National Bank and experts from the…
New Museum of Art Opens in Astana, Showcasing Over 1,600 National Musical Instruments
ASTANA – A new Museum of Art has opened in Astana, featuring more than 1,600 national musical instruments, including rare and nearly forgotten ones such as the zhelbuaz, mes syrnay, uildek, and tastayyk. The museum, which also houses a hall of national costumes and an in-house workshop, aims to preserve and promote Kazakhstan’s traditional culture…
KazAID Strengthens Regional Cooperation Through Data Visualization Seminar in Astana
ASTANA — The Kazakh capital brought together representatives from across Central Asia for a regional seminar aimed at advancing data visualization practices and strengthening regional cooperation in statistics. Held on Oct. 8-10 at Astana International University, the seminar gathered more than 20 specialists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The event was organized by…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Pristine Snow, Dimash Qudaibergen’s Global Triumph, AI Ambitions, and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest features reports on the country’s growing adventure tourism scene, Dimash Qudaibergen’s historic concert at Madison Square Garden, Kazakhstan’s expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem, and more. First tracks in the forests of Kazakhstan The Financial Times published an…
National Bank of Kazakhstan Raises Base Rate to 18% to Curb Rising Inflation
ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan has set the base rate at 18% per annum with a corridor of ±1 percentage point, citing accelerating inflation and strong domestic demand on Oct. 10. The bank noted that annual inflation rose to 12.9% in September, above forecasts, driven mainly by food…
Tokayev Calls for Stronger CIS Unity Amid Global Tensions
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to strengthen unity, expand economic cooperation, and coordinate actions to maintain peace amid growing global instability. Speaking at the CIS Heads of State Council meeting on Oct. 10 in Dushanbe, he stressed that the organization remains an effective…
EBRD Backs Trilateral Effort on Central Asia’s Largest Hydropower Project
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministries of Energy of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan have signed memoranda of understanding to advance preparations for the Kambar-Ata 1 Hydropower Plant, one of the largest renewable energy projects in Central Asia. The signing took place on the sidelines of the…
Almaty to Host ATP 250 Tennis Tournament This Month
ASTANA – The Almaty Open ATP 250 tennis tournament is set to take place from Oct. 11 to 19 at the Almaty Arena. The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation (KTF) has announced the recipients of the main draw wildcards: Amir Omarkhanov, a former world No. 4 junior, along with Beibit Zhukayev and Timofey Skatov, both aged 24.…
Air Astana CEO Foster to Retire in March 2026, Ibrahim Canliel Named Successor
ASTANA – Air Astana Board of Directors announced on Oct. 8 that Peter Foster will retire from his position as Chief Executive Officer and from the board of directors at the end of March 2026. Foster will remain connected to the group in the role of Senior Advisor to the board. Chief Financial Officer Ibrahim…
