Articles by Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY — Kazakhstan expanded its international engagement and achieved its strongest economic growth in a decade in 2025, President’s Press Secretary Ruslan Zheldibay wrote in a year-end summary on his Telegram channel on Dec. 29.  According to Zheldibay, foreign policy remained a key pillar of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s agenda throughout the year. Tokayev made 23…

ALMATY — As New Year holidays approach, citizens of Kazakhstan are increasingly choosing a mix of warm seaside destinations abroad and winter resorts at home to celebrate the festive season, according to Kazakhstan’s Tourism Association (KTA). Among international destinations, demand remains strongest for beach holidays in Vietnam, Thailand, Qatar, Türkiye, the Maldives, and the United…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on Dec. 26 to review the preliminary results of Kazakhstan’s socio-economic development in 2025 and assess progress on the implementation of presidential economic reforms, reported the Akorda press service. Bektenov reported that more than 70% of GDP growth in 2025 was driven by non-resource…

ALMATY — Investment in Kazakhstan’s tourism sector increased by 38.1% to 923 billion tenge (approximately US$2 billion) in the January-October 2025 period, as the country recorded steady growth in both inbound and domestic travel, Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabossynov said on Dec. 25. Speaking at a government briefing, Myrzabossynov said 12.1 million foreign…

ALMATY – The Astana Times has selected key articles from international media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Nazarbayev University’s growing global profile, reforms at the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the rapid expansion of the Middle Corridor, regional diplomacy in the South Caucasus, cultural exchanges with China, and efforts to boost domestic…

ASTANA — The final days of December bring a full calendar of festive events to Astana and Almaty, from classical ballet and art exhibitions to winter festivals, family shows, and outdoor activities. Whether you are looking for culture, entertainment, or a seasonal atmosphere, The Astana Times has curated a selection of events to help you…

ALMATY — Kazakhstan has emerged as the leading country in Central Asia in terms of readiness to adopt and govern artificial intelligence (AI), ranking 60th out of 195 countries in the Government AI Readiness Index 2025 published by Oxford Insights. The country climbed 16 positions compared to the previous year, when it ranked 76th, marking…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key priorities for Astana’s economic, technological, and urban development during a meeting on the capital’s future, highlighting that the city’s gross regional product (GRP) is expected to reach $34 billion by the end of 2025, with potential to rise further. “Astana is confidently moving forward, demonstrating impressive growth rates.…

ALMATY — The Mangystau Region ranked third nationwide in attracting foreign tourists in 2025, with more than 350,000 visitors recorded in the January-September 2025 period, Mangystau region Akim (Governor) Nurdaulet Kilybay said at a Dec. 23 briefing at the Central Communications Service. According to official statistics, the volume of tourism-related services in the region reached…

ALMATY — Astana’s daily public transport ridership has reached 1.1 million passengers in 2025, marking a 37% increase compared to 2024, Astana Akim (Mayor) Zhenis Kassymbek said at a Dec. 22 briefing at the Central Communications Service. According to Kassymbek, public transport now accounts for 43% of all trips made in the capital. The city…

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited the United States President Donald Trump to visit Kazakhstan during a phone conversation held on Dec. 23, expressing confidence that such a visit would be historic, reported the Akorda press service. Following the call, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had invited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to attend the…

ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s oil pipeline operator KazTransOil has expanded cooperation with European partners to ensure stable transit of Kazakh oil to Germany, following the signing of a new cooperation agreement with Poland’s pipeline operator PERN in Warsaw on Dec. 23, the company reported. The agreement regulates procedures for the reception and delivery of oil at…

ALMATY — The United States and Kazakhstan are expanding their civil nuclear energy partnership with new initiatives focused on small modular reactors (SMRs), workforce development, and feasibility studies, the U.S. Embassy in Astana announced on Dec. 22. Under the U.S. Department of State’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program,…

ALMATY — Kazakhstan commemorates the 115th anniversary of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly on Dec. 24, honoring the legacy of the legendary commander of the Great Patriotic War, a national hero whose military mastery and literary contributions shaped generations. Born in 1910, Momyshuly rose to become one of the most revered figures in Kazakhstan’s military and cultural history.…

ALMATY — Refineries operated by KazMunayGas (KMG) have reached historic highs in oil processing and production of petroleum products, driven by higher operational efficiency and modernization efforts, Chairman of the Management Board Askhat Khassenov said during a working meeting on Dec. 19 in Shymkent. Summing up preliminary results for 2025 and outlining plans through 2030,…

ALMATY — Ancient geoglyphs in Kazakhstan’s Turgai Trough in northern Kazakhstan once again demonstrated their connection to solar cycles on Dec. 21, the day of the winter solstice, reinforcing scientific arguments that the structures functioned as early astronomical and calendar systems. According to Kostanai-based researcher Dmitry Dey, the phenomenon occurs every year when the sun…

ALMATY — Google has launched its artificial intelligence model Gemini in the Kazakh language, expanding access to advanced AI tools for users in Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development announced on Dec. 19. The release is part of Google’s global expansion of language support for its most advanced AI system to date.…

ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s passport has strengthened its standing in global mobility rankings in 2025, offering visa-free access to 79 countries and leading Central Asia in international travel freedom, according to the Committee of Migration Service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Summarizing the 2025 results, the committee reported issuing 1.9 million national ID cards, 1.1…

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan’s strategic vision for expanding political, economic, and technological cooperation during the first Central Asia–Japan Summit in Tokyo on Dec. 20, where leaders adopted the Tokyo Declaration and agreed to elevate the format to a new level. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and leaders of Central Asian states,…

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official trip to Japan continued with a series of meetings with senior executives of leading Japanese corporations, resulting in new momentum for cooperation in critical minerals, industrial manufacturing, smart technologies, and workforce development.  As part of his official visit, President Tokayev met with Ichiro Takahara, Chairman of the Japan Organization…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Japan elevated their cooperation in digital innovation, smart city development, and high-tech investment during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to on Dec. 18–19, which resulted in a new capital-to-capital partnership agreement and progress on joint projects in biotechnology, AI, and nuclear medicine.  During his visit, Tokayev met on Dec. 18 with…

ASTANA — As the holiday season approaches, residents of Astana and Almaty can enjoy a festive weekend full of concerts, children’s shows, theatrical premieres, and winter-themed activities. The Astana Times editorial team has curated a selection of events taking place across both cities. Astana Enchanting spectacle “New Year Symphony of Wonders”, Dec. 20–21 This interactive…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat has been recognized as one of the 500 best football clubs in the world, according to the global ranking of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) published on Dec. 11. The Almaty club became the only representative of Kazakhstan on the list, securing 240th place with 90.75…

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined a comprehensive set of priorities aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s energy sector, emphasizing large-scale infrastructure projects, energy independence, environmental modernization, and the development of nuclear and renewable power. The goals were presented as part of the country’s long-term strategy to eliminate electricity shortages and enhance national security, reported the…

ALMATY – Tajikistan has entered a new stage of stability and regional confidence, President Emomali Rahmon said in his annual address to the parliament, emphasizing that 2025 marked one of the most historic years in the country’s modern era. According to Rahmon, the full settlement of border issues with the Kyrgyz Republic has created a…