Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Azerbaijan has proposed a bold project to connect the Caspian and Black Seas via an underground water tunnel — a move that could offer Kazakhstan long-sought direct access to the world ocean and help counter the falling water levels threatening Caspian Sea ports, reported Inbusiness on May 4. The project, initiated by ADOG…

ASTANA – The eight OPEC+ countries, which previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, namely Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, met virtually on May 3 to review global market conditions and outlook, according to OPEC. “Given the current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil…

ASTANA – The Steppe media outlet recently shared the inspiring journey of Meirambek Nazargozhayev, a Kazakh native whose talent and determination led him from the village of Karaoi, 50 kilometers from Almaty, to one of Europe’s most prestigious cultural institutions – the Royal Danish Theater. On June 27, the theater stars, including Nazargozhayev, will perform…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Central Asia’s relations with the European Union, Kazakhstan’s growing international engagement, including a surge in oil shipments via the Mediterranean and Caspian routes, $140 million in new trade agreements with Afghanistan, the launch of a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed major agreements with leading U.S. universities to launch three new research projects and expand partnerships. During a working visit to the United States, Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek announced that Arizona State University will open a second branch at Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan University in 2026. Links…

ASTANA – Jan De Nul, the Belgian family-owned marine engineering leader, has completed extensive dredging works on new Sarzha multifunctional marine terminal at Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port, boosting cargo capacity and enabling safe navigation as part of the region’s strategic push to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or the Middle Corridor, a trade route connecting…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and France are set to develop a master plan through 2040 for the conservation and sustainable management of Lake Balkhash. The plan aims to address long-standing environmental challenges through a coordinated, data-driven, and international approach, said Kazakh Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Bolat Bekniyaz at a recent seminar held in…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin on April 25, commending UEFA’s support for Kazakhstan and emphasizing football’s growing popularity in the country. According to Tokayev, some 13% of all those involved in sports or 1 million citizens play football. He emphasized the importance of establishing a sustainable market-oriented model for…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Bureau of National Statistics has conducted a survey in 2024, revealing high levels of digital engagement in Kazakhstan, with over 96% of the population using the internet and more than 92% demonstrating strong digital literacy skills across a range of devices and services. According to the survey, based on data from 21,000…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has curated a selection of articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest includes topics such as Kazakhstan’s foreign policy, tourism growth, global investment and more. How has Kazakhstan’s foreign policy evolved under Tokayev? The Diplomat published an article on April 21 discussing Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s foreign…

ASTANA – Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, an Emirati low-cost airline, plans to launch regular passenger flights on the Abu Dhabi–Almaty route starting in June, with three flights per week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. “We are glad to launch our new service to Almaty, further expanding our international reach from Zayed International Airport. This new…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Austria are strengthening their partnership through expanded economic cooperation, as highlighted during the 12th session of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Economic, Agricultural, Environmental, Industrial, Technical, and Technological Cooperation held on April 24. Co-chaired by Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko and Austrian Director General for Economics, Innovation and International Cooperation…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government allocated returned illegally acquired assets from the Special State Fund to finance the construction of medical facilities in the Aktobe Region worth 1.4 billion tenge (US$2.7 million). The funds are directed to construction of 11 facilities, including feldsher-obstetric stations, medical centers, and outpatient clinics across several rural districts, reported Prime…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Afghanistan signed a protocol of intent to begin construction on the Turgundi–Herat–Kandahar–Spin Boldak railway line. The agreement was reached during a recent visit to Afghanistan by a Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. The protocol, signed between Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Gordan Grlić Radman on April 23, highlighting growing cooperation between Kazakhstan and Croatia. Tokayev believes Kazakhstan-Croatia ties would continue to develop in a spirit of mutual trust and constructive dialogue, reported Akorda. He noted the increasing interest of Croatian businesses…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Afghanistan agreed to create a technical commission to study Afghan mineral deposits during a recent meeting between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin and Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hidayatullah Badri in Kabul. Expressing satisfaction with the significant progress in developing relations in the industrial…

ASTANA – By the end of this year, Kazakhstan plans to complete 60 gasification projects in 71 populated areas, expanding access to natural gas for an additional 218,000 people, bringing the total to 12.8 million, said Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov at an April 23 government meeting. In the previous year, 62.4% of the country’s population,…

ASTANA – To attract foreign investment, Uzbekistan will introduce a simplified procedure for issuing 5-year residence permits starting June 1. Foreign nationals and stateless persons will be eligible if they invest $250,000, with an additional $150,000 required for each accompanying family member, including spouses, children, or parents, reported the country’s Justice Ministry on April 19.…

ASTANA – On April 17, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a call for Kazakh citizens currently residing in the United States who are subject to deportation orders to voluntarily return home. The appeal encourages individuals to use the CBP Home mobile application, which facilitates a safe and organized departure process. Citizens who are…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the importance of ecological responsibility and civic unity during an April 21 Taza Kazakhstan environmental festival. He focused on the campaign’s achievements, including the planting of millions of trees and the involvement of volunteers throughout the country. Speaking about the significance of the campaign, Tokayev noted that maintaining…

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni is set to make an official visit to Kazakhstan on April 26–27, following an invitation from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. High-level talks will focus on strengthening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Italy. On April 27, Astana will host the first-ever Central Asia–Italy summit, reported Akorda. During the…

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Archaeology scientific journal of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology officially entered the first quartile (Q1) of the international SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) ranking, receiving an impact factor of 0.532. The inclusion of the journal in Q1 confirms its high scientific level, international significance and relevance of the published research. This success…

ASTANA – In 2024, Kazakhstan welcomed 9.1 million tourists who used hotels and other accommodation facilities nationwide. The volume of services reached 300 billion tenge (US$573.3 million), reported the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports on April 16.  Almaty was once again recognized as the most popular destination among tourists. The city attracted 2.3 million…

ASTANA – Despite global market uncertainty, Kazakhstan’s stock market remained resilient in January-March, with the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) Index rising by 1.4% to reach 5,658.74 points. The volume of transactions with index shares on the secondary market reached 59.7 billion tenge (US$114 million), an increase of 17.1 billion tenge (US$32.7 million) compared to the…

ASTANA – In Kazakhstan, April 15 is celebrated as Kozy-Korpesh and Bayan Sulu Day, a holiday symbolizing true love, often considered an alternative to Valentine’s Day. A study by Shynar Toleshova, a leading expert at Kazakhstan’s Economic Research, examined changing trends in marriage and family life. Toleshova pointed out that shifts in marital patterns, such…