Articles by Dana Omirgazy

Caspian-Black Sea Tunnel Proposal by Azerbaijan Aims to Tackle Water Crisis

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…

Kazakhstan and OPEC+ Partners to Raise Oil Output in June

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…

Royal Danish Theater Brings Kazakh Soloist Meirambek Nazargozhayev Home for June Performance

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…

News Digest: Foreign Media on New Investor Visa, Investment in Critical Minerals, Relations with Europe and More

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…

Kazakhstan Advances Research Partnership with American, South Korean Universities

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…

Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port Expands with New Sarzha Terminal, Jan De Nul Leads Dredging Efforts

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…

Kazakhstan, France Unite to Develop Long-Term Master Plan for Lake Balkhash Preservation

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…

President Tokayev Meets UEFA President, Highlights Football Growth in Kazakhstan

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…

Kazakhstan Reports High Digital Literacy and Internet Usage

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…

News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Diplomacy, Tourism Growth, Global Investment, and More

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…

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi to Launch Flights to Kazakhstan in June

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…

Kazakhstan, Austria Deepen Strategic Partnership Through Diversified Economic Ties

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…

Recovered Assets to Build New Medical Facilities in Aktobe Region

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…

Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Launch Strategic Turgundi–Herat Railway Project

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…

Kazakhstan and Croatia Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation During High-Level Visit

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…

Kazakhstan, Afghanistan to Create Technical Commission to Study Afghan Mineral Deposits

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…

Kazakhstan to Expand Access to Natural Gas to 12.8 Million People This Year

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,…

Uzbekistan to Offer Five-Year Residence Permits to Foreign Investors Starting June

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.…

Kazakh Citizens in US Advised to Return Voluntarily Over Immigration Concerns

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…

President Tokayev Highlights National Environmental Efforts at Taza Kazakhstan Festival

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…

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to Visit Kazakhstan This Week

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…

Kazakhstan Archaeology Journal Gains Global Recognition with SJR Ranking

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…

Top Five Tourist Regions of Kazakhstan in 2024

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…

Shares of Kazakhstan’s Companies Show Growth Despite Market Volatility

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…

Marriage Trends Shift in Kazakhstan with Rising Age and Regional Disparities

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…