World Forum of Central Securities Depositories Kicks Off in Almaty
ALMATY – The World Forum of Central Securities Depositories (WFC2025) opened in Almaty on Sept. 24, marking a landmark event for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The forum, hosted by the Kazakhstan Central Securities Depository (KCSD), gathered over 250 experts from more than 50 countries, representing 80 financial institutions, to discuss the future of post-trade infrastructure.…
Tokayev Backs China’s Global Initiatives as Path to Fairer World Order
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev voiced strong support for China’s Global Development and Global Governance Initiatives, calling them timely responses to growing geopolitical and economic challenges during a Sept. 23 high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Tokayev praised President Xi Jinping’s leadership and said the initiatives offer…
Astana Fans Sing in Unison as Backstreet Boys Deliver Timeless Hits
ASTANA – The Backstreet Boys lit up Astana Arena on Sept. 21, performing for around 30,000 fans, including more than 12,000 international visitors from 45 countries. Organized by Astana Concert with a striking Total White dress code, the show was the group’s second stop in Kazakhstan, following their Sept. 19 performance in Almaty that also drew…
Kazakh Company with UK Driving Instructors Association to Modernize Testing
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s IT company TrustExam.ai (operating locally as Oqylyq.kz) has formed a strategic partnership with the UK’s Driving Instructors Association (DIA) to digitally transform the theoretical driving exam system for cars and motorcycles. With support from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the UK and participation at London Tech Week 2025, TrustExam.ai engaged with UK…
Wabtec to Open First Diesel Engine Plant Abroad in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Wabtec, a global leader in locomotive manufacturing, confirmed plans to launch production of new diesel engines at the Astana Diesel Service plant in 2026 – the first engine production outside the United States. For Kazakhstan, this marks a milestone in boosting localization and strengthening the country’s technological independence. The announcement followed a working…
Tokayev Holds High-Level Meetings with Global Business and Educational Leaders in New York
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev began his working visit to New York with a series of high-level meetings on Sept. 21. With Cameco Corporation CEO Tim Gitzel, President Tokayev discussed prospects for cooperation in the uranium sector. Tokayev noted Cameco’s role as a long-standing partner of Kazatomprom national atomic company with over $500 million invested…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Faith Diplomacy, Food Security, Green Education, and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights religion’s role in diplomacy, Kazakhstan’s emerging food diplomacy and more. Faith must reclaim its place in diplomacy Eureporter released an article on Sept. 15 written by Maulen Ashimbayev, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Senate and head of…
Kazakhstan Reaffirms Support for Qatar at Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha
ASTANA — Kazakhstan expressed support for Qatar and its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. Chairman of the Mazhilis Yerlan Koshanov represented the country at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on behalf of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on Sept. 15. Speaking at the plenary session, Koshanov condemned Israel’s recent military actions against Qatar, stressing that such…
Kazakhstan Plans to Expand Protected Areas to 34 Million Hectares by 2035
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to grow its network of protected lands from 30.9 million hectares today to 34 million hectares by 2035, setting a new regional benchmark in biodiversity conservation under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The milestone was highlighted at the final seminar of the SPACES Kazakhstan project, held in cooperation with the Ministry…
Major $1 Billion Aviation Hub Planned for Mangystau Region
ASTANA – The Mangystau Region is set to become a major transport and logistics hub with the launch of a $1 billion aviation and logistics center at Aktau International Airport. The announcement was made during an extended regional meeting chaired by Nurdaulet Kilybay, akim (mayor) of the Mangystau Region, focusing on the implementation of President…
Kazakhstan Gains in Global Competitiveness, Surpasses Japan and Spain
ASTANA — According to the latest report from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Kazakhstan has secured the 34th position in the global competitiveness ranking among 69 countries. Kazakhstan advanced by one position compared to last year and is now ranked ahead of Japan (35th), Kuwait, Portugal, Latvia, Spain, and India. The country’s economy…
Kazakhstan’s Nurlanuly Breaks into ITF Junior Top 25 After US Open Success
ASTANA – Rising Kazakh tennis star Zangar Nurlanuly has made a major breakthrough in the updated International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings, climbing 29 spots to reach 25th place. This year, the 17-year-old Nurlanuly reached the semi-finals of the US Open Junior Championships. Other Kazakhstan’s juniors also showed good results: Amir Omarkhanov retained his 28th…
National Carrier Provides Musical Train for Dimash Qudaibergen’s International Project
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Passenger Transportation company has organized the operation of a special musical train for the Voice Beyond Horizon international project. Seven passenger carriages and one restaurant carriage were allocated for filming, accommodating around 150 artists and international guests. On Sept. 8, the train embarked on an 18-day journey along the Turkistan – Aktau…
Kazakhstan Announces First Recipient of Digital Nomad Residency
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has issued its first 10-year residence permit under the Digital Nomad Residency program. The recipient is Pavel Filatov, a senior analytics & BI engineer with international experience, who chose Kazakhstan as his home and place of professional growth. Launched in January at the instruction of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the program has established…
Kazakhstan and Pakistan Set Goal to Boost Trade Turnover to $1 Billion
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Pakistan have agreed to advance cooperation across key sectors, setting a goal of increasing bilateral trade turnover to $1 billion in the coming years. The commitment was confirmed during the meeting between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Sept. 9…
Kazakhstan Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka Welcomes Millionth Visitor
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka celebrated a milestone as it welcomed its one millionth visitor, Kosuke Hasegawa from Amagasaki city, Japan. To mark the occasion, Hasegawa received a special prize package, including a business-class ticket on Air Astana’s upcoming direct flight between Japan and Kazakhstan, set to launch in…
Kazakhstan Could Shift to Unicameral Parliament as Tokayev Calls for 2027 Referendum
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed holding a national referendum in 2027 on transitioning Kazakhstan to a unicameral parliament, which would abolish the Senate, the legislature’s upper chamber. He stressed that such a reform would mark a new stage in the country’s political transformation and must be carried out only with the full consent…
Kazakhstan to Boost AI-Driven Satellite Monitoring in Agriculture, Says President Tokayev
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that Kazakhstan will significantly expand the use of artificial intelligence in satellite monitoring of agricultural land, stressing that digital technologies must play a central role in managing the country’s most strategic resource. Speaking in his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 8, Tokayev said that space monitoring and geoanalytics are already…
Kazakhstan Citizens to Visit Armenia with ID Cards
ASTANA — The Mazhilis, lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, has ratified an agreement between Kazakhstan and Armenia that abolishes the mutual visa regime and allows citizens to travel using national ID cards. The document, signed last year in Yerevan, also regulates cooperation in the field of migration. Kazakh citizens may now enter Armenia with…
Tokayev Opens Kazakhstan Cultural Center in Beijing
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the opening ceremony of the Cultural Center of Kazakhstan in Beijing on Sept. 2, describing the event as a milestone in the spiritual life of both Kazakh and Chinese peoples. “This is a historic event reflecting the genuine respect of the Kazakh people for the Chinese people…
Almaty to Welcome 5,000 Tourists for Historic Kairat vs Real Madrid Match
ASTANA — Almaty expects up to 5,000 tourists for the historic football match between Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat and Spain’s Real Madrid, scheduled for Sept. 30 at the Central Stadium. The event is set to become one of the largest in the country’s sporting calendar. According to Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabossynov, Kazakhstan’s infrastructure…
Tokayev in China Daily: Kazakhstan-China Friendship is Model of Strategic Partnership
ASTANA — China Daily, a leading English-language Chinese newspaper, published an article by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Aug. 30 titled Strong Kazakh-Sino ties key to successful cooperation. In his article, President Tokayev emphasizes that Kazakhstan-China relations are “deeply rooted in centuries of neighborly ties, consistently marked by mutual trust, support, and understanding.” He highlights that…
Kazakhstan and Jordan Set Course for Stronger Strategic Partnership
ASTANA — President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan held talks on Aug. 27 in the Kazakh capital, reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation. During the meeting, President Tokayev expressed gratitude to King Abdullah II for accepting the invitation to visit Kazakhstan and highlighted…
Central Asian Countries Discuss Afghanistan at First Special Representatives’ Meeting
ASTANA — The first meeting of special representatives of the Central Asian countries on Afghanistan was held with the participation of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on Aug. 26 in Tashkent. The officials noted the relevance and timeliness of establishing a contact group of special representatives on Afghanistan as an independent regional platform…
Students Turn Recycled Plastic into Eco-Friendly Benches and Lamps in Balkhash
ASTANA – Students from the Polytechnic College in Balkhash have brought their award-winning eco-initiative to life by installing benches and solar-powered street lamps made from recycled plastic on their campus grounds. The eco-project was developed by students Aida Mukhanova and Tolganai Zholdybai, under the guidance of their history teacher, Gulzada Shaizhanova. Their innovative idea combines…
