Kazakhstan Strengthens Grain Export Logistics Amid Record Harvest and Rising Stocks
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s grain exporters are encouraged to begin shipping new-season wheat before the end of 2025 to qualify for transport reimbursement payments scheduled for early 2026. More than 30 billion tenge (approximately US$60.6 million) will be allocated next year to support grain exporters through the state program aimed at offsetting rising logistics costs. According…
Kazakhstan Boosts Air Connectivity with New Thailand, Georgia Routes, Plans 100 Extra Holiday Flights
ALMATY — Kazakhstan continues to broaden its international flight network, as the Ministry of Transport announced the launch of new air routes to Thailand and Georgia, alongside plans to operate 100 additional domestic flights during the upcoming holiday season. Kazakh airline SCAT will begin operating a new direct route between Shymkent and Bangkok from Dec.…
Kazakhstan’s Capital Investments Expand as Economy Shows Growth
ALMATY — Capital investments in Kazakhstan increased by 13.3% year-on-year to reach 18.5 trillion tenge (approximately US$40.7 billion) in January–November 2025 period, driven primarily by private-sector activity, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said at a Dec. 17 government meeting. According to Zhumangarin, private investments rose by 9.8%, underscoring growing business…
Kazakhstan’s Digital Impact Grows as TikTok Trends Reach Global Audiences
ALMATY – Kazakhstan became one of TikTok’s standout phenomena in 2025, inspiring creators from Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, the United States and beyond. Users worldwide launched a dedicated trend celebrating Kazakhstan, followed by performances of Kazakh songs. Creators chose an eclectic mix of music from pop hits by Kairat Nurtas, Sadraddin, Kairat Baekenov, and Format,…
Kazakhstan, China to Build Smart Water Technology Plant in Taraz
ALMATY – Taraz will host a new high-tech plant for smart water management and irrigation systems, established under a cooperation agreement between the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and a consortium of Chinese companies, signed by Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Director and Chief Economist of Yellow River Engineering Consulting Yin Dewen, reported the…
Kazakhstan to Expand Energy Capacity and Accelerate AI Integration in Utilities
ALMATY – Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov outlined Kazakhstan’s major achievements in the energy sector in 2025 and detailed upcoming reforms across oil and gas, electricity generation, and digitalization at a Dec. 15 briefing held at Astana Hub. The minister emphasized that the government continued to implement large-scale transformations, reshaping the fuel market, oil refining,…
KazAID Turns Five: Kazakhstan Strengthens Contribution to Global Sustainable Growth
ALMATY – The Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) marks its fifth anniversary, underscoring the country’s evolution from a recipient of foreign aid to an emerging donor shaping global sustainable development. Established on Dec. 15, 2020, as Kazakhstan’s national operator for official development assistance (ODA), the agency works under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and…
FC Kairat Goalkeeper Tops SofaScore Champions League Player Rankings
ALMATY – Almaty’s FC Kairat’s goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov has reached a new milestone in his breakout season, taking the number one spot in the UEFA Champions League player rankings compiled by statistics platform SofaScore. According to the latest data, Anarbekov leads the tournament with an impressive average rating of 8.90, placing him ahead of some…
Dimash Qudaibergen to Premiere Biggest Concert Ever with Global Icons in Budapest
ALMATY – Budapest will host a landmark musical event on April 18, 2026 at MVM Dome as Dimash Qudaibergen, Placido Domingo, and Hauser, will share a stage for the first time, marking a world premiere that organizers describe as a rare moment in contemporary music. The concert will feature exclusive new arrangements and specially created…
KazTransOil Increases Oil Supply to Kyrgyz Republic, Resumes Transit to Uzbekistan
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s national oil transporter KazTransOil, a subsidiary of national company KazMunayGas, announced an expansion of export routes with increased supplies to the Kyrgyz Republic and the resumption of oil transit to Uzbekistan in December 2025. According to the company, oil shipments to the Kyrgyz Republic restarted in November, marking the first deliveries since…
Kazakhstan’s SME Sector Reaches New Economic Milestones
ALMATY – Supporting small and medium-sized businesses remains one of Kazakhstan’s top priorities. As a result of sustained policy measures, Kazakhstan has seen consistent growth in the SME sector and its role in the national economy. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, one in five Kazakh citizens now works in business, and the share…
Kazakhstan Secures Six Medals, Finishes Second at IBA World Championships
ALMATY – Kazakhstan delivered a powerful performance at the 2025 IBA Boxing World Championships in Dubai on Dec. 4-13, securing second place in the overall medal standings with a total of six medals. The national team finished the tournament with three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, demonstrating strong depth and consistent performance across…
Kazakhstan Releases First Textbook on Using Development Aid as Soft Power Tool
ALMATY – The Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID), in partnership with Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU), has released the country’s first comprehensive textbook dedicated to Official Development Assistance (ODA) and its role in promoting Kazakhstan’s soft power abroad. The publication marks an important milestone, reflecting Kazakhstan’s transformation from a recipient of international aid to…
Kazakhstan to Launch Restoration Works on 39 Historical and Cultural Sites in 2026
ALMATY – The Ministry of Culture and Information Committee has approved an updated list of historical and cultural monuments scheduled for scientific restoration in 2026. The national plan includes 39 sites, ranging from medieval mausoleums and ancient settlements to architectural landmarks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. According to the order issued by…
Astana Airport Launches Automated Border Control System to Speed Up Passenger Clearance
ALMATY – The Astana International Airport has introduced a new Automated Border Control System (ABCS), designed to significantly reduce processing times and improve the overall travel experience for passengers. The entire procedure takes 15–20 seconds, allowing for faster and more efficient border control, reported the airport’s press service on Dec. 10. The system scans the…
Kazakh Scientists Develop Ice Cream and Yogurt Made From Camel Milk
ALMATY – Scientists at the food safety research laboratory of the Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University have developed innovative dairy products, including ice cream and yogurt made from camel milk, marking a promising advancement in Kazakhstan’s food science sector. According to laboratory head and PhD in Engineering Sciences Ayan Orazov, the idea…
Kazakhstan’s National Bank Reserves Rise to $62.1 Billion as Gold Portfolio Expands
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s gross international reserves rose to $62.1 billion in November, driven by a sharp increase in the National Bank’s (NBK) gold holdings, even as the tenge continued to weaken amid seasonal and external pressures. Trading volumes increased significantly to $335.6 million, indicating strong demand for foreign currency. Analysts attribute the tenge’s weakening to…
Kazakhstan, Holy See Advance Interfaith Cooperation in Peacebuilding and Global Ethics
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) Chairperson Maulen Ashimbayev led a parliamentary delegation to the Vatican on Dec. 11, where he personally delivered President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official invitation to undertake an apostolic visit to Kazakhstan to Pope Leo XIV. The visit also included participation in an international roundtable on Kazakhstan’s interfaith initiatives and the…
Kazakhstan Clarifies Oil Transport Capacity and Logistics Adjustments Amid CPC Terminal Repairs
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy reported that the incident at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s (CPC) marine terminal did not have a critical impact on the country’s annual oil production and supply plans. The ministry clarified that 72 million tonnes represents the projected throughput capacity of the Kazakh section of the CPC pipeline. The 2025…
Kazakhstan, Iran Aim to Boost Trade to $2 Billion
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian took part in the Kazakhstan–Iran Business Forum in Astana on Dec. 11, reaffirming the growing economic and strategic partnership between the two countries. The event brought together senior officials and business leaders to discuss trade, investment, transport, agriculture, and technological cooperation. according to Akorda. …
Giving Heartbeat to Data: Central Asian Female Artists Challenge Silence Through Art
Data often sounds distant and pale until it touches your background. Standing in front of installations built from statistics on femicide, violence, unequal pay, and education gaps, I felt something I hadn’t named aloud before. The exhibition “Tirek — The Thread of Her Life,” organized within the UN Women regional program in partnership with the…
Astana to Host Int’l Badminton Championship in December
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s capital will host the Astana International Challenge 2025, a major international badminton tournament, scheduled to take place at the Beeline Arena on Dec. 17-21. The event is one of the most anticipated competitions of the season and is included in the official calendar of the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The tournament will…
Kazakh Chess Star Kamalidenova Claims Runner-Up Title at Open Chess Tournament in Spain
ALMATY – Kazakh chess rising star Meruert Kamalidenova delivered another remarkable performance by finishing as women’s vice-champion at the sixth El Llobregat Open Chess Tournament, a major international event held from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8 in the town of Sant Boi de Llobregat on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. The tournament, a well-established fixture…
Kazakhstan to Route Flights to US Through London Until New Aircraft Arrives
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev announced at a Dec. 9 government briefing that direct flights between Kazakhstan and the United States will temporarily require a connection in London due to current aircraft limitations. According to the minister, organizing a direct flight is not yet feasible without overflying the North Pole, which would require…
AIFC Connect Accelerates Capital Market Integration Between Kazakhstan and UAE
ALMATY – Kazakhstan presented a series of key infrastructure, financial, and technology initiatives during AIFC Connect: Abu Dhabi 2025, a business forum co-organized by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), the Embassy of Kazakhstan to the UAE, and the Embassy of the UAE to Kazakhstan on Dec. 9 in Abu Dhabi. The event aimed to…
