Articles by Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Vehicle production in Kazakhstan is expected to surpass 200,000 units in 2026, marking a 22% increase compared to 2025, according to President of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAO) Anar Makasheva. “Since these production facilities will be reaching higher design capacity in 2026, we expect output to grow by approximately 22%,” Makasheva said. According…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and France are entering the active implementation phase of a major 1 gigawatt wind power project, following a Feb. 23 meeting between Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov and senior executives of French energy company TotalEnergies. The discussions focused on the progress of the company’s key investment initiatives in Kazakhstan, including the construction…

ALMATY – The procedures for voting and tabulating results in Kazakhstan’s upcoming national referendum, scheduled for March 15, were presented during a Feb. 23 meeting of the Central Election Commission as part of ongoing preparations for the nationwide vote. According to the commission, voting will take place at 10,411 polling stations, including 80 stations operating…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan marked the legacy of the great philosopher Al-Farabi at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Rabat, Morocco, on Feb. 19, as part of ongoing cultural cooperation. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Morocco Saulekul Sailaukyzy met with Director General of ICESCO Salim Al Malik, following an art exhibition “The…

ALMATY – Turan University in Astana presented the exhibition “Written Heritage of the Great Steppe” on Feb. 19, organized by the National Center of Manuscripts and Rare Books. The event highlighted the historical development of written culture across the Great Steppe, tracing its evolution from ancient times to the modern era.  The exhibition showcased a…

ALMATY – The Kazakh-Italian Trade House officially opened in Almaty on Feb. 20, marking a new step toward strengthening bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of Trade and Integration reported. The opening ceremony, led by Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, brought together senior officials, including Italian…

ALMATY – The development of Kazakhstan’s oncology services has led to improvements in early cancer detection and patient survival rates, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said during a meeting, reported the ministry’s press service on Feb. 19. According to Alnazarova, over the past year, Kazakhstan has achieved steady progress in key oncology indicators, with the five-year…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan continues to rank among the world’s 50 largest economies, according to the projections released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2025. The IMF estimates that Kazakhstan’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) will reach $320 billion in 2026, keeping the country firmly within the global top 50. Kazakhstan remains the only…

ALMATY – The first meeting of the Board of Peace was held in Washington on Feb. 19, chaired by the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump, bringing together representatives from a range of countries to discuss post-conflict reconstruction and emerging approaches to international peacebuilding. International media coverage of the meeting has outlined differing interpretations of…

ALMATY – As part of his visit to the United States, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a series of meetings in Washington on Feb. 20 with leaders of major U.S. corporations and international financial institutions, focusing on expanding investment cooperation, infrastructure development, and strategic partnerships. Tokayev met with Executive Director of the U.S. International Development Finance…

ALMATY – The National Bank of Tajikistan plans to install special ATMs that will allow individuals to buy and sell gold bullion directly, the head of the financial regulator Firdavs Tolibzoda, said at a press conference, reported the Kazinform news agency on Feb. 17. The new machines will enable customers to purchase gold bars without…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has expanded its range of domestically produced rare metals, strengthening the sector’s role in economic diversification and the development of high-tech industries, Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev said at a Feb. 17 government meeting. According to the minister, the rare metals sector has significant growth potential and is well-positioned for…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan will form an updated and verified pool of investment projects within its National Digital Investment Platform by April 1 to improve transparency and the effectiveness of state support measures, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at a Feb. 17 government meeting. Bektenov assigned the Kazakh Invest national company to carry out the task…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia signed intergovernmental agreements on the promotion and mutual protection of investments and the establishment of a Kazakhstan–Saudi Arabia Coordination Council during Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev’s official visit to Saudi Arabia on Feb. 17. The centerpiece of the visit was negotiations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s ski jumper Ilya Mizernykh delivered the best Olympic result in the country’s history, finishing eighth in the men’s large hill event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 15. Two athletes represented Kazakhstan in the competition’s final round. Mizernykh scored 281.6 points to place eighth among the world’s elite, while…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk in a women’s exhibition match held alongside the Freestyle Chess World Championship in Germany, becoming the first player to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship. The four-game match, played in the Fischer Random (Chess960) format, ended 2.5:1.5 in favor of the Kazakh grandmaster.…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic are continuing to strengthen their bilateral ties, with trade reaching $2 billion and plans to bring it to $3 billion, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev said during an official visit to Bishkek on Feb. 13.  The visit included meetings with President Sadyr Japarov and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek…

ALMATY – The revisions of Kazakhstan’s Сonstitution reflect over 84% changes compared to the existing text, said Constitutional Court Chairperson Elvira Azimova as she briefed the diplomatic corps on the proposed amendments on Feb. 16. Open and inclusive process Azimova highlighted the transparency and inclusiveness of the process, contrasting it with earlier reform periods. “We…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s livestock sector took a step toward market consolidation and higher-value exports as the Turan Livestock Association launched a pilot digital platform aimed at coordinating the country’s fragmented live cattle market during the international Dala.Camp Forum held on Feb. 14–15 in Burabai. The forum brought together 250 delegates from 11 countries, including Kazakhstan,…

ALMATY – Art was never separate from life for the nomads of the Kazakh steppe. It lived in the objects of everyday life, from textiles to horse gear and jewelry, shaped by use as much as by beauty. In Kazakh culture, even a home could be understood as a work of art. That idea is…

ALMATY – The North Aral Sea is slowly coming back to life and with it, renewed hope for the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on its waters. A recent television report by Almaty.tv captured not only rising water levels, but also the voices of fishermen and villagers who see the sea’s recovery as a…

ALMATY – Foreign investment in Tajikistan reached $6.93 billion in 2025, marking a 35% increase compared to the previous year, reported the Kazinform news agency on Feb. 11.  It was announced during a press conference by Chairman of the State Committee for Investment and State Property Management of Tajikistan Sulton Rahimzoda, who emphasized that foreign…

ALMATY – ALEM TECH FEST 2026, the largest robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM education festival in Central Asia, opened at the EXPO International Exhibition Center in Astana on Feb. 11, bringing together 5,000 school students from seven countries. Held as part of Kazakhstan’s Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, the festival runs through Feb. 13…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s proposed new Constitution would make a political transition starting July 1, including the end of the current Parliament’s mandate, if voters endorse the reforms in a national referendum on March 15. Under the draft, the day the new Constitution is adopted would be declared a state holiday. The document also stipulates that…

ALMATY – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has congratulated the country’s special forces units on Feb. 12, following their standout performance at the UAE SWAT Challenge 2026 international competition in Dubai, where Kazakh teams secured both first and second place overall. Team Kazakhstan C was declared the absolute winner of the prestigious tournament, while Kazakhstan A…