Articles by Ayana Birbayeva

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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. …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

ALMATY – Although Almaty’s FC Kairat continues to face tough competition in its series of UEFA Champions League matches, Kazakhstan’s football is entering a new stage of recognition. Even without major tournament victories yet, Kazakh players are increasingly standing out for their technical skills and resilience, drawing attention from European commentators, analysts, and professional football…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) aim to modernize the legal framework for travel facilitation and strengthen ties. The initiative is expected to simplify travel procedures, expand humanitarian contacts, and enhance mobility between Kazakhstan and the EU.  The talks took place on Dec. 2 within the meeting between Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek…

ALMATY – Kazakh Special Representative for Afghanistan and Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yerkin Tukumov paid a working visit to Afghanistan on Dec. 8 to prioritize constructive engagement with Afghanistan and its integration into regional processes. During the visit, Tukumov held a series of meetings with Afghan officials in Kabul. Discussions focused on…

ALMATY — Art Basel unveiled its first class of Gold Awardees at a landmark ceremony on Dec. 4 at the New World Center in Miami Beach, the United States, marking a new chapter in the fair’s efforts to recognize excellence and innovation across the contemporary art ecosystem. Among the honorees was acclaimed Uzbek filmmaker and…

ALMATY  — Kazakhstan and Austria reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political dialogue and expanding economic cooperation during a series of high-level meetings held in Vienna on Dec. 5, as Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev continued his official visit to Austria.  The discussions focused on inter-parliamentary cooperation, new industrial and technological partnerships, and expanding Austrian investment…

ALMATY – Central Asia is experiencing a tourism boom, with the region welcoming 28.6 million foreign visitors in 2024. The rapid expansion reflects the region’s natural and cultural richness, targeted government efforts to transform tourism infrastructure, simplify travel, and expand international connectivity. Kazakhstan continues to anchor the regional surge with sharp increases in both international…

ALMATY – The World Justice Project (WJP) has released its 2025 Rule of Law Index, assessing 143 countries through nationwide population surveys, indicating that Central Asian countries demonstrated mixed results amid global backsliding. Expert evaluations across eight key dimensions, from limits on government powers to the effectiveness of civil and criminal justice, featured global trends…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s regulated crypto market continues its strong upward trajectory, with trading volumes on platforms licensed by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) reaching $6.8 billion in the January-September 2025 period, Director of the Financial Technologies Department at the AIFC’s Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) Altay Slyamov said in an interview with the Kazinform…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and France have reached a preliminary agreement to establish a European-level regional aviation training center in Astana that will become a hub for advanced education and professional standards in civil aviation across Central Asia, the Ministry of Transport reported on Dec.7. A Kazakh delegation led by Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev…

ALMATY — Thirty young innovators from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan gathered in Astana on Dec. 4 for a regional case championship aimed at developing solutions to counter digital and gender-based violence, reported the UNDP press service.  The competition centered on a case study inspired by real incidents in a regional university,…