Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — Kazakhstan national mining company Tau-Ken Samruk and U.S.-based Cove Capital will commence geological exploration at the Akbulak site in the Kostanai Region to search for rare earth elements. According to the press service of Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, the initiative is part of a strategic partnership between the two companies, aimed at…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is strengthening trade development and expanding non-resource exports in line with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s 2024 state-of-the-nation address titled ‘Just Kazakhstan: Law and Order, Economic Growth, Public Optimism’. The government is implementing comprehensive measures to protect the domestic market, support producers, and promote national goods abroad, ensuring sustainable economic growth and competitiveness. Steady…

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital is set to host the eighth Astana Finance Days on Sept. 4-5, under the auspices of the Astana International Forum (AIF). According to AIF press service, this year’s theme, dubbed Where Capital Empowers the Future, plays on the dual meaning of the word “capital”: referring both to Astana – Kazakhstan’s…

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 the Baikonur spaceport, World Library Congress, efforts to address severe water-related challenges in Central Asia and more. Kazakhstan aims to revive Cold War-era Baikonur spaceport for the new rocket…

ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev met with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao to discuss ways to double bilateral trade by 2030 on Aug. 20 in Beijing. According to Wang, bilateral trade continued to grow, reaching $43.8 billion in 2024, which is 9.2% higher than the previous year, and $21.8…

ASTANA — Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting on the development of the rare and rare-earth metals industry as part of the President’s instructions to attract advanced technologies and investments into the sector on Aug. 21. During the meeting, Bektenov emphasized the need to modernize existing production facilities and infrastructure, expand geological…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons and Asian Paralympic Committee President Majid Rashed on Aug. 19 to discuss the development of Paralympic sports in Kazakhstan. Tokayev praised the mission of the Paralympic movement and noted that the achievements of Kazakh Paralympians on the world stage enhance the…

ASTANA – The opening ceremony of the fourth International Youth Festival of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) took place in Almaty on Aug. 18, marking the city’s designation as the Youth Capital of the Turkic World 2025. The event was attended by Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva, OTS Secretary General…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Tanzila Narbayeva, chairwoman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, on Aug. 18 to discuss the Kazakh-Uzbek strategic partnership and inter-parliamentary cooperation. Tokayev emphasized the special nature of relations between the two countries, noting their importance for stability and security in Central Asia. He highly…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will introduce the Aitu national messenger in all government agencies, quasi-public organizations, and the Armed Forces, following a decision of the digital headquarters chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on Aug. 18. The move responds to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instruction to shift official communications to a secure domestic platform. By Sept. 15,…

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov chaired an Aug. 18 meeting of the newly formed digital headquarters, established to oversee the implementation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions on artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The meeting approved a comprehensive plan for integrating information systems of government agencies, regulations for working with data arrays for…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is undertaking a comprehensive modernization and digital transformation of its railway sector through infrastructure upgrades and the implementation of digital solutions to enhance efficiency, increase transit volumes, and strengthen its position as a key international logistics hub.  At an Aug. 19 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Minister of Digital…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Energy Agency has launched preparations for a nationwide competition to select the name for the nuclear power plant planned in the village of Ulken, Zhambyl district of the Almaty Region. Following the proposal of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the agency has issued an order establishing a working group tasked with developing an…

ASTANA — As cross-border e-commerce is booming in Kazakhstan, the government is moving to bring foreign marketplaces under stricter regulatory oversight. The big picture Over the past four years, Kazakhstan’s e-commerce sector has expanded sixfold, with online sales reaching 14.5% of total retail turnover. The Kazakh government intends to increase this figure to 20%. Meanwhile,…

ASTANA – The Japanese government will allocate a grant of nearly 4 billion tenge ($7.4 million) to support victims of nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site. The funds will be used to purchase modern medical equipment for the hospital of Semei Medical University, enabling free, high-quality diagnostics and treatment for residents affected by radiation.…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from international media about Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights the country’s role in promoting peace, its multi-vector diplomacy, Kazakh Tazy dogs, Jennifer Lopez’s concerts in Astana and Almaty and more.  Kazakhstan’s President confirms ‘unconditional’ interest in establishing lasting peace in Ukraine Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev…

ASTANA – At the August Conference of Teachers on Aug. 15, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reaffirmed that educators hold a central role in shaping the nation’s future. He emphasized that raising the prestige of the teaching profession, ensuring equal access to quality education, and embracing digital transformation are vital to forming a highly moral, competent, and…

ASTANA – In line with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instruction to develop tourism as a key driver of the economy and strengthen national identity, the North Kazakhstan region hosted a series of major international events from Aug. 11 to 17, focusing on history, culture, education, and youth policy. International focus on Botai heritage Deputy Prime Minister…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan produced an average of 1.827 million barrels of oil per day in July, down 36,000 barrels from June, according to OPEC’s August report. The OPEC+ quota for Kazakhstan in July was set at 1.514 million barrels per day, meaning production remained above the agreed limit. In May, output stood at 1.781 million…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has become the leader in the region in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in current prices, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent report. IMF data show that this year, Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita will reach $14,770, surpassing Russia ($14,260), Turkmenistan ($13,340) and even China ($13,690). Georgia follows…

ASTANA – President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev may pay a state visit to Kazakhstan in October, according to Ruslan Zheldibay, advisor to the President and press secretary of the President of Kazakhstan. “This question was discussed during a recent telephone conversation between the two Presidents. The specific dates and agenda of the visit are currently…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 6.3% in January–July, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin at an Aug. 13 press briefing. The real sector grew by 8.3%, while services rose by 5.2%, with industry up 6.9% (mining +8.5%, manufacturing +6.1%) and agriculture up 3.7%. Transport and storage…

ASTANA — Kozybayev University in North Kazakhstan will welcome 100 students from Türkiye each year to study under dual-degree programs with the University of Arizona, as part of a new agreement with Eurostar Overseas Education Consultancy. The initiative aims to strengthen the university’s international profile, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education on…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has ordered the creation of a digital transformation group, or digital headquarters, to accelerate AI integration in the economy and ensure full implementation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Aug. 11 instructions on AI development. Chaired by Bektenov, the group includes Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Government Staff,…

ASTANA – Kazakh jiu-jitsu fighter Zhanibek Abu-Bakir secured Kazakhstan’s first gold medal on Aug. 10 at the 12th edition of the World Games, taking place from Aug. 7 to 17 in Chengdu, China. Competing in the 69- kilogram weight category, Abu-Bakir triumphed in the final bout against Farid Ben Ali from France with a score…