Articles by Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – Korkyt Ata Turkic World Film Festival held a closing ceremony on Oct. 4, announcing the winners among 47 films and bringing together filmmakers, cultural leaders, and audiences from across the Turkic world in Aktau.  The international jury awarded the Grand Prize for Best Feature Film to “Black. Red. Yellow” from Kyrgyzstan. Kazakh director…

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of unity in addressing global challenges, proposing initiatives to enhance political, economic, and cultural cooperation at the 12th summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Oct. 7 in Gabala, Azerbaijan.  Following the summit, the leaders signed the Gabala Declaration to conclude the initiatives.  During the…

ALMATY – The fourth installment of the cult franchise “Armour of God: Ultimatum” starring Jackie Chan will be filmed in Kazakhstan, Salem Entertainment media company announced on its Instagram account on Oct. 6. The production is considered one of the largest international film collaborations in the country’s recent history. During his stay in Almaty, Jackie…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has achieved the highest life expectancy in Central Asia, reaching 75.4 years, following the introduction of the Compulsory Social Health Insurance (CSHI), Minister of Healthcare Akmaral Alnazarova announced at a government meeting on Oct. 7. “According to the World Bank, Kazakhstan leads the Central Asian region in this indicator. This year, we…

ALMATY – Kazakh low-cost airline FlyArystan will launch a new direct route connecting Aktau and Dubai on Nov. 29, offering travelers a convenient and affordable link to one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. The flights will initially operate once a week on Saturdays. During peak travel periods, including the winter school holidays from…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan emerged as the world’s leading gold purchaser in August, acquiring eight tons of the precious metal and surpassing other central banks, according to data released by the World Gold Council on Oct. 3. The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) accounted for more than half of the total 15 tons of gold bought…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan will expand oil exports to Germany in 2026 following an agreement between KazMunayGaz (KMG) and Rosneft Deutschland GmbH, the companies announced on Oct. 7. KMG Chairman Askar Khasenov held talks in Astana with Johannes Bremer, CEO of Rosneft Deutschland GmbH, to discuss transportation routes and the growing demand for Kazakh oil in…

ALMATY – When warmth and care are needed, people return to childhood memories – where a handwoven carpet guarded sleep, a wooden toy chased away dark spirits, or a grandmother’s ring reminded them of family strength and protection. These timeless objects embody more than craft – they are vessels of memory and love. On Oct.…

ALMATY – Woman carries many missions in life – she nurtures, she inspires, she perseveres. Even in a world where some girls are denied opportunities, the stories of remarkable women shine as beacons of strength, showing others that no path is too difficult to follow. It was in this spirit that the Almaty Museum opened…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is strengthening its biodiversity conservation policies through new reintroduction projects, population monitoring of rare species, and updates to its Red Book of endangered animals. It was announced by Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Sharbiyev at a Sept. 30 meeting of the Senate Committee on Agrarian Issues, Nature Management, and…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan counts 448 citizens aged 100 and over, with the oldest resident, a woman from the Ulytau Region, marking her 115th birthday, according to recent statistics. The largest number of centenarians resides in Almaty, home to 58 people over the age of 100. Turkistan Region follows with 53, while Almaty Region is third…

ALMATY – The National Center of Manuscripts and Rare Books has digitized and released a facsimile edition of the oldest surviving manuscript of the Kazakh epic “Edige bi”, a treasure of the nation’s cultural heritage. The manuscript, dating back to the 15th century and authored by an unknown scribe, is considered one of the most…

ALMATY – As part of the Central Asia-Korea Friendship Day, Seoul hosted a traditional fashion show that showcased the cultural diversity and Kazakh rich creative traditions on Sept. 30.  The event was organized by the Central Asia-Korea Friendship Association and brought together President of the Association Lee Ok Ryun, President of the Asian Cultural Center…

ALMATY – SCAT Airlines will launch a direct passenger route between Kazakhstan and Latvia in spring 2026. It was announced on Oct. 2 Kazakhstan-Latvia business forum on new opportunities for cooperation in Almaty. The new connection is expected to simplify travel, enhance business and cultural ties, accelerate joint projects, and unlock opportunities for tourism and…

ALMATY – Air Astana has announced a major expansion of its route network for autumn with a mix of resumed services and increased frequencies to popular destinations in the Middle East and Asia.  From September, the airline has restarted flights from Almaty to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a twice-weekly service and from Shymkent to Jeddah…

ALMATY – Astana hosts Kazakhstan Energy Week (KEW 2025) and the 16th Eurasian Forum KAZENERGY at the Palace of Independence on Oct. 2-4, establishing an international dialogue platform for the Central Asian and Caspian regions.  The event attracted more than 2,500 delegates from over 300 companies and 50 countries, reported the Ministry of Energy press…

ALMATY – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has published its forecast for Kazakhstan’s economic growth on Sept. 30, projecting GDP to expand by 5.3% this year and 4.3% in 2026, compared to earlier estimates of 4.9% and 4.1%. According to the ADB’s updated outlook, the improved forecast reflects continued state investment in infrastructure and increased…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is preparing to build two nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the Almaty Region, Atomic Energy Agency Chair Almasadam Satkaliev announced on Oct. 1 during a briefing at the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of Parliament.  According to Satkaliev, the State Commission on the Atomic Industry has identified a second prospective site for construction.…

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the first meeting of the Council on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development on Oct. 1 in Astana, underscoring the transformative role of digital systems and AI in ensuring Kazakhstan’s sovereignty and driving economic growth. Opening the meeting, Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s progress in digitalization, reported the Akorda press service.  “Today, more…

ALMATY – Moody’s Investors Service international rating agency has affirmed Kazakhstan’s sovereign credit rating at Baa1 with a stable outlook, citing the country’s strong fiscal position and resilience to external shocks. According to the agency, the rating is underpinned by Kazakhstan’s low level of government debt, its high debt-servicing capacity, and substantial fiscal reserves, which…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation and advancing democratic reforms in a joint statement issued on Sept. 30 in Strasbourg. The statement, signed by Kazakh Senate Chairperson Maulen Ashimbayev and PACE President Theodoros Roussopoulos, emphasized that democracy, the rule of law,…

ALMATY – The spirit of football filled the streets of Almaty after the UEFA Champions League clash between Kairat and Real Madrid. Despite a heavy 0:5 defeat, thousands of fans turned the night into a festival of chants, songs and flags on Sept. 30. After the final whistle, supporters left the Central Stadium, waving club…

ALMATY – The Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) announced steady progress in the construction of a school in Nurdağı, Gaziantep province, launched on the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as part of Kazakhstan’s humanitarian support to Türkiye after the devastating 2023 earthquakes. The facility, designed to accommodate 960 students, will feature 32 primary classrooms…

ALMATY – TransLogistica Kazakhstan 2025 is hosting more than 270 companies from 20 countries as the largest transport and logistics exhibition in Central Asia kicked off on Sept. 30  in Almaty. The exhibition expands to three pavilions and an open-air site, showcasing solutions for the transport and logistics sector, reported the TransLogistica press service.  Participants…

Editor’s note: This article is published as part of a partnership agreement between The Astana Times and The Korea Times. A special series seeks to provide readers with in-depth insights into the opportunities, challenges, and trends linking our two countries. ALMATY – South Korea is becoming one of the study destinations for Kazakh students, a…