Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Artificial intelligence should become the driving force behind the development of all industries, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during an Aug. 11 meeting on AI development, underscoring its role as a strategic priority for Kazakhstan. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Head of the Presidential Administration Aibek Dadebay, members of the…

ASTANA – Jennifer Lopez’s concert on Aug. 10 at Almaty’s Central Stadium brought together fans from more than 35 countries, showing Kazakhstan’s rising status as a destination for major international events. The show, part of her Up All Night world tour, gave a strong boost to the country’s entertainment and tourism sectors. This was her…

ASTANA – U.S.-based company IdeAttack, Inc., renowned for designing iconic amusement parks around the globe, will develop a world-class theme park in the Kyrgyz Republic. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between IdeAttack, the Kyrgyz Tourism Development Support Fund, and the Shu District Administration. According to the fund, a 50-hectare site in the Tokmok area…

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 UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ visit to Central Asia, Abai’s legacy, Turkish-Kazakh relations and more. As UN’s Guterres returns to Central Asia, Kazakhstan advances its role as regional convenor The…

ASTANA — The British Council in Kazakhstan and Orleu National Center for Professional Development have signed a cooperation agreement to implement the second phase of the Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia (AELLCA) program. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, AELLCA aims to enhance the quality of English language teaching in…

ASTANA – Qarmet Corporation has announced the construction of a new casting and rolling complex (CRC) in Temirtau, representing one of the largest industrial investments. The $700 million project is expected to mark a significant milestone in the modernization of the country’s metallurgical industry and will be the first of its kind in Central Asia.…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in an informal meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held ahead of the opening of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries on Aug. 5 in Awaza. The meeting, chaired by Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has adopted a new regulation governing the return of National Fund resources if they are misused or remain unspent during the reporting year. This initiative was implemented following recommendations from the country’s Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC). The SAC had previously conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of targeted transfers allocated from the…

ASTANA – A delegation from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will visit Kazakhstan in September to inspect cultural and historical sites nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.  In 2013, Kazakhstan approved its first national list of intangible cultural heritage, which included 45 elements. By 2024, the list grew to…

ASTANA – The capital city of Kazakhstan is experiencing a steady rise in tourism, with an expected 1.7 million visitors this year, including a growing number of international guests, said Artyom Kvashuk, director of Astana tourism development center during a July 10 Central Communications Service press conference. Last year, the city attracted 1.5 million tourists,…

ASTANA — The largest agricultural exhibition in Kazakhstan, Jańa Dala/Green Day ‘2025, kicked off on July 17 in the Akmola Region with participation of over 200 companies representing 22 countries.  Nearly 10,000 farmers attended the exhibition on the first day. The event serves as a key platform for showcasing innovations in the agro-industrial sector, reported…

 ASTANA — The Ministry of Culture and Information has presented a review on July 17 highlighting the recent international achievements of Kazakh performers. In recent months, Kazakh artists have performed on prestigious stages from Milan and Beijing to Pompeii and Vitebsk, showcasing the depth and diversity of national talent. On May 6, a gala concert…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s mechanical engineering industry recorded 11.1% growth in January-June, according to results presented at a June 17 meeting of the economic growth headquarters chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. Mechanical engineering accounts for nearly 19% of the total manufacturing output. Key growth drivers included automotive production (+12.1%),…

ASTANA — Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov,  who chaired a meeting of the Commission on Digitalization on July 18, emphasized that the development of national AI infrastructure, including the new Supercomputer, opens up significant opportunities to accelerate the integration of AI into government operations. The meeting reviewed progress on AI infrastructure development, including the modernization…

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov met with Hiroshima Prefecture Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki on July 16 to discuss bilateral cooperation, focusing on trade and economic ties, as well as humanitarian initiatives. Key topics included strengthening ties between Hiroshima Prefecture and the Abai Region, located in the east of Kazakhstan, particularly through the continuation…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has initiated talks with foreign investors to renegotiate production sharing agreements (PSAs) for its key oil fields – Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced the development during a July 15 press conference, emphasizing the country’s commitment to protecting national interests while maintaining a stable investment climate. “As for the…

ASTANA — Fitch Ratings has affirmed Kazakhstan’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) at ‘BBB’ with a stable outlook on July 15. According to the agency, Kazakhstan’s sovereign net foreign assets are expected to remain stable at around $93 billion (31% of GDP) this year, supported by the National Fund and official foreign exchange reserves.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan remains committed to its obligations under the OPEC+ agreement and is not considering leaving the alliance, said Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov during a July 15 briefing with journalists. ““Within the framework of OPEC+, we are doing our utmost to fulfill our obligations. In this particular period, we have not always succeeded due…

ASTANA — Specialists at the University Medical Center (UMC) Heart Center in the Kazakh capital are introducing new technologies and methods for treating cardiac arrhythmias, including the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), which have become an indispensable aid for patients suffering from severe forms of tachycardia and arrhythmias. These life-saving devices respond to rapid…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to China for the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Council on July 15, reaffirming the growing partnership between Kazakhstan and China. The talks focused on advancing bilateral cooperation across political, economic, cultural, and multilateral platforms, while…

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu took part in the regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on July 15 in Tianjin, where participants discussed strengthening foreign policy coordination and preparing for the upcoming SCO Summit in September. In his remarks,…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital’s Kazanat Hippodrome will host the first national cuisine gastrofestival titled BaiQymyz – baptalgan kymyz on July 19-20, dedicated to kymyz, the traditional Kazakh drink made from fermented mare’s milk. The event will also feature an international scientific-practical conference titled Mare’s Milk and Kymyz – the Basis of Health and Longevity…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will host the international Phygital Games of the Future from July 18 to Aug. 1 next year. The event will bring together over 1,500 athletes from around 100 countries, competing in 13 disciplines that combine physical sports with digital gameplay.  Phygital disciplines include football, basketball, boxing, hockey, battle royale, and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched four upgraded border checkpoints with China and Uzbekistan as part of a national effort to boost transit capacity and streamline trade. According to the State Revenue Committee of the Finance Ministry, the project aims to modernize nine checkpoints along the country’s borders with China, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The new checkpoints…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s film “Bauyryna salu” (Adoption) directed by Askhat Kuchincherekov won the Best Feature Film award at the 23rd edition of Ischia Film Festival, which was held from June 28 to July 5. The film premiered in 2023 at the San Sebastian Film Festival, earning praise from critics and audiences, reported the Kazakh Ministry…