Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key initiatives aimed at bolstering regional development, with a strong focus on tourism, sports infrastructure and environmental conservation during the fourth meeting of the National Kurultai (Congress) on March 14 in Burabai. Tourism and regional development According to Tokayev, tourism should be a significant driver of growth for 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 Middle Corridor, the Neo Nomad Visa, uranium reserves and more. QazaqGaz and SLB to collaborate on AI solutions for Kazakhstan’s gas industry  Aidyn Akan, deputy chairman of QazaqGaz,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s subsoil use auctions in 2024 generated more than 5.7 billion tenge (US$11.7 million) in budget revenues, the Ministry of Industry and Construction reported in response to a request from Kazinform on March 11. Wide ranges of global investors, including Rio Tinto, FMG International, Barrick, and other companies have entered Kazakhstan. In total,…

ASTANA — The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) international association outlined its plans to transport 2.5 million tons of goods this year, including 96,000 containers in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during a meeting in Baku on March 4, reported Kazinform. In 2024, cargo transportation through the seaports of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan reached 3.3 million tons,…

ASTANA – A team of Kazakh climbers, led by Maxut Zhumayev, reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 meters. Zhumayev, renowned for summiting all 14 of the world’s eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen, shared the accomplishment as a testament to strength, reported Kazinform. “This expedition is more than just an ascent. This…

ASTANA – A meeting of the consultative and advisory body’s subgroup, the dialogue platform on the human dimension, was held on Feb. 27 to discuss measures for preventing torture and improving protections against cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Under the leadership of Ambassador-at-Large Alua Nadirkulova, the discussions covered several key areas of reform in criminal…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will construct 28 new schools, using the Education Infrastructure Support Fund funds, to provide space for 22,000 students.  This fund, which was established following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions, is funded by assets confiscated from corrupt individuals. The fund’s primary goal is to address school overcrowding and replace outdated or unsafe buildings by…

ASTANA — Shymbulak Mountain Resort in Almaty will host a stage of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Freestyle World Cup from Feb. 28 to March 2. Athletes from 18 countries will compete. According to an Informburo news article on Feb. 25, the resort has made extensive preparations to ensure the event meets international…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi on Feb. 25, marking a significant step in advancing bilateral ties between the two countries. During the meeting, Tokayev described Oman as a reliable and longstanding partner of Kazakhstan and expressed his commitment to enhancing collaboration across various sectors, according to…

ASTANA — Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Adylbek Kasymaliev, the chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers and head of the Presidential Administration, visited the Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary Space Center and the Digital Government office on Feb. 25 to discuss potential partnerships in the space and digital sectors.  During the visit, the Kazakh…

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital plans to launch 55 investment projects this year, according to Akim (Mayor) Zhenis Kassymbek.  On his Instagram page, Kassymbek discussed ongoing initiatives to boost the city’s food security through new enterprises on Feb. 23. He outlined several key projects, including RnR Group LLP’s bakery and vegetable storage facility in the…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Nigeria held a business conference in Abuja, aiming to strengthen trade, economic ties and explore strategic partnerships across sectors such as agriculture, digitalization, and natural resource utilization.  The Kazakh delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov, engaged with Nigerian officials, including Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari and…

ASTANA – Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó outlined plans for deepening economic ties with Kazakhstan in a Feb. 17 interview with Kazinform news agency, focusing on major oil projects, cutting-edge nuclear technology, and agricultural investments. “This cooperation is very stable because it has always been based on mutual respect. We never…

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital is set to advance urban management with a Smart City project to enhance public safety and operational efficiency. The initiative, backed by a public-private partnership, aims to deploy advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and video surveillance technology and create a digital twin of the city by 2030. The city operates 700…

ASTANA – As the 2025 Asian Games in Harbin come to a close on Feb. 14, Kazakhstan celebrates impressive achievements on the ice. The men’s hockey team secured the gold medal after defeating Japan 5-0 in the final. The women’s hockey team also made history by winning a silver medal, while figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov…

ASTANA — The first EU-Central Asia summit, hosted by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will take place on April 3-4 in Samarkand, with the participation of the leaders of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The President of the European Council António Costa along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen,…

ASTANA — Opera legends Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, along with renowned cellist Stjepan Hauser and world famous Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen, have teamed up for a historic collaboration as part of the Virtuosos project in Budapest, recording Frank Sinatra’s iconic song “My Way.”  The performance of this remarkable quartet will be aired on Hungary’s…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev reassured that the U.S.-China trade conflict will not affect Kazakhstan’s market, citing differing consumer demands. The ministry has analyzed various scenarios, and Torebayev explained that they are not particularly concerned about the trade dispute. “China produces a wide range of goods, but the demand…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights shale oil production in Kazakhstan, EU-Central Asian relations and more. Chevron to increase output at huge oil field in Kazakhstan Chevron is spending nearly $50 billion to expand the Tengiz oil field, allowing it to…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the law on ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled on Jan. 28, reported Akorda. The ratification will be an important step for Kazakhstan in strengthening the rights of people with disabilities. It…

ASTANA – Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) and Almaty-based Narxoz University signed a partnership agreement on Jan. 13, establishing a dual degree program, allowing students to earn two bachelor’s degrees in IT specialties from both universities. This cooperation is part of the strategic initiative Narxoz Global-2030, aimed at enhancing the training of IT specialists…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s speech at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a book about Kazakhstan’s foreign policy and other noteworthy topics. President Tokayev emphasizes importance and urgency of addressing climate change in Abu Dhabi Kassym-Jomart Tokayev…

ASTANA — In 2024, the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) provided humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Vietnam. Afghanistan According to the KazAID press service, Kazakhstan sent 5,000 liters of vegetable oil, 795 tons of rice, and 1,000 tons of first-grade flour to Afghanistan last year. The Kyrgyz Republic Kazakhstan provided…

ASTANA — Meetings of the Special Working Group and the Senior Officials Committee of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) chaired by Talgat Kaliyev, Ambassador-at-Large of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, took place on Dec. 3-4 in the Kazakh capital. The meeting participants exchanged opinions on the draft Charter of the organization…

ASTANA – The United Nations General Assembly approved three resolutions initiated by Kazakhstan, aimed at strengthening global security, disarmament, and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction on Dec. 2 in New York. “Kazakhstan, recognizing the UN as an irreplaceable and universal international organization, and adhering to a principled position on the topic of banning…