Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – Kazakh International Grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva has climbed back into the world’s top 10 in the latest International Chess Federation (FIDE) rankings. Assaubayeva gained 19 rating points following her performance at the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Challengers tournament in Wijk aan Zee, securing ninth place in the updated women’s world rankings. China’s Hou Yifan…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on March 2 to discuss expanding cooperation and launching major projects in key sectors to support Kazakhstan’s sustainable growth and structural modernization. Tokayev noted that over more than three decades of partnership, the ADB has financed more than 170 projects…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent personal messages to the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, expressing sincere support and solidarity with their peoples during what he described as a period of extreme trials. Tokayev strongly condemned any military actions aimed at undermining the sovereignty and security of…

ASTANA – Approximately 63 million tons of Kazakh crude oil were transported in 2025 via the Tengiz-Novorossiysk pipeline system, operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), the company reported following a meeting of its Corporate Governance Bodies in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 25-26. In total, the Tengiz-Novorossiysk pipeline transported 70.52 million tons of oil last…

ASTANA — Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Aleksandar Vučić adopted a Joint Statement reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Serbia on Feb. 27 as the two countries mark 30 years of diplomatic relations. The Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and international law. Serbia expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan’s support…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s tourism industry showed solid growth in 2025, marked by rising foreign arrivals, expanding domestic travel and increased investment, reinforcing the country’s ambitions to become a leading destination in the region. Some 6.7 million domestic tourists used accommodation services in the first nine months of 2025, said Nurbol Baizhanov, acting chair of the…

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held a series of high-level talks in London on Feb. 26 with UK officials, advancing cooperation in critical minerals, trade and investment, energy, digital transformation and education, and reinforcing the countries’ long-term strategic partnership. During negotiations with Chris Bryant, the UK’s acting Minister of State for Business and…

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev underscored Kazakhstan’s central role in Eurasian transit and regional cooperation at the inaugural Central Asia + United Kingdom (CA5+UK) foreign ministers’ meeting in London on Feb. 26, positioning the country as a key bridge between Europe and Asia. The meeting brought together Central Asian foreign ministers and the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry published a list of overseas polling stations on Feb. 23 where citizens abroad will be able to vote in the March 15 constitutional referendum, with voting organized in 62 countries worldwide. The ministry will arrange voting at embassies and consulates general, including those in Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy,…

ASTANA — The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic raised its policy rate by 100 basis points to 12% on Feb. 23. The decision took effect on Feb. 24. The bank cited an uneven external economic environment and elevated inflation in major trading partners, noting that domestic prices remain sensitive due to the country’s reliance…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented state awards to Olympic gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov and his coaching team on Feb. 25, praising the figure skater’s historic triumph at the 25th Winter Olympic Games as a milestone for Kazakhstan’s national sports history. The ceremony celebrated Shaidorov’s gold medal performance in figure skating at the 2026 Winter…

ASTANA – President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on Feb. 26-27 at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the visit, the two Presidents will hold full-format high-level talks, reported Akorda. The Presidents are expected to discuss the current state and future prospects of Kazakh-Serbian relations, with a focus…

ASTANA — The British newspaper The Telegraph has included the Bozzhyra Tract in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region in its list of The 10 Deserts You Must Visit in Your Lifetime on Feb. 18, highlighting the site’s dramatic landscapes and growing tourism potential. Describing the Bozzhyra Tract on the Ustyurt Plateau, the publication highlights its dramatic landscapes…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov met with members of the third national peacekeeping contingent during a working visit to Almaty as they prepare for deployment to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force mission in the Golan Heights. The visit also included a presentation of a new defense innovation hub designed to…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan finished the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy with one gold medal, marking the country’s second-best performance in its history at the Winter Games. The historic victory came in figure skating, while several other athletes achieved top-10 finishes. The only medal for Kazakhstan was won by Mikhail Shaidorov, who claimed gold in…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting of the council aimed at improving the investment climate to advance agreements reached under the C5+1 format, emphasizing constitutional reform, economic modernization and deeper cooperation with U.S. investors. The meeting brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, including newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie…

ASTANA – Beekeeping in Kazakhstan saw a 2.5-fold increase in honey exports in 2025, reflecting strong international demand and opening new opportunities for agricultural trade. Exports totaled 1,477 tons, up from 603 tons in 2024. Uzbekistan remained the main destination, with 1,264 tons, while Kazakh honey also reached Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United…

ASTANA – The National Payment Corporation of Kazakhstan has outlined ongoing projects to integrate the digital tenge into multiple sectors of the economy. The digital tenge is a third form of the national currency, alongside cash and bank deposits. Issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan, it combines the advantages of both cash and non-cash…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Ministry of National Economy and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have extended their partnership on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) support through 2030 and unveiled a new initiative to strengthen the investment potential of medium-sized businesses.  The announcement was made during the 13th annual meeting of the Coordinating Committee…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen its position as a regional digital transit hub with the launch of the South Route telecommunications corridor, a new infrastructure link connecting Central Asia directly to the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East. The project was launched by the international division of e& Carrier & Wholesale in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the World Bank Group have discussed a new partnership framework for 2026-2031 that could provide up to $1 billion in annual financing to support infrastructure, private-sector growth, and economic reforms. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with World Bank representatives on Feb. 12 to review…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan convened a high-level meeting on Feb. 12 to push forward a regional climate education initiative, as preparations continue for the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES), scheduled for April 22–24 in Astana. Discussions focused on establishing the Regional Green School Platform under the auspices of the Kazakh government and UNICEF, with regional coordination…

ASTANA – Today marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by the UN General Assembly to highlight the importance of equal opportunities in science and to inspire a new generation of girls to pursue careers in research. To mark the occasion, the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education released updated…

ASTANA – Members of the Constitutional Commission discussed proposals to expand protections for property and housing rights during a Feb. 10 meeting. One of the key proposals would explicitly recognize all forms of ownership in the draft new Constitution. Currently, concerns have been raised that the existing wording does not cover all possible forms of…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s updated Constitution establishes a strong legal framework for education, science, and creative freedom, which officials say is essential for unlocking the country’s intellectual potential and encouraging the return of talent, as Kazakhstan remains among the top nations worldwide for students studying abroad. Aigul Sadvakassova, director of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science,…