ICAO Recognizes Kazakhstan’s Efforts in Preliminary AZAL Plane Crash Investigation

ASTANA – Regional Director for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) European and North Atlantic Office Nicolas Rallo commended Kazakhstan and its investigation commission for a preliminary...


Nauryz Celebrations to Feature More Than 1,500 Events in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will host more than 1,500 events nationwide during the Nauryznama Decade, celebrated every year from March 14 to 23, the Ministry of Culture and...


Experts Urge Focus on Human Capital Dev’t, Multilateralism for Stronger Japan-Central Asia Ties

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the first-ever expert dialogue in Central Asia+Japan format on March 6 to explore the evolving dynamics of cooperation between the region...


New Silk Road? Malaysia-Kazakhstan’s Next Chapter in Religious Governance

From the ancient days of the Silk Road—when merchants, scholars and adventurers wove a tapestry of trade and cultural exchange between Central Asia and the Malay Archipelago—to...


Kazakh, Cypriot FMs Agree to Boost Bilateral Cooperation

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on March 6 in Nicosia to discuss strengthening bilateral...


Kazakhstan’s Trade and Foreign Balance Grow in 2024, Minister Reports

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s trade volume saw a significant increase in 2024, growing by 9.1%, while the foreign trade balance also improved, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman...


Assembly of People of Kazakhstan Reflects on 30 Years of Fostering Peace and Stability

ASTANA – The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan has played a key role in preserving harmony and unity in the country, becoming a vital foundation for...


Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Plans 2.5 Million Tons of Cargo for 2025

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...


Kazakhstan to Invest $4.8 Billion in Agro-Industrial Sector, Boost Cooperation with FAO

ASTANA – Over the next three years, Kazakhstan plans to execute more than 600 investment projects in the agro-industrial sector, totaling $4.8 billion. The Food and Agriculture...


Kazakhstan, Cyprus to Deepen Political and Economic Ties

ASTANA—Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu arrived in the Republic of Cyprus on March 5 for his first official visit, which was intended to...


Azerbaijan’s Ambassador on Deepening Ties With Kazakhstan, Energy Cooperation and Shared Tragedy

ASTANA – In an interview with The Astana Times, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aghalar Atamoglanov reflects on how the two nations are forging closer ties across various...


Kazakhstan Invests Recovered Assets to Transform Rural Water Access

ASTANA — The Kazakh government has allocated 4.2 billion tenge (US$8.5 million) from recovered illegally acquired assets to construct and modernize water supply systems in the Aralsk...


EXCLUSIVE: UN Spotlights Kazakh Survivors’ Testimonies, Calls for Nuclear Justice

NEW-YORK — Kazakh nuclear tests survivors and anti-nuclear advocates lead discussions on nuclear justice and the lasting human and environmental toll of nuclear weapons at the third...


KazMunayGas Explores Potential for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

ASTANA — KazMunayGas, a national oil and gas company, is exploring the potential of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. The ICF, a global advisory and technology services...


AIX Starts Trading Renewable Energy Certificates, Advancing Green Finance

ASTANA — Astana International Exchange (AIX) has launched the trading of International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC), marking a milestone in developing sustainable finance and the carbon market...


C5+ Solution: Japan’s Minilateral Diplomacy and Central Asia’s Balancing Act

How Japan-originated C5+ format helps the least integrated region navigate global power rivalry Caught between the assertive interests of Russia and China, and the more distant but...


Kazakhstan’s Tax Reform to Boost Domestic Business, Official Says

ASTANA – The tax and budget reform will strengthen support for businesses in Kazakhstan and increase the inflow of investment, Vice Minister of National Economy Bauyrzhan Kudaibergenov...


First Container Train from India Dispatches to Kazakhstan

ASTANA – A subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), in cooperation with Uzbekistan’s and Turkmenistan’s railway companies, organized the first shipment of 12 twenty-foot containers carrying ceramic...


Women-Led IT Companies in Kazakhstan Grow 1.6-Fold in Two Years

ASTANA – The number of women-led IT companies at the Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups has surged from 179 in early 2023 to 301 in...


Dimash to Release New Song with Grammy-Winning Producer

ASTANA – A world-renowned singer Dimash Qudaibergen will premiere his new song and first collaboration with two-time Grammy Award winner, world-renowned producer and composer Walter Afanasieff on...


Kazakhstan Fulfills OPEC+ Obligations in February

ASTANA – Kazakhstan took all necessary measures to fully implement its OPEC+ obligations in February, Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev stated during a March 3 virtual meeting, reported...


Kazakhstan Builds Gas Chemical Plant to Reduce Fertilizer Import Reliance

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to build a $1.35 billion gas chemical production facility to manufacture 700,000 tonnes of urea and 42,000 tonnes of ammonia annually. This was...


Kazakhstan Employs More Than 9,000 Women in Aviation with 34 Female Pilots 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has 34 female pilots out of 1,459, while globally, women make up only 5% of airline pilots. The country’s aviation sector employs more than...


UN Adopts Resolution to Establish SDG Regional Hub in Almaty

ASTANA – The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on the establishment of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and...


Kazakhstan Identifies Preliminary Cause of Recent Mine Collapse

ASTANA – A preliminary investigation has revealed that the mine collapse at Kazakhmys Corporation in the Ulytau Region on Feb. 17, which resulted in the deaths of...


Soft Power and Public Diplomacy: How Kazakhstan Can Leverage Global Experiences for Development

Editor’s note: The Astana Times continues a section featuring articles by our readers. As a platform that values diverse perspectives and meaningful conversations, we believe that this...


Kazakhstan Targets 7% Economic Growth, Focuses on Oil and Gas Sector 

ASTANA – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin chaired a March 3 meeting focused on boosting economic growth, focusing on the oil and...


Kazakh Climbers Reach Mount Kilimanjaro Summit  

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...


Kazakhstan Plans Major Investments for SMEs and Entrepreneurship

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will support 30,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) projects in 2025, with a total financial allocation of 1.7 trillion tenge (US$3.4 billion), said Deputy...


Kazakhstan Strengthens Measures Against Torture, Human Rights Protection

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...