Kazakhstan, Qatar Move to Boost Energy Security and Trade Connectivity

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Qatar discussed expanding cooperation in energy, gas processing, and transport logistics, including increased transit via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), during talks...


What Kazakh Ornaments Reveal About Nomadic Life and Nature

ALMATY – Long before written language became widespread, the nomadic world spoke through patterns. In Kazakh culture, ornaments were more than decoration: they carried identity, beliefs, and...


Chinese Auto Company Advances New Solutions for Energy Transition in Central Asia

ASTANA — New mobility solutions are seen as one of the tools to reduce emissions while maintaining economic growth. As part of the public talk at Regional...


How Kazakh Khanate Estimated Population Before Modern Statistics

ASTANA – Although nomadic society lacked formal statistical systems, Kazakhs developed their own methods to estimate population size. Instead of precise figures, they relied on social and...


Astana AI Film Festival Opens Global Call for Submissions

ROME — Kazakhstan will host its first international film festival featuring films created using artificial intelligence, the Astana AI Film Festival (AAIFF 2026).  Applications for its global...


Kazakhstan, Oman Deepen Investment Partnership with New Agreement

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Sultanate of Oman have strengthened bilateral ties by signing an investment cooperation agreement and outlining plans to expand collaboration across key sectors....


Kazakhstan Unveils Investment Platform to Drive Energy Transition, Partners with EBRD

ASTANA – Kazakhstan unveiled an investment platform to drive just energy transition on April 23 as part of the Regional Ecological Summit in the capital, positioning it...


Astana to Host AI Film Festival This Fall as Kazakhstan Bets on Creative Tech

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will host the Astana AI Film Festival this fall, another landmark international event, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to the Alem.ai International...


Kazakhstan Expands Rail Network and Transit Corridors to Strengthen Eurasian Connectivity

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is strengthening its position as a key Eurasian transport and logistics hub through large-scale railway expansion, digital modernization, and growing investment in international transit...


From Pages to Pitch: Book Fair, Ballet and Football Bring Weekend to Life

ASTANA – As the weekend approaches, Astana and Almaty are set to welcome a vibrant mix of cultural and entertainment events. Whether you are interested in theater,...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Regional Ecological Summit, Reform Agenda, and Diplomacy

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected key articles from international media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights the Regional Ecological Summit, domestic political...


Talks Begin on Kazakhstan-Initiated UN Water Organization at RES 2026

ASTANA – Consultations on establishing an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), an initiative put forward by Kazakhstan, commenced on April 23...


Central Asia Introduces Clean Air Initiative at RES 2026

ASTANA – Air pollution in Central Asia remains a serious and growing challenge driven by both human activity and natural factors. Governments across the region increasingly recognize...


Kazakhstan Holds Base Rate at 18% as Inflation Eases But Risks Persist

ASTANA — The National Bank of Kazakhstan kept its base rate at 18.0% per annum, with a corridor of plus or minus 1 percentage point, according to...


Central Asia Knows Climate Risks, but Acting on Them is Real Test

ASTANA – Central Asia is entering a decisive phase in its response to climate change, with experts warning that while governments increasingly understand the scale of the...


Kazakhstan Moves Beyond Self-Sufficiency as Central Asia Confronts Food and Water Pressures

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is no longer aiming simply to feed itself. It is positioning its agricultural sector as a regional export engine, according to Vice Minister of...


Caspian Sea Decline Raises Alarm at Tehran Convention Dialogue in Astana

ALMATY – The Caspian Sea has dropped by around two meters since the 1990s, highlighting the scale of environmental challenges facing the region, officials said at an...


Almaty to Host IMF Regional Capacity Development Center for Central Asia, Caucasus and Mongolia

ALMATY – Almaty will host a Regional Capacity Development Center of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) serving the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia, as Kazakhstan’s Senate  (Parliament’s...


OSCE, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia: a Partnership for Ecological Resilience

I am delighted to be back in Astana this week. At the kind invitation of President Tokayev, I’m pleased to be joining leaders from across the region...


Transit Along Trans-Caspian Route Triples Over Five Years as Kazakhstan Expands Port Infrastructure

ALMATY – Transit volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) have tripled over the past five years, as Kazakhstan continues to invest in port infrastructure and...


Kazakhstan Celebrates April 23 as National Book Day and Librarians’ Day

ALMATY – Kazakhstan marks National Book Day and Librarians’ Day on April 23, highlighting the growing role of reading culture and the modernization of library services across...


Central Asia Steps Up as Climate Debate Moves From Promises to Solutions

ASTANA – Senior officials and international experts convened this week at the Regional Ecological Summit with a clear and unified message: the global community has a sufficient...


Central Asian Leaders Declare March 26 International Day of Aral Sea, Reinforce Cooperation at Astana Summit

ASTANA –  Central Asian leaders declared March 26 as an International Day of the Aral Sea and the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers to raise global...


Airbus Sees Kazakhstan as Strategic Market as Aviation and Defense Ties Expand

ASTANA – As Kazakhstan pushes to become a regional aviation hub, Airbus is deepening its presence across multiple sectors, from passenger aircraft to military transport and space...


Nature is Driving Kazakhstan’s Tourism Boom and Rewriting Map

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s tourism story is increasingly being written not in cities, but in landscapes. From alpine trails near Almaty to the desert plateaus of Mangystau, the...


British Auction to Feature Central Asian Artworks at Islamic World and India Sale

ASTANA – A rare selection of Central Asian artworks will be on display as part of the Arts of the Islamic World and India sale from April...


Kazakhstan Moves to Ratify Trade Deal to Boost Access to UAE Market

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s lower house of Parliament, the Mazhilis, has begun drafting a bill to ratify an agreement to expand access for Kazakh goods to the United...


Astana Launches $180 Million Waste-to-Energy Ecopark in Partnership with Chinese Company 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched construction of the first phase of the Astana Energy Ecopark, a large-scale investment project for municipal solid waste processing and electricity generation,...


UN Warns World is Far Off Track on 2030, Casts Central Asia on Climate Front Line 

ASTANA — United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua delivered a stark warning on April 22 in his remarks to the Regional Ecological Summit...


RES2026 Highlights Call for Climate Justice and Strengthened Regional Environmental Governance

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged fair, practical, and implementation-focused climate cooperation, stressing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility and a strategic priority for global...