News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakh-Afghan Ties, New Air Routes, Georgian Prime Minister’s Visit to Kazakhstan and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has picked a selection of articles on Kazakhstan published in international media across the world. This week’s foreign media digest includes articles...


Kazakhstan’s Economy Grows 5% in First Half of 2023

ASTANA – The growth of Kazakhstan’s economy reached 5 % in the first half of this year, with a 4. 8% increase in the real sector and...


Kazakhstan’s Population Approaches 20 Million People

ASTANA – As of July 1, Kazakhstan’s population reached 19,899,377, with 48.8% of men and 51.2% women, according to an Aug. 10 statement by the Bureau of...


Astana Alive: Your Guide to This Weekend’s Must-Attend Events

ASTANA — The vibrant capital is brimming with exciting events this weekend. From art festivals to live concerts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a roundup...


Kazakh Chess Players Win Silver and Bronze Medals at World Schools Team Championship

ASTANA – A Kazakh team from Astana took bronze medals in a category under 12. The chess players from Almaty claimed silver in a category under 18...


Kazakhstan and Lithuania Bolster Partnership in Development Assistance

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) and Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation to implement joint projects and...


Kazakh Animated Noir Film Wins Award at France’s Expo 

ASTANA – Seriktes (translated from Kazakh as Partner), an animated noir film made by Kazakh Tasqyn Studio, was recognized as the Best Short Film at the Animated...


Kazakhstan Marks Day of Abai Kunanbaiuly

ASTANA – Today marks the 178th anniversary of Abai Kunanbaiuly, a renowned Kazakh poet, composer, educator, philosopher, public figure, and the founder of Kazakh written literature and...


Pavlodar Region Attracts Nearly $ 771 Million in First Half of This Year

ASTANA – The Pavlodar Region attracted 344 billion tenge ($ 771.2 million) in the first half of 2023, 30% more than in the same period last year,...


Kazakh Prime Minister Instructs to Simplify Entry for Foreigners

ASTANA – One of the key objectives of the 2023-2027 Migration Policy Concept is to attract highly qualified specialists to Kazakhstan, including entrepreneurs and potential investors, Prime...


Kazakhstan and Central Asia in Multipolar World

In late February and early March of this year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in what US media touted as a major...


President Tokayev Says Kazakhstan Needs New Economic Model During Regional Visit

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Ekibastuz power plant on Aug. 9 during his working visit to the Pavlodar Region and urged the government and Akim...


Kazakh – Kuwaiti Relations Reach New Heights, Says Kuwait’s Ambassador

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and the State of Kuwait celebrated the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year. According to Omar Alkanderi, the Ambassador of Kuwait, who...


Kazakh Ministry Announces Number of Days Tourists Spend in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Tourists from Germany, India, South Korea, and the United States spent an average of four days in Kazakhstan, according to the eQonaq information system for...


Kazakhstan Team Wins 20 Medals at Summer FISU World University Games

ASTANA – Kazakh national team secured 20 medals, including two gold, seven silver, and eleven bronze at the Summer International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games,...


Kazakh Folk Ensemble Performs Abai’s Songs at Austria’s Oldest Festival 

ASTANA – The Alatau folklore ensemble representing the Kenen Azerbayev Philharmonic of the Zhambyl Region performed works of Abai on the eve of the famous Kazakh poet’s...


Kazakhstan Plans to Send 100,000 Tons of Oil to Germany This Month

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to send 100,000 tons of oil to Germany via the Druzhba oil pipeline in August, despite the shutdown of one of its strings...


Saudi Company Installs Central Asia’s Largest Wind Turbine in Uzbekistan

ASTANA — ACWA Power, a Saudi-listed company, installed the first wind turbine at the Bash wind farm project in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, the company’s press...


Astana Football Team Wins Home Match of Europa League

ASTANA — Astana football team won (2:1) a home match against Ludogorets team (Bulgaria) in the third qualifying round of the Europa League on Aug. 8, Sports.kz...


Shrinking Caspian Sea and Pollution Lead to Unwanted Consequences

ASTANA – According to forecasts by scientists, the Caspian Sea’s water level is expected to decrease by nearly four meters over the next decade. Over the past...


Astana to Host Digital Bridge Int’l Technology Forum in October

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will host the Digital Bridge 2023 international technology forum on Oct. 12-13 to address the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the...


Kazakhstan’s Migration Policy Delivers First in Decade Positive Migration Balance 

ASTANA — The implementation of the migration policy concept ensured a positive migration balance for the first time in the past ten years, Tamara Duissenova, Deputy Prime...


Kazakh Capital to Host International Circus Festival “Echo of Asia” This Week 

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital will host the 14th international festival of circus art, “Echo of Asia,” on Aug. 9, to commemorate Astana’s 25th anniversary, reported the...


Kostanai Region Plans to Create International Logistics Hub

ASTANA — The Kostanai business community proposed to create an international logistics hub and build a dry port in the region to expand the country’s export potential...


Heroes of Animal Care Recount Challenges and Advantages of Profession

ASTANA – Veterinarians dedicate their lives to rescuing and treating animals, striving to provide the best possible care. Victoria Malakhova, a veterinarian from Kazakhstan, spoke to the...


Kazakh President Instructs to Improve Quality of Life for People With Special Needs

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart received Ombudsperson for the Rights of Socially Vulnerable Categories of the Population Svetlana Zhakupova on Aug. 7 to discuss ways to improve...


Economic Growth in Central Asia Gains Momentum Amidst Increasing International Partnerships

ASTANA – Central Asian countries demonstrate economic growth despite ongoing global geopolitical turbulence, increasing the attention to the region and enhancing partnerships with other countries. This development...


Karagandy – Heartland of Kazakhstan’s Coal Mining Industry

KARAGANDY – The city of Karagandy, Kazakhstan’s industrial powerhouse renowned for its highest quality coal, is a place with a rich history and diverse attractions to explore...


Olympic Training Base in Almaty Region Nears Completion

ASTANA – The construction of an Olympic training base with a capacity of up to 2,300 athletes in the Almaty Region is set to be completed by...


Public Foundation Builds Shelters for Homeless Cats in Almaty

ASTANA – Twenty houses with feeders for stray cats have been built in Almaty city’s Medeu and Almaly Districts as part of a project launched by Animal...