Why Safe-Haven Asset Matters and How Kazakhstan is Betting on Gold

ASTANA – Global gold demand surged 45% year-on-year in value terms to $132 billion in the second quarter of 2025, reaffirming the metal’s strong role as a...


Countering Inflation Demands Balanced Approach, Says Expert 

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described high inflation as the country’s most pressing challenge in his Sept. 8 address and urged the government and the National Bank...


Experts See Promise in Tokayev’s Push for Parliamentary and UN Reform 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined a strategic course for the year ahead in his annual state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 8. A proposal to reform the Parliament,...


Kazakhstan-Originated Industrial Group to Launch Manufacturing Project in US

ALMATY – 1Thirty Holding, a leading company in chemical manufacturing and industrial innovation, has held high-level talks with senior leadership of the United States Chamber of Commerce...


Experts Reflect on Tokayev’s Digital Vision 

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 8, focusing on digitalization and the full-scale adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize the...


Kazakhstan Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka Welcomes Millionth Visitor

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka celebrated a milestone as it welcomed its one millionth visitor, Kosuke Hasegawa from Amagasaki city, Japan....


Experts, Officials Weigh in on Tokayev’s Reforms as Political Season Begins in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – September marks the start of a political season in Kazakhstan, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address setting the tone for the year ahead and outlining...


Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan Seal Water-Energy Deal Until 2026

ASTANA – Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan have signed a set of protocols regulating the region’s water and energy balance through 2026, following a trilateral meeting...


Tokayev: Kazakhstan to Boost Science, Elevate Blue-Collar Professions, and Reform Migration Policy 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will strengthen its transition to a knowledge-based economy by integrating the management of science, education, and innovation, while also raising the prestige of working...


Tokayev Calls for Unified Digital Water Platform to Address Resource Challenges

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the government to create a unified digital platform for managing Kazakhstan’s water resources, emphasizing the sector’s strategic importance for social...


President Tokayev Seeks to Make Kazakhstan Eurasia’s Leading Transport and Aviation Hub

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is intensifying efforts to expand its role as a key transit link between Europe and Asia while setting its sights on becoming the leading...


Kazakhstan to Expand Nuclear Energy, Accelerate High-Tech Industrial Projects

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the strategic importance of developing nuclear energy to secure Kazakhstan’s energy future and ensure sustainable economic growth during his annual state-of-the-nation...


Tokayev Targets $1 Billion Tech Investment, Proposes State Digital Asset Fund

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed measures to optimize the use of the National Fund and accelerate the development of a digital asset ecosystem during his...


Kazakhstan Could Shift to Unicameral Parliament as Tokayev Calls for 2027 Referendum

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed holding a national referendum in 2027 on transitioning Kazakhstan to a unicameral parliament, which would abolish the Senate, the legislature’s...


President Tokayev: Balanced Foreign Policy Will Drive Kazakhstan’s Growth in AI Era

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored the importance of foreign policy as a driver of Kazakhstan’s future progress in his annual state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 8 during...


Kazakhstan to Boost AI-Driven Satellite Monitoring in Agriculture, Says President Tokayev

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that Kazakhstan will significantly expand the use of artificial intelligence in satellite monitoring of agricultural land, stressing that digital technologies must...


Tokayev Calls for Overhaul of Investment Policy to Drive Growth

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the government to develop a comprehensive action plan for a fundamental overhaul of Kazakhstan’s investment policy during his annual state-of-the-nation...


Kazakhstan to Establish Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the establishment of a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, underscoring Kazakhstan’s strategic goal of becoming a fully digital country...


Kazakhstan Passport Climbs to 61st in Global Index, Strongest in Central Asia

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has strengthened its standing in the Henley Passport Index 2025, climbing two positions to 61st place. The updated ranking released on Aug. 20 shows...


Supreme Mufti of Kazakhstan: Islam’s Inherent Values Foster Tolerance and Justice

Editor’s Note: In the run-up to the eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, scheduled for Sept. 17–18 in Astana, The Astana Times has launched...


Nomadic Yurt Survives Storm, Inspires Burning Man Crowds

ASTANA — Burning Man in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, became the stage for Tengri Camp, Kazakhstan’s first-ever contribution to the radical art festival from Aug. 25 to...


Kazakh Innovation Turns Public Toilets into Model for Future

ASTANA – Public toilets rarely make headlines. However, in Shymkent, a new project is doing just that, attracting international attention for its creative use of technology and...


IOM Kazakhstan Launches Campaign to Promote Safe Labor Migration

ASTANA — The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Workforce Development Center and Kazpost, has launched the Ashyq Álem (Open World in Kazakh) campaign to...


Annual State-of-the-Nation Address to Be Broadcast Live

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will deliver his annual state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 8 during a joint session of the parliament’s chambers, reported the Akorda press service....


Congolese President to Visit Kazakhstan Next Week

ASTANA – President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi will visit Kazakhstan on Sept. 9-10, at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The visit...


Immersive Sonic Experience Brings Art and Ecology Together at Charyn Canyon

ALMATY – Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan’s natural wonder, turned into the stage for a unique musical and ecological experience on Aug. 31, as the first-ever SUAQ audio expedition...


Almaty Museum of Arts Marks New Era for Culture in Kazakhstan 

ASTANA – The Almaty Museum of Arts will open Sept.12 as Kazakhstan’s first museum built to international standards and capable of hosting major global exhibitions. The institution...


Anything is Possible in Football, Says FC Kairat Coach Urazbahtin

ASTANA — FC Kairat’s head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin said he still struggles to grasp the scale of what his team has achieved: reaching the UEFA Champions League...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakh-Chinese Ties, Astana Finance Days, Dimash Qudaibergen’s New Project and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Kazakh-Chinese partnership, Dimash Qudaibergen’s new music...


Kazakhstan Boosts Cargo Capacity on Transcaspian Corridor Sixfold

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s role as a regional transport hub continues to strengthen as cargo shipments along the Transcaspian International Transport Route (TITR) have increased sixfold over the...