Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest features Kazakhstan’s AI ambitions, ties with Belgium, preparations for the Kurultai elections, and the Middle Corridor. How China is aiding Kazakh efforts to become hyper modern The Diplomat published an article on July 21 about Kazakhstan’s…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will begin serial production of domestically branded buses under the Astana name in November, marking a major step in expanding the country’s automotive manufacturing, Astana Motors Chairman Nurlan Smagulov announced at a government meeting on July 21. The project is one of the company’s flagship initiatives aimed at broadening Kazakhstan’s lineup of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has released the competition schedule for the international Phygital Games of the Future 2026, scheduled for July 29-Aug. 9, bringing together athletes and gamers in competitions that combine physical and digital disciplines.  The tournament will open with the 3on3 Freestyle phygital basketball event on July 29, followed…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to launch production of Li Auto, Omoda, and Jaecoo vehicles by 2028 as part of a broader effort to expand its automotive industry, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and introduce advanced technologies, Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev said at a July 21 government meeting. The initiative follows agreements reached during President…

ASTANA – The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has begun reviewing Kazakhstan’s nomination of the Rock Mosques of Mangystau and Associated Sacred Sites for inscription on the World Heritage List during its 48th session in Busan, South Korea. The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee opened on July 19 in Busan and will run…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will launch its nationwide Interbank Mobile Payment System (IMPS) on July 19, enabling customers to make instant transfers by phone number and QR-code payments between participating banks. The National Bank presented the latest progress in implementing the National Digital Financial Infrastructure (NDFI) on July 17, highlighting the rollout of the Interbank Mobile…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reviewed preparations for the launch of the QaJET National Investment Platform for a Just Energy Transition at COP31 in November, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation on sustainable development and climate finance. First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev met on…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reviewed Kazakhstan’s socio-economic performance for the first half of the year at a July 13 meeting with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and instructed the government to launch a large-scale program to build social and infrastructure facilities, with a focus on modern healthcare projects.    Economy maintains growth Bektenov reported that Kazakhstan’s…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s ice cream exports surged 77% in value in January-April, driven by strong production and growing demand across neighboring markets. Kazakhstan produced 35,100 tons of ice cream between January and May, reported the Bureau of National Statistics on July 10. The Almaty Region remained the country’s main production hub, accounting for 23,300 tons,…

ASTANA — Air Astana has suspended flights to Dubai due to the escalating situation in the Middle East, while Turkish carrier AJET is set to increase flights between Kazakhstan and Türkiye beginning in August. Air Astana has cancelled flights on the Almat-Dubai-Almaty route scheduled for July 13 and 14, as well as flights on the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new constitutional framework will help strengthen investor confidence by ensuring greater legal predictability and supporting economic modernization, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at a July 9 meeting of the Council on Improving the Investment Climate. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the government and the international business community, as well as…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and six other OPEC+ members agreed to implement an 188,000-barrel-per-day production adjustment in August, reaffirming their commitment to oil market stability. Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia and Saudi Arabia, which previously announced voluntary production adjustments in 2023, held a virtual meeting on July 5 to review market conditions and the outlook.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and interoperable AI governance at the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, where Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev presented the country’s vision for an AI-native future and called for stronger regional cooperation through the Asia-Pacific Digital…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan officially inaugurated the Kazakh National University of Sports (KNUS) and its new campus in the Kazakh capital, marking the completion of a five-year transformation to create a leading regional center for sports education, research and innovation. The opening ceremony was the centerpiece of the international forum New Era of Sport: KNUS 2026,…

ASTANA – Central Asia is strengthening its role in global air cargo flows, with regional volumes more than doubling since 2019 as new trade corridors reshape international aviation networks, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In its latest Chart of the Week, IATA said the region is evolving into an intercontinental bridge as…

ASTANA – Uzbekistan has published the preliminary results of its first population census in 37 years, showing that the country’s population has reached more than 39 million, according to the National Statistics Committee.    According to the preliminary census results, Uzbekistan’s population stands at 39,047,321, nearly double the figure recorded in the country’s last census in…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has made a selection of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s new strategic partnership with Georgia, constitutional reforms, the country’s growing role in international transport corridors, and more. Georgia and Kazakhstan establish strategic partnership Georgia and Kazakhstan have officially established…

ASTANA – Kazakh leaders held a series of high-level meetings with executives of major international companies and financial institutions on the sidelines of the 38th Plenary Session of the Foreign Investors Council on July 2, focusing on expanding investment cooperation, advancing strategic projects, and supporting the country’s industrial and infrastructure development agenda. According to Akorda,…

ASTANA – Kazakh Grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva has reached a career-high fifth place in the latest FIDE women’s world rankings, breaking into the global top five for the first time in her career.   According to FIDE’s July rankings, the 22-year-old earned 2,538 rating points, climbing two places from the previous list. China’s Hou Yifan retained the…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree on July 1 scheduling elections of deputies to the Kurultai for Aug. 23. The decree, issued in accordance with the Constitution of Kazakhstan, instructs the Central Election Commission to organize and conduct the elections, reported Akorda. It also directs the government, as well as the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan presented its experience in repatriating and reintegrating citizens from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq during the UN Counter-Terrorism Week in New York on June 26 to July 2, highlighting its humanitarian approach and rehabilitation efforts. At the High-Level Conference, Kazakhstan outlined its experience in repatriating citizens from conflict zones and supporting…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to expanding trade, investment and technology cooperation during the Kazakhstan-United States Business Roundtable on June 30, where government officials and business leaders outlined new areas for strategic partnership and signed a memorandum to deepen institutional ties between the two countries’ business communities. Investment and technology…

ASTANA – The Golden Globes will launch the inaugural Silk Road Tribute Gala in Uzbekistan on Oct. 23-24, honoring excellence in film and television across Central Asia and the Caucasus and highlighting the region’s growing presence on the global entertainment stage. The event reflects the Golden Globes’ ongoing commitment to recognizing outstanding achievements in film…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from international media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan’s efforts to deepen cooperation with the European Union, growing international interest in the country’s critical minerals sector, and the continued expansion of its tourism industry. Kazakhstan seeks a deeper EU partnership in science, education…

ASTANA — The 16th Astana Mining & Metallurgy (AMM) Congress and Exhibition opened on June 11 at the Hilton Astana, bringing together global industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss the future of Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical sector. The event runs for two days, concluding on June 12. The exhibition features 70 companies from 15…