Kazakhstan Highlights Middle Corridor Growth and Digitalization at Batumi Forum
ASTANA – Kazakhstan highlighted the rapid growth of the Middle Corridor and the need to accelerate its digitalization at the Georgian International Maritime Forum in Batumi on Sept. 7-8. Kazakhstan Deputy Minister of Transport Zhanibek Taizhanov said freight volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) rose 22% in January-August, while East-West transit increased 55%.…
China-Central Asia Trade Surpasses $100 Billion as SCMP Hosts Landmark Conference in Astana
ASTANA – Trade between China and the five Central Asian states has surpassed $100 billion, highlighting the region’s growing economic importance, as the South China Morning Post (SCMP) convened policymakers, business leaders, investors and innovators in Astana on Sept. 7 for its China Conference: Central Asia 2026. Co-hosted by SCMP and the Astana International Financial…
Kazakh Businesses to Trade Carbon Units on AIFC Exchange
ASTANA – Kazakh businesses implementing environmental projects will be able to trade carbon units on the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) exchange under a planned agreement with the international carbon standard Verra, AIFC Product Director Zhanbolat Kakishev said at Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2026. “We will sign an agreement with the Verra standard. This will…
AFD 2026 Delivers New Agreements, Market Instruments for Regional Growth
ASTANA – The Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2026: Delivering Impact. Capital in Action concluded with a series of agreements and new financial instruments to strengthen regional financial cooperation, sustainable finance, digital assets, aviation finance and access to capital. Held on Sept. 9-10, the forum brought together 8,000 participants from 90 countries, including representatives of major…
CPC Oil Loading Operations Resume After Drone Incident
ASTANA – Oil loading operations at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal have resumed in normal mode after a Sept. 8 drone incident near the facility, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy said. Following the incident, loading operations at Single Point Moorings (SPM) 2 and 3 were temporarily suspended. The ministry said inspections of CPC’s cargo…
Rybakina Makes History as Kazakhstan’s First World No. 1
ASTANA – Elena Rybakina has made history for Kazakhstan, becoming the first athlete from the country to rise to the top of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings, a breakthrough that puts Kazakh tennis at the summit of the sport. Rybakina secured the top position in the WTA live rankings after defeating China’s Qinwen…
EBRD Supports Alatau Zharyk’s Grid Modernization Program
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide a long-term loan of up to 102 billion tenge (US$224.2 million) to Alatau Zharyk Company (AZhC) to modernize its electricity distribution infrastructure and expand digitalization. The financing will help AZhC, a regional electricity distribution company supplying around 4 million people and around 50,000…
Kazakhstan Expands Air Links to Southeast Asia with New Singapore Route
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is continuing to broaden its aviation network across Asia, with SCAT Airlines set to launch flights from Shymkent to Singapore via China’s Sanya on Oct. 20. The new service comes amid a wider expansion of routes by Kazakh carriers to China and other Asian destinations. Via Sanya The Shymkent-Sanya flight will take…
Expert: Higher Foreign Currency Supply Supports Tenge Strengthening Amid Changing Market Flows
ASTANA – The Kazakh tenge strengthened 2.6% against the US dollar in August, reaching 461.57 per dollar at the end of the month, as foreign currency supply continued to exceed demand amid increased market activity and changing capital flows, according to Saltanat Igenbekova, head of the Analytics Center at Halyk Finance. According to the center’s…
Kazakhstan Plans $327 Million Expansion of Oil Pipeline Routes to China
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to invest an estimated $327 million to expand two key sections of its oil pipeline system toward China, increasing their combined capacity to 35 million tons annually and strengthening the country’s eastern export corridor. KazTransOil, the nation’s oil transport company, presented the investment plans to investors on Sept. 2 during the…
Kazakhstan to Host Its First Ever ICAO Aviation Security Week 2026 in October
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will host ICAO Aviation Security Week for the first time on Oct. 20-22, bringing aviation regulators, industry leaders and security experts to the capital to address emerging threats and strengthen international cooperation. Supported by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the event will focus on the theme Safe Skies in a Complex World: Enhancing…
Kazakhstan Completes Track Connection on Moiynty-Kyzylzhar Railway Line
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has completed the track connection on the 323.3-kilometer Moiynty-Kyzylzhar railway line, marking a key milestone in one of the country’s major transport infrastructure projects. The new line, being built across the Ulytau and Karagandy Regions, is designed to strengthen Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics potential, expand international routes and increase export and transit…
Kazakhstan, Laos Seek to Expand Trade Through Agriculture and Transport Links
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Laos are seeking to expand bilateral trade by using Kazakhstan’s position as a trade and logistics bridge to connect Lao products with Central Asian and wider Eurasian markets, while opening greater access for Kazakh goods to Southeast Asia. Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, who arrived in…
Kazakhstan Steps Up Gulf Diplomacy Amid Hormuz Shipping Risks
ASTANA – Kazakhstan intensified diplomatic engagement in the Gulf last week as Iran and Oman moved to restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arman Issagaliyev held talks in Oman and the United Arab Emirates and attended an emergency session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of…
China Consolidates Position as Kazakhstan’s Top Trading Partner
ASTANA – China is strengthening its position as Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, overtaking Russia in the country’s foreign trade structure. In January-June, China accounted for 23.2% of Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover, compared with 18.4% for Russia. Bilateral trade with China reached $16.65 billion, while trade with Russia stood at $13.22 billion, according to the Bureau…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Global Ties, Economic Outlook, Abai’s Legacy and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers Singapore-Kazakhstan relations, political and economic developments, energy expansion, cultural cooperation with Vietnam and more. Singapore keen to build on goodwill, deepen ties with Kazakhstan: SM Lee Singapore wants to build on the goodwill it enjoys…
Experts Say Kazakhstan’s New Kurultai Leadership Reflects Diversity, Faces Heavy Legislative Agenda
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new unicameral legislature, the Kurultai, elected its leadership and heads of eight standing committees during the first session of its first convocation on Aug. 28. Experts say the newly elected leadership reflects political and gender diversity and will face a significant legislative workload from the outset. Aibek Dadebai, chairman of the Adilet…
Why Data Is Becoming Next Fuel-Saving Tool for Central Asian Airlines
ASTANA – Airlines are expected to spend around $350 billion on fuel this year, nearly one-third of their operating costs, as global industry profitability comes under pressure from higher energy prices. For carriers in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, these figures are increasing the importance of data-driven operations to find additional fuel savings. According…
Kazakhstan Aims for 5% Growth, Expert Says Productive Capacity Is Key
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s government has approved the Forecast of Socio-Economic Development and draft national budget for 2027-2029, targeting annual economic growth of more than 5% through 2029 while reducing the budget deficit to 0.4% of GDP. Financial analyst Rassul Rysmambetov says the targets are achievable, but only if Kazakhstan expands its productive capacity through greater…
Reintroduced Tigress Umit Hunts Her First Prey in Kazakhstan’s Ile-Balkhash Reserve
ASTANA – Tigress Umit, released into Kazakhstan’s Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve on July 31 as part of the country’s tiger reintroduction program, is showing positive signs of adapting to the wild, Anuarbek Bermagambetov, head of the Department of Hunting Management and Wildlife, said on the Jibek Joly TV channel on Aug. 24. More than 70…
Adilet Wins Kurultai Elections with 71.17% of Vote
ASTANA – The Adilet party secured a landslide victory in Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections, winning 71.17% of the vote and 110 seats, according to the final results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Aug. 25. The electoral rolls included 12,623,289 voters, and 9,351,539 cast ballots. Voter turnout stood at 74.08%. Adilet received 6,528,948 votes…
Nigeria, Sierra Leone See Sharp Rise in Business Registrations in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The number of companies with founders from Nigeria and Sierra Leone registered in Kazakhstan increased sharply in July. The number of Nigerian-founded companies rose by 68, while companies with founders from Sierra Leone rose by 45, the Data Hub analytical Telegram channel reported on Aug. 14. The figures come as Kazakhstan expands economic…
S&P Upgrade Highlights Kazakhstan’s Economic Resilience and Investment Potential
ASTANA – S&P Global Ratings raised Kazakhstan’s long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on Aug. 21 to BBB/A-2 from BBB-/A-3, while maintaining a stable outlook. The agency also raised its transfer and convertibility assessment to BBB+ and affirmed Kazakhstan’s national scale rating at kzAAA. The upgrade strengthens Kazakhstan’s position among investment-grade sovereigns and could improve…
Kazakhstan’s First Kurultai Campaign Puts Competing Policy Priorities in Focus
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first campaign for the new Kurultai has brought all seven registered political parties into a national political debate, with televised discussions and public meetings highlighting their policy priorities ahead of the Aug. 23 vote. A campaign built around debate The campaign has emphasized televised debates. Over four weeks, representatives of all seven…
Kazakhstan’s Volunteer Portal Proposal Could Turn Global Initiative Into Practical Tool
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s proposed international volunteer portal could be more than an image project, giving the country an opportunity to turn its global volunteer agenda into a practical mechanism for international cooperation, said an expert with the National Volunteer Network. “If the initiative is implemented, for our country this will be much more than an…
