Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is shifting its oil and gas sector toward high-value-added production, focusing on petrochemicals as a strategic national priority. Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov has introduced a roadmap for 2024–2030 during a May 5 government meeting. The roadmap includes six major projects worth approximately $15 billion. These developments are expected to create around 3,500…

ASTANA – As summer approaches, more tourists are seeking destinations that offer a blend of nature, culture, and modern infrastructure. The Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports presented the top five Kazakhstan’s breathtaking destinations for summer recreation. Katon-Karagay, East Kazakhstan Region Katon-Karagay National Park is the first territory of Kazakhstan included in the Green Destinations…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s saiga antelope population has reached a record 4.1 million, said Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Sharbiyev during an April 22 round table discussion, highlighting both the country’s success in conservation and the growing challenges posed by the rapid population increase. Current estimates, including lambing in May 2024, include Ural…

ASTANA – Today, on April 23, Turkish authorities reported a 6.2-magnitude earthquake near Istanbul, followed by ongoing aftershocks. As of now, no Kazakh citizens in Türkiye have contacted the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Istanbul for assistance. The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation in coordination with the Turkish authorities and Kazakhstan’s…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to launch a unified mobile application for tourists, named TravelStan, by the end of this year, said Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerzhan Yerkinbayev at the Digital Tourism in Kazakhstan – 2025 forum on April 22 in Almaty. The app will offer travelers access to a full range of tourism…

ASTANA – Shukhrat Ibragimov, the Eurasian Resources Group CEO, stated there are no negotiations on the sale of ERG, following a number of media reports in the last few weeks, including publications about U.S. businessman James Cameron’s proposal to buy ERG. “ERG is definitely not for sale,” said Ibragimov. “The company’s management is fully committed…

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni has postponed her visit to Kazakhstan, scheduled for April 26-27, in light of Pope Francis’ passing. “The planned visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Kazakhstan and the first Central Asia–Italy summit have been delayed at the request of the Italian side,” said President’s Press Secretary…

ASTANA – The remaining 38 service members of Kazakhstan’s first peacekeeping contingent deployed to the UN mission in the Golan Heights returned home on April 20. Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General Shaikh-Hasan Zhazykbayev, met the service members, expressing gratitude for their conscientious service and contributions to strengthening peace and international security, according to the…

ASTANA — The 18th-century manuscript “Khandar Shezhiresi” (“Genealogy of the Khans”) has been officially inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, announced State Counselor Erlan Karin in his Telegram channel on April 17. According to him, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the enhancement of activities to preserve Kazakhstan’s unique documentary heritage during the…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s young chess players won six gold and one bronze medal at the FIDE World Cadet & Youth Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025, taking place on April 12-18 on the island of Rhodes, Greece.  According to the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, 433 young players from 49 countries compete in six age categories, separated by…

ASTANA  — This year, Kazakhstan plans to launch nine renewable energy facilities with a combined installed capacity of 455.5 megawatts (MW). One of these projects, a wind power plant with a capacity of 50 megawatts (MW), was commissioned in February in the Karagandy Region. Deputy Energy Minister Sungat Yessimkhanov announced during an April 16 briefing…

ASTANA – The Kazakh delegation, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, participated in the third ministerial meeting of the Central Asia – Gulf Cooperation Council format on April 16 in Kuwait. The meeting focused on enhancing trade, investment, and innovation ties. Nurtleu said that coordinated actions between the regions could significantly…

ASTANA – Karolina Wojtasik, a photographer from the United States, visited Kazakhstan in February for the first time and documented the ancient art of kusbegilik (the art of hunting with birds of prey). Her photographs won the prestigious Communication Arts Awards of Excellence in documentary photography, she wrote in an Instagram post on April 4.…

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Health Akmaral Alnazarova, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge and Representative of WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan Skender Sola signed the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) until 2030 on April 7. The document is supposed to support the health policy and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has instructed the swift advancement of digital public services in Kazakhstan, emphasizing proactive service delivery, enhanced collaboration with the banking sector, and heightened data security measures at an April 1 government meeting. Bektenov highlighted the critical role of public services in the interaction between the state and its…

ASTANA – Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, who is currently on an official visit to Kazakhstan, outlined several key areas of potential partnership between Slovenia and Kazakhstan after meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a comment for the Jibek Joly TV channel on March 31. “We think that the AI is one of the fields…

ASTANA – Tourism Rights Protection System administrator has reported no tremors at popular Thai resorts and no evacuation requests from Kazakh tourists following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28.  According to the report, popular resort areas in Thailand, including those along the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi) and the Gulf of Thailand…

ASTANA — Eight more Przewalski’s horses are supposed to arrive in the Kostanai Region in May-June, said Kazakh Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Sharbiyev at a Regional Communications Service briefing on March 27.  He noted that Przewalski’s horses, also known by the ancient Kazakh names Kerkulan and Kertagy, survived the winter well,…

ASTANA — According to the Bureau of National Statistics, life expectancy in Kazakhstan has risen to 75.4 years in 2024, up from 75.09 years the previous year.  There are gender differences in life expectancy, with men expected to live an average of 71.33 years, while women’s life expectancy is higher at 79.42 years. In urban…

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko took part at the Central Asia-European Union 20th Ministerial Meeting on March 27 in Ashgabat.  The leadership of the foreign ministries of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Vice-President of European Commission Kaja…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will showcase its rich heritage and modern achievements at Expo 2025, which will take place between April 13 and Oct. 13 in Osaka, Japan.   Located alongside pavilions from countries like South Korea, Germany, and Türkiye, the 75-square-meter Kazakhstan pavilion will feature an interactive exhibition reflecting the country’s history, cultural diversity, and progress…

ASTANA — The Central State Museum of Kazakhstan in Almaty opened an exhibition on March 19 showcasing over 140 collectible dolls. The exhibition features unique creations by 21 artists from Almaty, Astana, Ridder, and Zharkent, all members of the Art Dolls Collection_KZ creative association. Timed to coincide with the Nauryz national holiday, which celebrates spring…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s creative industry continues to grow, employing some 143,600 people across various sectors, Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva said during a March 18 government meeting. During the event, Balayeva outlined the creative industries’ ongoing development, presented initiatives to further stimulate its growth, and reported the Prime Minister’s press service.  The creative…

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree establishing the Nuclear Energy Agency under the President and appointed Almasadam Satkaliyev as its Chair on March 18 to oversee the country’s nuclear industry and enhance nuclear safety. The new agency will assume key responsibilities from the Energy Ministry, including uranium mining, the use…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key initiatives aimed at bolstering regional development, with a strong focus on tourism, sports infrastructure and environmental conservation during the fourth meeting of the National Kurultai (Congress) on March 14 in Burabai. Tourism and regional development According to Tokayev, tourism should be a significant driver of growth for Kazakhstan’s…