Kazakhstan Remembers Akzhan Mashanov, Scientist Who Helped Bring Al-Farabi’s Legacy Home
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is marking the legacy of Akzhan Mashanov (1906–1997) on the 120th anniversary of his birth on Sept. 2, one of the country’s prominent scientists and an important figure in the development of Kazakh scientific thought. A geologist, engineer, educator, translator and researcher, Mashanov made significant contributions to the development of geomechanics and…
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic Meet US Fiscal Transparency Requirements, Report Finds
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic are the only Central Asian countries to meet the United States Department of State’s minimum fiscal transparency requirements, while Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan did not meet the criteria, according to the 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report released by the U.S. Department of State. The report assesses whether governments receiving…
Experts: Kazakhstan’s New Security Council Apparatus Signals Shift Toward Preventive Security
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is strengthening the institutional role of its Security Council, a move experts say could mark a shift toward more systematic strategic analysis and preventive risk management as the country’s understanding of national security expands beyond traditional defense and law enforcement. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on Aug. 28 establishing the Security…
Kazakhstan Seeks to Expand Non-Commodity Exports to South Korea Through Direct Business Ties
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is seeking to turn growing trade with South Korea into broader opportunities for domestic producers, with more than 200 representatives of businesses and government agencies from the two countries gathering in Almaty on Aug. 27 for a Kazakhstan-Korea Business Forum and business mission organized with the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA). The forum…
Adventure Tourism and Global Events Can Put Kazakhstan at Central Asia’s Tourism Center
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is positioning tourism as more than a source of visitor spending, seeking to build a regional hub that connects adventure travel, international events and global tourism markets. Recent cooperation with international tourism organizations and the growing number of major events hosted by Astana and Almaty point to an emerging strategy: turn Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan Makes 50 Government Services Available Through eGov GPT
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has made 50 government services available through eGov GPT, allowing citizens to access them through a chat-based interface without visiting a Public Service Center (PSC), First Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Rostislav Konyashkin said on Aug. 26. The service was presented during the unveiling of the Action Plan to…
Can Kazakhstan’s AI Strategy Deliver Both Growth and Smarter Governance?
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is moving toward a broader AI-driven transformation of the economy and public services under a government action plan that sets measurable digitalization targets through 2029, with artificial intelligence increasingly integrated into education, healthcare, transport, finance and industrial management. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov approved the action plan on Aug. 26 as part of…
262 Foreign IT Specialists Receive Digital Nomad Status in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – A total of 262 foreign IT specialists have received residency or visa statuses in Kazakhstan under the Digital Nomad Residency and Digital Nomad Visa programs, according to updated figures from Astana Hub. As of August 2026, 250 foreign IT specialists have obtained permanent residence permits under the Digital Nomad Residency program, while another…
Central Asia Explores Islamic Finance as Path to Greater Financial Connectivity
TASHKENT – Islamic finance is emerging as a potential new channel for connecting Central Asia with global capital, as Uzbekistan works to build regulatory and market infrastructure for Sharia-compliant investment. Speaking at the Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum in Tashkent on Aug. 26, Central Bank of Uzbekistan Governor Timur Ishmetov outlined Uzbekistan’s efforts to…
Experts: Kazakhstan’s Oil Export Strategy Faces Growing Need for Diversification
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s decision to cut its 2026 oil production target from 98 million tonnes to 96 million tonnes after disruptions affecting the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has highlighted the country’s continued dependence on a major export route and the need to strengthen alternatives, experts say. Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said at an Aug. 25…
Tokayev Meets US Congressional Delegation in Astana: What Deeper US Engagement Means for Kazakhstan?
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is becoming increasingly important to Washington not only as a source of energy and critical minerals, but also as a key partner in developing alternative trade routes and strengthening U.S. engagement across Central Asia. A meeting between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and a delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives on Aug. 25…
Why Kazakhstan Is Creating Domestic Credit Rating Agency and What Will Determine Its Success
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is preparing to establish a national credit rating agency as part of a broader effort to develop its domestic capital market, but the institution’s success will ultimately depend on more than the creation of a new regulator-approved rating system. Its ratings will have to earn the confidence of investors and become a…
Tokayev Makes Senior Appointments Amid Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Transition
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has made a number of senior state appointments, reappointing the heads of the National Bank, National Security Committee and Supreme Judicial Council, as well as the Commissioner for Human Rights on Aug. 24. Timur Suleimenov was reappointed the Governor of National Bank of Kazakhstan. He first became Governor in September…
Adilet Party Leads Preliminary Results in Kazakhstan’s First Kurultai Election With 71.17%
ASTANA – The Adilet party secured 71.17% of the vote in Kazakhstan’s first elections to the Kurultai, according to preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Aug. 24. A total of 9,351,539 citizens participated in the election out of 12,623,289 registered voters, bringing preliminary voter turnout to 74.08%. The Adilet party received…
Kazakhstan Records 37.05% Voter Turnout by Noon in Kurultai Election
ALMATY – Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s first elections to the Kurultai reached 37.05% as of noon on Aug. 23, with 4,670,816 voters having received ballots, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The Kyzylorda Region recorded the highest turnout at 47.59%, followed by the Zhetisu Region at 47.29% and the Turkistan Region at 43.14%. Turnout…
Cathay Pacific to Launch Direct Flights From Almaty to Hong Kong in January 2027
ALMATY – Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific will launch direct flights between Almaty and Hong Kong on Jan. 9, 2027, establishing the first direct air link between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong and expanding connections between Central Asia and the carrier’s global network. The airline will operate the route three times a week using wide-body Airbus…
Kazakhstan Begins Construction of Robotics Complex as It Expands Humanoid AI Ambitions
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has begun construction of its first Robotics & AI complex on Aug. 18. According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the complex will support research, software and artificial intelligence development, testing and localized production of robotic systems as the country seeks to build domestic capabilities in humanoid robotics. The…
Kazakhstan’s Revised Foreign Policy Concept Preserves Balanced Course
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s updated Foreign Policy Concept for 2020–2030 preserves the country’s balanced and pragmatic foreign policy while adapting it to a new constitutional framework, shifting geopolitical realities and a stronger emphasis on protecting the interests of Kazakh citizens and businesses abroad, analysts say. The amendments, signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and effective from Aug.…
After Ending Power Shortages Kazakhstan Can Become Electricity Exporter
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to commission 845 megawatts of new power generation capacity in 2027 as part of a broader effort to meet growing electricity demand and build a reserve in the national power system. The planned projects combine gas-fired generation with renewable energy, reflecting the country’s strategy to expand capacity through multiple sources rather…
How PSG Academy’s Arrival Reflects Kazakhstan’s Rise as Football Talent Hub
ALMATY – Paris Saint-Germain’s decision to open its first football academy in Kazakhstan this September is more than another international expansion for the French club. It reflects Kazakhstan’s growing attractiveness as a destination for elite youth football development, following a series of milestones that have elevated the country’s profile. Located in Astana, the new PSG…
Kazakhstan Hosts First FIDE World University Team Chess Championship
ALMATY – The inaugural FIDE World University Team Chess Championship opened in Almaty on Aug. 4 with teams from Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Beijing University and 12 other leading universities. While the event crowns the world’s strongest university chess team, it also reflects Kazakhstan’s broader effort to position itself as an international center for intellectual competition.…
Almaty Airport’s Next Takeoff: Can Kazakhstan Build Central Asia’s Leading Aviation Hub?
ALMATY – As Central Asian countries accelerate airport expansion to capture growing passenger and cargo flows between Europe and Asia, Kazakhstan is entering a new phase of competition. While Uzbekistan has launched construction of what is expected to become the region’s largest airport, Almaty is pursuing a different strategy: expanding capacity while investing in operational…
Kazakhstan Advances Regional AI Ambitions Through New Technology Hub
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to establish another international technology hub dedicated to artificial intelligence and startup development, expanding its network of innovation platforms as the country seeks to position itself as a regional AI hub through global partnerships, talent development and private investment. The initiative was discussed during Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s July 27 meeting…
Can Kazakhstan’s Non-Oil Economy Sustain the Country’s Growth Momentum?
ALMATY – As oil production temporarily softens, Kazakhstan is increasingly relying on construction, manufacturing, transport, trade and agriculture to maintain economic momentum. Government officials argue that strengthening these sectors will not only offset weaker hydrocarbon output in the short term but also lay the foundation for more diversified and resilient long-term growth. The strategy was…
Kazakhstan’s Rail Freight Growth Puts Infrastructure Expansion in Focus
ALMATY – Freight volumes on Kazakhstan’s rail network continued to grow in the first half of 2026, underscoring the country’s expanding role in regional trade. But as cargo flows accelerate, the focus is shifting from record volumes to whether rail infrastructure can keep pace with demand. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) transported 157.1 million tons of…
