Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry published a list of overseas polling stations on Feb. 23 where citizens abroad will be able to vote in the March 15 constitutional referendum, with voting organized in 62 countries worldwide. The ministry will arrange voting at embassies and consulates general, including those in Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy,…

ASTANA — The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic raised its policy rate by 100 basis points to 12% on Feb. 23. The decision took effect on Feb. 24. The bank cited an uneven external economic environment and elevated inflation in major trading partners, noting that domestic prices remain sensitive due to the country’s reliance…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented state awards to Olympic gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov and his coaching team on Feb. 25, praising the figure skater’s historic triumph at the 25th Winter Olympic Games as a milestone for Kazakhstan’s national sports history. The ceremony celebrated Shaidorov’s gold medal performance in figure skating at the 2026 Winter…

ASTANA – President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on Feb. 26-27 at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the visit, the two Presidents will hold full-format high-level talks, reported Akorda. The Presidents are expected to discuss the current state and future prospects of Kazakh-Serbian relations, with a focus…

ASTANA — The British newspaper The Telegraph has included the Bozzhyra Tract in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region in its list of The 10 Deserts You Must Visit in Your Lifetime on Feb. 18, highlighting the site’s dramatic landscapes and growing tourism potential. Describing the Bozzhyra Tract on the Ustyurt Plateau, the publication highlights its dramatic landscapes…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov met with members of the third national peacekeeping contingent during a working visit to Almaty as they prepare for deployment to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force mission in the Golan Heights. The visit also included a presentation of a new defense innovation hub designed to…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan finished the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy with one gold medal, marking the country’s second-best performance in its history at the Winter Games. The historic victory came in figure skating, while several other athletes achieved top-10 finishes. The only medal for Kazakhstan was won by Mikhail Shaidorov, who claimed gold in…

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting of the council aimed at improving the investment climate to advance agreements reached under the C5+1 format, emphasizing constitutional reform, economic modernization and deeper cooperation with U.S. investors. The meeting brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, including newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie…

ASTANA – Beekeeping in Kazakhstan saw a 2.5-fold increase in honey exports in 2025, reflecting strong international demand and opening new opportunities for agricultural trade. Exports totaled 1,477 tons, up from 603 tons in 2024. Uzbekistan remained the main destination, with 1,264 tons, while Kazakh honey also reached Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United…

ASTANA – The National Payment Corporation of Kazakhstan has outlined ongoing projects to integrate the digital tenge into multiple sectors of the economy. The digital tenge is a third form of the national currency, alongside cash and bank deposits. Issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan, it combines the advantages of both cash and non-cash…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Ministry of National Economy and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have extended their partnership on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) support through 2030 and unveiled a new initiative to strengthen the investment potential of medium-sized businesses.  The announcement was made during the 13th annual meeting of the Coordinating Committee…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen its position as a regional digital transit hub with the launch of the South Route telecommunications corridor, a new infrastructure link connecting Central Asia directly to the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East. The project was launched by the international division of e& Carrier & Wholesale in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the World Bank Group have discussed a new partnership framework for 2026-2031 that could provide up to $1 billion in annual financing to support infrastructure, private-sector growth, and economic reforms. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with World Bank representatives on Feb. 12 to review…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan convened a high-level meeting on Feb. 12 to push forward a regional climate education initiative, as preparations continue for the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES), scheduled for April 22–24 in Astana. Discussions focused on establishing the Regional Green School Platform under the auspices of the Kazakh government and UNICEF, with regional coordination…

ASTANA – Today marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by the UN General Assembly to highlight the importance of equal opportunities in science and to inspire a new generation of girls to pursue careers in research. To mark the occasion, the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education released updated…

ASTANA – Members of the Constitutional Commission discussed proposals to expand protections for property and housing rights during a Feb. 10 meeting. One of the key proposals would explicitly recognize all forms of ownership in the draft new Constitution. Currently, concerns have been raised that the existing wording does not cover all possible forms of…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s updated Constitution establishes a strong legal framework for education, science, and creative freedom, which officials say is essential for unlocking the country’s intellectual potential and encouraging the return of talent, as Kazakhstan remains among the top nations worldwide for students studying abroad. Aigul Sadvakassova, director of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s insurance sector expanded in 2025, with assets rising to 3.9 trillion tenge (US$7.9 billion) and insurance premiums growing 12.5% year-on-year to 1.7 trillion tenge (US$3.4 billion), driven mainly by voluntary personal and property insurance and higher investment income. As of Jan. 1, the market comprised 25 insurance companies, including 10 life insurers.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan outlined its plans to develop a global hub for computing and data processing at the World Government Summit 2026, with a government delegation highlighting its intention to convert the country’s energy potential into large-scale digital and AI infrastructure. Kazakh delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital…

ASTANA – The United States has reaffirmed its support for Kazakhstan’s continued regional integration and development, including through platforms such as C5+1, following talks between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4. During the meeting, Landau and Kosherbayev discussed political and economic cooperation,…

ASTANA – The second international B5+1 (Central Asia + the United States) business forum opened in Bishkek on Feb. 4, bringing together government officials and business leaders to strengthen practical cooperation in trade, investment, and technology across priority sectors. Discussions focus on economic cooperation in finance and banking, critical minerals, agriculture, transport and logistics, tourism,…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s construction industry continues to strengthen its role as a key driver of economic diversification, attracting 3.8 trillion tenge (US$7.6 billion) in housing investment, most of it private, while accelerating urban renewal, improving living standards, and modernizing utilities infrastructure. Consistent government policy, institutional reforms, and digitalization have elevated the sector to a new…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Pakistan signed 32 commercial agreements at a Feb. 4 business forum in Islamabad during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit. The agreements aim to expand bilateral cooperation across priority sectors, including finance, logistics, industry, energy, the agro-industrial complex, digital services, and infrastructure. The largest industrial agreement concluded during the forum was a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union are celebrating 33 years of diplomatic relations, marked on Feb. 2, a partnership that has evolved into a strategic, forward-looking collaboration across trade, investment, energy, connectivity, education, and sustainable development.  EU Reporter published an article by Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the European Union, highlighting the milestone. “When…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will introduce an AI-powered digital assistant for tourists as part of efforts to scale up a national electronic tourism service based on the Kazakhstan.Travel platform.   According to Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Baurzhan Rapikov, work to populate the platform’s database will begin in February, to create a unified digital tourism ecosystem,…