AFD 2026: Kazakhstan Seeks Role in Finance’s Next Digital Frontier

By Aida Haidar  in Business,Editor’s Picks on 10 September 2026

ASTANA – We want to take it out of the unregulated area and make it work, because it works whether we want it or not,” National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov said during the plenary session Rewiring the Architecture of Finance at Astana Finance Days 2026 on Sept. 9, capturing the …

CPC Oil Flows Surge Despite Disruptions as Kazakhstan’s Export Routes Gain Importance, Expert Says 

By Ayana Birbayeva  in Business,Editor’s Picks on 10 September 2026

Rybakina Makes History as Kazakhstan’s First World No. 1

By Dana Omirgazy in Editor’s Picks,Sports on 10 September 2026

Kazakhstan’s First Government Meeting Puts Skilled Workers in Focus

By Dana Omirgazy  in Editor’s Picks,Nation on 9 September 2026

BlackRock at AFD 2026: AI Investors Should Stay Calm and Focus on Constraints

By Aida Haidar in Editor’s Picks,International on 10 September 2026

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Move to Revive Caspian Passenger Ferry Service 

By Ayana Birbayeva  in International on 10 September 2026

Most Popular Stories
Day | Week | Month

Videos

Tokayev in Brussels, China Ties & Eurasia’s Future | Kazakhstan News Digest

After Strait of Hormuz — Who Controls Next Supply Chains?

Exploring Tashkent: History, Food, Markets and Modern Life

Why World Depends on Kazakhstan for Uranium | Explainer

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

More videos

Videos

Tokayev in Brussels, China Ties & Eurasia’s Future | Kazakhstan News Digest

After Strait of Hormuz — Who Controls Next Supply Chains?

Exploring Tashkent: History, Food, Markets and Modern Life

Why World Depends on Kazakhstan for Uranium | Explainer

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

More videos

Editor's Picks

AFD 2026: Kazakhstan Seeks Role in Finance’s Next Digital Frontier

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA – We want to take it out of the unregulated area and make it work, because it works whether...

Rybakina Makes History as Kazakhstan’s First World No. 1

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Elena Rybakina has made history for Kazakhstan, becoming the first athlete from the country to rise to the...

BlackRock at AFD 2026: AI Investors Should Stay Calm and Focus on Constraints

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA – As artificial intelligence drives a new investment boom, the best strategy may be to resist the excitement and...

CPC Oil Flows Surge Despite Disruptions as Kazakhstan’s Export Routes Gain Importance, Expert Says 

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan increased oil transportation through KazTransOil’s main pipeline network by 4% in the first eight months of 2026,...

Kazakhstan’s First Government Meeting Puts Skilled Workers in Focus

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first government meeting in its updated composition after the Kurultai elections focused on a topic that could...

Digital Customs Could Boost Kazakhstan’s Transit Potential, But Infrastructure Remains Key, Experts Say 

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan is stepping up its partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO) as part of a broader strategy...

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

BY Dauren Aben

Twenty years ago on Sept. 8, 2006, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Semipalatinsk, now Semey,...

Almaty and Astana Maintain Economic Lead as Central Asia’s Cities Race to Catch Up

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Almaty and Astana are likely to retain their position as Central Asia’s leading economic centers, even as Tashkent...

Experts: Kazakhstan’s AI Balancing Could Challenge Old Logic of Geopolitical Rivalry

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA – For decades, Kazakhstan has built its foreign policy around a principle central to its place in the world:...

Kazakhstan Takes Lead as Central Asia Expands Space Cooperation

BY Aida Temerkhan

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a Central Asian space hub as the nation expands its satellite and spacecraft...

Caspian Sea’s Decline Raises Water Security Concerns As Kazakhstan Strengthens Management

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – The rapid decline of the Caspian Sea is emerging as one of Kazakhstan’s most complex water and environmental...

Joint Statement by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of States Parties on Occasion of 20th Anniversary of Signing of CANWFZ Treaty 

BY

We, the Foreign Ministers of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (hereinafter referred...

More stories

Editor's Picks

AFD 2026: Kazakhstan Seeks Role in Finance’s Next Digital Frontier

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA – We want to take it out of the unregulated area and make it work, because it works whether...

Rybakina Makes History as Kazakhstan’s First World No. 1

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Elena Rybakina has made history for Kazakhstan, becoming the first athlete from the country to rise to the...

BlackRock at AFD 2026: AI Investors Should Stay Calm and Focus on Constraints

BY Aida Haidar

ASTANA – As artificial intelligence drives a new investment boom, the best strategy may be to resist the excitement and...

CPC Oil Flows Surge Despite Disruptions as Kazakhstan’s Export Routes Gain Importance, Expert Says 

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan increased oil transportation through KazTransOil’s main pipeline network by 4% in the first eight months of 2026,...

More stories

Opinions

Can Kazakhstan Take its Capital Markets to Next Level?

BY Sallianne Taylor

The sense of progress and economic momentum in Kazakhstan is tangible and impossible to ignore. Speaking to Kazakhstan's financial leaders,...

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

BY Dauren Aben

Twenty years ago on Sept. 8, 2006, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Semipalatinsk, now Semey,...

Next Opportunity in Central Asian Wealth Management: Singapore-AIFC Corridor

BY Rainer Michael Preiss

For much of the past three decades, the international wealth-management conversation has centred on a relatively small number of financial...

Kazakhstan Is Upgrading Its Oil Export Strategy—Here’s How

BY Joseph Shumunov

Astana is looking for more ways to move its oil. Russia, its principal export outlet, is rife with disruptions. Damage...

Kazakh Elections: Another Stage in Long-Term Political Modernization

BY László Vasa

It would be a mistake to assess the significance of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, held on Aug. 23, solely through the...

How SCO Can Drive Transition to Renewable Energy in Central Asia

BY Kamila Beishembaeva, Roman Vakulchuk

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) may soon become a central regional platform promoting clean energy in Central Asia. It is...

Teachers at Heart of President’s Vision: NU Researchers on Kazakhstan’s Education Future

BY Saqib Raza

Kazakhstan has backed its education ambitions with substantial investment in new schools, higher teacher salaries and measures to strengthen the...

Kyrgyzstan in Hot Seat: Japarov Hosts 25-Year SCO Milestone

BY Javier M. Piedra

On Sept. 1, leaders from ten nations will gather in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic, for the summit of the Shanghai...

Shanghai Spirit at 25: New Model for Multilateral Cooperation

BY Zhao Yunfei

Andijan’s train station sits on the eastern edge of Uzbekistan’s rail network and is gearing up for a larger role...

35 Years After Semipalatinsk: From Nuclear Tragedy to Global Responsibility

BY Dauren Aben

On Aug. 29, 1991, Kazakhstan made a decision that would shape not only its own history, but also its place...

Kazakhstan’s First Kurultai: New Chapter for Parliamentary Institutions

BY Arifeen Yama

The election of August 23 should be understood as more than just the beginning of a new parliamentary term. It...

AqylSu: Turning Kazakhstan’s Shanghai AI Vision Into Working Water Platform

BY Jansultan Syrymbet, Jamila Syrymbet 

Kazakhstan boasts to have an AI diplomacy and a digital-government track record. What it is missing is a platform that...

More stories

Opinions

Can Kazakhstan Take its Capital Markets to Next Level?

BY Sallianne Taylor

The sense of progress and economic momentum in Kazakhstan is tangible and impossible to ignore. Speaking to Kazakhstan's financial leaders,...

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

BY Dauren Aben

Twenty years ago on Sept. 8, 2006, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Semipalatinsk, now Semey,...

Next Opportunity in Central Asian Wealth Management: Singapore-AIFC Corridor

BY Rainer Michael Preiss

For much of the past three decades, the international wealth-management conversation has centred on a relatively small number of financial...

Kazakhstan Is Upgrading Its Oil Export Strategy—Here’s How

BY Joseph Shumunov

Astana is looking for more ways to move its oil. Russia, its principal export outlet, is rife with disruptions. Damage...

More stories

Infographics