Kazakhstan Eyes Cross-Border QR Payments as India’s UPI Offers Blueprint

By Aiman Nakispekova in Editor’s Picks,International on 19 September 2026

MUMBAI – Kazakhstan is moving toward expanding its domestic QR-payment infrastructure across borders, with India among 11 countries identified for potential cross-border QR-payment cooperation. The initiative comes as cashless payments continue to account for the overwhelming majority of transactions in Kazakhstan. According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, 84 million payment …

Kulans Released Into Wild in Ile-Balkhash Reserve

By Alina Zhalmaganbetova in Editor’s Picks,Nation on 19 September 2026

Making of World No. 1: Elena Rybakina’s Journey

By Alina Zhalmaganbetova in Editor’s Picks,Sports on 20 September 2026

Where to Go and What to See in Astana and Almaty This Weekend

By Fatima Kemelova in Editor’s Picks,Tourism on 18 September 2026

News Digest: Rybakina’s US Open Triumph, Kazakhstan-South Korea Ties and Oil Export Strategy

By Dana Omirgazy  in Editor’s Picks,International on 18 September 2026

Asian Games Open in Nagoya as Kazakhstan Targets Bigger Medal Haul

By Assel Satubaldina in International,Sports on 19 September 2026

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Editor's Picks

Making of World No. 1: Elena Rybakina’s Journey

BY Alina Zhalmaganbetova

ASTANA – On Sept. 12, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final to...

Kulans Released Into Wild in Ile-Balkhash Reserve

BY Alina Zhalmaganbetova

ASTANA – A group of kulans has been released into the wild in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve as part...

Kazakhstan Eyes Cross-Border QR Payments as India’s UPI Offers Blueprint

BY Aiman Nakispekova

MUMBAI – Kazakhstan is moving toward expanding its domestic QR-payment infrastructure across borders, with India among 11 countries identified for...

News Digest: Rybakina’s US Open Triumph, Kazakhstan-South Korea Ties and Oil Export Strategy

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights...

Where to Go and What to See in Astana and Almaty This Weekend

BY Fatima Kemelova

ASTANA –  With autumn in full swing, the weekend brings a diverse lineup of cultural and entertainment events, from live...

Kazakhstan Initiates Trade Push With Canada as Global Supply Chains Shift

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s proposal to expand exports to Canada across 45 product categories worth approximately $255 million comes as global...

‘Our Relationship With Kazakhstan Has Never Been Stronger,’ US Consul General Says

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – The relationship between Kazakhstan and the United States has reached a period of “unprecedented momentum,” U.S. Consul General...

Beyond Seoul Summit: Can Kazakhstan Turn Korean Investment Into Industrial Capacity?

BY Alisher Amangeldinov 

The first Korea–Central Asia Summit in Seoul has ended. The agreements have been signed, the Seoul Declaration adopted, and a...

Expert: Investment Headquarters Highlights Gaps in Kazakhstan’s Investment Infrastructure

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – The Investment Headquarters is an important mechanism for resolving investors’ problems, but its continued role also shows where...

Kazakhstan Wants More Oil Refining: Its Next Challenge Is Securing Feedstock 

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to more than double its annual oil refining capacity to 39 million tons by 2040, seeking...

Knowledge Partnership Korea and Central Asia Must Build Before Astana 2028

BY Sobir Kurbanov, Eldaniz Gusseinov

The first Korea-Central Asia summit gave the relationship a permanent structure and tied Central Asian minerals to Korean technology. Kazakhstan...

EDB Analysts: Central Asia’s Transport Boom Puts China at Center of New Eurasian Network

BY

ASTANA – Central Asia is entering a new phase of transport infrastructure development as growing trade, shifting global supply chains...

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Editor's Picks

Making of World No. 1: Elena Rybakina’s Journey

BY Alina Zhalmaganbetova

ASTANA – On Sept. 12, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final to...

Kulans Released Into Wild in Ile-Balkhash Reserve

BY Alina Zhalmaganbetova

ASTANA – A group of kulans has been released into the wild in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve as part...

Kazakhstan Eyes Cross-Border QR Payments as India’s UPI Offers Blueprint

BY Aiman Nakispekova

MUMBAI – Kazakhstan is moving toward expanding its domestic QR-payment infrastructure across borders, with India among 11 countries identified for...

News Digest: Rybakina’s US Open Triumph, Kazakhstan-South Korea Ties and Oil Export Strategy

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights...

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Opinions

Beyond Seoul Summit: Can Kazakhstan Turn Korean Investment Into Industrial Capacity?

BY Alisher Amangeldinov 

The first Korea–Central Asia Summit in Seoul has ended. The agreements have been signed, the Seoul Declaration adopted, and a...

Knowledge Partnership Korea and Central Asia Must Build Before Astana 2028

BY Sobir Kurbanov, Eldaniz Gusseinov

The first Korea-Central Asia summit gave the relationship a permanent structure and tied Central Asian minerals to Korean technology. Kazakhstan...

One Plant Tripped in Kyrgyzstan, Four Countries Go Dark

BY Sobir Kurbanov and Amel Metjahic

What the August 14 Blackout Revealed About Central Asia’s Shared Power System The Almaty metro stopped, and the traffic lights...

From National SDGs to Regional Delivery: Central Asia’s Next Step

BY Jakhongir Isaev.

Central Asia has entered a new phase of regional cooperation. The question is no longer simply whether the five countries...

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

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

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

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Opinions

Beyond Seoul Summit: Can Kazakhstan Turn Korean Investment Into Industrial Capacity?

BY Alisher Amangeldinov 

The first Korea–Central Asia Summit in Seoul has ended. The agreements have been signed, the Seoul Declaration adopted, and a...

Knowledge Partnership Korea and Central Asia Must Build Before Astana 2028

BY Sobir Kurbanov, Eldaniz Gusseinov

The first Korea-Central Asia summit gave the relationship a permanent structure and tied Central Asian minerals to Korean technology. Kazakhstan...

One Plant Tripped in Kyrgyzstan, Four Countries Go Dark

BY Sobir Kurbanov and Amel Metjahic

What the August 14 Blackout Revealed About Central Asia’s Shared Power System The Almaty metro stopped, and the traffic lights...

From National SDGs to Regional Delivery: Central Asia’s Next Step

BY Jakhongir Isaev.

Central Asia has entered a new phase of regional cooperation. The question is no longer simply whether the five countries...

More stories

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