Air Taxi Routes Between Alatau, Almaty and Konayev Could Launch in 2027
ALMATY – Kazakhstan could launch passenger and cargo air taxi services between Alatau, Almaty and Konayev as early as 2027, as the country moves forward with testing a new generation of electric vertical takeoff aircraft, reported the Kazinform news agency. The announcement follows Kazakhstan’s first-ever demonstration flight of an air taxi on May 19 at…
Kazakhstan Targets $4.5 Billion in Local Content Ahead of Nuclear Plant Construction
ALMATY – Kazakhstan aims to increase domestic participation in its future nuclear power industry to 30% before construction begins on the country’s planned nuclear power plants, a move expected to generate up to $4.5 billion in local production and contracts. The target is outlined in a new government-approved comprehensive plan for the Development of Localization…
Kazakhstan Pushes UNESCO Recognition for Golden Horde Legacy and Ancient Silk Road Sites
ALMATY – As part of the international symposium on Golden Horde, held in Astana on May 19–20 under the auspices of UNESCO, Kazakhstan advanced new UNESCO bids for ancient Silk Road cities and sacred underground mosques. At a meeting with acting UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture and Director of the World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou…
Kazakhstan Expands Safety, Transport and Resort Infrastructure Ahead of Summer Tourism Season
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is preparing for a busy summer tourism season with upgraded airports, new transport links, expanded beach infrastructure and increased safety measures across the country’s main resort areas, officials said during a government briefing on May 20. The preparations come as Kazakhstan continues to invest in domestic tourism infrastructure and seeks to attract…
Almaty Exhibition Explores Climate Change Through Stories of Kazakhstan’s Rivers
ALMATY – Rivers in Kazakhstan became both witnesses and storytellers in “When the River Speaks,” a multimedia exhibition that ran from May 9 to 18 in Almaty, bringing together artists, architects, journalists and researchers to reflect on the devastating floods in the country in 2024 and the growing impact of climate change. The spring 2024…
Kazakhstan Plans Aerotaxis, Biometric Boarding and AI Cargo Systems in Aviation Push
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is preparing to introduce aerotaxis, biometric passenger identification and artificial intelligence-powered cargo systems as part of a digital transformation of the country’s aviation sector, officials said during a government meeting on May 19. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Transport to adopt legislation regulating urban air mobility, including aerotaxis and…
UN Goodwill Ambassador Dimash Qudaibergen Visits Bangladesh on Humanitarian Mission
ALMATY – Kazakh singer and Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) Dimash Qudaibergen arrived in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, on May 17 as part of a humanitarian mission focused on displaced communities and regional humanitarian challenges, reported the DimashNews agency. Cox’s Bazar is a home to one of the world’s…
Almaty Museums Stay Open Late to Celebrate International Museum Day
ALMATY — Nearly 17,000 people attended the museum events in Almaty as part of the annual Night at the Museum cultural campaign marking the International Museum Day, making it one of the city’s largest public cultural initiatives dedicated to promoting historical awareness and cultural heritage. It included exhibitions, performances, concerts, workshops and interactive programs designed…
Kazakhstan Targets Direct Flights to New York and Tokyo as Aviation Sector Expands
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to launch direct flights from Astana to Tokyo by the end of 2026 and to New York in 2027 as part of a broader push to transform the country into a major regional aviation and transit hub, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during a government meeting on May 19 focused on…
More Than 84% of Kazakh Citizens Say Country Is Moving in Positive Direction, Survey Finds
ALMATY – A large majority of Kazakh citizens positively assess the country’s current direction of development, according to a new nationwide survey commissioned by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS). The survey, conducted between April 10 and May 10, found that 84.4% of respondents believe Kazakhstan is moving in the right direction. The results…
Kazakhstan Showcases AI-Driven Urban Development at UN World Urban Forum in Baku
ALMATY – Kazakhstan presented its vision for sustainable, technology-driven urban development at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku held on May 17-22, where Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted artificial intelligence, climate resilience and water security as central pillars of the country’s urban transformation strategy. The forum, held under the auspices…
Kazakhstan Among Global Leaders in Investment Activity, Advances High-Growth Strategy
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has entered the group of countries with high levels of investment activity, according to World Bank indicators presented by government officials this week, as authorities seek to launch a new investment cycle focused on infrastructure, technology and productivity growth. Speaking during a May 18 government session in the Senate, the Parliament’s upper…
Kazakhstan Sees Later Marriages and More Equal Partnerships, Study Finds
ALMATY – Family remains one of the strongest and most stable values in Kazakh society despite gradual demographic and social changes, according to a new study covering 2020–2024 by the Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development (KIPD). The research shows that while Kazakh citizens are increasingly marrying later, sharing family responsibilities more equally and embracing planned…
Almaty Mountain Cluster Project Aims to Redefine Tourism in Central Asia
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is moving forward with plans to transform Almaty into Central Asia’s leading year-round mountain tourism hub through the development of the Almaty mountain cluster and the large-scale Almaty Superski project. The initiatives were discussed during a May 12 meeting hosted by the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs at the Almatygenplan Research Institute,…
Tokayev Urges Greater Turkic Cooperation as Global Uncertainty Grows
ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev rejected claims that the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is evolving into a geopolitical or military alliance, emphasizing instead that the organization is focused on economic, technological and cultural cooperation among Turkic nations. “The OTS is not a geopolitical project and not a military organization,” Tokayev said during the informal…
Tokayev Proposes Turkic AI Network and Digital Integration at Turkic States Summit
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed creating a network of artificial intelligence centers, a joint Turkic IT hub and a unified digital platform for Turkic history and culture during the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Turkistan, as member states discussed expanding cooperation in technology, digitalization and investment amid rising global instability. …
Kazakhstan to Become First Central Asian Country to Launch Artificial Rain Project
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will become the first country in Central Asia to begin the practical use of artificial rain technologies as part of a new water security initiative being implemented jointly with the National Center of Meteorology of the United Arab Emirates. The full-scale launch of the cloud-seeding project is scheduled for May 17 in…
Kazakhstan Takes Over Chairmanship of Islamic Food Security Organization at General Assembly in Astana
ASTANA – Kazakhstan officially assumed the chairmanship of the seventh General Assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) during a session held in Astana on May 14, where member states discussed strengthening cooperation, innovation and long-term food resilience across the Islamic world. The assembly brought together representatives of nearly 40 IOFS member states…
Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Women, Peace and Security Ranking
ALMATY – Kazakhstan ranked highest among Central Asian countries in the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index 2025/26, placing 72nd out of 181 countries globally with a score of 0.722, according to a report released by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). The index evaluates…
Kazakhstan to Ban Storage of Foreign Radioactive Waste
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s lower chamber of parliament, the Mazhilis, approved in the first reading a draft law on radioactive waste management that would establish a national operator responsible for handling radioactive waste and introduce a ban on importing and burying foreign radioactive waste in the country. According to Mazhilis deputy Yedil Zhanbyrshin, one of the…
Turkic Business Forum Focuses on Investment, AI and Regional Connectivity in Astana
ALMATY – Representatives of governments, financial institutions and business communities from member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) gathered on May 13 in Astana to discuss expanding economic integration through industrial cooperation, logistics, agriculture and digitalization during a business forum held ahead of the informal summit in Turkistan. Speaking at the forum titled…
Kazakhstan Turns Into Net Ice Cream Exporter
ALMATY – Kazakhstan became a net exporter of ice cream for the first time in 2025, as domestic production and exports reached record levels, reflecting the rapid growth of the country’s food industry and export capacity, reported the Ministry of Agriculture on May 13. According to data from Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics and industry…
Turkic States to Hold Informal Summit on AI and Digital Development in Turkistan
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will host the Informal Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on May 15 in Turkistan on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The summit will bring together heads of state and government from OTS member and observer states, along with OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek…
Kazakhstan, UNFPA to Launch Central Asian Demographic Hub in Almaty
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) agreed to expand cooperation in healthcare, demographic policy and women’s empowerment during a series of high-level meetings held in Astana on May 12, including the announcement of a new Central Asian demographic resilience hub in Almaty. The announcement was made during talks between Kazakhstan’s Foreign…
Tokayev Congratulates Kazakh Citizens on Defender of Fatherland Day, Calls for Military Reform
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated citizens on Defender of the Fatherland Day on May 7, praising the professionalism and dedication of the country’s military personnel and reaffirming the state’s commitment to strengthening national defense, reported the Akorda. “This holiday holds special state and public significance, symbolizing the courage, resilience and selflessness of our warriors,”…
