Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is strengthening its maritime emergency response and environmental safety infrastructure in the Caspian Sea as falling water levels increase pressure on regional navigation and rescue operations. During a working visit to the Atyrau Region, Emergency Situations Minister Chingis Arinov inspected the North Caspian Environmental Response Base, where he reviewed specialized vessels and…

ASTANA – Scholars from across the Turkic world gathered in Almaty on May 21-22 for a major international conference marking the 100th anniversary of the historic 1926 Baku Turkological Congress, a landmark event that helped shape modern Turkology and discussions on a common Turkic alphabet, history, and cultural identity. Organized by the International Turkic Academy…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Japan are expanding cooperation in digitalization, green technologies, and urban development following Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike’s visit to Astana ahead of the 10th anniversary of the countries’ expanded strategic partnership. During talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on May 22, the officials discussed collaboration in smart city development, digital technologies, finance, education,…

ASTANA — Deputies of the Mazhilis, a lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, reviewed government and audit reports on the implementation of Kazakhstan’s 2025 national budget, raising concerns over missed revenue targets, repeated budget revisions, and the growing cost of servicing public debt. Presenting the report, Deputy Finance Minister Dauren Temirbekov said national budget revenues…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Smithsonian Institution will strengthen cooperation in museum studies, cultural heritage preservation, and professional training following talks on May 20 between Kazakh and U.S. officials. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva met with U.S. Ambassador Julie Stufft and Director of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art…

ASTANA – Kazakh singer and UN Migration Goodwill Ambassador Dimash Kudaibergen visited camps for displaced people in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, on May 18 as part of a humanitarian mission organized with the UN Migration. During the visit, Kudaibergen met members of the Rohingya community, learned about humanitarian support programs, and took part in a cultural…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the Golden Horde as one of the largest political powers in Eurasian history and urged scholars to study its legacy objectively and without political bias. Addressing an international symposium on the Golden Horde in Astana on May 19, Tokayev said the empire connected East and West and influenced the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s vast coal reserves, estimated at 33.6 billion tons, are expected to support production for more than three centuries, as the country boosts output, expands exports and intensifies investment in the industry. Coal production rose by 7% in 2025 to 115 million tons, driven by stable domestic demand and growing export opportunities. Of…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the interior and public security ministers from China and Central Asian countries on May 18 to discuss strengthening regional cooperation to combat transnational crime, cyber threats, and other security challenges. The meeting brought together senior officials from China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as part of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover increased to $32.9 billion in January-March, supported by rising exports, stronger non-resource shipments, and higher imports of industrial and investment goods. Total trade rose 10.5% year-on-year. Exports grew 9.4% to $18 billion, while imports increased 11.8% to $14.9 billion, driven by demand for machinery, equipment, and technologies used in…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has delivered humanitarian assistance to Iran through the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) on May 16. The humanitarian initiative was implemented in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, the Emergency Situations Ministry and the Healthcare Ministry of Kazakhstan. The handover ceremony took place at the Serakhs railway station and included the transfer…

ASTANA — Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree on May 12 aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into Kazakhstan’s secondary education system, as part of broader efforts to modernize education and strengthen the country’s human capital amid the rapid global development of AI. Under the decree, the government is expected to approve by July…

ASTANA – A Russian scientific expedition in April confirmed a continued decline in the Caspian Sea level during the Novaya Delta 2026 mission, according to the researchers from the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The expedition, carried out with participation from the Astrakhan Nature Biosphere Reserve and Russia’s hydrographic…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Indonesia agreed to deepen economic cooperation in trade, logistics, agriculture and energy during high-level talks, as both countries seek to strengthen connectivity between Central and Southeast Asia and unlock new export opportunities. Trade and investment expansion Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is ready to contribute, as a gesture of goodwill, to resolving the Iranian nuclear issue if appropriate international agreements are reached and implemented in practice, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a May 11 meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. Tokayev also stressed the importance of coordinating efforts between Kazakhstan and Brazil…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Brazil pledged to deepen cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, logistics, and technology during Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira’s official visit to Kazakhstan on May 11 for talks with Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev. During expanded talks and the Kazakhstan-Brazil business roundtable, the officials discussed strengthening political dialogue, expanding investment and business…

ASTANA – Three eco-parks are set to be developed in the Akmola Region this year to expand ecotourism infrastructure and strengthen the region’s recreational potential near the capital. Projects are underway in the Zerenda, Akkol, and Tselinograd districts, with one eco-park in the Zerenda area already open to visitors. Located around 50 kilometers from Kokshetau…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global and regional media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights Kazakhstan’s push for military and migration reforms, major digital infrastructure investments, regional development initiatives, and a human-interest story of a Kazakhstan couple cycling across Asia. Tokayev sets two-year deadline for military reform in…

ASTANA – Construction of the new Tashkent International Airport is set to begin in June as Uzbekistan advances a large-scale transport infrastructure project to expand aviation capacity and meet growing passenger demand. According to Uzbek Deputy Transport Minister Jasurbek Choriev, the public-private partnership (PPP) agreement is in its final stage. It is expected to be…

ASTANA — Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, focusing on strengthening political and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Austria. Tokayev highlighted Austria as a key European partner, noting over $3 billion in Austrian investment and steady growth in bilateral trade, with…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has recorded significant growth in grain transportation volumes in January-March, supported by coordinated efforts between government agencies, carriers, and business representatives. A meeting of the Grain Transportation Task Force, chaired by the Ministry of Transport together with relevant stakeholders, reviewed the current logistics situation and agreed on operational measures to ensure stable…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is taking steps to make its investment climate clearer, more stable, and easier to navigate, with a stronger focus on coordination, transparency, and practical results. At a May 5 meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, further steps were outlined to improve conditions for international investors, reported the Prime Minister’s press service.…

ASTANA – Almaty has launched Kazakhstan’s first crematorium, marking a significant development in the country’s urban and public health infrastructure. The facility, now part of the City Pathological Anatomical Bureau under the Public Health Department, offers cremation as a voluntary and environmentally regulated alternative to traditional burial practices, the city’s akimat (administration) reported on April…

ASTANA – A charity gala dinner and auction titled La La Land: A Night of Hope, held on April 30, raised more than 17 million tenge (US$36,695) to support children with special needs.  Organized by the Rotary Club of Astana at The Ritz-Carlton, the event brought together business leaders, diplomats, and public figures to support…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected key articles from international media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights the country’s role in nuclear non-proliferation discussions, expanding regional partnerships, growing role in developing the Middle Corridor trade route, and more. Kazakhstan’s nuclear diplomacy offers lessons for the Iran crisis The Times of Central…