Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Kenya have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across political, economic, and humanitarian areas during  talks between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President William Ruto on May 20. The discussions took place in both narrow and expanded formats following an official welcome ceremony at the Palace of Independence. The Presidents reviewed prospects for…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has adopted a package of constitutional laws aimed at strengthening its updated legal framework and advancing ongoing constitutional reform following a joint session of the Mazhilis and Senate of Parliament on May 20. The package includes the Law on the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, defining the constitutional status and powers…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has deployed its third national peacekeeping contingent to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mission on the Golan Heights, underscoring the country’s expanding contribution to international peacekeeping efforts. A farewell ceremony for the contingent was held at Military Unit 61993 of the Airborne Assault Troops. The event was attended by senior…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev officially launched Astana’s long-awaited Light Rail Transit (LRT) system on May 16, becoming its first passenger and marking a major milestone in the modernization of Kazakhstan’s capital and its public transportation network. Tokayev visited the Unified Dispatch Center, which oversees and regulates public transportation in Astana, including the newly launched…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched Central Asia’s first artificial rainfall enhancement project, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience and protect agricultural production from worsening drought conditions. The initiative was officially introduced in Turkistan on May 16 and began full-scale operations the following day. Implemented in partnership with the UAE…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has made a selection of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers the growing importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, expanding strategic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and more. Middle Corridor has real potential to…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed the strong strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Türkiye during the May 14 high-level talks, where the two leaders pledged to expand cooperation in trade, investment, transport, energy, agriculture, education, and defense. The Presidents held narrow-format talks followed by the sixth meeting of the High-Level…

ASTANA – The first batch of German breeding cattle has arrived in Kazakhstan’s Akmola Region as part of a major dairy industry expansion project that includes the construction of a 1,440-head dairy farm and a new milk processing plant.  The project is being implemented by Burabay Milk LLP in the Burabay District and the town…

ASTANA — A tanker carrying crude oil from Azerbaijan has arrived in Japan for the first time since tensions around Iran escalated, as Tokyo seeks to diversify energy supplies and reduce risks linked to shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The cargo was purchased by ENEOS Holdings, one of Japan’s largest fuel suppliers and…

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has approved a regulatory framework for the issuance, circulation, and redemption of the digital tenge, defining how Kazakhstan’s central bank digital currency will operate. The rules will take effect on July 19. The National Bank will act as the operator of the digital tenge platform, issuing the currency…

ASTANA – The light rail transit (LRT) system is set to begin operations on May 16-17 in the Kazakh capital, according to the City Transportation Systems (CTS). The service will run daily and is expected to carry up to 45,000 passengers during its initial phase. CTS Chairman Assylbek Duisebayev said the LRT will operate from…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan ranked 58th out of 145 countries in the 2026 Global Firepower annual defense review, recording the highest per capita defense spending in Central Asia. According to the ranking, Kazakhstan received a power index score of 1.0433, with lower scores indicating stronger military capability. The country’s defense budget was estimated at $5.836 billion.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new political party, Adilet (Justice in Kazakh), held its founding congress in Astana on May 7, approving the party charter, political program, and leadership bodies as part of its official launch. The party’s platform is based on the principles of justice, responsibility, rule of law, meritocracy, and openness. Among its stated priorities…

ASTANA – As Kazakhstan prepares to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Victory Day, the country is continuing its tradition of supporting World War II veterans and others affected by the war through state assistance, public remembrance, and commemorative events. Victory Day, celebrated annually on May 9 across much of the former Soviet region, remains one…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched its largest domestically built ship, marking a new milestone in the development of national shipbuilding capabilities and the strengthening of naval logistics for the Caspian Sea fleet. A major naval supply vessel constructed at the Zenit Shipyard in Uralsk was officially launched and sent toward the Caspian Sea to mark…

ASTANA — A pilot low-emission zone (LEZ) was launched in Almaty on April 28 to test digital infrastructure and assess how traffic affects air quality, without introducing restrictions for drivers, the city’s akimat (administration) reported.  The test area covers a central block bordered by Bogenbay Batyr Street, Abai Avenue, Zheltoksan Street, and Dostyk Avenue, with…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan must rapidly shift to a fully integrated, data-driven economy powered by artificial intelligence, as failure to do so could leave the country behind in the global technological race, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the second meeting of the Council for the Development of Artificial Intelligence on May 4 in Almaty.  Addressing government…

ASTANA — According to the Bureau of National Statistics, Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 6.5% in real terms in 2025. The result was shaped by changes in consumption, investment, and external trade indicators. GDP for January-December 2025 was estimated at 159.5 trillion tenge (US$344.3 billion) using the production method and 155.2 trillion tenge…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is moving to modernize its migration policy with a focus on openness, efficiency, and attracting talent.  Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva described the reform as a coordinated, system-wide effort to replace a complex, restrictive model with a more flexible and accessible one. The key goal is to create a transparent…

ASTANA — Seven OPEC+ countries will implement a combined 188,000 barrels per day production adjustment in June to support market stability, with Kazakhstan’s output set at 1.599 million barrels per day, up by 10,000 barrels per day. Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, and Saudi Arabia met virtually on May 3 to review global market…

ASTANA — The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference opened amid rising global tensions on April 27 at United Nations Headquarters, with Kazakhstan emphasizing practical steps to strengthen nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The Review Conference of the States Parties to the NPT began in a complex international environment marked by regional…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched construction of the first phase of the Astana Energy Ecopark, a large-scale investment project for municipal solid waste processing and electricity generation, with a total investment of $180 million. During the first phase, the facility will process at least 1,500 tons of waste per day and generate 50 megawatts (MW)…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged fair, practical, and implementation-focused climate cooperation, stressing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility and a strategic priority for global stability, as Central Asian and regional leaders gathered in Astana for the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026. Opening the plenary session on Earth Day, Tokayev said Central Asia…

ASTANA – The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES) officially kicked off in Kazakhstan’s capital on April 22, bringing together global and regional leaders to address urgent environmental challenges.  Organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations and other international organizations, the summit marks the first large-scale platform dedicated…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade in 2025 remained a key driver of economic growth, but emerging imbalances point to rising structural risks. While overall turnover continued to expand and trade partnerships remained stable, declining export revenues and accelerating import growth narrowed the trade surplus, increasing pressure on the external sector. Key indicators According to the…