Almaty Eyes First Michelin-Recognized Restaurant in 2026
ASTANA – Almaty could welcome its first Michelin-recognized restaurant this year, Deputy Akim Olzhas Smagulov said during an April 2 regional communications briefing. Smagulov noted that the city continues its efforts to attract global brands, with negotiations underway with European, American and Asian partners who are assessing the local market and preparing investment decisions. “In…
Syrmak: Traditional Art of Kazakh Felt Carpets
ASTANA – Syrmak, a traditional Kazakh felt rug handcrafted from natural sheep’s wool, has been the centerpiece of nomadic life on the steppe. The name derives from an ancient Turkic verb meaning “to stitch” or “to sew tightly,” reflecting the rug’s distinctive quilting and stitching technique. Inside the yurt, it was insulated against winter frost…
Central Asian Professionals Join New C5+O.N.E. Cohort to Build Skills and Partnerships
ASTANA – The C5+O.N.E. (Opening Networks Through English) program launched its sixth cohort on April 2, aiming to strengthen English proficiency across Central Asia to support regional integration, professional collaboration and economic ties with the United States. Participants from Central Asian countries represent key sectors, including agriculture, banking and finance, information technology, entrepreneurship and energy.…
Kazakhstan Boosts Exploration Push, Announces Major Onshore Discovery
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the two-day international Geological Forum Geoscience & Exploration Central Asia on April 2-3, bringing together industry experts and officials to discuss developments in exploration and resource management, Kazinform reported. Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov outlined plans to establish a modern geological cluster in Astana, including an analytical laboratory, a…
Central Asia Expands Tech Reach with New Hub in Southeast Asia
ASTANA – Astana Hub, IT Park Uzbekistan and venture fund Big Sky Capital agreed to launch an international technology hub in Malaysia during the Central Eurasian Venture Forum 2026 in Tashkent, reported the Astana Hub’s press service. The center is expected to serve as a strategic platform for B2B tech startups from Central Asia, providing…
Exhibition in Almaty Displays Archaeological Finds from Bronze Age to Medieval Period
ASTANA – An exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the Central Kazakhstan Archaeological Expedition opened at the National Museum in Almaty on March 31, showcasing rare artifacts discovered during excavations in Central Kazakhstan. The exhibition was organized by the museum in cooperation with the Margulan Institute of Archaeology. Research fellow Olga Myakisheva from the museum’s…
Almaty Broadens Flight Network with New Links to Europe and Asia
ASTANA – Almaty is set to expand its international flight network with four new destinations in 2026, Kazinform reported. Regular flights to Warsaw are scheduled to begin in May, followed by seasonal summer service to Cyprus in June. A new direct route to Tokyo is also expected to launch this year, along with a planned…
Kazakhstan Advances Green, Inclusive Housing with ADB’s $173 Million Loan
ASTANA – The Asian Development Bank approved a 90 billion tenge (US$173.6 million) loan to Otbasy Bank to expand access to affordable housing finance for women in Kazakhstan and introduce green mortgage products for low- and middle-income households nationwide, reported the bank’s press service on April 1. The project is expected to provide residential mortgage…
Central Asia Needs Balanced Energy Mix to Avoid Shortages, Experts Say
ASTANA – A middle-path strategy based on the World Energy Council’s energy trilemma, balancing security, affordability and environmental sustainability, is the most effective approach for Central Asia’s energy transition, according to experts from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). The strategy, presented in the EDB report titled Central Asia’s Energy Sector: Modernization and Energy Transition on…
Kazakhstan Hosts Landmark Fencing World Cup
ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosts a stage of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Epee World Cup for the first time on March 26-29, bringing one of the sport’s premier global tournaments to the country and drawing a field of more than 500 athletes from 96 countries. According to Yuliya Kurbanova, PR director of the Kazakh Fencing…
More Than Food: How Kazakh Cuisine Tells Story of Steppe
ASTANA – Kazakh cuisine, shaped by centuries of nomadic life on the Eurasian steppe, reflects a food culture built around mobility, resilience and seasonal rhythms. Rich meat dishes, fermented dairy products and flour-based foods remain defining features of this culinary tradition. In an interview with The Astana Times, Aliya Bolatkhan, a historian and researcher specializing…
Nauryz Ball in Astana Highlights Diplomacy, Tradition and Renewal
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the Nauryz Ball on March 16, a special event that served as a platform for cultural and humanitarian dialogue, highlighting Kazakhstan’s rich historical heritage, national traditions and modern social development. The event brought together members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations and foreign partner institutions accredited in…
China’s Financial Power Strategy Opens New Prospects for Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Ahead of its 15th Five-Year Plan, China has completed a structural shift in its financial system, moving from rapid expansion of banking assets to a strategy aimed at becoming a financial power. Analysts say the transition could reshape China’s economy and create new opportunities for Kazakhstan, strengthening its role as a bridge between…
Foreign Observers Cite High Turnout, Smooth Voting in Kazakhstan Referendum
ASTANA – International observers noted relatively high voter turnout and reported no major violations that could affect the outcome of Kazakhstan’s constitutional referendum on March 15. The Central Election Commission accredited 359 observers from 11 international organizations and 38 foreign countries. Representatives of several observation missions shared their assessments after visiting polling stations nationwide. Shanghai…
Geopolitical Instability Challenges Central Asia’s Path to Indian Ocean
ASTANA – Rising geopolitical tensions, including air attacks and attempts to overthrow the government in Iran, as well as clashes along the Afghan-Pakistani border, are raising new questions about Central Asia’s ability to maintain maritime trade through ports in Iran and Pakistan. Securing reliable access to the sea through these ports has long been a…
Kazakh Women Scientists Highlight Advances in Medicine
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) hosted a meeting with women scientists on March 5 to mark International Women’s Day, highlighting their contributions to research shaping modern medicine and healthcare. During the event, researchers discussed recent scientific developments ranging from personalized treatment for diabetes to the impact of nutrition and gut microbiota on human health. According…
Kazakh Pensioner Begins 2,800-Kilometer Walk Across Europe
ASTANA – For most people, retirement marks a slowing down. For Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, it became the beginning of an extraordinary journey. At 76, the Kazakh traveler has set out on the fourth stage of his long-distance adventures, this time across Europe. His route begins in Serbia and stretches through Hungary, Austria and Germany before reaching…
Kazakhstan, UN Present New Cooperation Framework for 2026-2030
ASTANA – The Steering Committee of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework presented the main parameters of a new cooperation program for 2026-2030 on Feb. 27 at Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The framework outlines four priority areas: human development, including health care, education and social protection; economic diversification and decent work; sustainable environmental…
Between Kazakhstan and Poland: Kazakh Writer Bridges Cultures Through Literature
ASTANA – In Poland, Yuriy Serebriansky is known as a cultural scholar and editor of a magazine focused on the history and life of Kazakhstan’s Polish diaspora. In Kazakhstan and beyond, he is recognized as a writer whose works span poetry, prose, children’s literature and nonfiction, all shaped by a life lived across cultures, countries…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 180th Anniversary of Prominent Poet Zhambyl Zhabayev
ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks the 180th anniversary of renowned Kazakh akyn (poet) and improviser Zhambyl Zhabayev on Feb. 28. Widely regarded as a giant of folk poetry, his song legacy remains a defining chapter in the history of Kazakh verse. Early life and artistic path Zhabayev was born in 1846 in an aul (village in…
Kazakh Guide Becomes Licensed Cultural Ambassador in France
ASTANA – Janara Sayasat has turned her life in the French capital into both a profession and a cultural mission. A Kazakh licensed by France’s Ministry of Culture to work as an official tour guide in Paris, she introduces visitors to the country’s historic landmarks while building a bridge between French and Kazakh cultures. In…
How Nature Shaped Life in Kazakh Steppe in Winter
ASTANA – Life in the Kazakh steppe followed a strict seasonal order shaped by nature, customary law and pastoral rhythms. Far from chaotic wandering, nomadic society functioned as a structured system in which livestock breeding determined social organization, legal norms and even political decisions. Surviving winter was the central objective of this system. Bereket Karibayev,…
Kazakhstan Unveils 300 Rare Artifacts at National Archaeology Exhibition
ASTANA – The national exhibition titled “New Discoveries in the Archaeology of Kazakhstan” opened Feb. 14 in Astana, presenting recent research by the Margulan Institute of Archaeology alongside rare artifacts from leading museums and scientific institutions nationwide. The exhibition is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. It traces the country’s history from early…
How Ballet Becomes Bridge Across Cultures in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s creative sector is strengthening international cultural ties through ballet, as the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography hosts exchange projects with artists and schools from Spain and South Korea, bringing together diverse dance traditions and training methods. Spanish choreographer Carlos Romero is currently working with Kazakh students in Astana and preparing a second…
What Kazakhstan’s Digital Code Brings to Citizens and Businesses
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has taken a major step toward regulating life online with the signing of the new Digital Code on Jan. 9, a sweeping legal framework designed to protect rights and bring order to the country’s rapidly expanding digital environment. Experts view the Digital Code as moving the digital environment from a gray area…
