Articles by Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s fishery sector recorded nearly 59,400 tons of processed fish in January-November 2025, contributing to a total market volume of 76,800 tons, up 10% from 2024. Fish catches reached 38,500 tons, while aquaculture production totaled 20,900 tons, reflecting steady growth. The country has 72 fish processing enterprises, including 20 authorized to export to…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik claimed a landmark victory at the 2026 Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Jan. 11. The 28-year-old defeated Italy’s world No. 7 Lorenzo Musetti in the final, 7:6 (7:2), 6:3, to capture his ninth ATP title in his 16th career final. The win marked Bublik’s fifth consecutive victory…

ASTANA — The City of Nomads tourist attraction, located on the banks of the Ili River, 90 kilometers from Almaty, is set for modernization following the completion of a new access road. The complex was originally built for the filming of the 2005 historical epic film “Koshpendiler” (Nomad: The Warrior) and spans an area of…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights the country’s emergence as a regional industrial hub, new migration policies, and Kazakhstan’s EAEU chairmanship, among other key developments. Kazakhstan enters a decisive phase of modernisation, President Tokayev says EU Reporter published an article on…

ASTANA — The United States has introduced visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 for citizens of several Central Asian countries applying for tourist and business visas. Under a pilot program implemented by the U.S. Department of State, nationals of the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan have been added to the list of countries whose…

ASTANA – With one month remaining until the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, scheduled for Feb. 6-22, Kazakhstan’s athletes are finalizing preparations and competing for Olympic quotas. Several quotas have already been secured in figure skating, short track, and speed skating. Figure skating Mikhail Shaidorov and Sofia Samodelkina secured Kazakhstan’s first…

ASTANA – Chinese tourism to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan surged, with flight bookings doubling compared to last year over the New Year period, according to leading online travel platform Qunar. While Seoul remained the most popular foreign destination for Chinese travelers, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia showed notable growth, driven largely by the introduction of visa-free access…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will accelerate the development of a reliable and sustainable energy base to support digital infrastructure, data centers, and automated industrial production, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at a Jan. 6 government meeting, stressing that energy security is a key prerequisite for the country’s transition to a new technological economic model. Bektenov said…

ASTANA — Refineries operated by KazMunayGaz (KMG), Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company, reached a historic high in production in 2025, producing 13.6 million tons of light petroleum products. The figure is 1.18 million tons higher than in 2024 and 1.55 million tons higher than in 2023, reported the company’s press service on Jan. 6. …

ASTANA — Throughout 2025, Kazakhstan was actively involved in international diplomacy, multilateral initiatives, and domestic political processes. The year was marked by high-level summits, participation in UN and regional formats, the launch of international initiatives, and discussions on political and institutional reforms. International events On Nov. 6, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the second-ever…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan made significant progress in healthcare and environmental protection this year, with government reforms and national programs delivering precise results that improved public health, expanded medical access, and strengthened environmental sustainability nationwide. Healthcare Kazakhstan closed the year with historic achievements in healthcare, positioning itself as a regional leader in public health outcomes. Kazakhstan…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva, 21, won her third world blitz title at the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Blitz Chess Championship on Dec. 30 in Qatar. She defeated two-time champion Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk 2.5–1.5 in the final match. Assaubayeva earned €40,000 (US$46,946) in prize money and secured a spot in the 2026 FIDE Women’s…

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a series of festive concerts featuring Kazakh pop stars and bands across ten locations in six districts, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.  Festive activities will kick off on Dec. 31 with daytime concerts starting at 12 p.m. in Zheruyik Park and…

ASTANA — Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev visited the United Nations Regional Center for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan on Dec. 26 during his working visit to Almaty, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and the UN’s central role in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. During the visit, Kosherbayev…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected key articles from international media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Kazakhstan, growing strategic ties between Kazakhstan and the European Union, the appointment of Dimash Qudaibergen as a UN Global Goodwill Ambassador  and more. Pezeshkian: Kazakhstan trip decisive step to…

ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has established an Islamic Finance Advisory Board, uniting leading global experts from Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The board held its inaugural meeting on Dec. 10 at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the UAE as part of AIFC Connect Abu…

ASTANA – An exhibition of national jewelry dedicated to Independence Day opened at the Presidential Center on Dec. 10, showcasing the richness of Kazakh jewelry art. Over 250 silver pieces are on display, reflecting the symbolism of the ornaments and the cultural traditions of the Kazakh people. The exhibition also features original works by renowned…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is advancing the modernization and digitalization of its transport and transit systems to strengthen its role as a key Eurasian hub. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a Dec. 9 government meeting to review ongoing developments and digital initiatives. From January to October, transit volumes through the country exceeded 29 million tons. Measures…

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov on Dec. 9 to review the state of the economy, financial system, and monetary policy performance in January-November, as well as the bank’s strategic plans for 2026.  Suleimenov provided a comprehensive report on business activity, inflationary factors, and policy measures to stabilize…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s 16 special economic zones (SEZ) play a central role in the country’s investment strategy, offering tax incentives, simplified customs procedures and ready industrial sites. Spanning manufacturing, logistics and technology, the zones are designed to attract investors and create jobs. The Astana Times breaks down key projects and developments across all 16 zones.…

ASTANA — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurated the Nur Bukhara project, the country’s first utility-scale integrated solar and battery project, developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, on Dec. 8 in Tashkent. Mirziyoyev also formally broke ground on Masdar’s 300-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) and 75-megawatt hours (MWh) battery energy storage system…

ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev participated in the Doha Forum 2025 on Dec. 6-7, engaging in high-level discussions on justice, sustainable development and international partnership alongside representatives from 162 countries. Recognized as one of the leading global platforms for high-level dialogue on international affairs, the forum brought together more than 5,000 participants,…

ASTANA — Gennady Golovkin has officially become the first Kazakhstani boxer to be included in the Class of 2026 of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), according to an official announcement on Dec. 4. The induction ceremony will take place from June 11 to 14 next year, in Canastota, New York. Golovkin was elected…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s accommodation facilities welcomed 7.8 million visitors in January-September, marking a 12.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Hotels in Almaty led the country, hosting 1.8 million guests, followed by Astana, which hosted 1.1 million. The Almaty and Akmola Regions each recorded 530,000 guests during the period, reported the National Bureau…

ASTANA —  The investment forum brought together international investors, major Kazakh businesses, and central government representatives on Dec. 4 in Aktobe. The event featured seven ambassadors and delegates from 20 countries. Askhat Shakharov, akim (governor) of the Aktobe Region, welcomed participants, emphasizing the region’s openness to long-term, mutually beneficial investment. He highlighted Aktobe’s large territory,…