Kazakhstan Looks to New Players and Products to Drive Next Phase of Digital Finance, NBK Governor Says
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has built the core digital infrastructure for its financial sector and is now entering a new stage focused on developing new products, attracting new market participants and creating innovative business models, National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov said at the Central Asia Fintech Summit 2026 in Almaty on Sept. 11. Speaking at the…
Tokayev to Outline Kazakhstan’s Goals and Priorities in October Address
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will deliver a state-of-the-nation address in October, outlining Kazakhstan’s goals and priorities for the upcoming period, he said during a Sept. 11 ceremony honoring winners and medalists of the sixth World Nomad Games in Astana. President Tokayev made the announcement at a ceremony at the Palace of Independence, where he…
Kazakh FM Outlines Priorities to Accelerate Investment Projects and Attract Foreign Capital
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has outlined key priorities for strengthening the country’s efforts to attract foreign investment during a Sept. 10 working meeting with the leadership of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and KAZAKH INVEST. The meeting brought together Investment Committee Chairman Ardak Zebeshev, KAZAKH INVEST Chairman of…
Rybakina Reaches US Open Final to Face Ex-No. 1 Sabalenka
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina has reached the U.S. Open final for the first time in her career and secured the world No. 1 ranking, becoming the first Kazakhstan’s singles player to top the WTA rankings. Rybakina defeated American Coco Gauff 3:6, 6:4, 6:4 in the semifinal, with the match lasting two hours and eight…
How Will Kazakhstan’s Kurultai Work? New Rules Set Sessions, Ethics and Penalties
ASTANA – Deputies of Kazakhstan’s Kurultai will face new rules governing their conduct inside and outside the legislative chamber, with violations ranging from inappropriate remarks and providing unverified information to breaches of parliamentary ethics that could result in public apologies, restrictions on speaking and other disciplinary measures. Deputy Chair of the Kurultai Daniya Yespayeva outlined…
Kazakhstan Expands Security Council’s Focus to Cybersecurity, AI and Economic Crime
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Security Council is expanding its focus to a broader range of national security risks, including information and cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, economic crime and civil protection, under new regulations approved by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sept. 11. Tokayev signed a decree approving the regulations on the Security Council and its…
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Move to Revive Caspian Passenger Ferry Service
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are working to resume passenger ferry services across the Caspian Sea, reopening a route that connected the two countries until 2020 and could provide an additional boost to tourism and regional connectivity. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel said the Kazakh side had proposed restoring passenger services on the Kuryk–Baku–Kuryk…
CPC Oil Flows Surge Despite Disruptions as Kazakhstan’s Export Routes Gain Importance, Expert Says
ALMATY – Kazakhstan increased oil transportation through KazTransOil’s main pipeline network by 4% in the first eight months of 2026, while volumes transported into the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system rose 39%, highlighting both stronger oil flows and the continued strategic importance of export infrastructure to the country’s resource economy. KazTransOil transported 30.639 million tonnes…
Masdar’s 1 GW Wind Plant Highlights Kazakhstan’s Race to Build More Flexible Power System
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is moving ahead with a $1.4 billion renewable energy project with Masdar, a leading renewable energy company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the country seeks to expand wind generation while addressing electricity shortages and building a more flexible power system. The development was discussed Sept. 8 during a meeting…
Digital Customs Could Boost Kazakhstan’s Transit Potential, But Infrastructure Remains Key, Experts Say
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is stepping up its partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO) as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s position as a key Eurasian transit hub. But while digital customs reforms could significantly reduce trade costs and border delays, experts say their long-term economic payoff will ultimately depend on infrastructure,…
Golden Horde History Challenges Europe-Centered View of Medieval Eurasia, French Historian Says
ALMATY – For centuries, the history of the Golden Horde has often been told from the perspective of the societies it encountered. French historian Marie Favereau is trying to turn that perspective around. Her book, now available in Kazakh, examines the Ulus of Jochi not as a peripheral chapter in European or Mongol history, but…
Almaty and Astana Maintain Economic Lead as Central Asia’s Cities Race to Catch Up
ALMATY – Almaty and Astana are likely to retain their position as Central Asia’s leading economic centers, even as Tashkent and Bishkek record rapid growth and invest heavily in their future expansion. Kazakhstan’s two largest cities benefit from an economic scale, financial infrastructure and established business ecosystems that have been built up over decades, reported…
Caspian Sea’s Decline Raises Water Security Concerns As Kazakhstan Strengthens Management
ALMATY – The rapid decline of the Caspian Sea is emerging as one of Kazakhstan’s most complex water and environmental challenges, with falling water levels threatening ecosystems, fisheries, coastal infrastructure and communities. As the country strengthens its broader water management system, the changing Caspian is adding urgency to efforts to improve how Kazakhstan monitors and…
Experts Say Kazakhstan’s Youth Advantage Won’t Last Without Action
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has one of the relatively young population structures globally, with people under 18 accounting for 34.2% of the population in 2025 and placing the country 80th among 163 countries and territories. Experts say the large share of children gives Kazakhstan a potential demographic dividend, but realizing that opportunity will depend on education,…
Kazakhstan Looks For New Deposits as Expert Points to Investment Challenge Beyond Exploration
ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to increase exploration drilling over the next three years, with up to 200 exploration and appraisal wells expected to be drilled by 2028. While the expansion could help replenish the country’s resource base, experts say the real challenge will be turning geological discoveries into economically viable projects. Speaking at the KAZDRILLING…
Kazakhstan Enters Top 50 Most Peaceful Countries As Global Peacefulness Declines, Report Shows
ALMATY – Kazakhstan ranked 44th among 163 countries in the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), placing it among the world’s 50 most peaceful countries and reflecting an improvement from the previous year as Central Asia continues to diverge from a broader global decline in peacefulness. Kazakhstan recorded a score of 1.771 points, improving from 1.791…
OPEC+ Keeps October Oil Output Quotas Unchanged As Focus Shifts To 2027
ALMATY – OPEC+ has decided to keep oil production targets for October unchanged, pausing further adjustments as the alliance assesses market conditions and prepares for a broader review of production baselines for 2027. The decision was made on Sept. 6 during a virtual meeting of Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, the…
Kazakh Scientists Develop Drone Technology To Protect Crops From Pests
ALMATY – Kazakh scientists have developed a drone-based technology to automatically distribute beneficial insects across agricultural fields, potentially making biological crop protection faster and more effective, the Ministry of Agriculture reported on Sept. 2. Researchers at the Zhiembayev Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine developed the BioDrop technology. The system combines biodegradable spherical…
Alatau City: Can Kazakhstan Build Regional Economic Hub from Scratch
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is betting that Alatau City can evolve from a planned development outside Almaty into a regional economic hub. Backed by a special legal regime and billions of dollars in proposed investment, the project seeks to combine manufacturing, logistics, technology and finance with new transport and digital infrastructure, but its success will depend…
Kazakhstan Forms New Government With Majority Of Ministers Retaining Posts
ALMATY – Kazakhstan has formed a new government, with most ministers retaining their positions while several key ministries received new heads, according to presidential decrees and orders. Mukhtar Tileuberdi was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, returning to the position he held from 2019 to 2023. Before the appointment, he served as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Austria…
Experts: Productivity, Not GDP Rankings, Will Define Kazakhstan as GDP Nears $469 Billion
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s nominal gross domestic product could reach $468.8 billion by 2030, potentially placing the country among the world’s 45 largest economies. But economists say the more important question is whether the expansion reflects stronger productivity, diversification and investment rather than simply larger nominal output. The projection, based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) data,…
Kazakhstan Expands Mineral Exploration, But Experts Say Discovery – Only First Step
ALMATY – Kazakhstan is expanding geological exploration, increasing geological knowledge and identifying new mineral resources, but experts say the key challenge is no longer simply discovering what lies beneath the country’s vast territory. It is turning geological potential into economically viable projects, investment, production and higher-value exports. The government is increasing the detail of geological…
From Commodities to Production Chains: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Deepen Economic Ties
ALMATY – Trade between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached $2.8 billion in the first half of 2026, making Kazakhstan Uzbekistan’s third-largest trading partner and highlighting a relationship that is moving beyond traditional commodity exchanges toward manufacturing, agricultural trade and integrated production chains. According to Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee, Kazakhstan accounted for the third-largest share of Uzbekistan’s…
Manufacturing Overtakes Mining in Kazakhstan: Experts Assess Whether Shift Signals Structural Change
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s manufacturing sector has overtaken mining in its share of industrial output for the first time, marking a potentially important shift in the country’s economic structure. But economists say the headline figure should be viewed alongside a second trend: rising demand for imported machinery, equipment and technology as Kazakhstan enters a major investment…
Kazakhstan’s Population Reaches 20.6 Million As Astana Records Fastest Growth
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s population increased by 14,230 people in July, reaching 20.6 million as of Aug. 1, according to data from the Bureau of National Statistics. The country’s population stood at 20,590,000 as of July 1. By Aug. 1, it had increased to 20,604,800. Since the beginning of the year, Kazakhstan’s population has grown by…
