The Astana Times
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#Kazakhstan's premiere English language newspaper. Est. Nov. 2010. #news, #politics, #business, #culture, #sports, #kz.
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World Bank: Kazakhstan’s GDP Growth to Reach 4.5% in 2026
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economic growth is projected to cool down to 4.5% in 2026 and 3.9% in 2027, according to the January edition of the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

“As frontier markets, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have sustained robust per capita growth over 2000–25. However, Kazakhstan’s growth is projected to…
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From Politics to Profits: Why Geopolitics Now Matters for Business in Kazakhstan
ALMATY – Geopolitics is no longer an abstract field reserved for governments and military strategists as it has become a practical necessity for businesses navigating sanctions, supply chain disruptions and a rapidly shifting global order, experts said during a Feb. 2 session at Narxoz University.

Rodger Baker, executive director and founder of Stratfor Center…
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Kazakhstan, Türkiye Deepen Strategic Partnership at Planning Group Meeting in Ankara
ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan reaffirmed their countries’ enhanced strategic partnership during the eighth meeting of the Kazakhstan–Türkiye joint strategic planning group, held on Feb. 2 in Ankara, focusing on expanding trade, investment, and coordination within the Turkic world.

Yermek Kosherbayev and Hakan Fidan. Photo credit:…
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Kazakhstan, Vietnam Seek to Double Trade, Expand Logistics and Launch New Flights
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh on Feb. 3 to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation, with a focus on doubling trade turnover, strengthening transport connectivity, and expanding investment partnerships.

Nguyen Hoa Binh and Serik Zhumangarin. Photo credit: Prime Minister’s…
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Kazakhstan’s Population Reaches Almost 20.5 Million as of January
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s population reached 20,495,975 as of Jan. 1, marking an increase of 212,576 people compared to the beginning of 2025, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.

Photo credit: The Astana Times

According to official data published on Feb. 2, two regions now have populations exceeding two million. Almaty leads with 2,347,924…
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Kazakhstan Clean Energy Training Project Recognized by ETF Green Skills Award
ASTANA – A renewable energy training program from Kazakhstan was shortlisted for the European Training Foundation Green Skills Award 2025, placing the country among five global finalists recognized for linking education with the transition to clean energy and green jobs.

Photo credit: ETF

The Mangystau Energy College’s renewable energy dual training program was named…
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Kazakhstan, EU Celebrate 33 Years of Strategic Partnership and Cooperation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union are celebrating 33 years of diplomatic relations, marked on Feb. 2, a partnership that has evolved into a strategic, forward-looking collaboration across trade, investment, energy, connectivity, education, and sustainable development.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock

EU Reporter published an article by Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the European…
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Kazakh Defense Ministry Inspects Peacekeeping Contingent Serving with UNDOF
ASTANA – A delegation from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense, led by Major General Mereke Kuchekbayev, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, conducted an inspection visit to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mission area on the Golan Heights.

Currently, 139 Kazakh peacekeepers are deployed on the Golan Heights as part of the UN mission.…
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Kazakhstan’s Nurlanuly Breaks Into ITF Juniors Top 10 After Australian Open Semifinal
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Zangar Nurlanuly has climbed in the ITF Juniors world rankings, moving from 12th to 9th, following his performance at the 2026 Australian Open.

Zangar Nurlanuly. Photo credit: KTF.

The 17-year-old made history as the first Kazakhstan’s tennis player to reach the Australian Open junior singles semifinals. Last fall, he also reached…
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President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in #Pakistan on a state visit.

Photo credit: Akorda
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EBRD Invests Close to $450 Million in Kazakhstan as Regional Funding Approaches $2 Billion
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development invested 378 million euros (US$446 million) in 2025, bringing its total funding across Central Asia and Mongolia to nearly $2 billion. The bank backed projects in renewable energy, infrastructure and small business financing in one of its strongest regional performances in more than a decade.…
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Zoologists Spent Three Days Guarding Stray Snow Leopard in Almaty Mountains
ASTANA — Tourists, bloggers and photographers rushed to the mountains after videos of the snow leopard appeared on social media. Staff from the Institute of Zoology and Ile-Alatau National Park guarded the rare predator for three days and nights in the Big Almaty Gorge, reported Kazinform news agency on Feb. 2.

Click to see…
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Kazakhstan’s Transport Sector Hit Record 20.4% Growth in 2025, Report Shows
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s transport sector accelerated in 2025, recording 20.4% growth in real terms, according to a recent report published by Halyk Finance on Jan. 20.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

According to the report, the surge outpaced the sector’s average growth of 8.2% seen over the previous three years, positioning the industry as a primary…
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Kazakhstan Boosts January Oil Exports to Germany
ALMATY – Kazakhstan increased its oil exports to Germany in January 2026, sending 310,000 tons to the European market, according to KazTransOil. Of these shipments, 106,000 tons were transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, reported Reuters on Feb. 3.

Photo credit: KMG.

The rise represents a sharp increase of 183,000 tons compared to January…
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Kazakhstan’s Grain Exports to Afghanistan Nearly Double
ALMATY – Grain exports from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan nearly doubled between September 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026, underscoring the country’s growing role as a key grain supplier in Central and South Asia.

Photo credit: agbz.kz.

According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company, 5.8 million tons of grain were exported, an increase of…
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US Delegation to Visit Kazakhstan in March to Boost Bilateral Ties
ALMATY – Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev discussed the upcoming visit of the United States’ congressional delegation to Kazakhstan in March during his Feb. 3 meeting with Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Brian Mast and Senator Steve Daines in Washington, as part of his official visit to the U.S.

During…
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Kazakhstan and Pakistan Aim to Raise Bilateral Trade to $1 Billion
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Pakistan are expanding their trade relationship, aiming to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion in the medium term, following a Feb. 4 meeting between Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev and Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.

The forum program includes a plenary session with leaders…
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Chinese Investor to Pour Over $7 Billion into Hard-to-Recover Gas Project in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakh Invest and Chinese oil and gas firm Geo-Jade Petroleum Corporation signed a cooperation and project-support agreement on Feb. 3 to advance development of the Sozak gas field in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region.

Under current estimates, production at the site could reach up to one trillion cubic meters.Photo credit: geojade.com Click to see…
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Alatau City to Be Built Mainly Through Private Investment Under Charter Model
ALMATY – The development of Alatau City will be driven primarily by private investment under a new governance model designed to ensure long-term predictability for businesses, said Bolat Zhamishev, a member of the Alatau City Development Council, at a Feb. 4 meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, focused on the implementation…
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Kazakhstan, Pakistan Strengthen Dialogue on Regional and Economic Cooperation
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in both narrow and expanded formats on Feb. 4 as part of his state visit to Pakistan, underscoring a shared commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

From L to R: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Pakistani Prime Minister…
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