Kazakhstan, Oman Deepen Ties During Sultan’s First Central Asia Visit
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman agreed to deepen strategic partnership across energy, transport, logistics, agriculture and digitalization on Oct. 6, as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said made his first visit to Central Asia.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said hold talks on Oct. 6 in Astana. Photo…
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Eleven Years in WTO: What Has Kazakhstan Gained
ASTANA – Eleven years after Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organization, the country trades across a far wider global market under internationally agreed rules. However, one of the central challenges that preceded accession remains: reducing its dependence on commodity exports.

The World Trade Organization sets and oversees the rules governing international trade, with the…
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Shymkent to host Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable 2026

More than 500 investors and business leaders from 40 countries are expected to gather in Shymkent on Oct. 22 for the ninth Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable.

The event will focus on Kazakhstan’s new investment cycle, with discussions on key growth sectors, attracting high-quality capital and building new international business partnerships.

Turkmenistan Launches E-Visas and Online Registration for Foreigners
ALMATY – Turkmenistan has launched an electronic visa system and an online registration portal for foreign nationals, moving parts of the country’s migration procedures to digital platforms.

The State Migration Service of Turkmenistan presented the new services with representatives of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in the country attending the event. Turkmen ambassadors abroad also…
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Kazakhstan’s Cross-Border Hubs Take Shape as New Trade and Logistics Gateways
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is moving its cross-border trade hubs from planning to implementation, with new production facilities, logistics infrastructure and cargo flows emerging along the country’s borders and Caspian coast.

The five priority hubs are designed to strengthen trade with the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Russia, China and the Caspian region, attract investment and support…
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Kazakhstan, Oman Push for Stronger Trade, Investment Ties at Business Forum
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman outlined new opportunities to expand investment, financial cooperation, energy, logistics and agricultural ties at a Kazakh-Omani business forum held during Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said’s state visit to Kazakhstan on Oct. 6.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivers a speech at the Kazakh-Omani Business Forum in Astana on Oct.…
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How Kazakhstan Uses Medical Aviation to Bridge Vast Distances in Emergency Care
ASTANA — A premature baby flown more than 4,000 kilometers from Thailand to Kazakhstan for emergency medical care was discharged from an Almaty hospital on July 21 after two months of treatment. Aslan Aliyev was just one month and 18 days old when a medical aviation team transported him from Phuket to Almaty with…
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Central Asia’s Water Challenge Deepens as Rivers Decline and Glaciers Melt
ASTANA – Central Asia faces growing pressure on its water resources as river flows decline, freshwater reserves remain below normal, and glaciers continue to lose mass, the Eurasian Briefing Telegram channel reported, citing data from the World Meteorological Organization.

Photo credit: AI-generated image/ Atameken Business

The assessment compares recent indicators with data from…
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Kazakhstan, Oman Sign Investment, Energy Deals, Agree on $150 Million Fund
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Oman agreed to establish a $150 million joint investment fund and expand cooperation in oil and gas, transport and financial connectivity, as Kazakhstan seeks to diversify its investment partnerships and strengthen access to markets across the Gulf, Indian Ocean and beyond.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al…
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Kazakhstan Sets Wheat Export Record as Grain Rail Shipments Rise
ASTANA – Kazakhstan exported a record 8.87 million tons of wheat from September 2025 to August 2026, as strong demand from Central Asian markets and Afghanistan helped drive shipments to the highest level on record, according to the Grain Union of Kazakhstan.

Photo credit: Agriculture Ministry.

The figure represents a 16.2% increase from the…
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EBRD Projects Central Asia’s Strong Growth Despite Energy and Water Risks
ASTANA – Central Asia is expected to remain one of the fastest-growing regions in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) economies in 2026 and 2027, although rising energy costs, water scarcity and tighter financing conditions could weigh on the outlook, according to the bank’s latest Regional Economic Prospects report.

Photo credit:…
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Kazakhstan Shifts Investment Strategy From Capital Inflows to Economic Value Creation
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is shifting its investment strategy from attracting foreign capital in terms of volume to directing investments toward projects that create production capacity, deepen processing, expand exports and develop local supply chains, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ardak Zebeshev.

Photo credit: Shutterstock.

Kazakhstan has accumulated $156.4 billion in foreign investment,…
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Kazakhstan to Send 150 Athletes to Asian Para Games in Japan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will send 150 athletes to the fifth Asian Para Games, which will take place on Oct. 18-24 in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, with the national team set to compete in 12 sports.

Photo credit: depositphotos.com

The Kazakh team will compete in one team sport and 11 individual…
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Tokayev Meets Newly Elected FIDE President Timur Turlov
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with newly elected International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Timur Turlov on Oct. 7, congratulating him on his election and highlighting the growing international profile of Kazakhstan’s chess community.

From L to R: Timur Turlov, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Photo credit: Akorda.

Turlov was elected FIDE president on Sept. 26…
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OTS Advances Space Cooperation With Joint Satellite Launch Planned for 2027
ASTANA – Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have signed a framework agreement to expand cooperation in the space industry, with Kazakhstan completing the assembly of the engineering model of the OTS-SAT satellite and planning its launch in 2027.

Representatives of Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan sign a framework agreement on space industry cooperation within…
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Kazakhstan, Green Climate Fund Launch Climate Investment Platform
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have signed an agreement to establish the Qazaqstan Climate Investment Platform (QCIP), a national mechanism designed to prepare climate projects for financing from international and domestic financial institutions.

Kazakhstan and the Green Climate Fund sign an agreement to establish the Qazaqstan Climate Investment Platform (QCIP).…
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Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi took part in a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers.

The officials discussed pressing international issues and prospects for multilateral cooperation. Tileuberdi presented Kazakhstan’s position and proposed steps to strengthen the CIS potential.

Religious Leaders Explore Faith’s Role in Tackling Global Challenges
ASTANA – Religious leaders and international experts gathered in Astana on Oct. 7 to discuss how faith communities can contribute to addressing pressing challenges, with artificial intelligence, climate change and the rights of children with incurable diseases among the key issues on the agenda.

The meeting brought together representatives of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism,…
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Caspian Summit: Can Cooperation Keep Pace With Falling Waters?
ASTANA — Leaders of the five Caspian states are set to meet Oct. 9 in Turkmenistan’s Avaza National Tourist Zone for a summit focused on the sea’s mounting environmental challenges, as declining water levels increasingly intersect with transport, infrastructure and regional economic interests.

The Caspian Environmental Summit comes amid efforts to turn years of…
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Central Asia Has UK, US Investors’ Attention But Understanding Still Lags Behind Interest
Kazakhstan remains the region’s economic anchor and its largest recipient of foreign capital. At the same time, Montfort Eurasia’s Investor Perception Report 2026 for the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.) suggests that Central Asia and the Caucasus are moving beyond a traditional foreign direct investment story toward a broader capital markets…
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