The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million equivalent policy-based loan to support Kazakhstan in strengthening fiscal sustainability and enhancing financial sector resilience. The loan supports subprogram 2 of the Fiscal Governance and Financial Sector Reforms Program, which builds on progress made under subprogram 1 and focuses on two areas: strengthening fiscal sustainability, management, transparency,
Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Gholam Ali Soleimani, president of the Iranian food company Solico Group, have signed an investment agreement for a major project in deep milk processing. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the cheese production project, with a capacity of 155,000 tons per year, will be implemented in the Almaty region.
Demand for labor force in Kazakhstan remains quite mixed: on the one hand, employers are actively seeking workers for low-skilled jobs, while on the other, there remains a significant need for teachers, healthcare and social workers, according to an analysis of finprom.kz. Forecasts show that the greatest demand in the labor market in 2026 will
Central Asia is often defined by its oilfields, mountain ranges, and the revival of the Silk Road trade routes. Yet its most valuable resource, above all, is its people. Since the 1990s, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and their neighbours have undergone profound demographic shifts. Fertility rates, once among the highest in the world, have declined; life
On June 11, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov chaired the 19th meeting of the Kazakhstan–European Union dialogue platform with the participation of heads of diplomatic missions of European countries, representatives of major foreign business associations, and companies. The meeting discussed issues of the investment climate, harmonization of technical standards and regulatory approaches, customs administration,
The President of Kazakhstan has signed a decree approving the National Strategy for Large-scale Digitalization and the Introduction of Artificial Intelligence Technologies, “Digital Qazaqstan,” until 2029. According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the new Strategy plans that the comprehensive introduction of AI and the digitalization of industry, subsoil use, logistics and
British publisher and public figure Marat Akhmedjanov has been awarded a medal from the International Organization of Turkic Culture, TÜRKSOY, which unites the states of the Turkic world and is dedicated to preserving their shared historical and cultural heritage. The award was presented in recognition of Akhmedjanov’s long-standing contribution to the development of literature, culture,
Construction of the first container ship with a capacity of 780 TEUs for Kazakhstan has begun at Azerbaijan’s Baku Shipyard. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Transport, the project is a collaboration between the national maritime shipping company Kazmortransflot and Abu Dhabi Ports Group. It will build two modern container ships designed for transporting containerized
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the government of Kazakhstan are extending their long-term strategic partnership that will help to boost investment and drive forward reforms in the country, the EBRD said. The enhanced partnership framework arrangement (EPFA) between the EBRD and Central Asia’s largest economy was signed at the Bank’s 35th Annual
A traditional Kazakh chapan presented to British publisher and cultural entrepreneur Marat Akhmedjanov, founder of Hertfordshire Press and co-founder of the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), during commemorative events marking the 275th anniversary of the renowned spiritual leader Beket Ata in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region, has become an unexpected symbol of cultural diplomacy in the United Kingdom.
Mountains are not passive backdrops to human history; they are dynamic, living systems that have shaped civilizations, economies, and ecosystems for millennia. Nowhere is this more evident than in Central Asia, home to some of the world’s most formidable ranges—the Pamirs, Tian Shan, Hindu Kush, Altai, and Ural. These mountains are more than geological formations;
As part of the OpenAI delegation’s visit to Kazakhstan, a meeting was held with Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, Zhaslan Madiyev. The parties discussed cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, the implementation of joint educational initiatives, the deployment of ChatGPT Edu tools, as well as future
Central Asia and Mongolia will remain resilient to geopolitical shocks and record the highest growth rates of the EBRD countries of operation in 2026 and 2027, according to the latest Regional Economic Prospects report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The economies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are projected to grow by 5.6 per cent
On June 2 in Astana, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin held a meeting with representatives of the business circles of Hong Kong and mainland China. The event was attended by about 70 business representatives, including 40 companies from Hong Kong and 30 companies from mainland China operating in
The MEGA Fest 2026 international cultural forum, a joint effort between the Open Eurasia Literary Festival & Book Forum and the ECG Eurasian Film Festival, concluded in London last week. The festival brought together writers, filmmakers, artists, poets, publishers, and public figures from dozens of countries, becoming one of the largest international platforms for promoting
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, visited leading research centers and universities in Belgium, where he discussed prospects for cooperation in deep tech, semiconductor technologies, critical materials, artificial intelligence, engineering education, and scientific and technological development. The minister visited the Imec research center in Leuven, Belgium—one of the world’s leading centers for
In recent years, the international film industry has increasingly talked about diversity, cultural multiplicity, and the need for new voices. However, in reality, the global screen remains quite hierarchical: some countries are automatically considered “providers of great cinema,” while others are still relegated to the cultural periphery. When Western audiences hear about films from Central
Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries reached more than $1.27 billion in the first five months of 2026, including around $74 million of Afghanistan’s exports, TOLOnews reported citing the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. According to the ministry, dried fruits, fresh fruits, talc stone, vegetables, medicinal plants, and various types of juice are among
EuroChem, a leading Russian and global fertilizer producer headquartered in Switzerland, has launched a new sulfuric acid plant in the Zhambyl region of Kazakhstan with a production capacity of 800,000 tons per year. The new facility is part of EuroChem’s broader investment project in Kazakhstan. The Phase I included the launch of a phosphate ore
During his state visit to Kazakhstan on May 28, President of Russia Vladimir Putin held talks with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana. The presidents signed the Joint Statement on the Seven Foundations of Friendship and Neighborliness between the Peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan. Tokayev and Putin attended presentations of joint Kazakh-Russian projects. The heads of state viewed video reports on industrial cooperation, the launch of two-way cargo shipments using autonomous trucks