At the 7th ECG Film Festival, which ended on May 27 in London, several participants from Kazakhstan were awarded prizes. Organized by the Eurasian Creative Guild and serving as a cultural bridge between Eurasia and the British audience, the festival was held at the Lumiere Romford cinema and brought together films and authors from 23
On 30 May 2025, the first Central Asia + Italy Summit was held in Astana with the participation of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni. The leaders exchanged views on
Kazakhstan continues to deepen its capabilities in key sectors – from digital technologies and AI to clean energy and value-added manufacturing, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the Plenary session of the Astana International Forum on May 29. According to Tokayev, Kazakhstan is making significant progress in digital transformation, reflecting its desire to become an IT
The Kazakhstan–Italy Business Forum was held in Astana on May 28. In his welcoming remarks, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted the significant role of the business forum in expanding trade and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Italy. He noted that the strategic partnership between the two countries is dynamically developing thanks to the efforts
As part of Kazakhstan-France Business Forum in Astana on May 28, 15 bilateral agreements were signed between government bodies, national companies, and business entities of the two countries. The agreements span strategic sectors such as energy, healthcare, technology, logistics, agriculture, education, and sustainable development, Kazakh Invest reported. One of the key documents was an Investment
On May 26-27, Dubai, United Arab Emirates hosted the second ministerial roundtable on advancing the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP), an ambitious regional initiative being jointly undertaken by Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The project aims to enhance regional cooperation regarding water and energy resource management in Central Asia. The Kambarata-1 HPP, with a
As the renewable energy sector in Central Asia grows, so does the need for a skilled and inclusive workforce to support it. In response, the OSCE and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) officially launched the OSCE Regional Task Force on Education for Just and Inclusive Energy Transition (RTEET) in Central Asia with a kick-off
Under the auspices of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Astana International Forum 2025 will take place from May 29 to 30, as it continues its mission of fostering cross-border dialogues on international diplomacy and cooperation. Against a backdrop of global disruption and polarization, the Forum will bring together government leaders, business executives, and
As Kazakhstan has experienced growing energy deficit, with the gap between electricity production and consumption reaching 2.4 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024, the country has prioritized the development of renewable energy sources (RES) for ensuring sustainable energy supply and combating climate change. According to the Ministry of Energy, the share of electricity generated from RES in Kazakhstan
On May 21, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov and Ms. Sun Meijun, head of China’s General Administration of Customs, signed a Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Food Safety Requirements for Import and Export of Poultry Meat between Kazakhstan and China. The document allows Kazakh poultry meat exports to China. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Institute, and the London Stock Exchange Group have published a joint report, “The Future of Islamic Finance in Central Asia”. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current status and prospects of Islamic finance in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. According to the
The 16th meeting of the Kazakhstan-German Business Council took place in Astana on May 21 with the participation of First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar. The event brought together representatives of key ministries and leading members of Kazakhstan’s business community. “Our platform is in high demand and has proven to be very effective.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University to launch joint initiatives in the academic and scientific spheres. According to the ministry, the parties agreed to organize academic exchanges, including scholarships and research internships in such areas as
Marat Bashimov, a member of the Mazhilis (lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament), has sent a letter to the country’s Prosecutor General Berik Asylov about the need for “extended confiscation.” Bashimov believes that it is time for the Kazakh authorities to tighten legislation on the return of illegally obtained assets, the fight against corruption and money
Kazakhstan and the World Bank have reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts aimed at the restoration of the North Aral Sea. On May 16, at the Kokaral dam in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov met with Sameh Wahba, the Regional Director for Sustainable Development at the Europe and Central Asia
In 2024, Kazakhstan retained its position as a major exporter of mineral resources, particularly crude oil, according to the country’s Ministry of Trade and Integration. In 2024, Kazakhstan’s exports exceeded $81 billion, with crude oil earning $42.9 billion or 52.5% of the country’s exports. Kazakhstan also exported uranium ($4.6 billion), copper and copper cathodes ($4.1
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union are boosting access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Central Asia and Mongolia. According to the EBRD, an additional €25 million in EU guarantees will be made available to local partner financial institutions for on-lending to this business segment.
The Fund for Digital Initiatives of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB FDI) has issued a grant to Kompas JSC to implement traffic simulation software in Kazakhstan. The project aims to ensure the sustainable development of the urban environment in Astana, the country’s capital characterized by the steady increase in population. Traffic simulation allows using computational
With the support from international financial organizations, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is modernizing 1,485 irrigation canals with a total length of over 6,000 km, according to Minister of Water Resources Nurzhan Nurzhigitov. Last year, the ministry completed the reconstruction of 162 canals with a total length of 778 km. By the end
Representatives of railway companies from China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Türkiye met in Tehran on May 12 to develop multilateral cooperation in establishing a transport corridor passing through their countries. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the country’s national railway company, in January-April 2025 container traffic along the China-Iran route via Kazakhstan increased by 2.6
