In the 2025 Military Strength Ranking released by the Global Firepower, Kazakhstan ranked 57th among the 145 countries listed — the best position compared to other Central Asian countries and one position up compared to the 2024 ranking. Other Central Asian countries are ranked as follows: Uzbekistan is in 58th place, Turkmenistan in 77th place, Kyrgyzstan
On January 10, Astana hosted a meeting between Kazakhstan’s JSC Passenger Transportation and O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari (Uzbekistan Railways) on the development of cooperation in the field of passenger railway transportation between the two countries, the press service of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan’s national railway company reported. During the meeting the parties signed an agreement
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan has reported that it is releasing water from the country’s reservoirs to make room for receiving snowmelt water in case of flooding next spring. In the spring of 2024, Kazakhstan’s western and northern regions suffered from unprecedented floods caused by the rapid snowmelt. According to
In the era of rapid technological progress, information technology permeates all spheres of life. IT technologies are a competitive advantage in today’s global market. Kazakhstan, being at the forefront of the digital transition, is dynamically developing its IT sector, making it one of the drivers of its economic growth. The export of IT services has
Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, has been included in CNN Travel’s list of 25 destinations that are particularly worth visiting in 2025. According to CNN Travel, Central Asia’s dramatic landscapes and unique urban centers are proving to be particularly alluring. Leading the way is Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, which has become the region’s new “Capital of Cool”.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has released its 2024 report on investments in the region. According to the report, Kazakhstan attracted $15.7 billion in new projects, securing its position as the leading destination for investments in the North and Central Asia region, Kazakh Invest reported. In 2024,
In an interview with Azerbaijan Television on December 29, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakh rescuers and medical teams for their solidarity and assistance during and after the deadly crash of an Embraer 190 of the Azerbaijan Airlines on December 25. The plane with 62 passengers and five
On December 27, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a telephone conversation with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The presidents exchanged condolences and expressed words of support to the families of those killed in the crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region. On December 25, the Embraer 190 of the Azerbaijan Airlines
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Qazaq Green Renewable Energy Association (Qazaq Green) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to facilitate research and exchange information on renewable energy projects, among other initiatives. The document was signed by Azamat Tyuleubai, Senior Managing Director and Head of the EDB Project Unit, and Nurlan Kapenov, Chairman of
A passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Russia has crashed near the city of Aqtau in western Kazakhstan with 67 people on board, Kazakh authorities said on December 25, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Authorities said that dozens of people had been killed but that there were several survivors. According to preliminary information, 28
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), represented by Ruslan Dalenov, Vice Chairman of the Management Board, and Karaganda Energotsentr, a 100% subsidiary of Kazakhstan Utility Systems, represented by Flyur Garipov, General Director, have signed a 13-year, US $240 million long-term loan agreement to finance the modernization and expansion of Karaganda Combined Heat and Power Plant 3
On December 23, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko met with Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan Aleška Simkić. The parties noted the high dynamics of bilateral cooperation in the outgoing year, welcoming both numerous and regular high-level contacts as well as a significant increase in trade turnover and investment activity.
A ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a school was held on December 19 which will be built in Nurdagy district of Gaziantep province of Türkiye on the instructions of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The event was attended by Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Türkiye Yerkebulan Sapiyev, Governor of Gaziantep province Kemal Çeber,
On December 18, a meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan and the Agency for Information and Mass Communications under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent. The parties signed a Plan for interaction in the information sphere for 2025. The document was signed following the
The Euronews television channel opened its regional office in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on December 18. The opening ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews Pedro Vargas and the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva, Orda.kz reported with reference to the press service of the Ministry of
Russia’s state-owned atomic company Rosatom is selling its stakes in uranium deposits in Kazakhstan to Chinese-owned companies as the Central Asian nation looks to avoid any international sanctions against Russian-linked assets and a sign of China’s growing influence in the region, RFE/RL reported. Kazatomprom, the world’s largest producer of uranium, said Uranium One Group —
Kazakhstan’s contributions to addressing global challenges and its emerging role as a growing middle power were in the focus of discussions at the 17th annual World Policy Conference (WPC), organized by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) in Abu Dhabi on December 13-15. Thierry de Montbrial, founder and long-standing president of IFRI – one
A new World Bank report highlights Kazakhstan’s progress in reducing poverty and the challenges ahead for inclusive growth, stressing that the pace of poverty reduction has slowed in recent years despite significant advances since the early 2000s. According to the “Kazakhstan Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024” report, making fiscal policy more pro-poor, improving the quality of education, and strengthening
Kazakhstan’s national railways company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has launched a new electric train connecting the country’s capital, Astana, and Borovoye, one of the country’s most popular resorts. Borovoye is the commonly used Russian name of the Burabay National Park, located just 250 kilometers north of Astana and famous for its pine forests and beautiful
After launching a four-day train tour in November connecting the cities of Almaty, Turkestan, and Tashkent, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan’s national railway company, has announced the launch of another train tour, “Jibek Joly (Silk Road) 2.0,” along the route Almaty-Turkestan-Tashkent-Samarkand-Shymkent-Almaty. The first train on this route will depart on January 2 and return to
