As UN’s Guterres Returns to Central Asia, Kazakhstan Advances Its Role as Regional Convenor

By Dr. Robert M. Cutler UN Secretary-General António Guterres returned to Central Asia this weekend, joining President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana to inaugurate a new UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a scope covering Central Asia and Afghanistan. The initiative is meant to support regional economies, ease migration pressures, and introduce a […]

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What Will Kazakhstan Make of the Novorossiysk Constraint?

By Dr. Robert M. Cutler Russia’s July decree requiring FSB approval for foreign vessels entering Novorossiysk introduces a new procedural constraint into the regional export environment. Modest in scope, the measure nevertheless grants Moscow a latent mechanism for influencing Kazakhstan’s primary oil export route via the CPC pipeline, and by extension, its westward orientation. The […]

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White Coats, Red Lines: Kazakhstan Health Minister Demands End to Violence

By Vagit Ismailov Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health, Akmaral Alnazarova, has issued a public appeal urging an end to violence against medical personnel, following two brutal attacks on healthcare workers in Karaganda and Kostanay. “Dear citizens of Kazakhstan, I am addressing you as a specialist who has worked as a nurse in a maternity hospital, as […]

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Kazakhstan to Supply Uranium to Slovakia Under New Memorandum

By Dmitry Pokidaev Kazakhstan’s national nuclear company, Kazatomprom, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Slovenské elektrárne a.s. (SEAS), Slovakia’s largest electricity producer, paving the way for future uranium exports to the Central European country. According to a company statement, the memorandum outlines the potential supply of natural uranium concentrate and, eventually, uranium dioxide (UO₂), […]

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Trump’s Tariffs May Hurt Kazakhstan’s Economy, Expert Warns

By Aliya Haidar On July 7, U.S. President Donald Trump informed Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that Washington will impose a 25% tariff on goods from Kazakhstan, effective August 1, 2025. Tokayev responded on July 10, affirming Kazakhstan’s commitment to “developing fair, predictable, and mutually beneficial trade relations” with the United States. He emphasized Kazakhstan’s readiness […]

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President opens Kazakhstan’s first and Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer

Based on recent developments, including the launch of Kazakhstan’s first supercomputer in Central Asia, the country’s efforts to become a regional leader in digital transformation, and its emergence as a top destination for sustainable and cultural tourism, Kazinform News Agency presents a weekly review of Kazakhstan’s coverage in foreign media. Trend News Agency: President opens […]

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Kazakh Foreign Minister Visits Kabul, Signs $500M Railway Deal as Mining Push Gathers Momentum

By Stephen M. Bland In a major step toward deepening regional engagement, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu arrived in Kabul this week, signaling a continuing shift towards pragmatic engagement in Astana’s policy towards Afghanistan. The visit resulted in significant diplomatic and economic developments, including the signing of a $500 million agreement on the Herat-Torghundi railway. […]

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Kazakhstan Sets Sights on Becoming Central Asia’s Blockchain Hub

By Aliya Haidar Kazakhstan is accelerating its efforts to become a regional leader in blockchain and cryptocurrency. Among its latest initiatives is a proposal by the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) to establish a state crypto reserve. National Strategy and Regulatory Evolution The NBK recently endorsed the idea of forming a national reserve of crypto […]

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Rosatom Selected to Build Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant

Kazakhstan has announced that the Russian nuclear energy corporation Rosatom will take the lead in constructing the country’s first nuclear power plant. This landmark project, which was greenlit following a national referendum, signals Kazakhstan’s commitment to diversifying its energy sources and marks a significant step in its energy strategy following years of massive energy deficits, […]

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