The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had a profound and overlooked impact on American health. The study, recently published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), suggests that the restructuring of the U.S. economy following the 1994 agreement led to a measurable increase in mortality rates among the…
Many Western policymakers see tariffs and anti-subsidy actions as effective ways to chip away at China’s dominance in manufacturing. That assumption may offer political reassurance, but it misreads the foundations of China’s industrial strength, argues tech entrepreneur and writer Robin Rivaton. Industrial density over national champions According to Rivaton, China’s…
A new phase of the major pharmaceutical project Polpharma Santo, owned by Polish billionaire Jerzy Starak, is being launched in Shymkent. Phase one of the new facility is expected by the end of 2029, creating 300 jobs and totaling $79.5 million in investment. The government of Kazakhstan has already approved…
The flash eurozone manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased to 50.8 in February, up from 49.5 in January. This is the highest level since June 2022, Euronews reported, citing S&P Global and Hamburg Commercial Bank. Furthermore, the broader composite PMI, which covers both manufacturing and services, rose to 51.9 from…
U.S.-based multinational Mars Inc. is set to construct a pet food factory in the future city of Alatau, Kazakhstan, with an investment of around $180 million. The relevant agreement was signed during a meeting between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the company’s CEO, Poul Weihrauch. The president praised the agreement’s conclusion,…
Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover in 2025 totaled $143.8 billion, up 1.3% from the previous year, according to data from the Bureau of National Statistics. Read also: Ukrainian drone attack on CPC could wipe $1.5 billion from Kazakhstan’s revenue. At the same time, the country’s exports fell 3.2% to $79 billion,…
The February decline in cryptocurrency prices should not alarm investors, as volatility remains a natural part of market cycles. Despite current fluctuations, the long-term performance of the world’s leading cryptocurrency remains striking: over the past six years, Bitcoin’s price has risen nearly sevenfold, according to Nurkhat Kushimov, head of Binance…
A controversy involving the fast-food chain Burger King in Kazakhstan has drawn widespread attention on social media, where users have posted criticism and negative reviews. What began as a private labor dispute has expanded into a broader discussion about inclusion, corporate culture and employee treatment. Social media post triggers public…
Kazakh company Severny Katpar, a subsidiary of Tau-Ken Samruk (TKS), presented a mining project at a public hearing on Feb. 10 for development of the North Katpar deposit in the Shet district of the Karaganda region. According to the presentation, total revenue from the sale of tungsten trioxide, molybdenum, copper…
The future megacity of Alatau, which is being built between Almaty and Konayev, aims to become the main entertainment center in Central Asia. According to the Almaty region administration, one of the city’s four districts — the Green District — will be dedicated entirely to tourism. Under the design project,…
Otbasy Bank, a state-owned bank specializing in mortgages, may become a «special product lender,» radically changing its image and geographic presence. It is set to expand its product portfolio by adding Islamic finance and leasing, according to Timur Onzhanov, deputy CEO of Baiterek Holding. In an interview with Bloomberg, the…
In 2025, banks and exchange offices sold 40,799 gold bullion bars weighing a total of 1.1 tons to the public. Since the program was launched in 2017, a total of 263,479 bars weighing nine tons have been sold, the National Bank of Kazakhstan reported. The most popular size was the…
Documents related to the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant are in the final stages of approval, including financing arrangements. Alexey Borodavkin, Russia’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, announced the update in an interview with Russia 24. The agreement outlines the project’s organizational, legal and technical framework. A second set of…
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev criticized government agencies for irrational spending on digitalization during an expanded government meeting Feb. 10. The head of state called for the creation of a unified digital platform without requesting «huge sums of money» from the state budget. According to Tokayev, the lack of unified oversight…
Air Astana shareholders have approved a deal with Airbus to purchase 25 aircraft. Renewing its fleet will cost the airline at least 550 billion tenge ($1 billion). The decision, made at a special shareholders meeting, was announced on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange. Air Astana is expected to place a firm…
With the new Tax Code that took effect in 2026 and related policy changes, Kazakhstan is significantly tightening taxation requirements for mining companies, according to a MINEX Kazakhstan forecast for 2026. The report highlights rising taxes on uranium and gold mining as market prices for the metals increase. Read also:…
China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), the largest construction company in China, will participate in the construction of Alatau City, an ambitious new project in the Almaty region. According to regional authorities, the company’s engagement is the result of an agreement signed in September in Beijing between Kazakhstan’s National Investment…
Freedom Holding Corp. (FRHC) aims to create a fully-fledged digital infrastructure in Kazakhstan that contributes to the country’s development, according to the company’s CEO Timur Turlov. He made this statement at the FRHC Strategic Summit held from Jan. 25 to Jan. 29 in Limassol, Cyprus. Global scale The Freedom Holding…
In late January, authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) notified mining companies operating in the country that they must allocate 5% of their shares to local employees, according to Bloomberg. The requirement applies to Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a Kazakh mining holding company that produces copper and…
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said effective engagement with investors requires cooperation among government agencies through a single coordination and decision-making center. New appointments to oversee investment work Presidential aide Murat Nurtleu has been appointed coordinator for work with foreign investors, while presidential adviser Asset Irgaliyev will oversee engagement with international…
Alatau, Kazakhstan’s new flagship megaproject, is set to become the region’s first fully digital city, featuring blockchain integration and a cryptocurrency-based economy, according to the Almaty regional administration, where the city is located. International partnerships and investment During a recent visit to China, a Kazakh delegation concluded agreements worth billions…
Timur Turlov’s Freedom Holding Corp. (FRHC) released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (ended Dec. 31, 2025), revealing $1.688 billion in revenue and $145 million in net profit for the first nine months of the fiscal year. The company also reported strong growth in key…
Kazakhstan is willing to supply 20 of the 60 minerals considered critical to the U.S., Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev said during the first ministerial conference on critical minerals in Washington, according to the Kazinform news agency. Delegations from more than 50 countries attended the conference last week. During the…
The international trading platform ITS has completed the regular rebalancing of its flagship ITS World Index, increasing the number of Kazakhstani issuers in the index from two to five. Who joined the top list? The index basket, which tracks 50 of the world’s largest corporations, added three new representatives from…
