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As of April 1, Kazakhstani banks possessed refined precious metals worth $93 million. For comparison, this figure was just $39.1 million a year earlier. According to data from the National Bank, the amount has increased 2.4 times, or by 136%, over the year.

That being said, the increase was primarily driven by the rising value of gold. As of April 2024, gold was priced at $60.59 per gram, compared to $96.72 per gram a year later (+59%).

Almost all Kazakhstani banks ramped up their precious metal holdings over the past year. At the start of 2025, these assets stood at...

According to Saltanat Igenbekova, an analyst at Halyk Finance, Kazakhstan’s GDP growth will reach 5.3% by the end of the year, which is 0.5 percentage points higher than the rate at the end of 2024 (4.8%). This forecast is based on the strong performance of the first quarter (5.8%) and the record growth of the short-term economic indicator (SEI; 8.3%).

The SEI reflects the change in the physical production volume in key sectors of the country’s economy and includes more than 60% of Kazakhstan’s GDP. The indicator is calculated in monetary terms. At the end of the quarter, the SEI...

Turar, a citizen of Kazakhstan, is among a growing number of Central Asians working seasonal agricultural jobs in the U.K. Alongside his wife, he recently began working on a flower farm in England and shared his experience with Kursiv.media, detailing how he secured the job, what the work entails and how much he earns.

Working in the U.K.

Each year, the British government brings in thousands of foreign laborers to help plant, maintain and harvest crops. These temporary jobs typically last about six months, with most workers heading to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

The work involves harvesting fruits...

On April 19, Russia and Ukraine carried out a large prisoner exchange as part of the Easter swap, involving hundreds of captives. Among those exchanged were two Kazakh nationals, according to lists published by the Russian Telegram channel «Nash Vykhod» («Our Way Out»).

The two Kazakhstanis handed over to Russia by Ukraine were identified as 23-year-old Yerbolat Ordabayev and 20-year-old Sherkhan Yegamberdiev.

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that 246 Russian servicemembers were returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 277 Ukrainian servicemembers had returned home.

In a related development, Kazakhstani authorities reported in November 2024 that since...

Kazakhstan’s Milad Karimi captured another gold medal at the 17th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series in Doha, Qatar, continuing his strong run on the international stage.

According to Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), Karimi scored 14.500 points to win the men’s horizontal bar event. Taiwan’s Tang Chia-Hung took silver, while China’s Tang Qi earned the bronze.

On April 18, Karimi also won gold in the floor exercise, scoring 14.466 points.

Kazakhstan finished the competition with four medals in total. Nariman Kurbanov claimed bronze in the pommel horse and Altynkhan Temirbek secured silver in the floor exercise.

At the...

Air Arabia, the low-cost carrier based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), will launch direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Almaty starting June 3, 2025.

The new route will operate three times a week — on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flight duration is approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Almaty and 4 hours and 45 minutes on the return leg.

Flight schedule:

Round-trip tickets...

Last year, Kazakhstan became the leader in terms of industrial output in Central Asia, as reported by the country’s Ministry of Industry.

At the time, industrial production in Kazakhstan reached $106.8 billion, which is 1.5 times more than in Uzbekistan, 16 times more than in Kyrgyzstan and almost 22 times more than in Turkmenistan. In terms of processing volumes, Kazakhstan took second place among the Central Asian countries after Uzbekistan, with $52.2 billion. This value exceeds the volume of Kyrgyzstan by 10 times.

Russia remains the leader in industrial output in the CIS with $1.3 trillion, including $896.5 billion in...

Arbitration proceedings over Kashagan — Kazakhstan’s largest oil field located on the Caspian shelf — could drag on until 2028, according to a new investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

ICIJ’s findings are based on a confidential interim ruling in a $160 billion case, which centers on Kazakhstan’s claim that a group of international oil companies receive 98% of the Kashagan oil revenue after modest royalty payments.

«Kazakhstan’s claim was registered with the Permanent Court of Arbitration, founded in 1899 in The Hague, and is being heard by an arbitration tribunal in...

According to Davronjon Adilov, deputy minister of construction and housing and communal services of Uzbekistan, the banks of the Chirchik River in Tashkent have been chosen as the future site for Central Asia’s largest oceanarium, as reported by Gazeta.uz, citing the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.

The new oceanarium, along with various shopping and entertainment centers, a four-star hotel, and service facilities, will be built in New Tashkent on an area of 20 hectares, Adilov said.

The official is confident that the construction of the oceanarium in New Tashkent will boost the inflow of investment and open new opportunities for Tashkent...

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on April 17, discussing current issues related to cooperation in the energy sector.

«Additionally, Vladimir Putin shared his assessments of the progress achieved in the dialogue between Russia and the U.S.,» the Russian president’s press office reported.

During the call, both leaders emphasized the significance of the upcoming 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

«Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will naturally take part in the events to be held in Moscow to celebrate the occasion,» the statement said.

The Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), a subsidiary of Baiterek Holding, has borrowed €200 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB). This money will be spent on the support of energy and transport infrastructure, as reported by the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE).

Over the past year, the DBK has already borrowed about $1.4 billion.

«These funds will be allocated for the improvement of the transportation network, implementation of the Trans-Caspian International Route, as well as the development of projects in the field of renewable energy sources and the fight against climate change,» the DBK said.

Kazakhstan has delivered nearly 40 railcars of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, totaling more than 2,000 tons, according to the official Primeminister.kz website.

The shipment included food, medicines and essential supplies such as tents, blankets, cooking oil, flour and cereals. A separate flight is scheduled to deliver additional medical supplies. Officials said the effort reflects the ongoing friendship between the two countries and Kazakhstan’s support for the Afghan people. The total value of the aid package was not disclosed.

A delegation led by Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin is expected to travel to Kabul early next week. The visit...

A new working group was established in Kazakhstan; its sole task is to develop a draft law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as announced by the Ministry of Culture’s decree, available on its website. The law on foreign agents was previously proposed by MP Irina Smirnova.

The task force includes 38 individuals, including Vice Minister Ayzada Kurmanova, President of the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan Banu Nurgaziyeva, MPs, lawyers, public figures, etc. However, the group doesn’t include MP Irina Smirnova, who came up with the idea of the foreign agent law in Kazakhstan.

During a Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) meeting, she...

Spend your weekends in May unwinding with family or taking a short adventure. To help you make the most of the upcoming holidays, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular travel routes for the May holidays in Kazakhstan.

Turkestan

Boguty Mountains (Red Mountains)

Train Tour: Cities of the Great Silk Road

Charyn Canyon

Bektau Ata

May 2025 holiday schedule:

Weekend...

Kazakhstani startup SHAI has raised $1 million in investment from entrepreneur and investor Ruslan Adilbaev, the main stakeholder of the Uzbek AVO Bank, as reported by Astana Hub.

SHAI is a platform offering businesses tools they can use for the creation of AI agents and digital assistants to automate their routine processes, reduce potential errors, boost security and minimize the risk of corporate information leakage.

The startup plans to use the investment as leverage to further develop its IT products and expand its business to new markets. Since the end of 2024, the startup has successfully implemented more than ten...

Air Astana, a Kazakhstan airline renowned for the best service and best onboard products, has presented a new onboard menu for business class. It was developed by Ruslan Zakirov, the chef of Auyl, a neo-nomad cuisine restaurant with one of the best designs in the world, according to Prix Versailles. As a result of this collaboration, VIP passengers will be served traditional Kazakh food reinterpreted for a modern palate.

New menu for Air Astana VIP passengers

«Would you like horse tartare or khoshan (manti with pumpkin and beef)? And how would you like to have your samsa with horse meat...

Kazakhstan’s top gymnasts delivered a strong performance on the opening day of the 17th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup stage on individual apparatus, held in Doha, Qatar. The men’s team secured two second-place and two fourth-place finishes in qualifications, with all four athletes advancing to the finals as serious contenders.

In the floor exercise, Milad Karimi earned the second-highest score among 16 participants in the preliminary round, receiving 13.800 points from the judges. Altynkhan Temirbek followed closely in fourth-place finish with a score of 13.466. Slovenian gymnast Anze Hribar led the field with a score of 14.000.

On the pommel...

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov has announced that the government has issued four licenses to Kazakhstani entrepreneurs seeking to launch industrial hemp production.

He recalled that during the Investment Attraction Council meeting held on February 19, the government directed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to develop legislative amendments necessary to support the growth of the cannabis industry.

The official noted that the primary emphasis is on industrial hemp production.

«Industrial hemp production is not prohibited in Kazakhstan. So far, the Committee for Combating Drug Trafficking has granted four licenses to local entrepreneurs. One such...

South Korea’s RETD Co. will construct a light rail transit (LRT) system connecting Almaty and Qonaev, the administrative center of Kazakhstan’s Almaty region, according to the regional governor’s office.

The project will use magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, an advanced transportation system in which trains are suspended and propelled by magnetic forces, eliminating friction and allowing for ultra-high-speed travel.

RETD Co. CEO Lee Chang Wook expressed confidence in the company’s ability to contribute to Kazakhstan’s infrastructure development. He called maglev «the transport of the future» and said RETD Co. is proud to be part of the Almaty region’s large-scale growth.

In...

The Abay region of Kazakhstan plans to build new water reservoirs in the Urdzhar, Makanshy, Aksuat and Kokpekty districts by 2029, according to the regional governor’s press office.

Financing for the projects may come from the Islamic Development Bank, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said during a meeting with Berik Uali, governor of the Abay region.

«Once the design and estimate documentation is developed, we can start implementing the projects,» Nurzhigitov said. «The construction of these reservoirs is included in the comprehensive plan for developing Kazakhstan’s water industry through 2028. This will...

Kyrgyzstan was expected to select a new national anthem by April 2025, but the Ministry of Culture has announced that none of the submitted entries met the required standards. As a result, the government has launched a new round of the contest.

On April 9-10 in Bishkek, a panel of experts reviewed all the eligible submissions. Between Feb. 7 and March 20, 499 individuals submitted a total of 703 anthem proposals, including both lyrics and music. The ministry accepted 285 entries from 165 participants for consideration. Submissions were even received from foreign nationals.

«Despite the variety...

By June 2026, Kazakhstan must compensate for 1.3 million barrels per day under the OPEC+ deal, according to the organization. This estimate is based on the updated compensation plans submitted to the OPEC Secretariat by Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Oman.

According to the released information, 63,000 barrels per day are expected to be compensated in April, 116,000 barrels in May, 126,000 barrels in July, 141,000 barrels in August, 135,000 barrels in September and 160,000 barrels in October. After that, the compensation amount will gradually decrease from 114,000 barrels in November to 36,000 barrels in June...

In the 19th century, Taraz — the city that emerged through the efforts of merchants on the banks of the Talas River many centuries ago — found itself amid a historical maelstrom. It was stormed by foreign troops; it served as a transshipment point for trade caravans; people disputed over land here, and it was well known for its bazaars and gardens. For any curious traveler, it was a lively, contradictory, dusty, but fascinating theater of changes.

In the 19th century, Taraz was widely known as Aulie-Ata, a name used by all military officials, diplomats and explorers of the 19th...

Kcell, one of Kazakhstan’s leading telecommunications operators, is in negotiations with a local bank to expand its mobile payment services, according to the company’s Commercial Director Kazbek Shaimov. He shared the update during Issuer Day at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), as reported by the Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency.

Recently, Kcell notified its customers about the termination of its joint project with Jusan Bank, known as OGO. Through Kcell’s mobile app, users could open OGO digital cards, make deposits and loans, top up balances from mobile accounts and earn rewards for cashless payments.

Shaimov confirmed that the agreement with Jusan Bank...