News

Kazakh millionaire Berik Kaniyev and his wife have established a scholarship to study at Duke University in the U.S., allowing one citizen of Kazakhstan each year to complete their education at the Fuqua School of Business free of charge. Among the prominent graduates of the institution are Tim Cook, Melinda Gates and David Rubenstein.    

The presentation of the Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Foundation and its eponymous scholarship took place at the library — bearing the name of Seraly Kaniyev, the businessman’s father, since 2024 — at the Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University. The new scholarship is intended to...

According to the National Bank, Kazakhstan’s external debt amounted to $170.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025, after a sharp increase of $5.7 billion at the beginning of the year. This is the highest figure since 2001, when the regulator started monitoring the indicator. The previous record was reported in 2018 ($167.4 billion).

«In the first quarter, external debt increased by $3.4 billion due to balance of payments transactions and by $2.3 billion due to exchange rate, valuation and other changes,» the National Bank explained.

The structure of the external debt is as follows:

–        Public external debt...

The global fragrance market has recently welcomed a new addition — Kiz Jibek, a perfume launched under the Tolegen Paris brand by an ethnic Kazakh entrepreneur living in France.

A French Kazakh born in China

Nurjan Tolegen, the founder of Tolegen Paris, is an ethnic Kazakh born in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in China. He spent his early years in the city of Kulja before relocating to Paris, where he now lives and works.

Nurjan describes himself as the grandson of nomadic people. His grandparents left their homeland “during the time of civil war,” carrying with them...

Kazakhstan’s largest cities — Astana and Almaty — are preparing for two major concerts as the Backstreet Boys announced their visit to the Central Asian country. Kursiv LifeStyle explains where and how to get tickets.

According to organizers, negotiations for the band’s concerts had been ongoing for a year. This will be the first time the Backstreet Boys perform in the CIS. The concert in Almaty will be part of the official City Day celebrations.

The Almaty concert is scheduled for Sep. 19 at the Central Stadium. Tickets will be publicly available for sale on July 15 at...

As global demand for rare-earth elements continues to grow, interest in these strategic materials is expanding beyond traditional producers. Used in everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to wind turbines and defense systems, rare earths are an essential part of the modern economy. At the same time, experiences from current leading producers raise important questions about the environmental and social impacts of rare earth extraction.

China’s experience with rare earth production

China plays a central role in the rare earth market, producing more than 60% of the world’s supply and handling around 85% of global processing. The country extracts key...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev responded to Donald Trump’s letter on the introduction of a 25% tariff on goods imported from Kazakhstan. He said that the country is committed to developing fair, predictable, mutually beneficial trade relations with the United States, a long-standing trade and investment partner of Kazakhstan.

As the press service of the Akorda, the official residence and workplace of the president, reported, Tokayev confirmed that Kazakhstan is ready to continue a constructive dialogue in order to find a well-balanced solution to the current trade issues.

Earlier this week, Donald Trump sent Tokayev a letter, informing him of a...

A new grant program for young artists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan has been launched by the independent initiative Easy Art, supported by the BeWoman forum.

The idea behind the initiative is not just to provide financial support, but to create a sustainable platform for a new generation of artists, shaping the region’s visual language.   

The program’s themes center around not only art, but also what matters to society: identity, female leadership, cultural transformations, collective experience and outlooks toward the future. This isn’t just pretty language — participants will have the chance to explore what’s intimate and...

KazMunayGas (KMG), Kazakhstan’s state-owned oil and gas company, reported that oil production at the Dunga field in the Mangystau region reached 340,000 tons between January and June 2025, an increase of 7,000 tons year-on-year.

In 2024, the field produced 630,000 tons of oil, and KMG is projecting the output to rise to 649,300 tons in 2025.

Askhat Khassenov, KMG’s CEO, recently visited the Dunga field during a working trip to the region. As part of the visit, he held a meeting with representatives of Dunga Operating GmbH, the company developing the field. Discussions focused on the supply and...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the official launch ceremony of a new supercomputer at the Alemcloud National Supercomputer Center in Astana.

The installation and commissioning of the high-performance system, based on NVIDIA H200 graphics processors, took place at a new data center under the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, in collaboration with foreign partners.

«The new supercomputer cluster has a capacity of up to 2 exaflops using the FP8 calculation method, making it the most powerful computing solution in Central Asia,» the Akorda reported.

According to President Tokayev, the...

Russia has entered the top five countries for expected millionaire emigration in 2025, with 1,500 individuals projected to leave, collectively holding an estimated fortune of $14.7 billion, according to the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025.

Ranked exactly fifth in terms of millionaire outflow, Russia follows:

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. and Italy are expected to see the highest net inflows of millionaires, with 9,800, 7,500 and 3,600 rich individuals arriving, respectively. These countries are attractive due to...

A video circulating on social media shows an international tourist sharing his experience at a mountaintop toilet near Almaty, Kazakhstan, remarkable not for its facilities, but for its view.

The small wooden structure, perched in the mountains, is notably missing a door.

«Here I am, hiking through the mountains just outside Almaty, and I find this toilet. But that’s not the most interesting thing, of course. The view is incredible. Look at this,» the tourist says in the video.

As he turns the camera to show what’s in front of him, the reason...

Kursiv Research has compiled a ranking of Kazakhstan’s largest renewable energy facilities by installed capacity in 2024. The analysis shows that Chinese investors are increasingly implementing projects in Kazakhstan independently. Previously, they participated primarily as technology suppliers for Kazakhstani businesses.

Who is building renewable energy facilities in Kazakhstan

The logic behind the ranking

Kazakhstan’s largest renewable energy projects

Sarkylmas Kuat 50 MW

Aisha Solar Farm +20 MW

Independent companies

International companies

Large businesses

Industrial enterprises

Who is building renewable energy facilities in Kazakhstan

Business leaders who have been actively...

Condor Energies Inc., a Canadian-based energy transition company, will build methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Kazakhstan. Once operational, the LNG plant will be the first of its kind in Central Asia, according to the administration of the Mangystau region.

The announcement followed a meeting on July 8 between Nurdaulet Kilybay, governor of the region, and Norman Storm, managing director of Condor Energies and CEO of Qazaq LNG.

During the meeting, the parties discussed ongoing investment projects in the Mangystau region, including an LNG plant with a planned capacity of 145,000 tons per year, to be built on...

Insurance companies will have the right to establish marketplaces on their own and acquire shares of IT companies, as reported by Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM).

Furthermore, insurance companies will be allowed to develop software aimed at automating insurance operations and expanding their own online services. The new rules will take effect within two months after June 30, when President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the corresponding law.

In addition, insurance enterprises and holdings are now entitled to acquire shares and stock in IT companies.

«This will enable them to develop...

One of the stages of the Miss Almaty 2025 beauty pageant has concluded, where contenders for the title took on the role of chefs at a premium restaurant, guided by past winners. Kursiv LifeStyle describes how the high-heel cook-off unfolded.

The participants showcased their cooking skills at the recently opened Alcha, a Kazakh-Azeri cuisine restaurant. Aygerim Ormakhayeva, the restaurant’s manager, emphasized that the venue’s team wanted to contribute to the development of the creative industry and support young talent by hosting the contest.

«It’s actually quite nerve-wracking to host such events, especially since we just opened...

Chinese and South Korean companies may take over construction of three thermal power plants in Kazakhstan, replacing Russian contractors, according to Deputy Energy Minister Bakytzhan Ilyas.

Ilyas stated that Samruk-Energy, a state-owned company operating in Kazakhstan’s electric power sector, is currently in talks with potential contractors that can meet the country’s environmental standards and modern energy efficiency requirements.

«These could be energy companies from China or Korea. There are several options,» he said.

In April 2024, the governments of Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement to construct three thermal power plants in Kokshetau...

The American pop group Backstreet Boys has announced upcoming concerts in Almaty and Astana, marking their first-ever performances in Kazakhstan. According to the band’s official website, they will perform at Almaty’s Central Stadium on Sep. 19, 2025, and at Astana Arena on Sep. 21.

The concerts are part of a new tour by the legendary group, known for global hits such as «I Want It That Way,» «As Long As You Love Me» and «Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).»

Tickets are not yet available. Sales are scheduled to begin on July 14, though pricing and purchasing details have not been disclosed. Updates...

When visiting Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and cultural heart, most nature-lovers are drawn to iconic landmarks like Sharyn Canyon, the Singing Dune, Lake Kaindy or the Kolsay Lakes. While breathtaking, these destinations can be over 200 kilometers away — often turning into full-day excursions with long drives.

But what if you could experience dramatic desert landscapes and a refreshing beach escape without spending hours on the road?

A desert-style escape near the city

Just about an hour and a half from Almaty lies an underrated local favorite: Dune Beach, located near the city of Qonaev on the shores of the...

Almaty has become an unusual filming site, with a Bollywood crew using the city as a stand-in for South Korea. Since the events of the movie take place in South Korean settings, Kazakhstan’s largest city has seen new Korea-style decorations pop up almost every week.

In late June, Kursiv.media noticed the Kazakh-British Technical University building being featured in the shoot. Locals have also spotted a «Korean» police department, with flags and shields featuring Korean-language writing — leaving their heads spinning, as it looked extremely authentic.

Last weekend, the Indian film crew reached the Arbat and Green Bazaar.

The market’s...

Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry is joining the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) talent, with plans to launch a dedicated AI department, Deputy Defense Minister Darkhan Akhmediev announced recently.

AI division

In a post on Threads, Akhmediev said he is assembling a team for the ministry’s new AI directorate.

«Please reach out to me if there are suitable candidates. We can offer a decent salary, an impressive benefits package and exclusive military perks,» he wrote.

The post, published just hours earlier, quickly sparked interest among Kazakh social media users.

While some responded with enthusiasm, others...

In late June, Grand Games, a mobile game developer from Kazakhstan, acquired a 75% stake in Emenu, a food delivery service based in Karaganda. According to Roman Lineytsev, the 27-year-old founder of Grand Games, the goal is to expand Emenu into new cities and boost its nationwide presence, competing with international food delivery platforms.

Despite foreign players dominating Kazakhstan’s food delivery market, Lineytsev believes there’s room for local competitors. He noted that Kazakhstan has reached a level of technological maturity where local businesses can successfully compete with international services.

«The acquisition of Emenu is a strategic...

Kazakh superstar Dimash Qudaibergen, together with his parents, Kanat and Svetlana Aitbayev, has visited the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, during his art trip to the country.   

According to the singer’s official website, Dimash planted a caimito — a symbolic tree that Vietnamese call a «star apple tree» — on the grounds of the embassy.

The ceremony took place in the embassy’s yard. A local tradition states that caimito symbolizes bounty and prosperity. It is often gifted for holidays and during significant life moments.

«This gesture is a symbol of friendship...

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has rejected proposals by some politicians to revise the status of the Russian language in Kyrgyzstan, stating in an interview with the Kabar news agency that he does not support such changes.

Official language

Japarov emphasized that Russian is designated as an official language in the country’s Constitution, and altering that provision would be a mistake.

«We have the Russian language enshrined in the Constitution as an official language,» he said. «It was for this support of the Russian language that Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] expressed his gratitude. It’s not the Russian...

Kazakhstan and other OPEC+ countries will increase oil production in August to help maintain market stability, the group announced. The increase is part of a phased rollback of voluntary production cuts.

The eight OPEC+ countries — Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Algeria and Oman — agreed to adjust production levels in August 2025. The group plans to raise output by 548,000 barrels per day compared to July 2025 levels. The decision comes amid a stable global economic outlook and low oil inventories, signaling a healthy market, according to OPEC.

However, OPEC+ noted...